What was the worst tornado in Alabama?
Sarah Duran
Updated on February 19, 2026
What was the worst tornado in Alabama?
The March 21, 1932, tornado outbreak is considered the worst tornado event in Alabama history. At least two waves of storms struck the state, producing at least 15 strong or violent tornadoes in which more than 300 people were killed.
How many EF5 tornadoes were there April 27 2011?
Horrific Death Toll. Tracks of 15 violent – EF4 or EF5 – tornadoes on April 27, 2011. Sadly, the siege of tornadoes claimed 321 lives, including 240 in Alabama. Of the 207 tornadoes April 27, 15 were rated violent tornadoes, either EF4 or EF5 on the Enhanced Fujita scale.
Why were there so many tornado deaths in 2011?
Most of the damage and over two-thirds of the year’s total fatalities were caused by a late-April Super Outbreak and an EF5 tornado that struck Joplin, Missouri in late-May.
What was the biggest tornado in 2011?
EF5 tornado
2011 Joplin tornado
| EF5 tornado | |
|---|---|
| Highest winds | > 200 mph (320 km/h) |
| Max. rating1 | EF5 tornado |
| Fatalities | 158 direct fatalities (+8-9 indirect), 1,150 injuries |
| Damage | $2.8 billion (2011 USD) (Costliest tornado in U.S. history) $3.22 billion (2021 USD) |
How many people died in the 2011 Alabama tornado?
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Today marks 10 years since the April 27, 2011 tornado outbreak in Alabama that left 240 people dead and thousands injured.
How many people died in Alabama on April 27th?
No year needed—no more context. The month and day alone sending people back to widespread damage, now 10 years ago. While April 27 is known in Alabama for the 253 people killed over 18 hours, where 62 confirmed tornadoes ripped across the state, it all started days before.
When was the last EF5 tornado in Alabama?
2011 Super Outbreak
| The storm system responsible for the historic tornado outbreak across the Southern United States on April 27 | |
|---|---|
| Duration | April 25–28, 2011 |
| Highest winds | 210 mph (340 km/h) (Hackleburg/Phil Campbell, AL EF5 on April 27) |
| Tornadoes confirmed | 360 confirmed (Record for a continuous outbreak) |
| Max. rating1 | EF5 tornado |
When was the last bad tornado in Alabama?
At least 240 people were killed in Alabama. Today marks the 10-year anniversary of the worst day in many Alabamians’ lives: The historic tornado super outbreak of April 27, 2011.
In which months does Alabama have the most tornadoes?
Peak tornado season is March through May; Tuscaloosa has a second tornado season from November to early December. Tornadoes are most likely to occur between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m., but can occur at any time.
Where did the tornado hit in 2011?
Over 175 tornadoes struck Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee, the most severely damaged states. Other destructive tornadoes occurred in Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, New York, and Virginia, with storms also affecting other states in the Southern and Eastern United States.
What tornadoes happened in 2011?
This week marks a decade since the “Super Outbreak” of tornadoes April 25-28, 2011, an unprecedented swarm of tornadoes that tore through the South. More than 320 died in the twister barrage, which featured 15 EF4 and EF5 tornadoes, the two highest levels on the 0-to-5 scale for tornado damage.
When is tornado season in Alabama?
For most of Alabama, tornado season is between March and May. However, areas around Tuscaloosa have a second tornado season from November to early December.
Where in Alabama was tornado?
On this date in 2011, two small tornadoes touched down in Alabama. One tornado was in the Battleground community in Cullman County. The other was just outside of Hackleburg in Marion County. Both tornadoes were rated EF0 by the Huntsville and Birmingham National Weather Service offices.
Where were tornadoes in Alabama?
Several tornadoes have been known as the Birmingham Tornado. Birmingham, Alabama, United States. The April 1977 Birmingham tornado an F5 tornado which struck the northern suburbs of Jefferson County, Alabama, killing 22 and injuring 125.
Are there tornadoes in Alabama?
Tornadoes are one problem in Alabama. With a peak tornado season between March and May, Alabama continues to be slammed by an average of 23 storms per season. Tornado chasers and citizens alike know that Alabama can be a location for severe storms.
