On April 27, 2011, a large, long-tracked and violent tornado that struck the multiple towns and areas of Lake Martin in eastern Alabama, killing seven people and injuring 30 others. The tornado caused $167 million in damages and was part of the 2011 Super Outbreak.[1]
 EF4 damage to a home that was located on Confederate Road, on Lake Martin | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | April 27, 2011, 8:12 p.m. CDT (UTC–05:00) |
| Dissipated | April 27, 2011, 9:09 p.m. CDT (UTC–05:00) |
| Duration | 57 minutes |
| EF4 tornado | |
| on the Enhanced Fujita scale | |
| Highest winds | 170 mph (270 km/h) |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 7 |
| Injuries | 30 |
| Damage | $167,000,000 (2011 USD) |
| Areas affected | Elmore County, Tallapoosa County and western Chambers County |
Part of the Tornadoes of 2011 and 2011 Super Outbreak | |
The tornado caused large swaths of EF4 damage, particularly to homes on the shores of Lake Martin.[2] Many homes were completely swept off of their foundations, and hundreds of trees were uprooted by the tornado. It reached EF3 intensity at least three times, and reached its maximum intensity of low-end EF4 in Lake Martin.[3]
Tornado summary
edit
The tornado first touched down north of Wetumpka in Elmore County,[4] south of Charity Lane at approximately 8:12 pm CDT and began to track just east of due north along Grier Road (CR 209) at high-end EF1 intensity, snapping trees and blowing out the south facing gable-end of the roof of a home.[3][5][6] The tornado then turned northeastward, continuing to snap and uproot trees as it moved through generally unpopulated, rural areas.[3] The tornado then intensified to high-end EF2 intensity with winds of 130 mph (210 km/h) as it passed through the northwest side of Dexter, heavily damaging several homes. One home was had its roof removed and a section of an exterior wall knocked down and a mobile home was rolled and obliterated with the debris blown several hundred yards. The residents of the mobile home had seen the tornado warning issued on their TV and went to a neighbor's house for safety before the tornado struck. There was major damage to farm equipment and outbuildings in this area as well.[3][5][6] The tornado continued northeastward through forested areas, continuing to cause EF2 damage. A home along Powell Road had its roof removed and multiple exterior walls knocked down. Eight people in the home received the warning and took shelter in a hallway before the tornado struck; only one of them was injured. Three barns and several outbuildings and tractors on the property were completely destroyed as well.[3] The tornado then tracked over neighborhoods along SR 9, damaging several homes, and debarking and snapping trees.[5][6] Another mobile home in this area was rolled and disintegrated with the appliances found 400 yards (370 m) away. The occupants heard warning and sought shelter in the basement of a home across the road before.[3] The tornado then passed south of Central, continuing to cause EF2 damage in densely forested areas.[3]
The tornado then intensified to EF3 strength as it reached Central Road (CR 418). A mobile home along the road was completely destroyed; its two occupants heard the warning, but were unable to get to safe shelter, resulting in them being trapped and seriously injured in the debris of the home. Northeast of there along Old Colley Road (CR 417), several homes had their roofs blown off with one home having exterior walls knocked down.[3] The tornado then crossed the Middle Road and Auction Barn Road intersection and struck a mobile home park, destroying 10 mobile homes and killing four people.[5][6] A home in the park was struck by the debris from the mobile homes and the exterior and the interior walls in the middle of the home were knocked down.[3] The tornado then weakened to EF2 intensity as it continued to track northeastward through densely forested areas and passed just narrowly south of the town of Falkner, causing mainly tree damage, although one home along Union Road suffered heavy roof and exterior wall damage. [3] The tornado then strengthened to EF3 intensity again as it moved along Mount Hebron Road (CR 80) east of Falkner.[3] Several homes, businesses, including the W W Monument Company, two churches, and an agricultural nursery were completely destroyed in this area.[5][6] One of the churches (Mount Baptist Church) had sanctuary debris blown 100–200 yards (91–183 m), the second-story of a split level home was removed, and a home along Nero Rock Road was unroofed and had two exterior walls knocked down.[3] The tornado then weakened back to EF2 intensity and passed just north of Jordan, narrowly missing it.[3] As it approached Lake Martin, the tornado uprooted and snapped numerous trees.[3] The tornado then crossed over SR 63 and tracked into the Lake Martin area, maintaining EF2 strength as it crossed over the lake south of the SR 63 bridge. After moving ashore, the tornado regained EF3 intensity as it grew to its peak width of 0.5 miles (0.80 km) and reached Windermere.[3][6] Numerous trees were snapped and partially debarked, thin electrical transmission towers were crumbled, and numerous homes suffered significant damage.[3][5][6]
The tornado then tracked back into Lake Martin and crossed in Tallapoosa County while retaining EF3 intensity.[3] The tornado then became violent, reaching low-end EF4 strength with winds up to 170 mph (270 km/h) as it moved ashore on Stoney Ridge Road.[3][7] Several well-built multi-story homes were leveled with no walls left standing above the basement level.[5][7] This included a two-story home located on the northern portion of Sandy Lane that was leveled with debris from the structure thrown into the lake.[3] Four lakeside homes located off of Mountain View Way were also leveled.[3] Continuing northeastward, the tornado narrowed to 400 yards (370 m), but remained at low-end EF4 intensity as it crossed SR 49, destroying two homes.[5][7] One of the homes was a wood frame house on a CMU stack column pier foundation; this home was completely obliterated and a Ford F-150 pickup truck that was parked in the driveway was thrown over 150–200 yards (140–180 m) and mangled. Trees were also debarked in the area of the slabbed residence.[3] The tornado then weakened to EF3 intensity as it continued northeastward and tracked through forested areas before moving into the southeastern part of Dadeville.[3] The tornado then crossed US 280 on the east side of town, significantly damaging several homes and businesses. An elderly woman was killed in one of the homes and winds in this area were estimated to be up to 155 mph (249 km/h).[5][7] The tornado continued northeastward through forested areas, before crossing into Chambers County.[3]
The tornado remained at EF3 intensity as it moved into Chambers County and continued its northeastward heading.[3] Along County Road 54, a 100-year-old wood-framed home on a brick column pier raised foundation was completely obliterated; winds in this area were estimated to be up to 150 mph (240 km/h).[3][5][8] The tornado then gradually weakened as it continued northeastward through densely forested areas. Trees were snapped or uprooted along this final portion of the path before the tornado dissipated at 9:09 pm CDT after tracking 44.18 mi (71.10 km) and reaching a maximum width of 880 yd (800 m).[3][5][6][7][8][9]
Aftermath
editDamage and casualties
editThe tornado caused intense damage across three counties, and most was centered on Lake Martin. Pilot Charles Moon surveyed the path and drew out an area of "total destruction".[10] Losses totaled $167 million (2011 USD). Seven people were killed by the tornado, and 30 others were injured.[9]
See also
edit- Weather of 2011
- 2011 Hackleburg–Phil Campbell tornado – an EF5 tornado that hit Alabama on the same day
- List of F4 and EF4 tornadoes (2010–2019)
- List of tornadoes in the 2011 Super Outbreak
References
edit- ^ Sebree, Tyler (2021-04-28). "April 27, 2011: The unprecedented tornado outbreak". WSFA. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
- ^ "A look back at the April 2011 Tornado that hit the Eclectic and Lake Martin areas". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z "ArcGIS Web Application". apps.dat.noaa.gov. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
- ^ Advertiser, Montgomery. "EF4 tornado on Apr. 27, 2011 15:35 PM CDT". Montgomery Advertiser. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Lake Martin Tornado - April 27, 2011". www.weather.gov. National Weather Service Birmingham AL. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Alabama Event Report: EF3 Tornado". www.weather.gov. National Weather Service Birmingham AL. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "Alabama Event Report: EF4 Tornado". www.weather.gov. National Weather Service Birmingham AL. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ a b "Alabama Event Report: EF3 Tornado". www.weather.gov. National Weather Service Birmingham AL. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ a b "April 27, 2011 tornadoes, moment-by-moment: How it happened". al. 2021-04-27. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
- ^ "Photo: Path of tornado at Lake Martin - April 27, 2011". www.lakemartin.com. Retrieved 2024-07-29.