How many tornadoes hit Alabama? Assessing damage will take weather service several days – AL.com
Severe storms caused extensive damage across Alabama on Saturday. Above is an early, preliminary look at storm reports. This map will change as the National Weather Service conducts storm surveys over the next few days. The surveys will determine how many tornadoes there were and how strong they were.Storm Prediction CenterStorm damage has been reported across Alabama from severe weather on Saturday, and the National Weather Service has confirmed at least five tornado tracks.Severe storms are being blamed for at least two deaths in Dallas County near Plantersville and one death in Talladega County.Damage to homes and businesses is being reported in multiple areas. Some of the places that reported damage on Saturday are Gordo in Pickens County, Sipsey in Walker County, Lake Tuscaloosa in Tuscaloosa County, Maplesville in Chilton County, Plantersville in Dallas County, Calera in Shelby County and Troy in Pike County.And there are others as well. The National Weather Service offices across the state will be looking at reports and possibly sending out storm survey teams to asses the damage. The weather service in Birmingham — which at one point had to take shelter from a tornado-warned storm that targeted its own office in Calera — said it sent out three survey teams today. So far those teams have confirmed five tornadoes in central Alabama, including an EF-3 in Dallas County where two people were killed.In addition, the weather service said it has confirmed four other twisters:An EF-2 in Winterboro in Talladega CountyAn EF-1 in Shelby County (Calera)Another EF-1 in Shelby County near Highway 25 and County Road 19, between Montevallo and CaleraAn EF-0 near Thomas Mill in Bibb CountyMore details will be released about those tornadoes once the survey teams get back.See also:Forecasters said there were 15 to 17 tracks that will need to be studied so it could be a few days before all that work can be completed.Here’s an early look at the tracks in central Alabama:Here is an early look at potential tornado tracks in central Alabama identified by the National Weather Service from Saturday’s severe weather.National Weather ServivceToday the survey teams plan to be in Dallas, Chilton, Talladega, Coosa, Shelby and Bibb counties. Additional surveys will be needed over the next several days, the weather service said. The preliminary plan for surveys on Monday includes Pickens, Tuscaloosa, Walker and Pike counties.No timeline has been set yet for surveys in Chambers and Sumter counties.“Due to the number of damage paths, our damage surveys will certainly take another 1-2 days at minimum,” the weather service in Birmingham said in a post on Facebook on Sunday.“Our findings will be released as we finalize them, and an event web page will be created sometime this week.”The weather service in Huntsville also issued several tornado warnings on Saturday, both early Saturday morning and through the day. Meteorologists plan to go to southeastern Cullman County on Monday to look at damage near the Arkadelphia community.There were injuries in addition to the two deaths on Saturday. One of those was from a lightning strike. The weather service got a report from Franklin County officials that a woman was struck by lightning in Russellville around 4 a.m. Saturday during the initial wave of storms.Flash flooding was also reported in many areas on Saturday. Muscle Shoals got 6.01 inches of rain on Saturday, shattering the record for March 15, which was 3.94 inches in 1973.The weather service survey teams will head to the affected areas and assess storm damage. If a tornado is confirmed then, based on the damage, it will be given a preliminary rating using the Enhanced Fujita Scale, which runs from EF-0 to EF-5.The weather service will send out periodic updates on the survey teams’ progress.If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/1/2025).© 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us). The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local.Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site.YouTube’s privacy policy is available here and YouTube’s terms of service is available here.Ad Choices
