NWS Birmingham, Alabama

Weather Forecast Office

Tornadoes of April 2, 2024

Tornadoes of April 2, 2024

Overview

On the evening of Tuesday April 2, 2024, an area of strong to severe thunderstorms impacted portions of Central Alabama. This was part of a storm system that affected a large portion of the eastern United States. These storms were able to evolve in an environment that became increasingly favorable for tornadoes during the evening hours. One such storm intensified as it entered Perry County and went on to produce a total of four tornadoes, as well as pockets of straight-line wind damage, from Northern Dallas County east-northeastward into eastern Coosa County. Thankfully, there were no serious injuries or fatalities.

Interactive Damage Map

View larger map

**The data below are considered PRELIMINARY.**

Location/Clickable Detailed Summary Link	Damage Rating/Estimated Maximum Wind Speeds	Injuries/Fatalities	Damage Path Length/Width	Starting Point/Time	Ending Point/Time
Plantersville Tornado (Dallas/Chilton Counties)	EF-1 95 mph	None	8.28 miles 600 yards	4 NW Paul M. Grist State Park 32.6410/-87.0398 10:28 pm CDT	1 SSE Parnell 32.6749/-86.9044 10:37 pm CDT
Pools Crossroads Tornado (Chilton County)	EF-1 95 mph	None	15.07 miles 450 yards	1 NNE Pletcher 32.7121/-86.7786 10:49 pm CDT	2 N Cooper 32.8035/-86.5470 11:06 pm CDT
Kings Bridge Tornado (Coosa County)	EF-1 90 mph	None	2.65 miles 400 yards	3 NW Rockford 32.9182/-86.2450 11:28 pm CDT	3 N Rockford 32.9326/-86.2033 11:31 pm CDT
Kellyton Tornado (Coosa County)	EF-0 80 mph	None	2.28 miles 175 yards	2 SSE Bradford 32.9712/-86.0793 11:40 pm CDT	Kellyton 32.9814/-86.0423 11:44 pm CDT

Plantersville EF-1

Plantersville EF-1 Tornado (Dallas & Chilton Counties)
April 2, 2024

Event Summary

Rating: (Click for EF Scale)	EF-1
Estimated Maximum Wind:	95 mph
Injuries/Fatalities:	None
Damage Path Length:	8.28 miles
Maximum Path Width:	600 yards
Approximate Start Point/Time:	4 NW Paul M. Grist State Park 32.6410/-87.0398 at 10:28 pm CDT
Approximate End Point/Time:	1 SSE Parnell 32.6749/-86.9044 at 10:37 pm CDT

The tornado began in a wooded area just east of the Perry/Dallas County line. It quickly reached its peak intensity as it crossed County Road 272 where dozens of trees were snapped or uprooted, blocking the roadway for over a quarter of a mile as it paralleled the road. Additional trees were downed along County Roads 290 and 305, but the tornado weakened as it approached Plantersville. Still, several trees were downed along Dallas County 560 and Highway 22 in Plantersville. The tornado crossed into Chilton County and downed some more trees near residences on County Road 26 and County Road 16 before quickly dissipating as it crossed County Road 16.

Reflectivity (left) and velocity (right) as the tornado just before it exited the Talladega National Forest. Images are from KBMX at 10:29 pm CDT.

Timber Damage	Timber Damage

Pools Crossroads EF-1

Pools Crossroads EF-1 Tornado (Chilton County)
April 2, 2024

Event Summary

Rating: (Click for EF Scale)	EF-1
Estimated Maximum Wind:	95 mph
Injuries/Fatalities:	None
Damage Path Length:	15.07 miles
Maximum Path Width:	450 yards
Approximate Start Point/Time:	1 NNE Pletcher 32.7121/-86.7786 at 10:49 pm CDT
Approximate End Point/Time:	2 N Cooper 32.8035/-86.54.70 at 11:06 pm CST

The same storm that produced the Plantersville tornado continued northeastward. Some sporadic minor tree damage was observed around Pletcher but was more consistent with straight line winds. Damage became more consistent with a tornado as it reached a residence along County Road 359 where a couple trees were downed and minor roof damage occurred to the residence. Damage remained sporadic until it reached some residences along County Road 37. There portions of a porch overhang were blown off a residence, and two barns were damaged. One of these was destroyed though minimal damage was observed to nearby trees. A racecar trailer was blown 100 yards downstream and flattened. Minor tree damage continued as the tornado moved northeastward across County Road 9 and additional outbuildings were damaged or destroyed. The tornado intensified as it crossed an inaccessible area east of County Road 387 as depicted on satellite imagery by an area of heavier vegetation/timber damage. Much of the roof was blown off a manufactured home on County Road 49, with another manufactured home having about half of its roofing materials removed. Another pole barn was destroyed near County Road 391 where a personal weather station measured a 95.7 mph gust at an elevation of 7 feet. Occasional trees and limbs were downed as the tornado crossed Interstate 65 near Highway 31, before the tornado dissipated after crossing County Road 480.

Reflectivity (left) and velocity (right) of the tornado. Images are from KBMX at 10:56 pm CDT.

Racecar trailer rolled/damaged	Structural Damage
Shed Destroyed	Damage to Manufactured Home

Kings Bridge EF-1

Kings Bridge EF-1 Tornado (Coosa County)
April 2, 2024

Event Summary

Rating: (Click for EF Scale)	EF-1
Estimated Maximum Wind:	90 mph
Injuries/Fatalities:	None
Damage Path Length:	2.65 miles
Maximum Path Width:	400 yards
Approximate Start Point/Time:	3 NW Rockford 32.9182/-86.2450 at 11:28 pm CDT
Approximate End Point/Time:	3 N Rockford 32.9326/-86.2033 at 11:31 pm CDT

A brief tornado touched down northwest of Rockford near Kings Bridge Rd causing minor timber damage. The tornado continued northeast causing additional timber damage near County Rd 47 and US Hwy 231, dissipating shortly thereafter.

Satellite imagery depicted a swath of heavier vegetation/timber damage between Kings Bridge Rd and County Rd 47 to suggest low-end EF1 intensity.

Reflectivity (left) and velocity (right) of the tornado just after it touched down. Images are from KBMX at 11:29 pm CDT.

Timber Damage

Kellyton EF-0

Kellyton EF-0 Tornado (Coosa County)
April 2, 2024

Event Summary

Rating: (Click for EF Scale)	EF-0
Estimated Maximum Wind:	80 mph
Injuries/Fatalities:	None
Damage Path Length:	2.28 miles
Maximum Path Width:	175 yards
Approximate Start Point/Time:	2 SSE Bradford 32.9712/-86.0793 at 11:40 pm CDT
Approximate End Point/Time:	Kellyton 32.9814/-86.0423 at 11:44 pm CDT

A brief tornado touched down near Kellyton along County Rd 62 causing a corridor of timber damage that was most notable near the intersection with AL Hwy 9. The tornado continued northeast crossing US Hwy 280 where additional timber damage occurred. The tornado dissipated after causing additional timber damage on County Rd 50.

Reflectivity (left) and velocity (right) of the tornado near the time of touchdown. Images are from KBMX at 11:39 pm CDT.

Timber Damage

Surface & Upper Air Charts

250mb Analysis Apr 1 at 7 pm	500mb Analysis Apr 1 at 7 pm	850mb Analysis Apr 1 at 7 pm
250mb Analysis Apr 2 at 7 am	500mb Analysis Apr 2 at 7 am	850mb Analysis Apr 2 at 7 am
KBMX Sounding Apr 2 at 4 pm	Surface Analysis Apr 2 at 7 pm	Surface Analysis Apr 2 at 7 pm
Surface Analysis Apr 2 at 10 pm	Surface Analysis Apr 3 at 1 am	Surface Analysis Apr 3 at 4 am

Local Day 3 Outlook Mar 31 at 330 am	Local Day 2 Outlook Apr 1 at 115 pm	Local Day 1 Outlook Apr 2 at 3 pm
Storm Reports Thru 7 AM on April 3