Deadly F4-F5 Tornadoes During April 27 2011 Tornado Outbreak – Videos

Alabama Fire Chief Survives F4 Tornado Picking up Fire Truck, Truck in the Air '100-150' Yards Before Tossed in River

April 27, 2011, Tornado Outbreak, Source: Google Maps

Two days in April, 2011, made U.S. ‘tornado’ history, April 27-April 28 breaking several tornado ‘records’ while the month of April shattered the existing record of the number of tornadoes during April. The most devastating ‘day’, Wednesday, April 27th. According to the National Weather Service there were 211 tornadoes, the majority across Mississippi and Alabama. Another devastating tornado on April 27th, the Ringgold Tornado in Georgia.

The tornado that’s gotten the most news media coverage, the deadly mile and half wide Tuscaloosa Tornado, a category F5 tornado with up to 300 mph winds that traveled an estimated 218 miles on the ground in Alabama.

The death toll from the deadly tornado outbreak according to the LA Times, 340 and Rising:

The Alabama Emergency Management Agency on Saturday morning reported that the state’s death toll has risen to 254, pushing the region’s total to more than 340. Mississippi and Tennessee each reported 34 deaths. Fifteen deaths were reported in Georgia, five in Virginia, two in Louisiana and one in Kentucky.

It was the deadliest storm toll since March 18, 1925, when 747 people were killed in Missouri, Illinois and Indiana. The current numbers were expected to grow as would-be rescuers combed through rubble and debris.

[Photo: Tuscaloosa Tornado moving through Birmingham, Alabama]

We put together a list and info of the other deadly F4 and F5 tornadoes that haven’t received much press. For more details and videos of the Tuscaloosa Tornado the link to Tuscaloosa Tornado Aerial Damage Videos: 300 MPH Winds, Mile and Half Wide Monster.

Tornado History Facts From the National Weather Service

So far, 600 recorded tornadoes in the month of April, 2011.

NOAA:

‘The previous record number of tornadoes during the month of April was 267 tornadoes set in April 1974.

The previous record number of tornadoes during any month was 542 tornadoes set in May 2003.

The average number of tornadoes for the month of April during the past decade is around 160.

F4 Hackleburg Tornado in Marion County, Alabama

[Photo: Hackleburg Tornado damage]

At approximately 3:18 PM, CST, April 27, the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for northern Marion County Alabama. Ninety miles to the south the monster mile and half wide F5 Tuscaloosa Tornado was already on the ground headed northeast churning through Tuscaloosa headed towards Birmingham. Up north a 3/4 of mile wide tornado with a 180 mph wind speed in Marion County hit the small community of Hackleburg. Videos of the aerial damage reveal massive destruction, over 100 buildings destroyed. The death toll, 25.

For more info and aerial videos of the tornado the link to Hackleburg Alabama Tornado: Aerial Footage of F4 Tornado Reveals Massive Devastation.

F4 Cullman Tornado in Alabama

[Photo: Cullman Tornado]

At 3:21 PM, CST, WSFA 12 reported Significant tornado hits city of Cullman:

CULLMAN, AL (WSFA) -

WSFA 12 News’ sister stations WBRC Fox 6 in Birmingham and WAFF 48 in Huntsville both tracked a significant tornado Wednesday that slammed directly into the city of Cullman in Cullman County. The tornado was tracked on LIVE tower cameras as it traveled through the downtown area for several minutes.

The Associated Press reports that officials at Cullman Regional Medical Center confirm the hospital was struck by the suspected tornado. Authorities said there are no known deaths and no immediate information about any injuries. Officials said they would release more information as it becomes available.

Debris and a huge funnel cloud could be seen moving slowly through the city until damage to the television station’s tower cam transmitter forced the camera to black.

WAFF-TV was responding to Cullman to reports that a mobile home park had been heavily damaged. We’ll share additional information as it becomes available.

NewsNet5:

*EF-4 CULLMAN, ALABAMA TORNADO:
Maximum winds clocked at 175 mph. Injuries and fatalities unknown at this time. tornado was on the ground for 28 miles with a maximum path-width of 1/2 mile. this long track tornado crossed northeast through Cullman County. Some light damage occurred on the north side of Smith Lake along County Road 310. More significant damage was observed near the community of Grandview where several homes suffered structural damage along with numerous trees. the twister continued its northeast track into the town of Cullman where some of the worst damage occurred near Highway 31 & 278. Several retail buildings were completely destroyed along with a large church. farther northeast between the towns of Simcoe and Pleasant View, two homes were obliterated with large portions of the homes not found. Other century homes suffered major damage and many hardwood trees were de-barked. Significant damage was observed in a 1/4 to 1/2 mile wide corridor north of Highway 69 between the city of Fairview and the Cullman/Morgan County line. As the storm passed through Morgan county, significant damage was observed in the community of Hulaco.

[Photo: Twisted car in Smithville, MS]

F5 Smithville, MS, Tornado, April 27, 2011

At approximately 3:44 PM a rare F5 tornado touched down in Monroe County, Mississippi. According to one Smithville resident, ‘there were branches falling out of the sky before we knew the tornado was coming’.

NOAA:

Preliminary Rare EF-5 Tornado in Monroe County, Mississippi

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MEMPHIS TN
1150 AM CDT FRI APR 29 2011

…PRELIMINARY RARE EF-5 TORNADO IN MONROE COUNTY MISSISSIPPI…

AFTER A REVIEW OF THE DAMAGE PHOTOS TAKEN DURING THURSDAY/S GROUND
SURVEY AND CONSULTATION WITH NATIONAL EXPERTS…THE NATIONAL
WEATHER SERVICE IN MEMPHIS HAS UPGRADED THE SMITHVILLE TORNADO
RATING TO EF-5 DAMAGE. THIS IS THE HIGHEST RATING FOR TORNADO
DAMAGE AND THE FIRST EF-5 OR F-5 IN MISSISSIPPI SINCE THE
CANDLESTICK PARK TORNADO NEAR JACKSON ON MARCH 3RD 1966.

* COUNTY/COUNTIES: MONROE

* LOCATION/TIME OF EVENT: SMITHVILLE AT 344 PM EDT ON APRIL 27
2011

* BEGINNING POINT: 34.0517, -88.4236

* ENDING POINT: 34.0731, -88.3814

* RATING: EF-5

* ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 205 MPH

* PATH LENGTH: 2.82 MILES

* MAXIMUM WIDTH: 1/2 MILE

* FATALITIES: 14

* INJURIES: 40

* SUMMARY OF DAMAGES: 18 HOMES DESTROYED…2 BUSINESSES /POST
OFFICE AND POLICE STATION/ DESTROYED…8 HOMES WITH MAJOR
DAMAGE…7 BUSINESSES WITH MAJOR DAMAGE…44 HOMES WITH MINOR
DAMAGE…AND WATER SYSTEM DESTROYED. MOST TREES EITHER SNAPPED
OR TWISTED AND DEBARKED. MOST THE HOMES DESTROYED WERE WELL
BUILT…TWO STORIES…LESS THAN TEN YEARS OLD AND BOLTED DOWN TO
THEIR FOUNDATIONS. AN 1965 CHEVY PICKUP TRUCK PARKED IN FRONT
ONE OF THE DESTROYED HOMES HAS NOT BEEN FOUND. ALL APPLIANCES
AND PLUMBING FIXTURES IN THE MOST EXTREME DAMAGE PATH SHREDDED
OR MISSING.

Video of the Smithville Tornado destruction:

[Photo: Shoal Creek, Alabama, tornado damage]

F4 or F5 Shoal Creek Tornado

According to Alabama ABC 33/40 news the ‘EF-3 or EF-4 ARGO/SHOAL CREEK/OHATCHEE/FORNEY TORNADO (JEFFERSON/ST. CLAIR/CALHOUN/ETOWAH/CHEROKEE COUNTIES, ALABAMA)’ tornado that touched down at 6:23 PM near Argo was the Tuscaloosa Tornado.

ABC 33/40:

‘Confirming our hunch, the NWS reports that it appears that the Tuscaloosa – Birmingham tornado did lift up northeast of the City of Birmingham, potentially sparing communities like Center Point, Pinson and Chalkville. They still will do further investigation to confirm this.

It touched down again north of I-59, between Deerfoot Parkway and Advent Circle and moved northeast. It caused light damage until it got to northeast of Odenville. Damage along Shoal Creek Road was extensive. The tornado crossed Neely Henry Lake and became violent north of Ohatchee (see the impressive video from spotter Lisa Spinks on the blog).

The tornado moved across northern Calhoun County, briefly edged into southern Etowah County, then moved into Cherokee County before moving into Georgia. It was on the ground for 72 miles before moving into Georgia. The survey team reports that it is likely an EF4 or EF5. A final determination will be forthcoming. Numerous fatalities and injuries were caused by this tornado.’

Video of Shoal Creek Tornado damage:

St. Clair Times:

As fire chief of the Shoal Creek Volunteer Fire Department, Vernon White knows he may one day have to save someone’s life.

The life he saved Wednesday was his own.

While attempting to answer a call Wednesday, as an apparent tornado was bearing down on the community, White said the fire truck he was driving was “picked up by the tornado, flipped several times and dropped upside down in the Coosa River.”

While upside down in the river, White managed to unbuckle his seat belt, get out of the truck through a broken window and swim to safety.

“When I got to the end of Lock 1 Road, I saw the tornado coming,” White said. “I turned left and tried to outrun it. I got a quarter-of-a-mile down the road and the tornado hit me. It picked my truck up, turned it around and around.

“I don’t know how many times I rolled and rolled and rolled on the ground. I ended up in the river.”

[Photo: Ringgold Tornado]

F4 Ringgold, Catoosa County, Georgia, Tornado

At approximately 8:15 PM, a mile wide tornado touched down in Catoosa County killing 8 people in Ringgold. A sign from Ringgold was discovered in Knoxville, Tennessee, 112 miles from Ringgold. For more info and videos of the tornado the link to Ringgold Georgia Tornado: Massive Tornado Killed 8, Storm Traveled 112 Miles.

Tuscaloosa Tornado: Satellite Images of Tornado’s Path, Massive Superstorm

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