April 27th, 2024, will be the thirteen year anniversary of the April 27th, 2011, Super Outbreak of tornadoes that occurred across Dixie Alley in the southeastern United States. Between April 26th and April 28th, 2011, there were 363 total tornadoes. On April 27th alone, there were 219 tornadoes. This outbreak surpassed the 1974 Tornado Outbreak that produced 148 tornadoes (see below for “the rest of the story”).
The Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale is shown below. The number of tornadoes between April 26th and April 28th, 2011, are tabulated according to the strengths that were confirmed by multiple National Weather Service offices.
| SCALE | WIND SPEED | # OF TORNADOES | FATALITIES | INJURIES |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EF-0 | 65-85MPH | 134 | ||
| EF-1 | 86-110MPH | 143 | ||
| EF-2 | 111-135MPH | 49 | ||
| EF-3 | 136-165MPH | 22 | ||
| EF-4 | 166-200MPH | 11 | ||
| EF-5 | >200MPH | 4 | ||
| TOTAL TORNADOES | 363 | 324 | 2,000+ |
Seven days prior, the first medium range forecasts started to suggest the potential for severe weather across the southeastern U.S. as an upper-level trough was forecasted to dig into the Deep South. Over the next few consecutive days, forecast consensus began to increase, and the threat level for potentially strong to violent tornadoes increased to unprecedented levels.
The 500mb upper air analysis the night before April 27th showed an impressive dynamic environment as a mid-level jet near 100 knots started to pivot into the region. The morning of April 27th, 2011, the atmosphere was loaded with volatile thermodynamic and dynamic profiles as a powerful low pressure system moved through the Ozark Plateau. The 7:00am CDT morning sounding from Jackson, Mississippi, revealed intense low-level wind shear with strong upper air support. Upon recovery of the atmosphere from severe thunderstorms the morning of, a major outbreak of tornadoes was imminent as atmospheric instability would become extremely unstable.
By early afternoon, Particularly Dangerous Situation (PDS) Tornado Watches were issued across Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee. The potential was high for the evolution of long-lived supercells that were capable of producing long-track, damaging, strong to violent tornadoes. EF-5 tornadoes impacted the cities of Hackleburg, Alabama; Rainsville Alabama; Philadelphia, Mississippi; and Smithville, Mississippi.
The Hackleburg – Phil Campbell, Alabama, EF-5 tornado: Hackleburg and Phil Campbell, Alabama, were impacted by an extremely violent EF-5 tornado with estimated winds of 210MPH. The tornado formed at 3:05pm CDT and dissipated over two hours later, at 5:40pm CDT. This tornado was on the ground for a staggering 132 miles and had a maximum width of 2,200 yards, or 1.25 miles.
Upon impacting Hackleburg and Phil Campbell, multiple houses were swept completely off their foundations, and vehicles were thrown hundreds of yards from where they once were. The tornado also stripped forests of their trees, and it is something that can still be seen to this day on Google Earth.
The Philadelphia, Mississippi, EF-5 tornado: This was the first EF-5 tornado of the day on April 27th, as denoted by time evolution based on Doppler radar analyses from National Weather Service damage surveys. The tornado had estimated winds of 205MPH, with a maximum width of a 1/2 mile. It was also on the ground for 29 miles.
As the tornado moved through west-central Mississippi and into the Philadelphia area, it reached peak intensity; scouring the ground to a depth of two feet that was 100 yards wide, and 400 yards long. This was also the first EF-5 rated tornado that occurred in Mississippi in nearly 55 years.
The Smithville, Mississippi, EF-5 tornado: With maximum winds of 205MPH, and a width of 3/4 of a mile wide, the Smithville tornado was a very intense tornado. In Smithville, several brick frame houses were completely destroyed, and hundreds of trees were snapped in half and debarked, resulting in the rating of an EF-5. Additionally, a police station and post office suffered major damage. The tornado was on the ground for 35.1 miles.
The Rainsville, Alabama, EF-5 tornado: A large, multi-vortex tornado impacted the city of Rainsville, Alabama, at peak intensity with winds over 200MPH. Near peak intensity, it had a maximum width of 3/4 of a mile and was on the ground for 34 miles. Several houses were completely destroyed, hundreds of trees were leveled and debarked, and debris was scattered for miles from the tornado.
Several other violent tornadoes occurred, including a significant EF-4 multi-vortex tornado with winds of 190MPH that impacted the Tuscaloosa, Alabama, metropolitan area head on. Near peak intensity, the tornado impacted the University of Alabama and devastated the university. The tornado had a maximum width of 1.5 miles as it crossed Interstate 65 in Tuscaloosa, and it was on the ground for 80 miles.
The April 27th, 2011, Tornado Super Outbreak was the most prominent tornado outbreak in recorded history. In the year of 2011, there were 1897 total tornadoes. 363 of the 1897 tornadoes occurred in a three day span from April 26th, 27th, and 28th, 2011, respectively. Since 1999, there were only three F-5/EF-5 rated tornadoes (the EF-Scale was implemented in 2007) in the United States. If you were to calculate the total number of tornadoes annually over the past decade, the percentage of an EF-5 tornado occurring is in the one thousandth percentile of one percent. Four of them occurred in one day on April 27th, 2011.
In addition to the hundreds of tornadoes that occurred in Dixie Alley on April 27th, 2011, several significant wind and severe hail events. The largest hailstone observed was near Saltville, Maryland, of 4.50″ in diameter (softball size). The top 10 hail reports are shown below. Note that there were several locations that reported destructive hail of up to 3.00″ in diameter.
| Location | County | State | Hail Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saltville | Smyth | Virginia | 4.50_ |
| Hamilton | Marion | Alabama | 4.00_ |
| Batesville | Panola | Mississippi | 4.00_ |
| Okolona | Chickasaw | Mississippi | 3.00_ |
| Pocahontas | Randolph | Arkansas | 2.75_ |
| Polkville | Smith | Mississippi | 2.75_ |
| Cordova | Walker | Alabama | 2.75_ |
| 6mi W Jasper | Marion | Tennessee | 2.75_ |
| Knoxville | Knox | Tennessee | 2.75_ |
| Kingsport | Sullivan | Tennessee | 2.75_ |
Widespread damaging winds occurred across Dixie Alley and the eastern half of the United States. An extremely damaging wind gust of 113MPH was measured at an airport in Craighead County, Arkansas. The majority of the wind reports were unknown in their strength due to the lack of observations. The top 15 wind reports were compiled below (winds in excess of 75MPH are hurricane force).
| Location | County | State | Max Wind |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bay | Craighead | Arkansas | 113MPH |
| 3mi E Harvest | Madison | Alabama | 80MPH |
| Knoxville | Knox | Tennessee | 70MPH |
| Williamstown | Grant | Kentucky | 65MPH |
| Ellsinore | Carter | Missouri | 65MPH |
| Lorentz | Upshur | West Virginia | 64MPH |
| Max Meadows | Wythe | Virginia | 63MPH |
| 2mi ENE New Market | Frederick | Maryland | 63MPH |
| Alonzaville | Shenandoah | Maryland | 62MPH |
| Myerstown | Lebanon | Pennsylvania | 62MPH |
| Courtland | Lawrence | Alabama | 62MPH |
| Muscle Shoals | Colbert | Alabama | 60MPH |
| Franklin | Williamson | Tennessee | Unknown / 1 fatal |
| Rome | Floyd | Georgia | Unknown / 4 injured |
| Camden | Camden | New Jersey | Unknown / 2 injured |
In all, there were 219 confirmed tornadoes, 438 reports of wind damage, and 207 severe hail reports, on April 27th, 2011. Tornadoes were confirmed from Dixie Alley all the way into north-central New York state as the potent low pressure system progressed through the eastern half of the U.S. This outbreak reached historic levels, and set a record for the most tornadoes in one day in the United States.
The 2011 Super Outbreak was the “largest” in terms of tornado numbers but that’s not the whole story. Here’s why:
Reporting Differences: Tornado detection technology has significantly improved since 1974. This means more weaker tornadoes are likely detected and reported now compared to the past. This makes direct comparison of tornado counts between the two outbreaks a bit misleading.
Super Outbreak Definition: The term “super outbreak” is sometimes used for tornado outbreaks with a large number of strong, significant tornadoes (EF2+). The 1974 Super Outbreak still holds the record for the most violent tornadoes.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the “Super Outbreak” of tornadoes the night of April 3, 1974. The event lasted into the early morning hours of April 4. In all, 148 tornadoes touched down across the eastern and southern U.S. Of them, 95 were rated F2 or stronger, and 40 were F4 or F5. A total of 335 people lost their life, and over 6,000 were injured that horrific night.
In Alabama, 86 were killed, and just under 1,000 were injured. The most violent tornado tore through Guin, in Marion County, where 23 lives were lost. Other communities hard hit included Jasper, Cullman, Tanner, Harvest, Hazel Green, and Huntsville.