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Storms That Hit

SPC Tornado Database · NWS Storm Events

The April 27, 2011 EF5 Tornado in Alabama, near Madison

The Madison tornado in the federal records: its 132-mile path, the toll, the 210 tornadoes of that day and the cities nearby.

Data: NOAA NHC HURDAT2 and NOAA SPC tornado and hail reports, through 2025 · Updated

On April 27, 2011 an EF5 tornado in Alabama killed 72 people and injured 145, the 6th deadliest of the 73,458 tornadoes in the SPC record since 1950. Its path was 132 miles long and up to 2,200 yards wide. It came within 5 miles of Madison, AL, and within 25 miles of 61 cities on this site. It was one of 210 tornadoes recorded that day in 16 states, 35 of them EF3 or stronger, which together killed 319.

Rating
EF5
Killed / injured
72 / 145
Path
132 mi

2,200 yd wide

Tornadoes that day
210

319 deaths in all

The NWS account, Barnesville, Alabama

“A tornado initially touched down west of Hamilton in southwest Marion County and moved northeast where it caused devastating damage to the city of Hackleburg. The tornado continued into Franklin County and tracked through Lawrence, Morgan, Limestone, and Madison Counties in Alabama.”

Cities within 25 miles of the path

Cities nearest the tornado's path
CityDistance from the path
Hackleburg, ALunder 1 mi
Meridianville, AL1 mi
Hamilton, AL2 mi
Phil Campbell, AL2 mi
Huntland, TN2 mi
Trinity, AL2 mi
Harvest, AL2 mi
Moulton, AL2 mi
New Market, AL2 mi
Hazel Green, AL5 mi
Hillsboro, AL5 mi
Madison, AL5 mi

The nearest 12 of 61. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (path from start to end point), NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (account).

More notable storms

All notable storms →Alabama storm history →

Why these storms and how each figure is counted: methodology.