Five people have been killed, several were injured and others are missing after a tornado struck in Calhoun County, Alabama, on Thursday afternoon, according to multiple media reports.
Four of the Calhoun County deaths were in Ohatchee, Alabama, including a family of three, according to reporter Andrew Donley.
There are now five confirmed deaths in Calhoun Co. with four in Ohatchee according @BeReadyCalhoun including a family of three. @abc3340 pic.twitter.com/bOEi8S1BxW
— Andrew Donley (@Andrewabc3340) March 25, 2021
Houses and property have been extensively damaged, and at least two people have been injured after being trapped in the Eagle Point area of Birmingham, Alabama. At least 32 homes were damaged in the area.
A Florence, Alabama, police officer reportedly survived a lightning strike Thursday afternoon, according to Hunter Drinkard. The officer suffered burns, Drinkard said, citing the Florence police chief.
#BREAKING: A Florence, Alabama police officer was struck by lightning this afternoon. The officer is currently awake and alert at North Alabama Medical Center. Florence Police Chief Ron Tyler says the officer suffered burns from the strike. @whnt #alwx
— Hunter Drinkard (@HDrinkardTV) March 25, 2021
A tornado was confirmed Thursday night near Trussville, Alabama, according to WVUA 23.
Alabama Power was reporting at least 14,000 outages in the Birmingham area, according to reporter Stephen Quinn.
Cahaba Valley Fire Capt. Grant Wilkerson said they have had to extricate people trapped in their Eagle Point homes. They have transported 2 people with injuries, and several other first responders have also. The exact number and extent of injuries not yet known pic.twitter.com/ggFb4JXefH
— carol robinson (@RobinsonCarol) March 25, 2021
@spann Eagle point damage pic.twitter.com/PLFDosNFWi
— Luke Sanderson (@LukeSanderson_1) March 25, 2021
Parts of a roof from an office park in Eagle Point landed on Route 280 after a twister hit the building, according to reporter Carol Robinson.
I am at Eagle Point Office Park off 280 where it appears tornado hit the building. No injuries here but parts of the roof are on 280. pic.twitter.com/OT8InR8x7N
— carol robinson (@RobinsonCarol) March 25, 2021
Trees and debris littered U.S. 280 and Dunnavant Valley Road near Birmingham after a tornado.
@spann this is 280 near Dunnavant Valley Road pic.twitter.com/SnODHBYp1X
— . (@Patriotpage1) March 25, 2021
Heavy flooding was reported near Larkwood Drive in Birmingham after a tornado.
Lark wood near my cousins house. Tornado skinned Double Oak Mtn by my house a few minutes ago. Round 2 on its way! 🙏🏽stay alert everyone pic.twitter.com/LDTTCudmns
— Xander Echols Instagram Xander.Echols (@XanderEchols) March 25, 2021
At least one person was injured and structural damage was reported near Greystone Farms near Hoover, Alabama, after a twister.
. @HooverFireDept has treated 1 person for injuries in Greystone Farms; ambulance called to transport 2nd person; Fire Dept. reports some structural damage in Greystone Farms, but full extent not known yet; fire dept has cleared trees from road & going through neighborhood now
— Jon Anderson (@jonandersonnews) March 25, 2021
James Spann, Alabama’s preeminent meteorologist, learned his home was damaged by a tornado while he was on the air Thursday afternoon.
.@spann is live on the air with a severe weather update as a tornado warning is issued for Greene Co./Hale Co. https://t.co/E2Zi5DNCfJ pic.twitter.com/TGOIcbPHNq
— ABC 33/40 News (@abc3340) March 25, 2021
“What I’m doing is texting my wife to be sure she’s in the shelter,” Spann said as he was off camera Thursday afternoon.
Spann’s colleague, ABC 33/40 meteorologist Taylor Sarallo, then took over the broadcast when Spann heard the grim news.
“The reason I had to step out, we had major damage at my house,” Spann said when he returned to the ABC broadcast. “My wife is OK, but the tornado came right through there, and it’s not good, it’s bad. It’s bad.”
Multiple mobile homes, a church and a commercial building were destroyed by a twister southwest of Ohatchee, Alabama.
Major destruction from tornado just Southwest of Ohatchee, AL. Multiple trailer homes destroyed as well this church and a large commercial building. #alwx #tornado @spann pic.twitter.com/qTVTJ1kHBe
— Brian Emfinger (@brianemfinger) March 25, 2021
A tornado downed utility lines and damaged the Civic Complex in Pelham, Alabama. It also damaged houses in Chandalar, according to the Pelham Police Department.
PELHAM TORNADO DAMAGE:
— Pelham Police Dept (@PelhamPoliceAL) March 25, 2021
-Numerous houses damaged in Chandalar
-Pelham Civic Complex
-Utility lines down in northern Pelham along Hwy 31 and Hwy 119
Drone footage revealed extensive damage in Pelham.
Homes in Helena, Alabama, also sustained damage after a tornado in the Riverbend neighborhood.
Riverbend Neighborhood in Helena, Al @spann @mchightower pic.twitter.com/iMwNz6Pz2G
— Nicole Collier (@kncollier) March 25, 2021
A tornado emergency was declared near Indian Springs, Alabama, as the storm moved toward Pell City, according to reporter Zach Covey.
Dark clouds were swirling as a tornado formed in Meadowbrook, Alabama, which is south of Birmingham.
Happening now - exclusive video of massive tornado south of Birmingham hitting Meadowbrook, AL. #ALwx pic.twitter.com/ILWUlIhO1y
— 🚔 MN Safety 🚔 (@SafetyAlertsMN) March 25, 2021
Another tornado was on the ground near a Chevrolet dealership in Lake Purdy, Alabama.
LARGE TORNADO ON THE GROUND FLINGING DEBRIS VIOLENT TORNADO @NWSBirmingham #ALwx pic.twitter.com/YPgRmgTog0
— Brandon Copic (@BrandonCopicWx) March 25, 2021
Damage was reported to Five Star Lumber in Pelham after a twister.
@spann 5 star lumber in Pelham pic.twitter.com/fiCAWdqNMn
— Exotic Car Guy (@Theexoticcarguy) March 25, 2021
Branches crashed into the roof of a house during a tornado in Oak Mountain, Alabama.
@spann major damage by oak mtn football stadium pic.twitter.com/mMmFfdXALs
— Exotic Car Guy (@Theexoticcarguy) March 25, 2021
A tornado was near Jack’s Discount Pharmacy on Thursday afternoon in West Blocton, Alabama, according to reports.
Damaging tornado just now hit or was very near Jack's Discount Pharmacy (red marker in Google Maps image) in West Blocton, AL per radar imagery. pic.twitter.com/rke5quCn43
— Kevin Ash (@scatterazure) March 25, 2021
No injuries were reported, but a tornado damaged several houses and trailers near the Mount Carmel area of West Blocton, according to Lauren Walsh.
Bibb County EMA: Reported damage to several houses and trailers around Mount Carmel area in West Blocton. No known injuries. Trying to clear roads to get to the houses.
— Lauren Walsh (@LaurenWalshTV) March 25, 2021
A tornado was reported over the Oak Mountain Amphitheatre in Pelham.
1:37 PM CT- Confirmed large & dangerous tornado over Oak Mountain Amphitheater, AL moving northeast. SEEK SHELTER NOW. pic.twitter.com/7ckiRmGnuN
— SevereStudios (@severestudios) March 25, 2021
A tornado was confirmed Thursday afternoon near Tuscaloosa, Alabama, according to WSFA 12 News.
BREAKING: Tornado confirmed south of Tuscaloosa heading for northern Bibb County and eventually Shelby County, per @JoshWeather #alwx https://t.co/gPio7wGFOZ
— WSFA 12 News (@wsfa12news) March 25, 2021
A possible tornado was spotted Thursday afternoon near Moundville, Alabama.
Very strong rotation with possible tornado near Moundville, AL pic.twitter.com/25z8aJKmsK
— John Kassell (@wxkassell) March 25, 2021
A large tornado was approaching Highway 82 in Hagler, Alabama, according to reporter Griffin Hardy.
LARGE TORNADO APPROACHING HAGLER. Approaching Hwy 82 in Southern Tuscaloosa County. HAGLER, DUNCANVILLE-- STAY SHELTERED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. #alwx pic.twitter.com/lGNMLrH3uz
— Griffin Hardy (@GriffinHardyWX) March 25, 2021
A tornado was on the ground near West Blocton en route to Pelham and Alabaster, Alabama, according to reporter Tyler Sebree.
A damaging tornado is on the ground north of West Blocton heading northeastward towards Pelham and Alabaster. The new Tornado Warning includes parts of Shelby and Jefferson counties. #ALwx pic.twitter.com/MUvIEMbYRz
— Tyler Sebree (@TylerWSFA12) March 25, 2021
Interstate flooding was reported in Alabama on Thursday morning as Southern states braced for severe storms and more tornadoes.
Parts of Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee on Thursday will be at high risk of strong tornadoes that can stay on the ground for miles, the national Storm Prediction Center warned Thursday.
The University of Alabama announced it is closing until 5 a.m. Friday in advance of the anticipated severe weather.
@spann interstate 65 and hwy 278 cullman. pic.twitter.com/AEKm1vMOf8
— Jason8675309 (@Jason99z28) March 25, 2021
A storm brought a tree down in Cedartown.
Storm damage at my sister’s house in Cedartown @NWSAtlanta pic.twitter.com/yHFEEwDG25
— Ethan (@esmith324) March 25, 2021
The greatest threat, into Thursday evening, will be in parts of Mississippi, Alabama and west Tennessee, the national Storm Prediction Center said. East Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana also are at risk, and more storms are possible in Georgia and Kentucky.
Nathan Brown sent us this video of Insane flooding on I-65 at the 278 bridge in Cullman! @WBRCnews pic.twitter.com/LVU8KlesNe
— Lauchlan Smith (@lauchlan_s) March 25, 2021
The Storm Prediction Center expects the worst weather in a region that includes Jackson, Mississippi; and the Alabama cities of Birmingham, Huntsville and Tuscaloosa.
The environment as the storms move in will be “very favorable for long-track strong tornadoes,” the Storm Prediction Center said in its latest briefing.
A flash flood watch Thursday covered northern parts of Alabama and Georgia and portions of Tennessee and western North Carolina.
Up to 4 inches of rain — with higher amounts possible — is expected in northern Alabama, according to the National Weather Service in Huntsville.