National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

NWS Birmingham, Alabama

Weather Forecast Office

Alabama Tornadoes 1973

Weather.gov > NWS Birmingham, Alabama > Alabama Tornadoes 1973

 

 

Alabama Tornado Database

 
1973 Tornado Occurrences (45)
Tornado # of Year Year Month Day Time (CST) County Damage Scale Path Length (Miles) Maximum Path Width (Yards) Fatalities Injuries Location
45 1973 12 31 1050 Baldwin F1 1.0 100 0 0 Near Loxley
The tornado was reported by police and later indicated by radar one miles west-northwest of Loxley moving northeast at 45 mph. A roof was blown off a barn near Loxley.
Start: 30.63/-87.77
End: 30.63/-87.77
44 1973 12 30 1658 Dale F3 1.5 120 0 14 Fort Rucker-Ozark
30 buildings and homes sustained heavy damage. 5 were completely demolished.
Start: 31.34/-85.73
End: 31.35/-85.70
43 1973 12 29 1840 Henry F3 15.0 70 0 2 W Headland-S Bethlehem
10 homes and a church were destroyed. 46 homes and businesses were damaged.
Start: 31.35/-85.35
End: 31.50/-85.17
42 1973 12 29 1715 DeKalb F2 0.3 100 0 1 Crossville
3 homes were partially unroofed. A greenhouse nursery and one mobile home were destroyed. Several automobiles were damaged or overturned.
Start: 34.28/-86.02
End: 34.28/-86.02
41 1973 12 29 1635 Jefferson F1 0.5 50 0 0 Gardendale
Red Cross reported a tornado near Gardendale accompanied by green cloud and hail.
Start: 33.72/-86.73
End: 33.72/-86.73
40 1973 12 29 1625 Coffee-Dale F3 11.6 67 0 11 W Enterprise-N Coppinville-Fort Rucker
8 homes were destroyed and 23 homes were damaged in the Enterprise area. 7 trailers and a service station were damaged or destroyed.
Start: 31.32/-85.90
End: 31.33/-85.70
39 1973 12 29 1455 Blount F1 0.1 30 0 0 Hayden
Brief touchdown damaging a barn and a roof.
Start: 33.90/-86.75
End: 33.90/-86.75
38 1973 12 26 0650 Talladega F2 0.1 27 0 1 12 SE Sylacauga
1 mobile home destroyed. 1 house and 3 mobile homes damaged. Injury was minor.
Start: 33.03/-86.08
End: 33.03/-86.08
37 1973 12 26 0330 Mobile F2 3.8 50 0 1 Prospect Heights-Theodore
One mobile home was destroyed and at least 20 homes and buildings were damaged. Several trees and power lines were blown down.
Start: 30.53/-88.22
End: 30.55/-88.17
36 1973 11 27 1845 Morgan F2 5.1 10 0 3 4.8 SE Lacon-1.6 E Eva
3 mobile homes were destroyed and the injuries occurred in these homes. Several homes were damaged.
Start: 34.32/-86.82
End: 34.33/-86.73
35 1973 11 27 1833 Madison F3 14.1 200 0 42 Huntsville Airport-Huntsville
One large hangar and 46 aircraft were damaged. The weather office was partially unroofed. A trailer park was struck destroying 19 mobile homes. At least one home was totally destroyed and 67 homes were damaged. 2 motels and 28 businesses were damaged or destroyed.
Start: 34.63/-86.78
End: 34.73/-86.57
34 1973 11 27 1830 Cullman F2 0.1 10 0 0 15 SW Cullman
The tornado destroyed Rock Creek Marina 15 miles southwest of Cullman near the Cullman-Winston County line. Several boats sunk.
Start: 34.00/-87.03
End: 34.00/-87.03
33 1973 11 26 1815 Marion F2 5.4 10 0 5 Guin-5.4 NE Guin
Several buildings and mobile homes destroyed. One of the injuries was critical.
Start: 33.97/-87.90
End: 34.02/-87.83
32 1973 11 26 1638 Lamar F1 0.1 10 0 0 5.8 SE Arley
Reported by State Troopers. Very brief touchdown. Little or no damage.
Start: 34.05/-87.12
End: 34.05/-87.12
31 1973 11 26 1620 Winston F2 0.1 10 0 0 Arley-Addison
Several buildings destroyed.
Start: 34.55/-86.87
End: 34.55/-86.87
30 1973 11 21 0745 Chambers F1 0.1 33 0 0 Springdale
Tornado cut 100 yard wide path through wooded area.
Start: 32.82/-85.18
End: 32.82/-85.18
29 1973 11 20 1500 Crenshaw F2 0.1 10 0 0 Luverne
One mobile home and one frame home were destroyed.
Start: 31.72/-86.27
End: 31.72/-86.27
28 1973 7 10 1700 Mobile F0 0.1 50 0 0 Tillman's Corner
The tornado touched down briefly 10 miles southwest of Mobile. The damage was mainly to signs and plateglass windows.
Start: 30.60/-88.20
End: 30.60/-88.20
27 1973 7 3 1345 Mobile F0 0.1 50 0 0 Prichard
A small tornado momentarily touched down just north of Mobile. There was some damage to street signs.
Start: 30.73/-88.05
End: 30.73/-88.05
26 1973 6 17 1245 Butler F1 0.1 10 0 0 Near McKenzie
No tornado details were available.
Start: 31.53/-86.70
End: 31.53/-86.70
25 1973 5 27 1750 Jefferson-St. Clair-Etowah

Storm
Survey

Storm Information

Storm Information

Storm Information

Storm Information

Storm Information 		F3 41.6 800 1 44 NE Tarrant-Center Point-Springville-St Clair Springs-Ashville-Gadsden
Heavy damage occurred in Center Point where 32 homes and 48 mobile homes were destroyed. Over 300 homes were damaged.
Start: 33.61/-86.75
End: 33.95/-86.15
24 1973 5 27 1720 Hale-Bibb-Perry-Shelby-Clay-Cleburne-Talladega

Storm Survey

Storm Information

Storm Information

Storm Information

Storm Information

Storm Information

Storm Information

Storm Information

Storm Information

Storm Information		 F4 139.1 800 7 199 Greensboro-Brent-Centreville-Montevallo-Mt Cheaha
72 people were injured and one person was killed in Greensboro. 90% of the town of Brent was destroyed killing 5 people and injuring 56. 216 buildings were destroyed, 570 buildings were damaged, 97 mobile homes were destroyed, and 45 businesses were dmaaged or destroyed. More than 12,000 acres of timber was destroyed.
Start: 32.5445/-87.8224
End: 33.5437/-85.6664
23 1973 5 27 1535 St. Clair

Storm Information

Storm Information

Storm Information 		F2 8.4 500 0 0 Burnwell-6 SSW Ashville
Pilot reported tornado on the ground at Odenville. Several buildings were destroyed at Moody Crossroads. Numerous trees were uprooted.
Start: 33.70/-86.40
End: 33.75/-86.27
22 1973 5 27 1456 Jefferson

Storm Information

Storm Information

Storm Information 		F2 1.0 500 0 3 Bessemer
The tornado struck a mobile home park at Rock Mountian Lake about 7 miles southwest of Bessemer and moved northeast. Several mobile homes were destroyed.
Start: 33.40/-87.08
End: 33.40/-87.08
21 1973 5 27 1415 Jackson

Storm Information

Storm Information

Storm Information 		F2 4.3 500 0 4 Section-Dutton
At least 15 buildings were destroyed and many farm buildings were destroyed. All the injuries occurred in a home that was unroofed and torn apart.
Start: 34.60/-85.98
End: 34.62/-85.92
20 1973 5 27 1330 Cullman-Marshall

Storm Information

Storm Information

Storm Information 		F2 31.5 500 0 3 Hulaco-Arab-Eddy
At least 50 buildings were damaged or destroyed. All the injuries occurred near Arab.
Start: 34.30/-86.62
End: 34.58/-86.18
19 1973 5 25 1308 Dale-Houston F1 1.0 400 0 0 Midland City-Kelly Springs
The tornado was first sighted at Midland City. It then moves southeast toward the Dothan area. Three mobile homes were destroyed and several others were damaged.
Start: 31.30/-85.50
End: 31.30/-85.50
18 1973 5 25 1225 Pike F1 0.1 10 0 0 Near Goshen
The tornado dipped down briefly and moved southeastward. Several buildings were unroofed and trees and powerlines were blown down.
Start: 31.67/-86.07
End: 31.67/-86.07
17 1973 5 23 2130 Jefferson F1 1.0 400 0 4 Near Pinson
Tornado struck near Hwy 79 in extreme northeast Jefferson County. Three mobile homes were destroyed.
Start: 33.70/-86.70
End: 33.70/-86.70
16 1973 5 19 1845 DeKalb

Storm Information

Storm Information 		F4 5.4 400 0 19 Fort Payne-Lookout Mountain
At least 37 buildings were destroyed just north of downtown Fort Payne. 117 buildings were damaged.
Start: 34.47/-85.75
End: 34.50/-85.67
15 1973 5 19 1615 Jackson-DeKalb F2 23.5 900 0 9 S Scottsboro-Section-Powell Crossroads
At least 12 trailers and 15 buildings were destroyed. 80 other buildings were damaged.
Start: 34.63/-86.04
End: 34.52/-85.88
14 1973 5 19 1440 Madison F2 2.0 500 0 10 Hazel Green
At least 5 buildings were destroyed and 30 others were damaged.
Start: 34.94/-86.57
End: 34.93/-86.53
13 1973 5 8 0657 Monroe F1 0.1 10 0 2 Megargel-Frisco City
Tornado touched down near Megargel and moved northeastward. There was extensive damage along AL Hwy 21 between Megargel and Frisco City.
Start: 31.42/-87.43
End: 31.42/-87.43
12 1973 5 8 0410 Marshall-DeKalb F2 29.1 900 2 12 Guntersville-Geraldine-S Rainsville
Many trailers and other buildings were destroyed. All of the deaths and most of the injuries occurred just north of Geraldine. Many farm buildings were destroyed.
Start: 34.28/-86.28
End: 34.48/-85.83
11 1973 5 8 0305 Winston-Walker F2 2.0 500 0 0 William B Bankhead National Forest
Tornado touched down along AL Hwy 195 between Jasper and Double Springs. There were no buildings in the path, but damage to timber was heavy.
Start: 33.99/-87.38
End: 34.01/-87.36
10 1973 5 7 1340 Marengo F1 1.0 400 0 0 Near Demopolis
Tornado dipped to ground briefly damaging cotton gin and uprooting trees, and then moved northward. Witness saw the tornado.
Start: 32.52/-87.83
End: 32.52/-87.83
9 1973 4 24 1720 Shelby-Talladega F1 4.7 800 0 0 Wilsonville-Hutchinson-Camp Brownie
Destroyed 3 buildings and heavily damaged 5 others. About 6 mobile homes overturned.
Start: 33.23/-86.43
End: 33.27/-86.37
8 1973 4 18 1700 Coffee F2 1.0 100 0 14 Elba
This damage was caused by a combination of straight line winds and a tornado. 8 mobile homes were destroyed and 10 others were damaged. 20 semi-trailers were damaged or destroyed. 2 hangars at the airport were damaged. 19 aircraft were destroyed and a few others damaged.
Start: 31.42/-86.07
End: 31.42/-86.07
7 1973 3 16 1230 St. Clair F1 1.0 10 0 0 Pell City
2 mobile homes were severely damaged and numerous houses damaged. Trees and power lines torn down. School partially unroofed.
Start: 33.58/-86.28
End: 33.58/-86.28
6 1973 3 16 1210 Shelby

Storm Survey 		F2 4.3 10 0 5 Helena-Pelham
Most damage at Pelham was to a mobile home sales lot. North wing of shopping center containing about 6 shops heavily damaged. Injuries were minor.
Start: 33.28/-86.82
End: 33.30/-86.75
5 1973 3 16 1100 Hale F2 9.5 10 0 0 Cedarville-4.9 SE Greensboro
About 5 buildings were destroyed including several dairy barns and 25-50 damaged. Metal roofing, in some cases, was carried nearly a mile. Numerous trees were uprooted. In the Prarie-Eden area, 5 Y-shaped steel transmission towers, built to withstand 200 mph winds, were blown down.
Start: 32.62/-87.67
End: 32.67/-87.52
4 1973 3 16 1030 Hale F2 4.5 100 0 0 1.9 SW Havana-2.5 NE Havana
Tornado struck 2 miles west of Havana completely destroying large farm complex-house and several barns. Section of lumber was carried 1/4 mile then driven deep into the ground.
Start: 32.90/-87.67
End: 32.92/-87.60
3 1973 3 16 1020 Sumter F1 1.0 100 0 0 Livingston
2 homes destroyed along U.S highway 11, including 1 large home under construction. 1 mobile home was also demolished and several unroofed.
Start: 32.67/-88.18
End: 32.67/-88.18
2 1973 3 16 0730 Chilton-Coosa F2 9.7 77 0 0 Mountain Creek-Near Coosa River
8 houses and 5 barns or out-buildings were damaged. Extensive damage to timber.
Start: 32.70/-86.50
End: 32.80/-86.38
1 1973 1 26 1545 Marshall F2 0.1 10 0 0 Albertville
The tornado struck a mobile home park near Albertville. 2 unoccupied mobile homes were destroyed and damaged a few more. One store was also damaged.
Start: 34.33/-86.07
End: 34.33/-86.07
Follow us on Twitter  Follow us on Twitter
Follow us on Facebook  Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on YouTube  Follow us on YouTube
BMX RSS Feed  BMX RSS Feed

Current Hazards
National Outlooks
Tropical
Local Storm Reports
Public Information Statement
Graphical Hazardous Weather Outlook

Current Conditions
Rivers and Lakes
Regional Weather Roundup
Regional Highs/Lows/Rainfall
Drought Monitor

Forecasts
Fire Weather
Aviation Weather
Graphical Forecasts
Forecast Discussion
Air Quality

Climate and Past Weather
Past Events
Storm Data
Tornado Database
Daily Rainfall Plots
Local Climate Data
Tropical Cyclone Reports

Warnings and Other Products
Tornado Warnings
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings
Flash Flood Warnings
Winter Weather Warnings
Special Weather Statements
Non-Precipitation Warnings
Flood/River Flood Warnings

Productos en Español
Conciencia y Preparación
Previsión de 7 Días

Weather Safety
Severe Safety w/ ASL
NOAA Weather Radio
All-Hazards Awareness Booklet
Severe Weather Preparedness
Severe Safety Rules
Tornado Safety Rules

Awareness Weeks
Severe Weather
Hurricane Preparedness
Summer Safety Campaign
Winter Weather

Special Programs
Storm Spotters (SKYWARN)
StormReady
CoCoRaHS

Local Research and Outreach
Other Research
Winter Weather
Outreach Materials
Local Climatology
Outreach Activities
Local Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Data

About Us
Office History
Our Office
Contact Us

Education
Flood Products Description
About Radar
Winter Products Description
Microbursts
Severe Weather Videos