The 10 biggest tornadoes to hit Alabama in the past decade
Of the 1,600-plus tornadoes that happen around the world each year, the vast majority occur in the United States.
A large part of the central U.S.—dubbed Tornado Alley—has become famous for its high number of annual tornadoes; however, even though it has been enshrined in films like “The Wizard of Oz” and “Twister,” the storms can happen anywhere. The Southeast experiences tornadoes at a similar frequency, and even seemingly unlikely states like Hawaii have experienced them.
Meteorologists use the Enhanced Fujita scale to classify tornadoes’ severity. The storms are ranked on a scale of EF0 to EF5 based on wind speed and related damage, with EF5 storms having wind speeds above 200 mph. Most tornadoes in the U.S. have wind speeds below 110 mph—making them primarily EF0 and EF1 storms. Still, even smaller-scale storms can cause significant damage. EF0 and EF1 storms have contributed to more than $900 million in property damage since 2012, averaging $75,000 per storm. EF1 tornadoes are associated with broken windows, uplifted roofs, and torn-down garage doors.
Less than 3% of tornadoes have reached EF3 status—wind speeds between 136 and 165 mph—or greater since 2012. Though they represent a small percentage of events, their impacts cause an outsized portion of property damage. Storms EF4 or stronger can flatten entire homes. Even though the U.S. has experienced only one EF5 storm in the past decade—it emerged from a series of tornadoes that struck central Oklahoma in May 2013—that storm took 24 lives and left billions of dollars of damages.
Tornadoes result in about 71 deaths per year, most of which are due to flying debris. The prevalence of mobile homes in areas of the Southeast often afflicted by tornadoes can put people at greater risk of death or serious injury. 2023 has already recorded over 500 tornadoes, according to preliminary counts, a high number this early in the season. And by the end of April, nearly two-thirds of the 23 deaths recorded this year had occurred in mobile homes.
Citing data fromNOAA’s Storm Events Database, Stacker identified the biggest tornadoes in Alabama since 2012. Storms are ranked by the Enhanced Fujita Scale, with length and width serving as tiebreakers. In an outbreak of multiple tornadoes, the storm with the highest Enhanced Fujita Scale rank was used. Storms ranked “EFU,” meaning that they did not result in any property damage or deaths, are not included.
Read on to see if you remember the biggest storms that have hit Alabama over the past decade.
Damage to businesses including CS Tire Service on Hwy. 17 north of Vernon. Tornado damage in West Alabama left from storms that hit the state on November 29, 2016. (Joe Songer | [email protected]).al.com
10. Nov. 29, 2016
– Number of tornadoes: 13
– Maximum tornado scale: EF3 (136-165 mph)
– Maximum tornado length: 13.2 miles
– Maximum tornado width: 580 feet
– Estimated property damage: None
– Estimated deaths: 4 direct, 0 indirect
Multiple tornadoes raked across Hazel Green and northern Madison County late afternoon Monday, April 28, 2014 in Hazeil Green Ala. (Eric Schultz / [email protected])
9. Apr. 28, 2014
– Number of tornadoes: 13
– Maximum tornado scale: EF3 (136-165 mph)
– Maximum tornado length: 15.6 miles
– Maximum tornado width: 600 feet
– Estimated property damage: None
– Estimated deaths: 2 direct, 0 indirect
Ed and June Jones at their home destroyed by the January 23rd tornado. Ed Jones and his wife of 63 years have lived at 225 23rd Terrance NW in Center Point since 1958. Early Monday morning their home was destroyed by the tornado that devastated Center Point and Clay. Family members came by to help including granddaughter Ashley Farmer and great grandson Rhylan Kendrick, 10 months. They aren’t sure if the home will be demolished or if some parts of it can be saved. (The Birmingham News/Joe Songer). BN FTPBN FTP
8. Jan. 23, 2012
– Number of tornadoes: 14
– Maximum tornado scale: EF3 (136-165 mph)
– Maximum tornado length: 24.3 miles
– Maximum tornado width: 880 feet
– Estimated property damage: None
– Estimated deaths: 2 direct, 0 indirect
Fultondale’s Hampton Inn was destroyed by a January 2021 tornado.
7. Jan. 25, 2021
– Tornado scale: EF3 (136-165 mph)
– Estimated length: 10.4 miles
– Estimated width: 900 feet
– Estimated property damage: None
– Estimated deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
A tornado that tracked through parts of Perry, Bibb and Shelby counties on March 30 has been upgraded to an EF-3 thanks to a storm survey conducted today. Two people were injured.
6. Mar. 30, 2022
– Number of tornadoes: 16
– Maximum tornado scale: EF3 (136-165 mph)
– Maximum tornado length: 18.2 miles
– Maximum tornado width: 1,350 feet
– Estimated property damage: None
– Estimated deaths: None
Tornado damage near Old Kingston and Marbury, Ala., Friday, Jan. 13, 2023. (Marvin Gentry | [email protected])
5. Jan. 12, 2023
– Number of tornadoes: 20
– Maximum tornado scale: EF3 (136-165 mph)
– Maximum tornado length: 41.3 miles
– Maximum tornado width: 1,600 feet
– Estimated property damage: None
– Estimated deaths: 7 direct, 0 indirect
FILE- In this April 29, 2014 file image taken from video, people enter a community storm shelter during a tornado watch in Tuscaloosa, Ala. As each day brings the United States closer to peak severe weather season, Tornado Alley residents are facing a difficult question: Is it better to take on a twister outside a community shelter or to face the possibility of contracting the new coronavirus inside one? (AP Photo/Jay Reeves, File)AP
4. Apr. 29, 2014
– Number of tornadoes: 23
– Maximum tornado scale: EF3 (136-165 mph)
– Maximum tornado length: 14.3 miles
– Maximum tornado width: 1,800 feet
– Estimated property damage: $265.0K
– Estimated deaths: None
FILE – In this March 19, 2018, file photo, homeowner Michael Shell, background, walks into his destroyed home with his sister Theresa Wagoner after a possible tornado touched down on Gatlin Road in Ardmore, Ala. The devastating storm was one of the top stories in Alabama in 2018. (Crystal Vander Weit/The Decatur Daily via AP, File)AP
3. Mar. 19, 2018
– Number of tornadoes: 10
– Maximum tornado scale: EF3 (136-165 mph)
– Maximum tornado length: 20.9 miles
– Maximum tornado width: 2,175 feet
– Estimated property damage: None
– Estimated deaths: None
Drone photo of tornado damage at Eagle Point in Shelby County. The tornado struck the area on March 25, 2021. (Joe Songer for AL.com).Joe Songer for AL.com
2. Mar. 25, 2021
– Number of tornadoes: 21
– Maximum tornado scale: EF3 (136-165 mph)
– Maximum tornado length: 39.4 miles
– Maximum tornado width: 2,300 feet
– Estimated property damage: None
– Estimated deaths: 6 direct, 0 indirect
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1. March 2, 2019
– Number of tornadoes: 8
– Maximum tornado scale: EF4 (166-200 mph)
– Maximum tornado length: 23.6 miles
– Maximum tornado width: 1,600 feet
– Estimated property damage: None
– Estimated deaths: 23 direct, 0 indirect