A violent tornado outbreak from April 25 – 28, 2011, affected the Southern and Eastern United States, leaving catastrophic destruction in its wake, especially across the state of Alabama. The outbreak produced destructive tornadoes in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, and affected several other areas throughout the Southern and Eastern United States. Widespread and destructive tornadoes occurred on each day of the outbreak.
As of 6:30 p.m. EDT on April 29, 2011, over 339 people were reportedly killed as a result of the outbreak. However, the exact number is unknown as search and rescue efforts continue, and consequently, various sources differ on the exact count. All except five of the deaths occurred on April 27, although it is unclear whether these are included in the total number of fatalities. 238 deaths in Alabama alone had been confirmed by the state's Emergency Management Agency by the afternoon of April 29.April 27 was at least the deadliest tornado day in the United States since the Super Outbreak of 1974, and possibly since the 1932 Deep South tornado outbreak of March 1932.Over 340 tornadoes were reported over four days, including 211 in 16 states on April 27.
Meteorological synopsis
April 25
A large area of possible severe storms for April 25–27 was forecast as the NOAA-NWS-NCEP Storm Prediction Center (SPC) issued a moderate risk of severe weather for three consecutive days, centered over Arkansas through Tennessee. By the late-afternoon hours of April 25, several tornadoes had been reported across a few states, including two which caused significant damage in Oklahoma and Texas. At 3:25 pm CDT (2025 UTC), the SPC issued a Particularly dangerous situation (PDS) tornado watch for much of Arkansas and parts of Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana. Tornadoes were scattered that day until early evening, when an intense tornadic cell tracked near the Little Rock metropolitan area and a tornado emergency was declared for Vilonia, Arkansas. Initial reports indicate that a tornado either 3 miles (4.8 km) or 0.5 miles (0.80 km) wide caused significant damage in the town. Reports indicate four people were killed.
In addition to the tornadoes, severe flooding is ongoing across a large area from the Red River valley to the Great Lakes.
April 26
A high risk of severe weather was issued for April 26 for portions of Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas along and near the Interstate 30 corridor as conditions became even more favorable for extreme weather. A large PDS tornado watch with very high tornado probabilities was issued that afternoon for that same Widespread tornado warnings were issued in this area later that evening, and tornadoes caused damage.
Tornado watches were also issued for the Lower Great Lakes in the afternoon hours, and supercells began to track across southern Michigan in the early evening. Several counties in Michigan were placed under tornado warnings, including Kent, Montcalm, Ionia, Kalamazoo, Calhoun, Barry, Eaton, Midland, and Bay counties. A tornado was later confirmed in Allegan County. A possible funnel had been spotted in Kalamazoo County, and seven people were injured by a lightning strike in Portage. Further east, severe thunderstorms caused scattered wind damage and large hail across Pennsylvania and New York. 2 Inch diameter hail was reported in Lock Haven, Pennsylvania. An isolated supercell moved across Central New York much of the afternoon, producing golf ball sized hail in Syracuse and spawned a very brief EF1 tornado in Verona Mills, causing primarily tree damage.
April 27
These houses in Ringgold, Georgia were completely destroyed by an EF4 tornado.
For the second day in a row, the SPC issued a high risk of severe weather for the Southern United States. Conditions for tornadoes became increasingly favorable for a major outbreak. During the afternoon, a tornado emergency was declared for Neshoba County, Mississippi as a large tornado was reported on the ground by storm spotters.
At around 5:10 p.m. CDT, a very large and exceptionally destructive tornado struck Tuscaloosa, Alabama. About 40 minutes later, a tornado from the same parent supercell, possibly the same tornado, struck the northern suburbs of Birmingham, Alabama. A tornado emergency was issued for both cities. A debris ball was observed by the Birmingham NEXRAD, indicating that the tornado was causing extreme damage. Photos from the damage path showed total devastation. By the afternoon of April 28, the Alabama Emergency Management Agency had confirmed at least 45 storm fatalities in Tuscaloosa. Search and rescue still continues in the city, so this death toll may rise further.
April 28
Tornado watches were issued for the Atlantic Seaboard from Pennsylvania to Florida, but tornadoes were predicted to weaken and become more isolated. Even so, several people were killed across the region and tornadoes were reported in Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina,Georgia, and Florida. A tornado is suspected in Maryland. Although tornado watches were issued, no tornadoes were spotted in New Jersey or Washington, D.C. In the wake of the tornadoes and severe thunderstorms, widespread flooding hit the Midwest, South, and Eastern Seaboard, with extensive flood and flash flood warnings issued.
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