As we wind down the month of May, we always like to think that the tornado “season” has abated. In a normal year that would be the case, although we all know we can have a tornado in any month of the year. However, our prime season is March, April and May. For some reason, May 27 stands out like a sore thumb when it comes to severe weather. Some extremely powerful tornadoes have occurred on that date, not only here, but in other parts of the country.
On May 27, 1917, major tornadoes devastated communities near the Walker-Jefferson County line NW of Birmingham. There were numerous deaths and injuries. The community of Bradford was almost wiped off the map. So many trees were uprooted that the town was completely isolated. They had to send runners on foot to get the word out and try to get help. Remember, this was when there was no such thing as radar, 911, cell phones, weather radio and even regular telephones were not that plentiful.
In more recent time, on May 27, 1973, a tornado touched down around 6:20 north of Demopolis. It began a long trek toward the NE and it would wind up being the longest track tornado on record in Alabama finally breaking up on the slopes of Mt. Cheaha in East Alabama. It moved across the SE part of Greensboro killing 1 person and injuring 72. Then it continued NE up Highway 25, knocking Centreville’s radar out of service. A few minutes later it plowed through the heart of Brent killing 5 persons and injuring 56. In Brent, 216 buildings were destroyed and 570 damaged. A little later, a separate tornado moved across the NE outskirts of Birmingham causing major damage in Center Point killing 1 person and injuring 76.
St. Louis was also devastated by a May 27 tornado that went through the heart of St. Louis and East St. Louis killing 255 persons and injuring 1,000. In 1997, and yes on May 27, a powerful tornado in Central Texas almost wiped out the town of Jarrell. 27 people aged 5 to 51 were killed in a town where there were few, if any, strangers. It was a strange tornado at times moving toward the SW at speeds as slow as 5 mph. It was so powerful that long stretches of asphalt were completely cleaned from highways.
On May 27, 1917, major tornadoes devastated communities near the Walker-Jefferson County line NW of Birmingham. There were numerous deaths and injuries. The community of Bradford was almost wiped off the map. So many trees were uprooted that the town was completely isolated. They had to send runners on foot to get the word out and try to get help. Remember, this was when there was no such thing as radar, 911, cell phones, weather radio and even regular telephones were not that plentiful.
In more recent time, on May 27, 1973, a tornado touched down around 6:20 north of Demopolis. It began a long trek toward the NE and it would wind up being the longest track tornado on record in Alabama finally breaking up on the slopes of Mt. Cheaha in East Alabama. It moved across the SE part of Greensboro killing 1 person and injuring 72. Then it continued NE up Highway 25, knocking Centreville’s radar out of service. A few minutes later it plowed through the heart of Brent killing 5 persons and injuring 56. In Brent, 216 buildings were destroyed and 570 damaged. A little later, a separate tornado moved across the NE outskirts of Birmingham causing major damage in Center Point killing 1 person and injuring 76.
St. Louis was also devastated by a May 27 tornado that went through the heart of St. Louis and East St. Louis killing 255 persons and injuring 1,000. In 1997, and yes on May 27, a powerful tornado in Central Texas almost wiped out the town of Jarrell. 27 people aged 5 to 51 were killed in a town where there were few, if any, strangers. It was a strange tornado at times moving toward the SW at speeds as slow as 5 mph. It was so powerful that long stretches of asphalt were completely cleaned from highways.