Please Contact Us. Fire Weather Storm Spotters (SKYWARN) Emergency crews continue to remove debris and conduct additional search and rescue efforts after a tornado ripped through a suburban area north of Birmingham, Ala., leaving at least . NOAA Weather Radio Yes, I remember it well. Brent tornado flipped our trailer in Wilsonville. Severe Thunderstorm Warnings The wind blew hard all day. NOAA Weather Radio 6 on the list. He worked darkroom for a while at the old Waldrup Studio in Mountain Brook. Two by fours through the tires and radiator. I was wrapping up my junior year at Tuscaloosa High School, and on that Sunday night we received a call for . Significant damage to homes and trees occurred along the very wide path. My Grandfather was Tom Green, one of the people who died in this terrible event. Summer Safety Campaign When we got there the wind was blowing real hard and the sky was constantly light up with lightening. After the warning had gone out, the weather guys and I walked outside to the northwest corner of the building. One of the most vivid memories I have is when he reached a point in the road where the asphalt had been literally lifted off the ground and was gone. New Day. The National Weather Service has spent the past few days tracing the path of Alabamas deadliest tornado since 2019. Contact Us We started hearing stuff hitting up against the house. Special Weather Statements In southwest Alabama, near Gilbertown in Choctaw County, several trees were downed by the wind: 930pm - Reports of trees damage near Gilbertown in Choctaw County, AL. Severe Weather Preparedness Partial roadway blockage on U.S. 82 near the 85 mile marker. A mile wide WEDGE tornado touched down on March 25, 2021 during a PDS , Particularly Dangerous Situation Tornado Watch that was issued for parts of Mississippi and Alabama. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - We're getting a better look at some of the damage in Brent. This storm had its beginning just northeast of Demopolis. The most stunning tornado of the event was the long-track tornado that carved a path of damage spanning 80.38 miles over its 98 minute lifespan from Hale to Shelby Counties. My sister had called for me to come home because for some reason she was afraid. The National Weather Service (NWS)forecasts the threat of an isolated tornado as far up as New Jersey, though another potent storm system will move across the South and Southeast this weekend, according to a report. Outreach Activities We took off fairly early that morning as I recall and climbed to 8000 and received our assigned working area from the controller. @NicoleValdesTV is at the @Montevallo campus in Alabama as daylight gives a better look at the scope of storm damage from overnight.The school is fortunately on spring break, so few people were on campus during the storm. We were in our car for at least two hours before the rescue people could dig through the piles of debris to get to us. The National Weather Service in Birmingham deployed two storm damage survey teams to assess the extent of the tornado damage in central Alabama. The tornado crossed Highway 63 South and neared the Wind Creek State Park area. Nine were in central Alabama, one was in north Alabama, one was in southeast Alabama and three were in southwest Alabama. Radar showed a large amount of debris from this tornado lofted into the atmosphere in what is known as a "debris ball" signature. He also has an excellent website about the day. Air Quality He looked like he was in shock. (LogOut/ on Tuesday, May 29th, 1973. In some ways, its something I needed to see. Regional Highs/Lows/Rainfall, Forecasts We already had tree down on our porch seeing lightning balls burst in the field outside. Damage in Brent, Alabama caused by the March 25th, 2021 tornado. We jumped in his 1956 Chevy and headed off. Local Climate Data Special Weather Statements Though six tornadoes developed around Alabama on the 27th, including 4 F2s, it was the F3 northeast of Birmingham and the long-track supercell which dropped an F4 through the towns of Greensboro and Brent, which did the most damage. The only thing I remember left standing with the steeple of a church. The Brent Tornado was and remains the longest track tornado in Alabama recorded history. He was preaching a revival in Montgomery for the former pastor of the Brent Baptist church. HALE CO, Ala. (WBRC) - Pictures and reports of damage continue to come in from Hale County and Bibb county after a violent long trek tornado moved through the state Thursday afternoon. In addition to the obvious property damage, the tornado . Copyright 2021 WBRC. Daily Rainfall Plots Strangely enough, a telephone line was continued to operate for a short time. His photo on the front page of the Centreville Press that week showing Brent Baptist Church, sign, and clock won the Best News Photo from the Alabama Press Association for 1973. Past Events A steady stream of warnings went out from West Oxmoor that day based on teletypes from Centreville radar. I always looked forward to school being out so I could spend time fishing around Mulberry Creek. all that was left was the block foundation . Hurricane Preparedness 6 on the list. I think he would. Then, late in the day, a monster storm in the making, indicated by a very distinct hook echo, appeared to our southwest. Click herefor website devoted to the damage in Brent (Bibb County) from this storm. Snapped trees and power lines were seen on both sides of Highway 17: 1140pm - Reports from @ChoctawEMA - Damage to South Choctaw High School (south of Gilbertown) with snapped trees and power lines across both sides of Highway 17. We looked over and there was a wall of debris coming right at us. I was scheduled to fly the next morning, and I remember the morning being absolutely crystal clear and calm a great day to fly considering the weather the evening before. NWS Birmingham, Alabama465 Weathervane RoadCalera, AL 35040205-664-3010Comments? Public Information Statement The weather service said numerous homes were damaged -- some significantly -- on River Run Road and the adjacent side streets. It gave me a very healthy fear of tornadoes. State Troopers reported sighting the storm to the Birmingham Forecast Office located at 11 West Oxmoor Road. The weather service will have to analyze all the storm tracks to say for sure, but it appears that one storm held together -- possibly dropping tornadoes periodically along the way -- from Mississippi all the way across Alabama and into Georgia. Legal Statement. I think it was Highway 25 that we took once leaving the lake. There was a lot of people gathered on the bridge where you could see Brent in the distance. He reluctantly let me go. We had a small freezer come though our big picture window We turned our couch up side down and hid behind it. @NWSHuntsville @DanielleDozier @BenSmith_WHNT @katemckennawx @EmilyOwenWX @BradTravisWAFF @spann #alwx #hunwx @LimestoneEMA pic.twitter.com/iF9wqHMQe4. My family and I lived on the hill in Centreville at the time, about a half mile from where Bro. My parents have since passed on, but remembering all the camping excursions we had,that is one that sticks out and it was so devastating for so many people. Severe Weather Videos You held your breath. The timber was twisted off, mattresses and bath tubs were in the top of trees. Does anybody have any picture before and after of this Motel? US Dept of Commerce I was only 7 at the time. I felt that something bad was about to happen and the deacons suggested we go to the basement for the service. The wife and I lived in base housing there. I woke up in the hospital after being in a coma for weeks. I dont know where Bob ended up as the storm struck with full force. I was 12 years old at that time. The weather service said the most severe damage was observed from County Road 43 to County Road 42, and wind speeds were estimated to have reached at least 150 mph. We watched in amazement at everything but the kitchen sink swirled around and past those windows. (Photo courtesy of Jane Ganey). Carla Rawlings and her family got out of their mobile home off Goodson Road just in time before . Looks like theres a power line almost down. May 27, 1973. Our Office Long-track tornadoes are nothing new in Alabama. I will always have those scenes embedded in my mind and thinking how very close we were camping in tents. Tornado Information for Brent, Alabama. In Limestone County, the Emergency Management Agency reported a tree fell on a mobile home. #HUNwx pic.twitter.com/wyBjSkmRCp. He attended the University of Alabama and was taking classes there in 1973 while working in Centreville. We moved to Maplesville and started over. Thinking back, Ive wondered if he would have taken me with him if he had known what we would see. Aviation Weather, Climate and Past Weather Centreville radar had been blinded and dealt a crippling blow, but weather guys were still able to get word out of the situation and what was coming for Brent. Some of us went to church at Pine Flat just north of Lake Payne. So he continued down the road, dodging the trees and lines. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Path of Major Destruction 135 Miles Long, Southern University/Southern Academy,Greensboro, 36th Anniversary of Brent Tornado, CentrevillePress, Like a Bush Hog on a Rock Pile & The Famous BrentTornado, A ride through 2013 Centreville and Brent. 216 buildings were destroyed, 570 buildings were damaged, 97 mobile homes were destroyed, and 45 businesses were damaged or destroyed. Winter Weather, Special Programs The tornado then moved toward Coven Abbett Road and then Elbert Road, damaging several homes and destroying several boat houses. It crossed the highway and rolled a manufactured home along Autauga County Road 40. After Centreville, he also worked for newspapers in St. Clair County, Chilton County, and Escambia County. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/26/2023). Severe Weather Videos But, It was the 27th which proved to be the deadliest for Alabama. As many as 10 tornadoes tore through both Alabama and Georgia starting Thursday. For example, from Thursday's storms, there are just over 30 tornado reports in Alabama. He stopped and asked if we were alright. Severe Safety Rules 82 and found a man driving through to Tuscaloosa. I dont recall the buildup to the storm, but I remember my mom and dad calling my brother and me from the yard into a makeshift storm area dug underneath our front porch. Have not lived another night/day like this weatherwise until April 27, 2011. About Radar. Farther up the East Coast, residents of Rochester, N.Y., were surprised to see what they thought was a massive tornado or waterspoutbut turned out to be "scud" clouds -- a low-lyingcloud formation that connects to the base of the main storm but does not rotate. In Hoover, winds sparked a brush fire near the City Heights apartment complex off Lorna Road. I do remember this Tornado though I always thought it happened in 1972. A pine tree splits in half, falling on a metal fence on Old Leeds Road in Birmingham. Outreach Activities Possible tornado leaves Texas communities in rubble, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA), knocked out power for more than 2,000 people. I was a victim of the 1973 tornado. All were looking in awe, disbelief and a sunken heart. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. No one was hurt in our car. We moved back home I found out that school year a girl I went to school with year before that she was killed in the storm. It took every thing we had. Her sister, Sylvia, made the trip with me. Since I was a victim I didnt get to see any pictures. I was then awakened somewhere around 4:30-5:00 by their phone ringing. #alwx @spann @NWSMobile @michaelwhitewx @WKRGEd tornado warned storm last night. Cheaha. One of my first big assignments was to go to Brent a few days after the tornado hit and write a story about what was going on in the devastated town. The monster storm finally dissipated near Anniston, on the western slope of Mt. The National Guard or State Troopers commandeered us a room at what was the Cinderella Motel. It happened to be the area directly above Brent-Centreville. It is the sixth longest track tornado of record in U.S. history. John got out of the newspaper business in late 1960s. All NOAA, Long TrackF-4 Tornado - He had been in Centreville only two weeks prior to the Brent Tornado. Previsin de 7 Das In Brent near the railroad was two huge tanks that belonged to Olen Belchers saw mill was blown several hundred feet. It was fun, so I thought. Trees snapped off with debris hanging in them. the warning. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! There was one lady who had her legs cut off by flying tin. Flood/River Flood Warnings, Productos en Espaol A number of tornadoes touched down across north and central sections of the state that day. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. By the 26th, two more F4s were accounted for in Oklahoma and Arkansas. No buildings were involved, but there was enough thermal damage that families in 26 units had to be displaced, according to Hoover Fire Department Division Chief and spokesman Duane Prater: A brush fire near the City Heights apartment complex in Hoover. On Sunday night, May 27, 1973, I saw serious tornado damage for the first time in my life, and it changed my life. This is my biggest memory because it looked like someone had just picked it up and sat it down. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Ive never felt conditions like that before or since. Non-Precipitation Warnings The Brent Tornado went on to kill 5 people in Brent and continued to Mt. Tornado rips through north Birmingham, Alabama area. My family and I went around the town to help our neighbors. The familiar white dome that covered the antenna simply vanished. I have a couple pieces of wooden doll furniture I was trying to find info about. So we just went home. On May 27, 1973, a category 4 tornado tore through the City of Brent. I was standing beside the radar console, watching Dale work when he first saw what would become Alabamas longest track tornado. Lots of power polls snapped at the tops & lines down. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. On I-65 at Greensprings Avenue, a power line was down blocking about three-quarters of the interstate, according to police radio traffic: From the ALDOT camera at Greensprings/65. I watched as everything around us was destroyed. . I remember strong storms Sunday evening while still at the lake, but not being frightened. We were at my parents house just a few blocks away from the new house. I was 5 at the time & remember Papa having to put down one of his horses. That was the F4 tornado that affected areas from Greensboro all the way to Mount Cheaha. A series of tornadoes hatched by early spring "super cell" storms tore across Alabama and moved into Georgia early Friday, leaving at least five people dead amid ruins of wrecked homes . The tornado weakened more as it neared Highway 77 and dissipated shortly after crossing County Road 114. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. The tornadolifted near Mount Cheaha. Weve been hit and other info was phoned in to Oxmoor. The air took on that certain feel that is indicative of possible trouble ahead. And Bob Coe was able to reach his wife at home in Brent to make sure his family took shelter. Updated: Mar. We all met in the hallway and headed for the lobby of the building. Over the next several days I watched the coverage of the tornado on Birmingham TV, and tried to process what I had seen. My dad said the storms path was a mile wide. The largest and most violent of these would become known as the Brent Tornado. Unbelievable, but the roof to the apartments was blown through a gabled wall about making hole about 12 inches above the window without breaking the window. In north Alabama, a tree was uprooted by high winds in Florence: Florence, Alabama @spann @ryanhallyall 4:15 PM pic.twitter.com/MOziInJz5j. Sir, As a child my family would sometimes stay at the Cinderella Motel while enroute to Miami Fl. My father was manager of the IGA in centerville at the time , I was 16 yrs old . As many as eight tornadoes may have. When we topped the hill, there was a Texaco station to the left. Meteorologists have rated the tornado that took seven lives in Autauga County on Jan. 12 an EF-3, with top winds estimated at 150 mph in spots along its path. When we exited the building the air was deathly still and we could hear sirens of the emergency vehicles. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Aviation Weather, Climate and Past Weather With nothing left to do at the radar site, Dale, Bob, and I headed to our cars to try to get home. My dad was the pastor of Centreville Baptist Church. My dad stood beside Hwy. Im sure Dale felt the same thing. Killed one person in Wilsonville. I found out later that people died in that church. Storm Data It is dedicated to the people of Brent, Centreville, and all those affected in the many locations. I am thankful our lives were spared . If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Born in Bham, raised in Shelby community in SE Shelby County. I was 9 years old. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. We wanted to see what the conditions were like. F3 of Tarrant and Centerpoint CNN's Chad Myers gives an update on the weather system tearing across the south eastern US, including a tornado that . Minutes later, the house was totally destroyed. Questions? National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration I do know how powerful the tornado was. We later learned that the tornado hopped across the road and destroyed Wesley Chapel Church, sparing our home and many others nearby. near Mertz, or 13 miles southwest of Brent, moving east at 55 mph. The devastation was horrible. He was a contributing photographer for the Montgomery Advertiser Sunday Magazine for a while. Storm damage in Brent Alabama The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency's Highway Patrol Division reports the following road conditions: Bibb County - Reports of trees down on Alabama 5 South of Brent. Regional Weather Roundup It looked like the town had been scrambled like eggs. I will never forget that day. All photos and writing by John Brasher unless otherwise noted. I will never forget it, I remember the storm. Questions? Regional Highs/Lows/Rainfall, Forecasts I was told that all the pressure in cans like hair spray and deodorant was sucked out by the pressure in the tornado. The tornado demolished more than 12,000 acres of timber and over 500 buildings; 72 people in the area were injured and five of its citizens killed. Flood Products Description One person was injured, according to University. I was 12 when this happened, my dad looked out the back door and saw it go over our house, it was seriously scary first time that I can remember being that scared. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration What was that! The Alabama Law Enforcement Agencys Highway Patrol Division reports the following road conditions: Bibb County Reports of trees down on Alabama 5 South of Brent. Winter Products Description Even though the tornado took a turn just below the Centreville business district, I can still recall the strange feeling in the air that evening. Winter Weather Warnings My thanks to former publisher Jim Oakley, the current management and owners of the Centreville Press, and everyone that has, and continues to contribute to this site. That steady, strong wind, which I think must have been at about 25 or 30 miles per hour, was indeed a very warm wind. Severe Safety w/ ASL Regional Weather Roundup While Selma itself was not hit by an actual tornado that night, Im sure one came very close and just did not touch down as there was a green hue to the sky and rain driven sideways just plain scary! After being outside for a couple minutes, we went back into the station. There was no power and some minor damage to the motel but it felt safe after what we had been through. The wind had picked me up slightly and I felt as if I were floating down the hill. It was me, my two brothers, my mom and dad and our dog. Ill never forget Dale saying that if the tornado held together, it would pass right over us. Late Wednesday night, a student dorm at the University of Montevallo sustained damage from a tornado: This is a window blown out in one of the living rooms at the New Residents Hall at the University of Montevallo photo from Jennifer Howard pic.twitter.com/O8Ewx2Czpc, Minor damage from Tornado at Brooke Hall. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. It is the sixth longest track tornado of record in U.S. history. Clanton resident John Brasher was a reporter/photographer at the Centreville Press back on May 27, 1973. The tornado then crossed the northern section of Lake Martin, damaging additional lakefront homes. I wish so badly that I could find some pictures from the damage in Calera on this day. A man was killed and his body found under the rubble. All the windows on the left side of the car were gone only to have mud, grass, pines needles and other debris about an inch thick on the inside of the windows on the right side of the car. We were traveling down Hwy. Local Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Data MID-SOUTH RECOVERS FROM DEADLY TORNADOES AS REGION BRACES FOR SEVERE WEATHER, MORE STORMS. On May 27, 1973, a category 4 tornado tore through the Brent, Centreville, Montevallo, and Greensboro area, leaving 90 percent of the city of Brent destroyed. There were pine needles driven into bark of trees. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. In total, five fatalities occurred along Sandy Ridge Road at three separate homes, the weather service said. The tornado extended 139 miles on the ground. In Brent, a church sustained damage to its facade: Gradient wind damage at Pine View Baptist Church. Me and my family were driving back to Tuscaloosa from Opelika on that Sunday afternoon.
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