March 17, 2021 tornado outbreak

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The March 2021 tornado outbreak was a tornado outbreak in mid-March 2021 that spawned at least 45 individual tornadoes and caused significant damage across the Southern United States, causing five deaths in Southern Alabama on March 17.

A forecast of severe weather was publicized during the week prior to the storms. By March 17, the Storm Prediction Center had issued a rare "high risk" warning for a large area centered around the Mississippi-Alabama border. Many schools and businesses, some already limiting in-person activities during the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic, closed for all or part of the day. As the storms approached, heavy traffic was seen at mid-day.

During the afternoon, significant tornado signatures were tracked north and south of Birmingham, but fears of large, highly-damaging long-track tornadoes were allayed as temperatures remained temperate. By evening most warnings in central Alabama had expired. National Weather Service Birmingham investigators found evidence that at least 20 small tornadoes had formed and caused isolated damage within their forecast area, out of a total of least 24 statewide.


Central Alabama tornadoes

EF# Location County Coord. Time (CST) Path length Comments/Damage
EF1 E of Clanton Chilton 32.8165°N 86.5539°W 6:56–7:03 PM 3.04 miles Farm buildings and an outbuilding were damaged, and several trees were downed.
EF1 NNW of Akron to SE of Tuscaloosa Hale, Tuscaloosa 32.9147°N 87.7464°W 7:12–7:55 PM 21.2 miles Numerous homes and other structures were damaged in Moundville and just southeast of Tuscaloosa.
EF1 NW of Coaling Tuscaloosa 33.1907°N 87.3795°W 8:09–8:11 PM 0.53 miles trees downed and minor structure damage around Lake Wildwood
EF1 NNE of Brookwood Tuscaloosa 33.2887°N 87.2997°W 8:25–8:34 PM 3.51 miles trees downed and damage to metal warehouse and antennas on a communications tower
EF1 Kellerman to SW of Oak Grove Tuscaloosa, Jefferson 33.34°N 87.31°W 8:54–9:06 PM 5.82 miles numerous trees snapped or uprooted to just beyond the county line
EF1 Maytown Jefferson 33.54°N 87.02°W 9:30–9:38 PM 2.77 miles several trees snapped or uprooted with minor structural damage
EF0 NNW of Gardendale Jefferson 33.66°N 86.85°W 9:56–10:04 PM 3.46 miles Numerous trees downed with damage to homes and vehicles.
EF2 N of Billingsley Chilton 32.6775°N 86.735°W 10:12–10:23 PM 5.62 miles An unanchored home was lifted off its foundation just south of Pools Crossroads; another double-wide mobile home and a large building were completely destroyed; exterior walls of a brick house were collapsed and outbuildings were damaged. Additionally, another home sustained roof damage, a vehicle was moved 15 feet, and many trees were snapped or uprooted
EF1 Fairview to ENE of Hendrix Blount 33.9229°N 86.35587°W 10:43–11:04 PM 11.61 miles An outbuilding was destroyed, a porch was blown off a mobile home, and many trees were snapped and uprooted.
EF1 SW of Fairview to NW of Baileyton Cullman 34.19979°N 86.7521°W 2:31–2:43 AM 8.47 miles Several sheds were either damaged or destroyed, a garage was severely damaged, several large farm sheds were demolished, and two houses sustained partial roof loss. Additionally, several chicken houses had roofing and siding removed, large outbuildings sustained roof damage, and numerous trees were downed.

References

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