Midday Nowcast: Clearing Sky and Cooler; The “Forgotten” Tornado Outbreak of 2011

SPLENDID SPRING WEATHER: A cold front moved through Alabama overnight, bringing the clouds we are seeing this morning in Alabama. No rain is showing up with this front, and as drier, cooler air settles into Alabama, the sky will clear through the afternoon. It is noticeably cooler today compared to yesterday with highs ranging from the upper 60s to lower 70s. Tonight will be a chilly, yet refreshing night for Alabamas with lows in the low to mid 40s.

BIRMINGHAM ALMANAC: For April 15th, the average high for Birmingham is 75° and the average low is 52°. The record high is 88° set in 1936, while the record low is 31° set in 1950. We average 0.17” of precipitation on this date and the record value is 1.67” set in 1922.

WEATHER ON THIS DATE IN 2011: The “Forgotten” Tornado Outbreak of April 15, 2011, when 45 tornadoes touched down across West, Central, and South Alabama. Five EF-3 tornadoes did the most damage and claimed the lives of four people that day.

Three people were killed, and four were seriously injured, when an EF-3 tornado destroyed the manufactured home they were in the Boones Chapel community in Autauga County. In all, at least 50 homes and one business was either destroyed or significantly damaged.

A large EF-3 tornadoes created a swath of damage from northeastern Greene County, just southeast of the community of Ralph, to just south of Veterans Memorial Parkway just east of Tuscaloosa in south-central Tuscaloosa County. Winds were estimated at 140 MPH, mainly uprooting and snapping trees. A few homes and businesses received damage as the twister moved north of Shelton State Community College and crossed Alabama Highway 69 near Taylorville, and crossing I-20/59 near McFarland Blvd.

Another large EF-3 tornado struck the Myrtlewood-Pinhook communities in Marengo County with estimated winds of 150 mph. Several dozen single-family and mobile homes were destroyed or severely damaged. One person was killed when his mobile home was tossed several hundred feet across Alabama Highway 69. Two more people were injured as their mobile homes were rolled and tossed. Two more people were injured as the roof and several walls of their home were destroyed.

Additionally, there were 17 EF-2s, 14 EF-1s, nine EF-0s tornadoes. It was at the time, the most active tornado day in Alabama history. However, it is deemed the “Forgotten Outbreak” by many due to what would happen 12 days later on April 27, 2011, when a generational tornado outbreak of 62 tornadoes would kill 252 people in Alabama.

REST OF WEEK: Expect sunny, dry days with highs climbing from the low 70s tomorrow, to low and mid 80s by Friday. Our coolest morning will be tomorrow with lows in the 40s for most places. By Friday morning, lows will moderate into the low and mid 50s. Truly amazing April weather for Alabama with no threat of rain and severe weather, in what is typically a very active weather month.

EASTER WEEKEND: The great weather continues for Alabama as we are forecasting warm and generally dry days with highs in the 80s and lows in the 60s. By Sunday, our winds will increase out of the south, but no weather issues for Alabama and fantastic weather for all those Easter Weekend festivities you may have going on. For those sunrise services Sunday morning, expect temperatures generally in the low to mid 60s.

NEXT WEEK: Our next meaningful chance of rain will come on Monday. A cold front will likely bring rain and storms back to Alabama, but for now the severe weather threat remains low with the main dynamics being well north of Alabama. The front looks to stall across the state, meaning we will keep some showers in the forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday. Highs next week will remain in the 80s.

WORLD TEMPERATURE EXTREMES: Over the last 24 hours, the highest observation outside the U.S. was 115.5F at Nawabshah, Pakistan. The lowest observation was -103.2F at Concordia, Antarctica.

CONTIGUOUS TEMPERATURE EXTREMES: Over the last 24 hours, the highest observation was 107F at Rio Grande Village, TX. The lowest observation was 0F at Peter Sinks, UT.

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