Tornadoes
Tornadoes are violent and rapidly rotating columns of air that form inside thunderstorms. They connect with the ground, via a funnel, to the cloud. Tornadoes typically last a few minutes, but sometimes they can last for more than an hour. They can also travel short distances (0.5 miles), but some can be ‘on the ground’ for upwards of 100 miles.
From 1950-2015, 2004 tornadoes have been recorded in Alabama. There have been nine (9) EF-5 (winds over 200 mph) tornadoes recorded in the state, 34 EF-4 (166 - 200 mph) and 136 EF-3 (136 - 165 mph) rated tornadoes.
Source: Weather.gov
Did You Know?
Two significant tornado outbreaks. The April 3rd, 1974 Tornado Outbreak spawned ten tornadoes across Alabama, including three EF5s. This video produced by NOAA in 1977, discusses the operations of the NWS personnel on the day of the outbreak.
Almost 40 years later, on April 27, 2011, another tornado outbreak across the Southeast United States impacted the state, causing 62 tornadoes, including three EF5s. This hour-long special (https://youtu.be/IJaW2ribBus) by ABC 33/40 in Birmingham reflects back on the 2011 outbreak.