F5 Tornado — Jefferson, Alabama

1998-04-08 · near Oak Grove, Jefferson, Alabama

Wider weather episode

A tornado, the second spawned from the same supercell, began in rural sections of eastern Tuscaloosa County 1.5 miles east of the Warrior River. The tornado moved through primarily rural and unpopulated areas of eastern Tuscaloosa County before crossing into extreme southwestern Jefferson County. The tornado remained in primarily unpopulated area until just before reaching Oak Grove community where three deaths occurred in a mobile home. The tornado destroyed the Oak Grove School and a number of other buildings including a fire department as it cross CR 23/54.The tornado moved into unpopulated area for a short while before crossing CR 54 (Lock 17 Road/Warrior River Road) where numerous houses and other structures were damaged and destroyed including another volunteer fire department building. Eleven deaths were reported in this area.The tornado crossed Rock Creek just west of Rock Creek Road, a steep, hilly unpopulated area. The tornado path then moved into a fairly densely populated area all the way until it dissipated in Pratt City. Areas affected included Pinedale Estates, McGregor Estates, Rockwood, Sylvan Springs, Wylam Heights, Edgewater, McDonald Chapel, Minor, West Ensley, and Pratt City. Pratt City is also within the city limits of Birmingham. Four deaths occurred in Sylvan Springs, two in Wylam Heights, nine in Edgewater, two in McDonald Chapel, and one in West Ensley.According to American Red Cross surveys, 608 homes were destroyed, 556 sustained major damage, and another 810 had minor damage. There were 1,164 families with homes that were unlivable.Forest service officials estimated 4,000 acres of timber was destoyed in Jefferson County and 1,000 acres in Tuscaloosa County.

View location on OpenStreetMap → (33.3800, -87.2300)

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5637201. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.