Long Track Tornado Hits Cullman, Alabama (4/27/2011)

(This blog was named WordPress.com “Blog Post of the Day” on Friday, April 29th, 2011.)

A confirmed tornado is on the ground per ABC 33/40. Damage is likely as it has passed directly through downtown Cullman. A tornado emergency is in effect for Cullman County right now. A tower camera on ABC 33/40 out of Birmingham, Alabama has caught this violent, damaging tornado. Here is the radar on this storm.

Debris ball over Cullman, Alabama

A confirmed large wedge tornado was seen near Fairview, Alabama as of 3:08 pm CT. At 3:13 pm CT, a confirmed large wedge tornado was reported near Baileyton, Alabama. Debris ball is showing up on radar. Here is that debris ball image on radar.

Debris ball near Baileyton, AL

Confirmed reports of homes completely wiped out. Also major damage to structures in downtown Cullman, including the courthouse as well. Thank goodness no one has been reported trapped. A church has received damage in Cullman as well.

At 3:30 pm CT, a tornado was still on the ground 3 miles northwest of Arab, Alabama. Still was showing a large wedge tornado that has been on the ground for more than 45 minutes now. Also, confirmed damage to a school has been reported near Fairview, Alabama. Reports of a direct hit to the hospital in Cullman as well. According to ABC 33/40 in Birmingham, Alabama, the courthouse roof was damaged. Here is a view of that tornado from Arab, Alabama.

The Cullman Tornado, as seen from near Guntersville, Alabama. Picture courtesy of WAFF-TV

Thanks to Lane for this clarification on this tornado picture up above. The photo of “The Cullman Tornado, as seen from Arab…” is actually a view from Guntersville, AL, as the storm had passed over Arab and on toward Union Grove.

There were actually five individuals killed in Arab, all members of the Hallmark family.

3:42 pm CT, a report of a mobile home park destroyed in Union Grove, AL.

More: Portions of the City of Cullman were leveled by tornadoes Wednesday afternoon, and nothing but darkened rubble was left of some city blocks by sundown. Widespread electrical outages have also left virtually the entire county without power. Agencies ranging from Cullman Police and Fire, Alabama State Troopers, the National Guard and volunteer fire departments responded to the city. They helped search several blocks in the northeast section of downtown for survivors. So far 2 people have been confirmed dead in Cullman. -Courtesy of the Anniston Star

Also: 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.

Author’s Note: Currently, this tornado is rated at an EF4 (with the NWS survey is incomplete). This tornado tracked straight through downtown Cullman. The tornado was first seen and then tracked on tower cams (including 33/40 out of Birmingham, Alabama-where I see the tornado first hand on there) for several minutes. Some cameras were obliterated. Radio stations in downtown Cullman also reported in on the tornado and some even captured the tornado passing over until their broadcast towers were destroyed. Preliminary reports stated that the courthouse and EMS building nearby took a direct hit from the twister. After the storm passed, most of downtown Cullman was in ruins. Taken out was the transmitter for the NWS weather radio station in Cullman, as well.

Many well-known businesses such as Vincent’s furniture, the Cullman Times, and the Busy Bee Cafe were severely damaged or destroyed. Few homes were actually damaged by this tornado, but most businesses in downtown Cullman suffered moderate damage to complete destruction. This tornado continued Northeast and swept away a gas station in Arab, Alabama along with completely crippling Arab’s power grid and obstructing many roads with trees. No injuries or fatalities were reported from this tornado. (Earlier reports had shown 2 people were killed in this tornado.)

The tornado would be on the ground for more than 50 miles. Here is the map showing the track of this tornado.

Preliminary tornado tracks in Huntsville NWS weather office area. Courtesy of the Huntsville NWS office

Here is the statement that the Huntsville NWS office wrote on this.

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
1023 PM CDT SAT APR 30 2011

…PRELIMINARY STORM SURVEY INFORMATION FROM MARSHALL COUNTY…

…UPDATED INFORMATION TO INCLUDE CULLMAN AND MORGAN COUNTY WITH THIS
TORNADO…

A PRELIMINARY STORM SURVEY OF THE DAMAGE IN MARSHALL COUNTY HAS BEEN
COMPLETED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HUNTSVILLE. IT HAS BEEN
DETERMINED THAT THIS DAMAGE PATH WAS AN EXTENSION OF A LONG TRACK
TORNADO THAT WENT ACROSS MUCH OF CULLMAN AND EXTREME SOUTHEAST MORGAN
COUNTY ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON /APRIL 27/.

DESPITE THIS TORNADO BEING ONE CONTINUOUS PATH FROM SOUTHWEST CULLMAN COUNTY TO NORTHWEST MARSHALL COUNTY…THIS INFORMATION STATEMENT WILL BE BROKEN INTO 3 SEGMENTS /FOR EACH COUNTY/.

SEGMENT #1: CULLMAN COUNTY

* EVENT TYPE: TORNADO
* EVENT DATE: 04/27/11
* ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 175 MPH
* PRELIMINARY RATING: EF-4
* PATH LENGTH: 28 MILES (ESTIMATED)
* MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH: 1/2 MILE
* FATALITIES: UNKNOWN
* INJURIES: UNKNOWN
* SUMMARY: A POTENTIALLY LONG-TRACK TORNADO WENT SOUTHWEST TO NORTHEAST ACROSS CULLMAN COUNTY. SOME LIGHT DAMAGE OCCURRED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF SMITH LAKE ALONG COUNTY ROAD (CR) 310. MORE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE WAS OBSERVED TO THE NORTHEAST ALONG CR 222 AND ALONG CR 436 NEAR GRANDVIEW…WHERE SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURAL DAMAGE OCCURRED TO SEVERAL RESIDENCES AND NUMEROUS LARGE TREES WERE SNAPPED.

THE TORNADO CONTINUED TO TRACK NORTHEAST TOWARD THE TOWN OF CULLMAN WHERE SOME OF THE WORST DAMAGE OCCURRED JUST NORTHEAST OF HIGHWAY 31 AND 278. SEVERAL SMALL RETAIL BUILDINGS WERE COMPLETELY DESTROYED ALONG WITH NEAR TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF A LARGE CHURCH. THE TORNADO CONTINUED ITS TRACK NORTHEAST CROSSING HIGHWAY 157 THEN CREATING ADDITIONAL DAMAGE NORTH OF HIGHWAY 69 BETWEEN SIMCOE AND PLEASANT VIEW. JUST NORTH OF FAIRVIEW ALONG CR 1559 AND CR 1564…TWO HOMES WERE DESTROYED WITH SIGNIFICANT PORTIONS OF THE HOMES NOT FOUND. FURTHER NORTHEAST ALONG CR 1589…MAJOR STRUCTURAL DAMAGE OCCURRED TO SEVERAL OLD (EARLY 1900S) HOMES AND NUMEROUS HARDWOOD TREES WERE DEBARKED. OUTSIDE OF THE CITY OF CULLMAN… SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE OCCURRED IN A 1/4-1/2 MILE WIDE CORRIDOR NORTH OF HIGHWAY 69…BETWEEN FAIRVIEW AND THE CULLMAN/MORGAN COUNTY LINE.

SEGMENT #2: MORGAN COUNTY

* EVENT TYPE: TORNADO
* EVENT DATE: 04/27/11
* ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 185 MPH
* PRELIMINARY RATING: EF-4
* PATH LENGTH: 3 MILES (ESTIMATED)
* MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH: 1/2 MILE
* FATALITIES: 0
* INJURIES: UNKNOWN
* SUMMARY: THE TORNADO CROSSED OUT OF CULLMAN COUNTY BRIEFLY INTO EXTREME SOUTHEAST MORGAN COUNTY NEAR THE TOWN OF HULACO. SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE OCCURRED BETWEEN HYATT BOTTOM ROAD AND BLOCKER ROAD…JUST EAST OF HIGHWAY 67. SEVERAL CINDER BLOCK AND OLD CONSTRUCTION HOMES WERE DESTROYED AND NUMEROUS TREES WERE SNAPPED AND SHEARED TOWARD THE BASE.

SEGMENT #3: MARSHALL COUNTY

* EVENT TYPE: TORNADO
* EVENT DATE: 04/27/10
* ESTIMATED PEAK WIND: 190 MPH
* PRELIMINARY RATING: EF-4
* PATH LENGTH: 16 MILES (ESTIMATED)
* MAXIMUM PATH WIDTH: 1/2 MILE
* FATALITIES: 5
* INJURIES: UNKNOWN
* SUMMARY: SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE FROM A LONG TRACK TORNADO CONTINUED INTO NORTHWEST MARSHALL COUNTY. THE WORST OF THE DAMAGE OCCURRED FROM THE MORGAN/MARSHALL COUNTY LINE…ALONG HOG JAW ROAD… NORTHEAST TO HIGHWAY 231 /ABOUT 3 MILES NORTH OF ARAB/.

ALONG HOG JAW ROAD…A LARGE STORAGE SHED WITH FARM EQUIPMENT WAS DESTROYED WITH SOME OF THE LARGE MACHINERY TOSSED 10 TO 20 YARDS AROUND THE SHED. MOUNT OAK AND FRONTIER ROAD WERE HARDEST HIT WHERE A CINDER BLOCK/CEMENT HOME WAS NEARLY WIPED CLEAN. DEBRIS FROM THIS HOME WAS THROWN ABOUT 50-100 YARDS AWAY. A TRAILER WAS MISSING AND A METAL BOLTED GARAGE WAS WIPED CLEAN OF ITS FOUNDATION.

ALONG FRONTIER ROAD…A LARGE BRICK HOME WAS NEARLY WIPED CLEAN OFF ITS FOUNDATION WITH SEVERAL LARGE TREES RIPPED OUT OF THE GROUND AND MISSING. FURTHER NORTHEAST ALONG THE PATH…ALONG WALNUT RIDGE…A ONE-STORY HOME WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED WITH THE ROOF MISSING AND A TRAILER THAT WAS TOSSED INTO A TREE. SEVERAL CONCRETE POWER POLES WERE BENT OVER AS THE TORNADO CROSSED HWY 231…SOME BENT AT THE BASE. ON THE EAST SIDE OF HWY 231…A JET PEP GAS STATION BUILDING WAS COMPLETELY DEMOLISHED AND TWO GAS PUMPS WERE RIPPED FROM THE GROUND AND MISSING. THE CANOPY OVER THE PUMPS REMAINED MOSTLY INTACT.

THE TORNADO CONTINUED TOWARD UNION GROVE. THE DEGREE OF DAMAGE WEAKENED SOMEWHAT BUT SEVERAL HOMES HAD SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE WHERE THE TOP STORIES AND ROOFS WERE DESTROYED ALONG WITH SOME EXTERNAL WALLS COLLAPSED. ALONG COUNTY ROAD 240…A DOUBLE WIDE MANUFACTURED HOME WAS DESTROYED AND LARGE GARAGE COLLAPSED BUT THE WELL-BUILT ROOF REMAINED INTACT.

THE TORNADO THEN SIGNIFICANTLY WEAKENED AS IT CROSSED THE TENNESSEE RIVER. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER…THE TORNADO SNAPPED AND UPROOTED NUMEROUS TREES AS IT CROSSED WALKER ROAD AND JUST ACROSS HWY 431 BEFORE FINALLY LIFTING JUST NORTHEAST OF 431.

THESE FINDINGS ARE PRELIMINARY AND ARE SUBJECT TO ADJUSTMENT. PICTURES AND SUMMARY MATERIALS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB PAGE AT WEATHER.GOV/HUNTSVILLE /ALL LOWER CASE/.

Here is the weather statement on the tornado. It is a confirmed tornado near Cullman, Arab, Baileyton, Fairview & Holly Springs, Alabama.

BULLETIN – EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
351 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HUNTSVILLE HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR…
SOUTHERN JACKSON COUNTY IN NORTHEAST ALABAMA…

* UNTIL 415 PM CDT

* AT 347 PM CDT…NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
A TORNADO NEAR LANGSTON MOVING NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH. THIS STORM HAS
A HISTORY OF PRODUCING A LARGE TORNADO FROM CULLMAN TO ARAB.

* LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO INCLUDE…
LANGSTON.
SCOTTSBORO.
DUTTON.
MARTINTOWN.
PISGAH.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

TAKE COVER NOW! MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME…A VEHICLE OR
OUTDOORS…MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT
YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CDT WEDNESDAY EVENING
FOR NORTHERN ALABAMA AND CENTRAL TENNESSEE.

BULLETIN – EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
325 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HUNTSVILLE HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO EMERGENCY FOR…
SOUTHEASTERN MADISON COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL ALABAMA…
SOUTHWESTERN JACKSON COUNTY IN NORTHEAST ALABAMA…
NORTHERN MARSHALL COUNTY IN NORTHEAST ALABAMA…

* UNTIL 415 PM CDT

* AT 319 PM CDT…NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
A LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO ABOUT NEAR ARAB…MOVING
NORTHEAST AT 45 MPH.

* LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO INCLUDE…
HEBRON.
COLUMBUS CITY.
GRANT.
WOODVILLE.
LIM ROCK.
LARKINSVILLE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A TORNADO HAS BEEN CONFIRMED. TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY! DO NOT RUN
OUTSIDE TO FIND THE TORNADO…THIS IS A DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY
LIFE THREATENING SITUATION!

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CDT WEDNESDAY EVENING
FOR NORTHERN ALABAMA AND CENTRAL TENNESSEE.

ALC089-095-103-272045-
/O.CON.KHUN.TO.W.0067.000000T0000Z-110427T2045Z/
MORGAN AL-MARSHALL AL-MADISON AL-
318 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

…A TORNADO EMERGENCY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 345 PM CDT FOR SOUTH
CENTRAL MADISON…WEST CENTRAL MARSHALL AND SOUTHEASTERN MORGAN
COUNTIES…

AT 315 PM CDT…NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR AND STORM
SPOTTERS WERE TRACKING A LARGE AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TORNADO. THIS
TORNADO WAS LOCATED NEAR HULACO…OR ABOUT 6 MILES WEST OF ARAB…
MOVING NORTHEAST AT 55 MPH.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO EDDY…
MORGAN CITY…UNION GROVE…GUNTERSVILLE…HEBRON AND NEW HOPE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

TAKE COVER NOW! MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME…A VEHICLE OR
OUTDOORS…MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT
YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

TO REPEAT…A LARGE…EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY
TORNADO IS ON THE GROUND. TO PROTECT YOUR LIFE…TAKE COVER NOW! MOVE
TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A STURDY BUILDING AND
AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME…A VEHICLE OR OUTDOORS…MOVE TO
THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FLYING
DEBRIS.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CDT WEDNESDAY EVENING
FOR NORTHERN ALABAMA AND CENTRAL TENNESSEE.

SEVERE WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
250 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

ALC043-103-272015-
/O.CON.KHUN.TO.W.0065.000000T0000Z-110427T2015Z/
MORGAN AL-CULLMAN AL-
250 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

…A TORNADO EMERGENCY IN EFFECT UNTIL 315 PM CDT FOR NORTHERN
CULLMAN AND SOUTHEASTERN MORGAN COUNTIES…

AT 247 PM CDT…TRAINED WEATHER SPOTTERS REPORTED A TORNADO. THIS
TORNADO IS LOCATED 8 MILES SOUTHWEST OF CULLMAN…MOVING NORTHEAST
AT 50 MPH. THIS IS A DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING SITUATION.

OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO GOOD
HOPE…BALDWIN…WEST POINT…PHELAN…SOUTH VINEMONT…LACON…COLE
SPRINGS…FAIRVIEW…EVA…BAILEYTON…RYAN CROSSROADS…HULACO AND
FLORETTE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

TAKE COVER NOW! MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME…A VEHICLE OR
OUTDOORS…MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT
YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

A TORNADO HAS BEEN CONFIRMED. TAKE COVER IMMEDIATELY! DO NOT RUN
OUTSIDE TO FIND THE TORNADO…THIS IS A DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY
LIFE THREATENING SITUATION!

&&

LAT…LON 3450 8673 3427 8654 3404 8694 3421 8706
TIME…MOT…LOC 1948Z 227DEG 44KT 3414 8696

$$

CCC

092
======================================================================
WFUS54 KHUN 271943
TORHUN
ALC043-103-272015-
/O.NEW.KHUN.TO.W.0065.110427T1943Z-110427T2015Z/

BULLETIN – EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
TORNADO WARNING
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
243 PM CDT WED APR 27 2011

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HUNTSVILLE HAS ISSUED A

* TORNADO WARNING FOR…
NORTHERN CULLMAN COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL ALABAMA…
SOUTHEASTERN MORGAN COUNTY IN NORTH CENTRAL ALABAMA…

* UNTIL 315 PM CDT

* AT 238 PM CDT…NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR WAS TRACKING
A TORNADO 7 MILES SOUTHWEST OF LOGAN…OR ABOUT 15 MILES
SOUTHWEST OF CULLMAN…MOVING NORTHEAST AT 50 MPH. REPORTS OF
DAMAGE HAVE BEEN REPORTED NEAR CRANE HILL.

* LOCATIONS NEAR THE PATH OF THIS TORNADO INCLUDE…
GOOD HOPE.
BALDWIN.
SOUTH VINEMONT.
COLE SPRINGS.
EVA.
FLORETTE.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

TAKE COVER NOW! MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
STURDY BUILDING. AVOID WINDOWS. IF IN A MOBILE HOME…A VEHICLE OR
OUTDOORS…MOVE TO THE CLOSEST SUBSTANTIAL SHELTER AND PROTECT
YOURSELF FROM FLYING DEBRIS.

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1000 PM CDT WEDNESDAY EVENING
FOR NORTHERN ALABAMA AND CENTRAL TENNESSEE.