2011 Tuscaloosa–Birmingham tornado facts for kids
| EF4 tornado | |
|---|---|
A flattened residence in Concord, Alabama after the EF4 tornado
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| Formed | April 27, 2011, 4:43 p.m. CDT (UTC−05:00) |
| Duration | 1 hour, 31 minutes |
| Dissipated | April 27, 2011, 6:14 p.m. CDT (UTC–05:00) |
| Max rating1 | EF4 tornado |
| Highest winds |
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| Damage | $2.4 billion (2011 USD) |
| Total fatalities | 64 fatalities (+8 indirect), 1500 injuries |
| Areas affected | Tuscaloosa to Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. |
| 1Most severe tornado damage; see Enhanced Fujita scale Part of the 2011 Super Outbreak | |
The 2011 Tuscaloosa–Birmingham tornado was a very powerful and dangerous tornado. It hit parts of Alabama in the United States on Wednesday, April 27, 2011. This tornado was so strong it caused more than $2 billion in damage. It was part of a much larger event called the 2011 Super Outbreak, which saw many tornadoes across the country.
What Happened During the Tornado?
This tornado was rated as an EF4 on the tornado scale. An EF4 tornado means it had winds up to 190 mph (310 km/h). It was also a "multiple vortex" tornado. This means it had several smaller spinning columns of air inside the main tornado.
The tornado started at 4:43 p.m. CDT and lasted for about 1 hour and 31 minutes. It traveled from Tuscaloosa, Alabama all the way to Birmingham, Alabama.
How Many People Were Affected?
The tornado caused a lot of harm to people and buildings. Sadly, 64 people lost their lives directly because of the tornado. Another 8 people died later due to injuries or problems caused by the storm. More than 1,500 people were also injured. Many homes and buildings were completely destroyed or badly damaged.
Images for kids
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This map shows the high risk of tornadoes on April 27, 2011.
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This radar image shows the storm as it hit Tuscaloosa. The bright spot is a "debris ball," which means the tornado was picking up a lot of stuff from the ground.
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The Chastain Manor apartment complex in Tuscaloosa was destroyed. It was later rebuilt.
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Many homes and apartment buildings in Pratt City, a neighborhood in Birmingham, were heavily damaged.
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People cleaning up in Tuscaloosa's Cedar Crest neighborhood after the tornado.
