HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — It has been an active start to the year, weather-wise, for North Alabama. Multiple storm systems that moved through the area has supported the chance of severe weather and the development of tornadoes.
The National Weather Service Office in Huntsville covers 11 counties in North Alabama. The Huntsville forecast office has issued 62 tornado warnings to date in North Alabama; 22 of those warnings being issued during the tornado out break on May 20.
The tornado count to date is at 28 for North Alabama, this is the most tornadoes since 2011. At this time in 2011 a total of 47 tornadoes had tracked through the area. The majority of these tornadoes forming during the deadly outbreak on April 27.
Of the 28 tornadoes confirmed four are EF-0, 21 are EF-1, and three are EF-2 strengthen. The strongest tornado so far this year was the EF-2 tornado that tracked through the Killingsworth Cove community with peak winds of 132 mph. That tornado left homes completly destroyed, thankfully the families were able to make it to a community shelter in time.
The Killingsworth Cove tornado was part of the May 20 tornado outbreak that produced 13 tornadoes in North Alabama.
We also experienced a tornado outbreak last May, leading to a high tornado count in 2024 at this time. During the May 8 & 9 outbreak last year, 15 tornadoes tracked through the area, bumping the count to 19.
Latest Tornadoes Confirmed By The NWS:
The National Weather Service confirmed an EF0 tornado hit Redstone Arsenal with max winds of 83 mph. It touched down at 6:51 p.m. and left the area at 6:53 p.m. The brief tornado touched down on Redstone Arsenal just off Ranger Road, bending back fencing before entering the property.
Below are photos of the damage, provided by the U.S. Army Garrison, Redstone Arsenal.
In Jackson County, the NWS surveyed damage from Hytop to the Stevenson area on Monday following Sunday afternoon’s storms.
On Tuesday afternoon, the NWS confirmed an EF-0 tornado with peak winds of 85 mph touched down and traveled just over 8 miles in 10 minutes on Sunday. Initial damage was observed by the NWS in the Cave Springs area near County Road 54. The tornado was then said to have traveled to the intersection of County Road 53 and County Road 147, then down Highway 117 in Stevenson.
The NWS said they will be surveying damage in far northern Morgan and southern Madison counties Friday. This survey is associated with the confirmed tornado warning that was issued Tuesday evening for that area.
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