National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

 

South Roebuck EF-1 Tornado (Jefferson County)
  March 25, 2021

 

Event Summary

EF-1
Estimated Maximum Wind:
90 mph
Injuries/Fatalities:
None
Damage Path Length:
4.78 miles
Maximum Path Width:
700 yards
Approximate Start Point/Time:
1 NW Ruffner Mountain
33.5686/-86.7070
at 4:48 pm CDT
Approximate End Point/Time:
1 N Alton
33.6015/-86.6361
at 4:53 pm CDT

 

National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed the damage in eastern Jefferson County north of Irondale and determined it was the result of an EF-1 tornado.

An EF1 tornado formed near the intersection of 8th Ave S and 85th St S in the South Eastlake and South Highlands neighborhoods of northeast Birmingham. It continued northeast into the South Roebuck neighborhood uprooting numerous trees. It made a jog eastward as it crossed the northern end of Ruffner mountain, continuing to uproot and snap numerous trees as it traveled between Highway 11 and Interstate 59 in the Roebuck Plaza neighborhood. The tornado crossed Interstate 459 and dissipated as it reached the Jefferson Memorial Gardens on the southwest side of Trussville. Around 42 homes were damaged, almost all by falling trees.

 
 

 

Radar Image
Reflectivity (left) and velocity (right) of the circulation just before the tornado dissipated.
Images are from KBMX at 4:52 pm CDT.

 

Damage Photo
 Structural Damage
Damage Photo
 Tree Damage

 

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