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Alabama Tornado Database

 
1981 Tornado Occurrences (14)
Tornado # of Year Year Month Day Time (CST) County Damage Scale Path Length (Miles) Maximum Path Width (Yards) Fatalities Injuries Location
14 1981 8 18 1420 Baldwin F0 0.1 20 0 0 Spanish Fort
Brief tornado touched down causing only tree damage.

Start: 30.6800/-87.8700
End: 30.6800/-87.8700
13 1981 7 5 1020 Fayette-Walker F0 7.8 20 0 0 5.9 SW Carbon Hill - 1.9 NE carbon Hill
Tornado touched down in open country, but did pass within a half mile of a church were Sunday services were in progress. Witnessess described the tornado as, "like a rat's tail hanging out of the clouds and dancing along the ground". Damage was mostly to trees and 1 barn with very minor crop damage. It was in view for about 10-15 minutes and was accompanied by very little rain.

Start: 33.8500/-87.6200
End: 33.9000/-87.5000
12 1981 5 18 1810 Marshall F1 0.1 17 0 0 Near Guntersville
A roof of a motorcycle repair shop was torn off.

Start: 34.3500/-86.2500
End: 34.3500/-86.2500
11 1981 4 1 0215 Russell

Storm Survey
F3 0.1 100 2 23 Hurtsboro
Major tornado devastated Hurtsboro's business district and much of the residential area. One person was killed whe the storm destroyed their mobile home. Another was killed when their home was destroyed. Eight of the injured were admitted to hospitals. Damage was estimated at 8.5 million. About 80% of property in the city was damaged or destroyed. Twenty-five homes, 8 mobile homes and 25 businesses were totally destroyed. Forty-one homes and 10 businesses were heavily damaged. The tornado apparently touched down just W of the city limits and moved eastward through the central part of the city before lifting along Alabama Highway 26 E of Hurtsboro.

Start: 32.2500/-85.4000
End: 32.2500/-85.3800
10 1981 3 30 0330 Clay F1 0.4 60 0 0 4 S Mellow Valley
Brief touchdown in the Mountian Community. Several homes damaged and outbuildings destroyed.

Start: 33.1200/-85.7500
End: 33.1200/-85.7500
9 1981 3 30 0240 Dallas F1 0.2 30 0 0 Selma
Brief touchdown just north of the Hwy 14 and Hwy 219 intersection. One garage was destroyed and numerous trees were down in the area.

Start: 32.4500/-87.1200
End: 32.4500/-87.1200
8 1981 3 30 0230 Dallas F1 1.0 50 0 0 Safford
One home damaged and sheds were destroyed. The roof of a barn and machine shed were blown off. Farther NE a barn was destroyed. Damage estimated at $9,000.

Start: 32.2800/-87.3700
End: 32.2800/-87.3700
7 1981 3 22 1730 Baldwin F1 0.1 10 0 0 8 N Loxley
Little or no damage occurred with this brief tornado.

Start: 30.7500/-87.7500
End: 30.7500/-85.7500
6 1981 3 18 1530 Clay F1 13.8 50 0 0 3.7 W Ashland - 5 S Cragford
A lot of minor damage along a 3 to 4 mile long path. One mobile home destroyed, and another was severely damaged. The destroyed mobile home was moved about 150 yds. A truck and horse trailer were also damaged. The tornado touched down again about 9 miles ESE where trees were twisted off and a power pole was damaged. Damage estimated at $30,000. A large amount of small hail accompanied this storm.

Start: 33.2700/-85.9000
End: 33.1800/-85.6800
5 1981 3 18 1350 Bullock F1 0.3 40 0 0 1.2 SW Hurtsboro
Brief tornado near Bullock/Russell County line at a private airport. A building its aircraft was damaged. Total damage estimated at $100,000.

Start: 32.2300/-85.4300
End: 32.2300/-85.4300
4 1981 3 18 1220 Montgomery F1 0.4 40 0 0 Mathews-Cecil Areas
Brief touchdown in wooded area. Tree tops twisted off.

Start: 32.2800/-86.0000
End: 31.2800/-86.0000
3 1981 3 4 1720 Pike F1 0.3 50 0 0 Livingston Cross Roads
Tin roof was torn off equipment shed. There was damage to farm equipment, fences and utility poles.

Start: 31.6700/-86.1000
End: 31.6700/-86.1000
2 1981 2 10 1745 Houston F1 7.4 77 0 5 6.5 S Dothan- 1.5 ENE Dothan
One double wide mobile home was destroyed and all the injuries occurred there. 40 automobiles had windows shattered by flying debris. 2 homes under construction were destroyed. 3 other homes sustained roof damage.

Start: 31.1300/-85.4000
End: 31.2300/-85.3700
1 1981 2 10 0840 Baldwin
 
F2 1.5 150 0 62 W Bay Minette - Bay Minette
The tornado struck the middle school where most of the injuries occurred. The school suffered major damage and 7 homes were totally destroyed. 1 business was destroyed.

Start: 30.8600/-87.7900
End: 30.8800/-87.7700