At a Glance
- A destructive tornado hit Selma, Alabama.
- Homes were damaged in LaGrange, Georgia.
- About 200,000 power outages were reported.
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At least six people are dead and damage and injuries were reported in several areas as severe weather including tornadoes moved across the Southeast Thursday.
One tornado carved a path of destruction through Selma, Alabama. Homes and businesses were damaged in several areas, semis tipped over and power lines knocked down.
Power outages neared 200,000 across Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia.
(WATCH: DHere's What To Expect From These Storms)
Here are our updates from throughout the day Thursday.
(7:36 p.m. ET) At Least Six Dead In Alabama
A tornado claimed the lives of several people in Autauga County, Alabama.
"Right now we have six confirmed fatalities," Emergency Management Director Ernie Baggett told weather.com in a phone call a few minutes ago.
"The best we can tell is about 40 homes have major damage or have been completely destroyed."
Baggett said most of the deaths were in mobile homes. The hardest hit areas were the communities of Marbury and Old Kingston.
Search efforts were ongoing.
(7:09 p.m. ET) Reports Of Deaths In Alabama
There are reports of deaths in Autauga County, Alabama, but a dispatcher there told weather.com that officials were out in the field responding to the emergency and could not be immediately reached to confirm.
The county is about 41 miles northeast of Selma and includes the city of Prattville. Ernie Baggett, the county’s emergency management director, told The Associated Press that an estimated 40 to 50 homes were damaged.
(6:32 p.m. ET) Griffin, Georgia, Residents Told To Stay Home
"Our team is working to regain power, clear streets, remove storm debris, and answer incoming calls regarding the needed help," an update from the city this evening read. "PLEASE STAY HOME! We will update you with more details soon. If you have an emergency, please dial 911. #griffinstrong."
(6:04 p.m. ET) State of Emergency Declared In Six Alabama Counties
Gov. Kay Ivey declared a state of emergency for Autauga, Chambers, Coosa, Dallas, Elmore and Tallapoosa counties.
(5:56 p.m. ET) Georgia Power Outages Top 120,000
About 123,000 power outages are being reported in Georgia, according to PowerOutage.u.s. There are about 55,000 in Alabama and 20,000 in Tennessee.
(5:47 p.m. ET) Selma Impacts 'Quite Substantial'
Ricky Adams, Field Operations Director for the Alabama Emergency Agency, gave The Weather Channel an update on the situation in Selma.
“The damage is quite substantial as we understand," Adams said. "There are reports of some injuries. So far there are no reports of any fatalities at this point. But we do know that the county EMA and staff there are still assessing and checking on the residents there.”
Residents in impacted areas throughout the state are being asked to avoid sight seeing and remain on alert for the possibility of more bad weather.
(5:35 p.m. ET) Damage Reported At Businesses in Griffin, Georgia
At least one car was blown over and damaged at a Walmart in Griffin, Georgia. There are also reports of damage to to at least one large business there.
(5:19 p.m. ET) Woman Escapes Tree Limb Crashing Through Office
The sheriff's office in Carroll County, Georgia, says a woman was working in her office in the community of Fairfield Plantation when a tree limb came crashing through. Photos showed the limb hanging over a desk.
"We received reports of damage, trees down, and power outages throughout the county with the latest storm that passed through," the sheriff said in a Facebook post. "Luckily no injuries have been reported as of this time."
Carroll County is southwest of Atlanta.
(4:01 p.m. ET) Photos of Damage Across The South
Check our slideshow for more photos as the images are updated.
(3:53 p.m. ET) First Tornado Reports From Georgia
There are at least two reports of a tornado in Georgia, including one forming near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, where a ground stop is in place halting all outgoing flights.
(3:46 p.m. ET) "Multi-Vortex" Tornado In Elmore County
A photo shared to social media showed a tornado with a side vortex.
T"his appears to be a multi-vortex tornado about 20 miles north of Montgomery, Alabama, Thursday afternoon," weather.com com senior meteorologist Jonathan Erdman said. "Multi-vortex tornadoes can have smaller suction vortices rotating around and within the larger circulation. These can produce heavier damage within a given tornado."
(3:05 p.m. ET) Hundreds Of Thousands Without Power Across South
More than 100,000 power outages combined are being reported in Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia, according to PowerOutage.us. Here's a breakdown: 52,220 in Tennessee; 44,997 in Alabama; 9,412 in Georgia.
Each outage can represent multiple people in a household or building.
(3:02 p.m. ET) Closer Look At Selma Damage
Photos show what appears to be extensive damage in at least one part of the city.
(2:50 p.m. ET) Damage In Mobile County
Photos are emerging of damage in Movico, near Mobile in southern Alabamal. Pictures show at least one home completely destroyed.
(2:45 p.m. ET) Selma Students Safe
All students in Selma schools are safe, according to WFSA-TV, citing the superintendent. Schools went on a weather lockdown about an hour ago.
(2:33 p.m. ET) Extensive Power Outages In Selma Area
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More than half of the electricity accounts in Dallas County, Alabama, are without power, according to PowerOutage.us. Selma is the county seat. In all,
(2:12 p.m. ET) Roof Ripped Off Selma Country Club
A photo posted to social media showed extensive damage to the building.
(2:07 p.m. ET) Reports Of At Least One Person Trapped, Another Missing
The mayor of Selma says at least one person is believed to be trapped in a building on Broad Street, and one other may be missing, WFSA-TV is reporting. There are multiple downed power lines and this is an emergency situation, according to the report.
(1:39 p.m. ET) Tornado Damage in Selma, Alabama
The National Weather Service has confirmed reports of damage, some possibly extensive, in and around Selma, Alabama, after a large tornado moved through the area.
(12:24 p.m. ET) Tornado Confirmed In Mercer County, Kentucky
The National Weather Service has confirmed an EF1 tornado with winds around 100 mph this morning in West Harrodsburg, Kentucky. The full survey is still in progress.
(12:19 p.m. ET) Two Georgia School Districts Announce Early Dismissals
Schools in Banks County will release students at 2 p.m today. Schools in Gilmer County will have early dismissal between noon and 1 p.m. depending on school.
(12:06 p.m. ET) Birmingham Opens Storm Shelters
Four storm shelters are open in Birmingham at Jimmie Hudson Park, Pratt City Park, Smithfield Estates Park and South Hampton School. The city urges anyone under a tornado or severe weather warning to seek refuge immediately in a shelter, safe room, basement or small interior room on the lowest level of a sturdy structure.
(11:51 a.m. ET) Severe Weather Reports Across At Least Three States
The National Weather Service is tracking dozens of reports of tornadoes, hail and high winds from Alabama, Kentucky and Mississippi. They include:
-A wind gust of 62 mph in Mooresville, Alabama, southwest of Hunstville.
-Quarter-size hail in Butler County, Kentucky, northwest of Bowling Green.
-A mobile home destroyed by a possible tornado in Sumter County, Alabama, near the Mississippi state line.
(11:35 a.m. ET) Sheriff's Boathouse Damaged
Photos shared by the Morgan County, Alabama, Sheriff's Office showed damage to a boathouse shared by several agencies. The boathouse is located along Highway 20, where there are also reports of blown-over vehicles and other damage.
(11:15 a.m. ET) Downed Power Lines, Overturned Vehicles
"We have a lot of power lines down, we have residences without power, we have some overturned vehicles," Morgan County, Alabama, Emergency Management Specialist Hillary Granbois said in a phone interview. "We do have reports of injuries from debris."
Granbois said none of the injuries reported so far are serious. Morgan County includes the town of Decatur, where several photos have shown damage this morning.
(11 a.m. ET) County Courthouse Closed Due To Power Outage
The courthouse in Morgan County courthouse in Decatur, Alabama, is closed due to an extended power outage. It's one of about 4,700 outages being reported in the state right now, according to PowerOutage.us.
(10:49 a.m. ET) Semi Blown Over In Alabama
At least one semitrailer was blown over in Decatur, Alabama, where there are several reports of storm damage and some injuries.
(10:41 a.m. ET) Some Atlanta-Area Schools Could Dismiss Early
School administrators in Cobb County, Georgia, say they are monitoring the weather closely and said in a tweet: "If conditions warrant a change in dismissal times, we will update you as soon as possible."
(10:33 a.m. ET) Residents Told To Avoid Part Of Harrodsburg, Kentucky
Officials are asking people to stay away from Mafew building. A photo shared by a county social media account showed some roof damage and first responders on the scene.
(10:29 a.m. ET) Atlanta, Birmingham Could See Severe Weather This Afternoon
The tail end of a cold front is helping to form a squall line of strong to severe storms that tracks from west-to-east across the South into this afternoon and early evening.
NOAA's Storm Prediction Center has issued a tornado watch from eastern parts of Mississippi into northern and central Alabama and extreme south-central Tennessee until 1 p.m. CST.
Severe thunderstorm watches have been issued for portions of Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia into the afternoon.
Atlanta as well as Birmingham and Montgomery, Alabama, have the greatest chance to see severe storms by this afternoon. A larger area from parts of Mississippi, Tennessee and Kentucky to the western Carolinas could have at least isolated severe storms.
Destructive straight-line winds might cause tree damage and knock out power. There is also the possibility that tornadoes could develop within the squall line. Large hail could even accompany some of the most intense storms.
Click here for the complete forecast.
(10:24 a.m. ET) Reports of Children Trapped Are False, Police Say
"Due to the damage from this mornings severe weather ... It has been brought to our attention that there is a post elsewhere stating there are children trapped in a daycare. This is false. THERE ARE NO TRAPPED CHILDREN," police in Harrodsburg, Kentucky, said in a Facebook post about 20 minutes ago.
(10:21 a.m. ET) One Third Of Kentucky County Without Power
More than 33% of utility customers in Mercer County, Kentucky, are without electricity, according to PowerOutage.us. Mercer County is about 20 miles southwest of Lexington and includes the communities of Harrodsburg, Cornishville, and Salvisa.
(10:13 a.m. ET) Injuries Reported In Morgan County, Alabama
The Morgan County Sheriff's Office says damage and injures are being reported along Highway 20 in Decatur, as well as downed trees and power lines.
(10:09 a.m. ET) Photos Show Damage In Alabama
Image shared to social media show buildings and other structures damaged in Decatur, Alabama, about 23 miles southwest of Huntsville.
(9:10 a.m. ET) Elementary School Roof Damaged
Classes were canceled at Ben Johnson Elementary School in McDaniels, Kentucky, after a storm caused "significant" damage to the gym roof, according to WDRB-TV.
(8:40 a.m. ET) Possible Tornado Damages Mississippi House
Sheriff's deputies say a vacant house was damaged in a possible tornado in Monroe County, Mississippi, according to WCBI-TV.
The area was under a tornado warning.
(8:06 a.m. ET) People Reportedly Trapped In Delmar, Alabama
The National Weather Service says a 911 call center reported storm damage with people trapped in Delmar, Alabama, in Winston County.
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FAQs
Did powerful storms slam South at least 6 killed in Alabama? ›
A giant, swirling storm system billowing across the South killed at least six people Thursday in central Alabama, authorities said, and spawned a tornado that shredded the walls of homes, toppled roofs and uprooted trees in Selma.
Were 6 killed in Alabama tornado today? ›6 dead in Alabama after tornado hits Autauga County
The confirmed tornado traveled through Dallas and Autauga counties, causing damage. The six people, who haven't been identified, were killed in Autauga County, about 40 miles northeast of Selma, according to Autauga County Sheriff David Hill.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), this storm tore across the landscape for almost 23 miles (37 kilometers) with wind speeds that peaked at 130 miles per hour. It tracked northeast from near Orrville, continued through downtown Selma, and ended near Burnsville.
Who were the people killed in tornado in Alabama? ›Victims Robert Gardner Jr, 70, and Deanna Marie Corbin, 59, lived in one residence at the 800 block of Sandy Ridge Road, while Christopher Allen Corbin Jr, 46, and Tessa Celeste Desmet, 21 lived at another on the 1000 block.
Has Alabama ever had an EF5 tornado? ›A total of 18 people died in the Hackleburg area. The tornado was the first F5 or EF5 in Alabama since the Birmingham tornado of April 8, 1998. The presence of well-built homes swept away, extensive wind-rowing, and cars thrown hundreds of yards were the main factors that led to the EF5 rating in Hackleburg.
Has there ever been an F5 tornado in Alabama? ›1974 Super Outbreak – Officially listed as an F5, but rated an F4 by Grazulis and Fujita. Crossed into Tennessee and did F4 damage in both states, though the supposed F5 damage only occurred in Alabama, where numerous homes were swept away and extensive wind-rowing of debris occurred.
Which city in Alabama has the most tornadoes? ›Which city in Alabama has the most tornadoes? Mobile County — home to Mobile — sees the most tornadoes each year, totaling 110 twisters from 1950 to 2022.
Is Alabama called Tornado Alley? ›Alabama resides in the United States' most deadly tornado area—the Dixie Alley. Researchers are becoming increasingly aware of how dangerous and deadly tornados in the Deep South/ Gulf Coast states can be. Huntsville, Alabama was been rated the top tornado city in 2013.
Where was the deadliest tornado in the United States? ›The deadliest tornado ever happened on March 18, 1925. It is called the Tri-State Tornado because it occurred in three different states: Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana. The F5 tornado, which is also the longest ever, stretched for 219 miles across these three states. It lasted for 3.5 hours and killed 695 people.
What state has had the most EF5 tornadoes? ›The states with the highest number of F5 and EF5 rated tornadoes since data was available in 1950 are Alabama and Oklahoma, each with seven tornadoes. Iowa, Kansas, and Texas each are tied for second-most with six. The state with the highest number of F5 and EF5 tornadoes per square mile, however, was Iowa.
Which state holds the record for most tornadoes? ›
What state has the most tornadoes on average? Since 1997, Texas has averaged 135 tornadoes per year — the highest of any other state in the U.S., according to our analysis of data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). [3] "Storm Events Database."
What was the longest track tornado in Alabama? ›However, the longest tornado track on record in Alabama happened on May 27, 1973. That was the F4 tornado that affected areas from Greensboro all the way to Mount Cheaha. It had a track of 139.10 miles, according to weather service data.
What's the name of the deadliest tornado in the US? ›Deadliest single tornado in US history
The Tri-State tornado of March 18, 1925, killed 695 people in Missouri (11), Illinois (613), and Indiana (71).
The deadliest tornado of all time in the United States was the Tri-State Tornado on March 18, 1925 in Missouri, Illinois and Indiana. It killed 695 people and injured over 2,000.
Who was driving the truck in the tornado? ›Riley Leon is just 16-years-old and was the driver of the red truck that was caught on camera being pushed around and flipped by a tornado in Central Texas. FOX 7 Austin's Amanda Ruiz spoke to the driver of the truck, 16-year-old Riley Leon.
Has there ever been a F6 tornado? ›Only two tornadoes, the 1970 Lubbock, Texas and 1974 Xenia, Ohio were ever rated F6.
What was the strongest tornado in Alabama? ›...
2011 Tuscaloosa–Birmingham tornado.
| EF4 tornado | |
|---|---|
| Highest winds | 190 mph (310 km/h) |
| Max. rating1 | EF4 tornado |
| Fatalities | 64 fatalities (+8 indirect), 1,500+ injuries |
| Damage | $2.4 billion (2011 USD) |
The original Fujita Scale actually goes up to F12. An F12 tornado would have winds of about 740 MPH, the speed of sound. Roughly 3/4 of all tornadoes are EF0 or EF1 tornadoes and have winds that are less than 100 MPH.
What is the largest EF5 tornado ever recorded? ›1. The Tri-State Tornado of March 25, 1925. The ”single” deadliest tornado in U.S. history was the famous Tri-State Tornado of March 25, 1925. At least695 people died in Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana when a F5 mile-wide monster carved a course that was apparently 219 miles through the three states.
What is an F7 tornado? ›There is no such thing as an 'F' rating for tornadoes; therefore … it's impossible for a tornado to be rated F7 or F8. Tornadoes are rated on a scale from EF0 to EF5. Tornadoes are rated on a scale from EF0 to EF5. The ratings are based on the damage done to physical structures.
How many EF5 tornadoes are in Alabama? ›
The eight EF5s to hit Alabama are:March 3, 1966: Vienna and Benevola in Pickens and Tuscaloosa countiesApril 3, 1974: Guin in Marion CountyApril 3, 1974: Tanner to Harvest in Limestone and Madison countiesApril 3, 1974: Mt.
What state is known for Tornado Alley? ›Tornado alley is a cluster of states in the midwestern US where tornadoes are most likely to occur. Tornado alley is typically identified as including parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Indiana, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois, and Ohio.
What city gets the most tornado warnings? ›Severe thunderstorm warnings issued by local NWS forecast offices from 2012 through 2021. The Slidell, Louisiana, and Jackson, Mississippi, NWS offices issued over 800 tornado warnings from 2012 through 2021, most of any office in the nation.
What to do if a tornado picks you up? ›Go to the basement or an inside room without windows on the lowest floor (bathroom, closet, center hallway). If possible, avoid sheltering in any room with windows. For added protection get under something sturdy (a heavy table or workbench). Cover your body with a blanket, sleeping bag or mattress.
Why is Alabama so prone to tornadoes? ›The topography in Alabama and other Southern states often includes rolling hills, plateaus, and many more trees than the Plains states like Kansas, Texas, and Nebraska, where a tornado often can be seen from miles away.
Is Dixie Alley worse than Tornado Alley? ›Tornadoes in the Dixie Alley are harder to spot and often happen at night. Tornadoes in this area tend to stay on land longer and move faster, causing more damage. It's not uncommon for tornadoes here to move faster than fifty mph. More tornado-related deaths occur in Dixie Alley than in Tornado Alley.
What state does not have tornadoes? ›What states don't have tornadoes? Alaska, Rhode Island, and Washington, D.C. rarely see tornadoes — they averaged zero tornadoes annually over the last 25 years, according to our analysis of NOAA data.
Can a plane fly over a tornado? ›No. The air in a tornado is filled with swirling pieces of debris. These would destroy the airframe and choke the jet engine. The shockwave from exceeding the speed of sound would have no meaningful effect on the atmospheric conditions creating and maintaining the tornado.
What is the longest tornado on ground in US history? ›Discussion. The so-called Tri-State Tornado traveled an exact heading N 69° E for 183 of its 219 mile track. It was on the ground for 3 ½ hours and killed an estimated 695 people. Its average forward (not rotational) speed was 27.7 m/s (62 mph) with a maximum speed of 32.6 m/s (73 mph).
What is the number 1 state for tornadoes? ›Texas is by far America's most active state for tornadoes, averaging 151 twisters each year. In a distant second place is Kansas, with an annual average of 91 tornadoes.
What was the shortest tornado ever recorded? ›
Rope tornadoes can be as narrow as 2-3 feet wide. One such tornado was reported to have a damage path only 7 feet long.
Does Russia have tornadoes? ›Other tornadoes were recorded in 1945 in Moscow and in 1951, 1956, 1970, 1971, 1984 (during the tornado outbreak of 9 June), 1987, 1994, and 1997 in Moscow Oblast 100 km south-east from Moscow (near Zaraysk). Another was seen in June 2009 near Sergiyev Posad.
What usually kills people in a tornado? ›Flying debris causes most deaths and injuries during a tornado. Although there is no completely safe place during a tornado, some locations are much safer than others.
What do truckers do in a tornado? ›1) Stay in the driver's seat and get low
Experts say this is quite dangerous because it increases your chances of being hit with debris. Unless you can easily get into a nearby building, you shouldn't risk it. Instead, look for a nearby ditch or other space that's below ground level, and try to get your truck into it.
An EF-1 tornado can push a moving car off the road and an EF-2 tornado can pick a car off the ground. Do not hide under an overpass.
What was the deadliest tornado in Alabama? ›Tornado Outbreak of March 21, 1932
The single deadliest tornado in Alabama history occurred in this outbreak: a twister that killed 49 people on its 60 mile journey across Perry, Bibb, Chilton, Shelby, and Coosa counties.
Only three major hurricanes, the 1926 Miami hurricane, Hurricane Frederic (1979), Hurricane Ivan (2004) and only one off-season storm, Tropical Storm Alberto (2018) has made landfall in Alabama.
What is the strongest storm on record to make landfall? ›With a wind speed of 185 mph at landfall, the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 is the strongest hurricane ever to hit the United States. It was also the first recorded Category 5 storm in the country's history.
Where do tornadoes hit the most in Alabama? ›Where do tornadoes hit the most in Alabama? Mobile County — home to Mobile and Daphne — experiences the most tornadoes of any other county in Alabama, coming in at 110 twisters in total from 1950 to 2022, according to the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information.
Which state has the deadliest tornadoes? ›
Based on 2021 data, the states with the highest risk for tornadoes are Texas, Alabama and Mississippi, but tornadoes can and do occur in most of the country. Understanding your area's risk level for tornadic activity could help you lessen the risk of property damage and injuries.
What state has the most severe tornadoes? ›...
Top 10 states with the most tornadoes in 2022.
WHERE: Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. The costliest hurricane on record is Hurricane Katrina. It reached top winds of 175 mph, but as it made landfall in Louisiana, it had weakened into a Category 3 storm. It destroyed New Orleans, killed more than 1,800 people, and damaged 275,000 homes.
What state has the biggest hurricane? ›Galveston, Texas Hurricane of 1900
Considered the deadliest U.S. natural disaster, the Category 4 hurricane in Galveston, Texas, destroyed more than 3,600 buildings with 135 mph winds, according to the History Channel.
Typhoon Tip was the largest tropical cyclone on record, with a diameter of 1,380 mi (2,220 km)—almost double the previous record of 700 mi (1,130 km) in diameter set by Typhoon Marge in August 1951.
Has a cat 5 ever hit the US? ›Only four Category 5 hurricanes have ever made landfall in the mainland U.S., according to records from the Hurricane Research Division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Weather Channel and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
Has there ever been a Category 7 hurricane? ›Only one hurricane in world history would rank as a category 7: Hurricane Patricia of 2015, which peaked with 215-mph sustained winds off the Pacific coast of Mexico.
What month has the most tornadoes in Alabama? ›March and April have the highest number of tornadoes per month in the state. March has had 368 tornadoes and April has had 555, records dating 1950 to 2021.
Does Alabama get more tornadoes than Oklahoma? ›Tornadoes by State
Oklahoma leads the nation for severe storms, having experienced 65 EF-4/F4+ tornadoes between 1950 and 2016. Texas is second (52), followed by Iowa (51), Kansas (49), and Alabama (42). The nation's deadliest tornado struck the heart of Tornado Alley, hitting Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana.