Over 20 Tornadoes Kicked off Alabama’s Severe Weather Season

Editor Note: Updated on 3.28.2021

Severe Weather season is in full swing. In Alabama, the primary severe weather runs from March through May. It’s also a peak season for tornadoes. I encourage you to know about severe weather, terminology, preparation, and how to stay safe.

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Last Wednesday, March 17, 2021, our area was struck with multiple rounds of severe weather. These waves included tornadoes, damaging winds, hail, and flooding. It was over many hours as well.

The National Weather Service in Birmingham has reported that by a “statewide tornado count for a single event, the 3/17 event ranks at number 6.” These storms put many Alabamians on edge. We are glad that many listeners were able to stay safe during this tornado outbreak. At the time of this report, there were 24 total tornadoes statewide. There were 20 tornadoes documented in the coverage area for the National Weather Service in Birmingham.

The Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF Scale) is used for rating tornadoes. It is based on estimated wind speeds and related damage. Here are the categories:

EF0 – Weak - 65 TO 85 mph
EF1 – Weak - 86 TO 110 mph
EF2 – Strong - 111 TO 135 mph
EF3 – Strong - 136 TO 165 mph
EF4 – Violent - 166 TO 200 mph
EF5 – Violent - >200 mph

Here is the information from Wednesday, March 17, 2021, Tornado Outbreak from the Public Information Statement from the National Weather Service in Birmingham.

TORNADO #1 WALKER ROAD TORNADO (SUMTER COUNTY)  

EF0 – Estimated Peak Wind at 75 mph

TORNADO #2 BURNSVILLE TORNADO (DALLAS COUNTY)

EF2 – Estimated Peak Wind at 115 mph

TORNADO #3 BLUFFPORT TORNADO (SUMTER COUNTY)

EF1 – Estimated Peak Wind at 105 mph

TORNADO #4 EAST BILLINGSLEY TORNADO (AUTAUGA)  
EF1 - Estimated Peak Wind at 90 MPH

TORNADO #5 EAST CLANTON/COOPER (CHILTON COUNTY)  

EF1 - Estimated Peak Wind at 95 MPH

TORNADO #6 DEMOPOLIS LOCK AND DAM TORNADO (MARENGO COUNTY)  

EF0 - Estimated Peak Wind at 80 MPH

TORNADO #7 MOUNDVILLE TORNADO (HALE AND TUSCALOOSA COUNTIES)  

EF1 - Estimated Peak Wind at 110 MPH

TORNADO #8 SWEET WATER TORNADO 1 (MARENGO COUNTY)  

EF1 - Estimated Peak Wind at 90 MPH

TORNADO #9 UNITY TORNADO (COOSA COUNTY)  

EF0 - Estimated Peak Wind at 65 MPH

TORNADO #10 LAKE WILDWOOD TORNADO (TUSCALOOSA COUNTY)  

EF1 - Estimated Peak Wind at 90 MPH

TORNADO #11 BROOKWOOD TORNADO (TUSCALOOSA COUNTY)  

EF1 - Estimated Peak Wind at 100 MPH

TORNADO #12 KELLERMAN TORNADO (TUSCALOOSA AND JEFFERSON COUNTIES).

EF1 - Estimated Peak Wind at 110 MPH

TORNADO #13 CENTRAL MILLS TORNADO (DALLAS COUNTY)  

EF0 - Estimated Peak Wind at 65 MPH

TORNADO #14 SHADY GROVE TORNADO (JEFFERSON COUNTY)  

EF1 - Estimated Peak Wind at 110 MPH

TORNADO #15 PERRY BRANCH TORNADO (MARENGO COUNTY)  

EF1 - Estimated Peak Wind at 110 MPH TORNADO

#16 SWEET WATER TORNADO 2 (MARENGO COUNTY)  

EF0 - Estimated Peak Wind at 65 MPH

TORNADO #17 MOUNT OLIVE TORNADO (JEFFERSON COUNTY)  

EF0 - Estimated Peak Wind at 85 MPH

TORNADO #18 POOLS CROSSROADS TORNADO (CHILTON COUNTY)  

EF2 - Estimated Peak Wind at 130 MPH

TORNADO #19 ROSA TORNADO (BLOUNT COUNTY)  

EF1 - Estimated Peak Wind at 100 MPH TORNADO

TORNADO #20 WHITE CITY TORNADO (AUTAUGA COUNTY)  

EF0 - Estimated Peak Wind at 70 MPH

TORNADO #21 NORTH PINE LEVEL TORNADO (MONTGOMERY COUNT)

EF0 - Estimated Peak Wind at 80 MPH

(Source) Click here for more information from the National Weather Service.