Remembering the ‘forgotten’ Alabama tornado outbreak, 14 years later

ALABAMA (WHNT) — April 15, 2011, stands as one of the largest tornado outbreaks in Alabama’s history. The month as a whole stands as the most active month on record for tornado activity in Alabama.

Most recall the devastating, state-wide April 27, 2011, severe weather event, but it often overshadows the major tornado outbreak which occurred a few weeks prior.

While the Tennessee Valley was not heavily impacted by the April 15, 2011, other parts of the state were slammed. At the time, it was the deadliest tornado outbreak since the Super Tuesday outbreak in February 2008.

The National Weather Service posted the following Central Alabama statistics from the April 15 outbreak:

• April 15th was one of the largest tornado outbreaks in Central Alabama’s history by the number of tornado occurrences
• There were 29 confirmed tornadoes in Central Alabama on April 15th
• The combined tornado damage path length in Central Alabama was 244.23 miles
• Ten of the tornadoes had damage path lengths over 10 miles long
• Three tornadoes started outside Central Alabama
• There were at least 10 injuries reported and 4 people lost their lives

NWS

In total, five tornadoes were confirmed as EF-0s, 10 were confirmed as EF-1s, 10 were confirmed as EF-2s and four were confirmed as EF-3s. Those EF-3 tornadoes had max winds as high as 150 miles per hour. Four deaths occurred as a result of these tornadoes– three in Autauga County near Boones Chapel and one in Marengo County.

The National Weather Service in Birmingham recounted the event summary:

“A surface low, which had developed across the Central Plains on Thursday, the 14th, deepened as it moved into the Mid-Mississippi Valley.  In response to this deepening, surface dew points in the middle to upper 60s surged northward into Central Alabama and deep vertical wind shear increased.  By the morning of Friday the 15th, it was evident environmental conditions were going to be perfect for tornadic supercell development.  The Storm Prediction Center issued the first Tornado Watch for Central Alabama prior to 8 am and supercell development began just after 11 a.m. across central Mississippi.  These storms crept across the Mississippi and dropped multiple damaging tornadoes.  The first tornado warning in central Alabama was issued at 11:52 a.m. in Marengo County and warnings were issued until 12:15 a.m. the next morning.”
NWS Birmingham

146 tornadoes were reported across the U.S. on April 15.

12 days after this outbreak, 253 people across the state were killed in the 62 confirmed tornadoes that day.