Birmingham Tornado of April 1977
Encyclopedia
The April 1977 Birmingham tornado was a powerful tornado that struck the northern suburbs of the Greater Birmingham Area in central Alabama during the afternoon of April 4, 1977.
near Tarrant
, the tornado proceed north through northern Jefferson County
producing F5 damage in Smithfield, northeast of Ensley
. The tornado, which was at times 3/4 mi wide, was blamed for 22 deaths and more than 125 injuries while damage was estimated at $25 million dollars. Hundreds of homes were completely destroyed while Daniel Payne College
suffered extensive damage forcing it to permanently close due to the extent of the destruction. Dr. Ted Fujita
followed the tornado and supercell
from an airplane and while surveying damage he rated the Smithfield tornado an F5.
In addition to this tornado, several other tornadoes were reported from the same system in the Midwest, Alabama
, Georgia
, Mississippi
and North Carolina
. One tornado in Floyd County, Georgia
killed one person while another fatality was reported east of Birmingham in St. Clair County
. The severe weather that day also contributed to the crash of Southern Airways Flight 242
, which crashed near New Hope, Georgia, killing 70 people.
The F5 tornado touched down near the end of the path of two other violent tornadoes that struck the Birmingham region in 1956 and in 1998. In 1998, another F5 started north of Tuscaloosa
before ending southwest of Tarrant after killing 32. The 1956 F4 tornado which follow a similar path through Birmingham killed 25.
Birmingham tornado
Beginning just a few miles north of downtown BirminghamBirmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
near Tarrant
Tarrant, Alabama
Tarrant is a city in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States southeast of Fultondale. At the 2000 census the population was 7,022.-Geography:Tarrant is located at .According to the U.S...
, the tornado proceed north through northern Jefferson County
Jefferson County, Alabama
Jefferson County is the most populous county in the U.S. state of Alabama, with its county seat being located in Birmingham.As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Jefferson County was 658,466...
producing F5 damage in Smithfield, northeast of Ensley
Ensley, Birmingham, Alabama
Ensley is a large city neighborhood in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States. It was once a separate and thriving industrial city. It is part of the Birmingham–Hoover Metropolitan Area.-History:...
. The tornado, which was at times 3/4 mi wide, was blamed for 22 deaths and more than 125 injuries while damage was estimated at $25 million dollars. Hundreds of homes were completely destroyed while Daniel Payne College
Daniel Payne College
Daniel Payne College, also known as the Payne Institute, Payne University and Greater Payne University, was a historically black college in Birmingham, Alabama. It was associated with the African Methodist Episcopal Church and operated from 1889 to 1979. The college was named in honor of Daniel...
suffered extensive damage forcing it to permanently close due to the extent of the destruction. Dr. Ted Fujita
Ted Fujita
was a prominent severe storms researcher. His research at the University of Chicago on severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes and typhoons revolutionized knowledge of each.- Biography :Fujita was born in Kitakyūshū, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan...
followed the tornado and supercell
Supercell
A supercell is a thunderstorm that is characterized by the presence of a mesocyclone: a deep, continuously-rotating updraft. For this reason, these storms are sometimes referred to as rotating thunderstorms...
from an airplane and while surveying damage he rated the Smithfield tornado an F5.
Other tornadoes
| State | Total | County | County total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama Alabama Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland... |
23 | Jefferson Jefferson County, Alabama Jefferson County is the most populous county in the U.S. state of Alabama, with its county seat being located in Birmingham.As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Jefferson County was 658,466... |
22 |
| St. Clair St. Clair County, Alabama St. Clair County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama.It is a part of the Birmingham–Hoover–Cullman Combined Statistical Area. Its name is in honor of General Arthur St... |
1 | ||
| Georgia Georgia (U.S. state) Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788... |
1 | Floyd Floyd County, Georgia Floyd County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 90,565. Census estimates for 2007 show a population of 95,618... |
1 |
| Totals | 24 | ||
| All deaths were tornado-related | |||
In addition to this tornado, several other tornadoes were reported from the same system in the Midwest, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
and North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. One tornado in Floyd County, Georgia
Floyd County, Georgia
Floyd County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 90,565. Census estimates for 2007 show a population of 95,618...
killed one person while another fatality was reported east of Birmingham in St. Clair County
St. Clair County, Alabama
St. Clair County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama.It is a part of the Birmingham–Hoover–Cullman Combined Statistical Area. Its name is in honor of General Arthur St...
. The severe weather that day also contributed to the crash of Southern Airways Flight 242
Southern Airways Flight 242
Southern Airways Flight 242 was a DC-9-31 jet, registered N1335U, that executed a forced landing on a highway in New Hope, Paulding County, Georgia, United States after suffering hail damage and losing thrust on both engines in a severe thunderstorm on April 4, 1977.At the time of the accident, the...
, which crashed near New Hope, Georgia, killing 70 people.
The F5 tornado touched down near the end of the path of two other violent tornadoes that struck the Birmingham region in 1956 and in 1998. In 1998, another F5 started north of Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Tuscaloosa is a city in and the seat of Tuscaloosa County in west central Alabama . Located on the Black Warrior River, it is the fifth-largest city in Alabama, with a population of 90,468 in 2010...
before ending southwest of Tarrant after killing 32. The 1956 F4 tornado which follow a similar path through Birmingham killed 25.
April 4, 1977
| F# Fujita scale The Fujita scale , or Fujita-Pearson scale, is a scale for rating tornado intensity, based primarily on the damage tornadoes inflict on human-built structures and vegetation... |
Location | County | Time (CDT) | Path length | Damage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi Mississippi Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi... |
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| F1 | SW of Florence Florence, Mississippi Florence is a town in Rankin County, Mississippi, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 2,396. It is part of the Jackson Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Florence is located at .... |
Rankin Rankin County, Mississippi -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 115,327 people, 42,089 households, and 31,145 families residing in the county. The population density was 149 people per square mile . There were 45,070 housing units at an average density of 58 per square mile... |
0600 | 0.1 mile (0.16 km) | ||
| F3 | NE of Philadelphia Philadelphia, Mississippi Philadelphia is a city in and the county seat of Neshoba County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 7,303 at the 2000 census.- History :... |
Neshoba Neshoba County, Mississippi -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 28,684 people, 10,694 households, and 7,742 families residing in the county. The population density was 50 people per square mile . There were 11,980 housing units at an average density of 21 per square mile... , Kemper Kemper County, Mississippi -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 10,453 people, 3,909 households, and 2,787 families residing in the county. The population density was 14 people per square mile . There were 4,533 housing units at an average density of 6 per square mile... |
0800 | 11.7 miles (18.7 km) | ||
| F3 | S of Macon Macon, Mississippi Macon is a city in Noxubee County, Mississippi, United States, along the Noxubee River. The population was 2,461 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Noxubee County.-History:... |
Calhoun Calhoun County, Mississippi Calhoun County is a county located in the U.S. state of Mississippi. As of 2010, the population was 14,962. Its county seat is Pittsboro. Calhoun County is named after John C. Calhoun, the U.S. Vice President and U.S... |
0900 | 9.1 miles (14.6 km) | ||
| Missouri Missouri Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It... |
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| F0 | SE of Hannibal Hannibal, Missouri Hannibal is a city in Marion and Ralls counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. Hannibal is located at the intersection of Interstate 72 and U.S. Routes 24, 36 and 61, approximately northwest of St. Louis. According to the 2010 U.S. Census the population was 17,606... |
Marion | 0930 | 0.2 mile (0.32 km) | ||
| Alabama Alabama Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland... |
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| F2 | N of Hanceville Hanceville, Alabama Hanceville is a city in Cullman County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 2,951.-Geography:Hanceville is located at .According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.... |
Cullman Cullman County, Alabama Cullman County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Colonel John G. Cullmann. As of 2010, the population was 80,406. Its county seat is the town of the same name, Cullman, Alabama. It is a "moist" county in terms of availablity of alcoholic beverages, which means... |
1112 | 5.9 miles (9.4 km) | ||
| F2 | SE of Scottsboro Scottsboro, Alabama Scottsboro is a city in Jackson County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population of the city is 14,770. Named for its founder Robert Scott, the city is the county seat of Jackson County.... |
Jackson Jackson County, Alabama Jackson County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Andrew Jackson, general in the United States Army and President of the United States of America. As of 2010, the population was 53,227. The county seat is Scottsboro. Jackson County is a prohibition or dry county,... |
1220 | 6.9 miles (11 km) | ||
| F2 | SW of Ragland Ragland, Alabama Ragland is a town in St. Clair County, Alabama, United States southeast of Ashville. At the 2000 census the population was 1,918. It is part of the Birmingham-Hoover-Cullman Combined Statistical Area. An F4 tornado struck southwest from here at 10:55 in the morning on Palm Sunday March 27, 1994... |
St. Clair St. Clair County, Alabama St. Clair County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama.It is a part of the Birmingham–Hoover–Cullman Combined Statistical Area. Its name is in honor of General Arthur St... |
1230 | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) | ||
| F2 | S of Springville Springville, Alabama Springville is a town in St. Clair County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 2,521.-Geography:Springville is located at .According to the U.S... |
St. Clair St. Clair County, Alabama St. Clair County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama.It is a part of the Birmingham–Hoover–Cullman Combined Statistical Area. Its name is in honor of General Arthur St... |
1400 | 3.3 miles (5.3 km) | ||
| F3 | SE of Ashville Ashville, Alabama Ashville is a city in St. Clair County, Alabama, United States part of the Birmingham-Hoover-Cullman Combined Statistical Area. Its population was 2,260 at the 2000 census, at which time it was a town. This town is the county seat of St. Clair County along with Pell City. According to the 2005 U.S.... |
St. Clair St. Clair County, Alabama St. Clair County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama.It is a part of the Birmingham–Hoover–Cullman Combined Statistical Area. Its name is in honor of General Arthur St... |
1430 | 7.3 miles (11.7 km) | 1 death | |
| F2 | S of Southside Southside, Alabama Southside is a city in Etowah county in the U.S. state of Alabama. It is part of the Gadsden Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 7,036 at the 2000 census... |
Etowah Etowah County, Alabama Etowah County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is from the Cherokee language, which means "edible tree". It is the center of the Gadsden Metropolitan Area which includes Etowah and Cherokee Counties. As of 2010 the population was 104,430. Its county seat is Gadsden... |
1430 | 4.7 miles (7.5 km) | ||
| F5 | NW of Birmingham Birmingham, Alabama Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S... to NE of Tarrant Tarrant, Alabama Tarrant is a city in Jefferson County, Alabama, United States southeast of Fultondale. At the 2000 census the population was 7,022.-Geography:Tarrant is located at .According to the U.S... |
Jefferson Jefferson County, Alabama Jefferson County is the most populous county in the U.S. state of Alabama, with its county seat being located in Birmingham.As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Jefferson County was 658,466... |
1500 | 14.7 miles (23.5 km) | 22 deaths | |
| Kentucky Kentucky The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth... |
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| F1 | N of Elkton Elkton, Kentucky Elkton is a city in and the county seat of Todd County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 1,984 at the 2000 census. The city was founded by Major John Gray... |
Todd Todd County, Kentucky Todd County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population is 11,971. Its county seat is Elkton. The county is named after Colonel John Todd, who was killed at the Battle of Blue Licks in 1782... |
1330 | 0.8 mile (1.3 km) | ||
| Georgia Georgia (U.S. state) Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788... |
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| F3 | S of Lindale Lindale, Georgia Lindale is a census-designated place in Floyd County, Georgia, United States. It is part of the 'Rome, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area'... |
Floyd Floyd County, Georgia Floyd County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 90,565. Census estimates for 2007 show a population of 95,618... |
1515 | 8.8 miles (14.1 km) | 1 death | |
| F1 | S of Adairsville Adairsville, Georgia Adairsville is a city in Bartow County, Georgia, United States. The population was 2,542 at the 2000 census. As of 2007 data Adairsville's population was 3,076: 1,414 males and 1,662 females. Adairsville is south of Calhoun, northeast of Rome and north of Atlanta.-Geography:Adairsville is an... |
Bartow Bartow County, Georgia Bartow County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 100,157. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's July 1, 2009 estimate, the county's explosive growth resulted in a population of 96,217, a 26.5% increase in less than ten years... |
1530 | 5.7 miles (9.1 km) | ||
| F1 | SE of Chatsworth Chatsworth, Georgia Chatsworth is a city in Murray County, Georgia, United States. It is part of the Dalton, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 3,531 at the 2000 census, but was estimated around 3,890 as of the 2005 census. The city is the county seat of Murray County... |
Murray Murray County, Georgia Murray County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 36,506. The 2007 Census Estimate showed a population of 40,664. The county seat is Chatsworth.It is part of the Dalton, Georgia, Metropolitan Statistical Area.... |
1545 | 2 miles (3.2 km) | ||
| F1 | SE of Dahlonega Dahlonega, Georgia Dahlonega is a city in Lumpkin County, Georgia, United States, and is its county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 5,242.... |
Lumpkin Lumpkin County, Georgia Lumpkin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 29,966. Its county seat is Dahlonega.- History :... |
1900 | 5.2 miles (8.3 km) | ||
| Indiana Indiana Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is... |
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| F1 | Edgewood Edgewood, Indiana Edgewood is a town in Anderson Township, Madison County, Indiana, United States. It is part of the Anderson, Indiana Metropolitan Statistical Area... |
Madison Madison County, Indiana As of the census of 2000, there were 133,358 people, 53,052 households, and 36,234 families residing in the county. The population density was 295 people per square mile . There were 56,939 housing units at an average density of 126 per square mile... |
1700 | 0.5 mile (0.8 km) | ||
| North Carolina North Carolina North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte... |
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| F1 | NW of Elkin Elkin, North Carolina Elkin is a town in Surry and Wilkes counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina, along the Yadkin River. Elkin shares its name with the surrounding township of Elkin Township... |
Wilkes Wilkes County, North Carolina Wilkes County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The 2000 U.S. Census listed the county's population at 65,632; the 2010 U.S. Census listed the population at 69,340... |
2030 | 6.4 miles (10.2 km) | ||
| Sources: Storm Data for April 4, 1977 | ||||||
April 5, 1977
| F# Fujita scale The Fujita scale , or Fujita-Pearson scale, is a scale for rating tornado intensity, based primarily on the damage tornadoes inflict on human-built structures and vegetation... |
Location | County | Time (CDT) | Path length | Damage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia Georgia (U.S. state) Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788... |
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| F1 | NE of Sparks Sparks, Georgia Sparks is a town in Cook County, Georgia, United States. The population was 2,052 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Sparks is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000,... |
Cook Cook County, Georgia Cook County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. The constitutional amendment to create the county was proposed July 30, 1918, and ratified November 5, 1918. As of 2010, the population is 17,212. The county seat is Adel... |
0145 | 5.4 miles (8.7 km) | ||
| Virginia Virginia The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there... |
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| F1 | N of Onancock Onancock, Virginia Onancock is a town in Accomack County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,525 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Onancock is located at .... |
Accomack Accomack County, Virginia As of the census of 2010, there were 33,164 people, 15,299 households, and 10,388 families residing in the county. The population density was 84 people per square mile . There were 19,550 housing units at an average density of 43 per square mile... |
0800 | 2 miles (3.2 km) | ||
| Pennsylvania Pennsylvania The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to... |
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| F2 | SE of Harrisburg Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania... |
Dauphin Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Dauphin County is a county in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and is one of the three counties comprising the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010 census, the population was 268,100. The county includes the city of Harrisburg, which has served as the state capital... |
1550 | 2 miles (3.2 km) | ||
| Sources: Storm Data for April 5, 1977 | ||||||
See also
- List of F5 tornadoes
- April 1998 Birmingham tornado
- List of North American tornadoes and tornado outbreaks
External links
- Storm Data
- List of Birmingham, Alabama killer tornadoes
- April 4, 1977 tornado maps - Tornado History Project
- The Birmingham F5 tornado - Tornado History Project
- NWS Birmingham summary of the April 4, 1977 Smithfield tornado