EF2 tornado in Marshall County, Alabama

This long-track EF4 tornado that originated in Pickens county Alabama, moved through Blount county and weakened to EF1 intensity as it tracked northeast into southern Marshall County. This was the same tornado that did significant damage further southwest to the town of Cordova, in Walker County.

The tornado continued its track across the Blount/Marshall county line along a heavily wooded ridgeline between Highway 79 and Diamond Road. Aerial photography confirms the tornado tracked northeast along this ridgeline doing significant damage to a house just inside the Marshall County line, as well as snapping and uprooting numerous trees. The tornado crossed Highway 79 between mile marker 56 and 57, snapping a few trees and causing damage to the roof of a shed near a residence. Just northeast of this point, the tornado appeared to briefly strengthen (EF-2), completely destroying an industrial plant (Ferguson Industries). The tornado continued northeast moving again over heavily wooded terrain just east of Highway 79. The damage path along this ridgeline can be seen from Highway 79 and aerial pictures confirm this track.

Beyond this point several miles south of Highway 431, little additional damage can be confirmed from this tornado. Radar data also suggests that this storm (supercell) was undergoing a transformation period causing the tornado to weaken and eventually lift.

This supercell later spawned another EF-5 tornado that devastated the town of Rainsville (DeKalb County) and moved northeast across the AL/GA state line.

A powerful storm system roared across the Southeast United States on Wednesday, April 27, 2011. In the wake of this system, hundreds of people were left injured and/or homeless, along with approximately 100 people who lost their lives in the northern Alabama area alone. Some of the devastation was literally unimaginable with countless homes, neighborhoods and even portions of cities or towns either partially or completely destroyed. This storm system would be responsible for one of the largest and deadliest tornado outbreaks to ever impact much of the southeastern region.

The powerful storm system that affected the National Weather Service, Huntsville service area would actually occur in three separate waves of severe weather that day. The first occurred during the early morning hours of April 27, 2011 roughly between the hours of 2 AM and 8 AM CDT, while the second occurred during the late-morning to early afternoon period. The third and most devastating wave occurred during the afternoon hours on Wednesday, with some of the most violent and destructive tornadoes to affect the central Tennessee Valley area in recent decades.

The worst areas impacted by these storms included the towns of Phil Campbell and Oak Grove in eastern Franklin County Alabama, Mt. Hope in western Lawrence County and the Tanner Community in eastern Limestone County. Along a line connecting these areas tracked an EF5 tornado with peak winds around 210 mph, the strongest and most violent on the Enhanced Fujita Scale.

Other areas impacted by the storms include the city of Cullman, where extensive damage occurred to buildings in the downtown area, and to the town of Fairview, both of which are located in Cullman County. Downstream, further significant damage occurred to the Ruth and Oak Grove communities in Marshall County. In addition, the communities of Rainsville and Sylvania along with the towns of Henagar and Ider in DeKalb County were severely impacted. Fatalities in DeKalb County alone numbered at least 33 people. Furthermore, the towns of Flat Rock, Higdon and Pisgah in Jackson County sustained incredible damage. The tornadoes that affected these areas were rated as an EF4 with maximum winds near 190 mph.

In most of these areas alone, numerous people lost their lives. These represent just several of the communities and towns impacted by the events of April 27, 2011. While the majority of the analysis and survey work conducted by the National Weather Service, Huntsville and its partners have been completed, there will undoubtedly be countless research studies conducted by both academia and operational personnel in order to further evaluate and understand the complex processes associated with this near unprecedented severe weather outbreak.