Unfortunately we must prepare for Alabama’s prime severe weather season, which is March, April and May. In the last four or five years, our secondary severe weather season (November and early December) have been the most active. I sure don’t think there is going to be a permanent switch. Over the long haul we will see more tornadoes in the spring, but still the autumn season cannot be taken lightly.
Our spring season is mostly March, April and the first half of May. That is why I have always been puzzled why May 27 seems to stand out like a sore thumb for severe weather.
On May 27, 1917, a powerful F4 tornado devastated areas along the Jefferson-Walker County line. Other tornadoes in that outbreak struck in Tuscaloosa, Bibb and Blount Counties. The worst of those heavily damaged areas around Sayre, Bradford and Village Springs. Bradford was almost wiped off the map with 17 persons killed. Nine died in Sayre.
Then on May 27, 1973, a very powerful F4 tornado touched down NE of Demopolis and cut a long, long path finally breaking up on the SW slopes of Mt. Cheaha. Seven persons died and 199 were injured. That tornado seemed to like Alabama Highway 25. It cut across the SE part of Greensboro and followed Route 25 to Brent where it almost destroyed the town. Then it continued passing near Montevallo, Wilsonville and breaking up on Mt. Cheaha. The main street of Brent was some of the hardest hit area. Five persons were killed and 26 injured. The tornado destroyed 216 buildings and 97 mobile homes. Unfortunately, a few miles before getting to Brent, it knocked out the NWS WSR-57 radar system that we all depended on so much.
Other major tornadoes have struck on May 27 in St. Louis and in 1997 in Jarrell, Texas. That was a powerful F5 that destroyed most of Jarrell. I called it a scorched earth tornado, because it literally swept the earth clean, even ripping up miles of pavement.
-- J. B. Elliott
Our spring season is mostly March, April and the first half of May. That is why I have always been puzzled why May 27 seems to stand out like a sore thumb for severe weather.
On May 27, 1917, a powerful F4 tornado devastated areas along the Jefferson-Walker County line. Other tornadoes in that outbreak struck in Tuscaloosa, Bibb and Blount Counties. The worst of those heavily damaged areas around Sayre, Bradford and Village Springs. Bradford was almost wiped off the map with 17 persons killed. Nine died in Sayre.
Then on May 27, 1973, a very powerful F4 tornado touched down NE of Demopolis and cut a long, long path finally breaking up on the SW slopes of Mt. Cheaha. Seven persons died and 199 were injured. That tornado seemed to like Alabama Highway 25. It cut across the SE part of Greensboro and followed Route 25 to Brent where it almost destroyed the town. Then it continued passing near Montevallo, Wilsonville and breaking up on Mt. Cheaha. The main street of Brent was some of the hardest hit area. Five persons were killed and 26 injured. The tornado destroyed 216 buildings and 97 mobile homes. Unfortunately, a few miles before getting to Brent, it knocked out the NWS WSR-57 radar system that we all depended on so much.
Other major tornadoes have struck on May 27 in St. Louis and in 1997 in Jarrell, Texas. That was a powerful F5 that destroyed most of Jarrell. I called it a scorched earth tornado, because it literally swept the earth clean, even ripping up miles of pavement.
-- J. B. Elliott