Alabama has had way more than its fair share of tornado fatalities. In fact, the state consistently ranks in the top five for tornado deaths nationally despite the fact that it has far fewer twisters than some of the states below it on this dubious list. It is not that Alabama does not have a high number of tornadoes. Actually, studies have shown that the real tornado alley does not only extend across the Plains down into Texas, but also hangs a right across northern Louisiana, Mississippi and into our state. Today, we start a look back at the deadliest individual tornadoes in Alabama history.
20. (tie) March 5, 1933 (21 killed) - An F4 tornado cut a 35 mile path from near Brent in Bibb County into Shelby County. The town of Helena was especially hard hit where 14 people died.
20. (tie) November 15, 1989 (21 killed) - This inky black killer tornado touched down southwest of Huntsville at around 4:30 p.m. on a Wednesday afternoon. Occurring in the days before Doppler radar, the F4 monster was on the ground for several minutes before a tornado warning was issued by the National Weather Service in Huntsville. Twelve of the twenty one deaths occurred in vehicles that were caught in rush hour gridlock as the terrible storm rushed across the southern part of the Rocket City.
18. (tie) March 3, 1994 (22 killed) - It was a stormy Palm Sunday in Alabama as a twister snaked down from a supercell over St. Clair County. The F4 tornado touched down near Ragland in St, Clair County, then raced along a fifty mile path all the way to the Georgia border. Twenty of the fatalities occurred at the Goshen United Methodist Church near Piedmont. The tornado funnel passed about 100 yards away from the church, but the sanctuary collapsed on the congregation, which was unaware that a tornado warning had been issued. A nearby hallway might have protected everyone.
18. (tie) April 4, 1977 (22 killed) - The Smithfield Tornado was a monster F5 that sizzled from a thundercloud just northwest of Birmingham and steamed northeast to Tarrant. Hardest hit was the Smithfield Estates community just east of U.S. 78. The tornado crossed I-65, tossing cars like toys.
17. April 15, 1956 (25 killed) - Another Jefferson County killer. This murderous F4 touched down just west of Wylam and roared northeast, falling with a hellish fury on the McDonald’s Chapel and Stacey Hollow communities. Twenty five people died along the twenty mile path that finally ended near Ketona.
More tomorrow...
20. (tie) March 5, 1933 (21 killed) - An F4 tornado cut a 35 mile path from near Brent in Bibb County into Shelby County. The town of Helena was especially hard hit where 14 people died.
20. (tie) November 15, 1989 (21 killed) - This inky black killer tornado touched down southwest of Huntsville at around 4:30 p.m. on a Wednesday afternoon. Occurring in the days before Doppler radar, the F4 monster was on the ground for several minutes before a tornado warning was issued by the National Weather Service in Huntsville. Twelve of the twenty one deaths occurred in vehicles that were caught in rush hour gridlock as the terrible storm rushed across the southern part of the Rocket City.
18. (tie) March 3, 1994 (22 killed) - It was a stormy Palm Sunday in Alabama as a twister snaked down from a supercell over St. Clair County. The F4 tornado touched down near Ragland in St, Clair County, then raced along a fifty mile path all the way to the Georgia border. Twenty of the fatalities occurred at the Goshen United Methodist Church near Piedmont. The tornado funnel passed about 100 yards away from the church, but the sanctuary collapsed on the congregation, which was unaware that a tornado warning had been issued. A nearby hallway might have protected everyone.
18. (tie) April 4, 1977 (22 killed) - The Smithfield Tornado was a monster F5 that sizzled from a thundercloud just northwest of Birmingham and steamed northeast to Tarrant. Hardest hit was the Smithfield Estates community just east of U.S. 78. The tornado crossed I-65, tossing cars like toys.
17. April 15, 1956 (25 killed) - Another Jefferson County killer. This murderous F4 touched down just west of Wylam and roared northeast, falling with a hellish fury on the McDonald’s Chapel and Stacey Hollow communities. Twenty five people died along the twenty mile path that finally ended near Ketona.
More tomorrow...
on March 18, 2005, 9:34 pm
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