As far as I am concerned, Spring has arrived.
Yes, I know, on the calendar it is still three weeks away, but weather-wise it is otherwise. It will certainly feel like spring for the next couple of days until it turns cooler Friday. Our thoughts always turn to tornadoes this time of year. We consider March, April and the first half of May as our prime severe weather season. We have had some notable tornadoes over the years this times of year.
Wanted to look back on a specific date—May 27. Actually, that is getting a little out of season for tornadoes, but it seems to be a sore thumb day for this area. Back in 1917, 75 persons were killed and 391 injured. Especially hard hit were Pike and Creshaw Counties in South Alabama with 9 dead and 50 injured. That night destruction was widespread across Blount, NW Jefferson, Walker, Tuscaloosa, Bibb, Talladega, Madison, Marshall and Jackson Counties. Around 8:45 p.m. an F4 tornado tore through the Sayre-Bradford area near the Jefferson-Walker County line. 9 persons died in Sayre and 17 in Bradford. The town of Bradford was nearly wiped off the map. So many trees were uprooted, all roads were blocked and runners on foot were dispatched to get help. About the same time, an F3 tornado touched down in NW Walker County. Carbon Hill and Manchester were hard hit. 6 people died in Carbon Hill and 2 in the Kansas community.
Fast forward many years later to May 27, 1973. An F4 tornado touched down NE of Demopolis and was destined to become Alabama’s longest track tornado finally breaking up on the slopes of Mt. Cheaha in East Alabama. On the way it brought devastation to parts of Greensboro and especially to Brent which was 90% destroyed. 72 persons were injured and 1 killed in Greensboro and 5 died with 56 injured in Brent. A little later, another tornado brought devastation to parts of Center Point area.
—J B Elliott
Yes, I know, on the calendar it is still three weeks away, but weather-wise it is otherwise. It will certainly feel like spring for the next couple of days until it turns cooler Friday. Our thoughts always turn to tornadoes this time of year. We consider March, April and the first half of May as our prime severe weather season. We have had some notable tornadoes over the years this times of year.
Wanted to look back on a specific date—May 27. Actually, that is getting a little out of season for tornadoes, but it seems to be a sore thumb day for this area. Back in 1917, 75 persons were killed and 391 injured. Especially hard hit were Pike and Creshaw Counties in South Alabama with 9 dead and 50 injured. That night destruction was widespread across Blount, NW Jefferson, Walker, Tuscaloosa, Bibb, Talladega, Madison, Marshall and Jackson Counties. Around 8:45 p.m. an F4 tornado tore through the Sayre-Bradford area near the Jefferson-Walker County line. 9 persons died in Sayre and 17 in Bradford. The town of Bradford was nearly wiped off the map. So many trees were uprooted, all roads were blocked and runners on foot were dispatched to get help. About the same time, an F3 tornado touched down in NW Walker County. Carbon Hill and Manchester were hard hit. 6 people died in Carbon Hill and 2 in the Kansas community.
Fast forward many years later to May 27, 1973. An F4 tornado touched down NE of Demopolis and was destined to become Alabama’s longest track tornado finally breaking up on the slopes of Mt. Cheaha in East Alabama. On the way it brought devastation to parts of Greensboro and especially to Brent which was 90% destroyed. 72 persons were injured and 1 killed in Greensboro and 5 died with 56 injured in Brent. A little later, another tornado brought devastation to parts of Center Point area.
—J B Elliott
on March 1, 2006, 12:09 am
I'll never forget the Brent storm. Those things etch themselves in memory as if it was yesterday...
http://brenttornado.com/html/tornado_day.html
The sense of duty and courage of Centreville radar operator Dale Black that night did NOAA proud.
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