Rainsville Tornado Map
During the early evening hours of April 27, 2011, an extremely powerful and devastating EF5 tornado, known most commonly as the Rainsville tornado, struck parts of northeast Alabama, causing immense damage, notably in the town of Rainsville, Alabama. It was the fourth and final EF5 of the historic 2011 Super Outbreak, the largest tornado outbreak ever recorded. The multi-vortex tornado remained on the ground for 36 minutes, carving a path of 36.63 miles (58.95 km) long through DeKalb County, causing 25 deaths, an unspecified yet sizable number of injuries, and an estimated $10+ million in damage.
The path of the Rainsville tornado
On the evening of Wednesday, April 27, 2011, a tornado touched down 10 miles southwest of Rainsville. Over the next 37.2 miles it traveled northeast across Alabama and Georgia, passing through Fyffe, before lifting 14 miles north of Mentone.
At its widest the damage path was 1,320 yards (0.8 miles) across. It was rated EF5 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, the highest rating there is. It killed 25 people.
The track, widths and figures on this map come from the Storm Prediction Center's survey record, so they can differ slightly from totals published elsewhere.
What was the Rainsville tornado?
The Rainsville tornado was a devastating EF5 multi-vortex tornado that struck northeast Alabama on April 27, 2011. It occurred during the historic 2011 Super Outbreak as the fourth and final EF5 of the event. The storm caused massive destruction primarily in DeKalb County, specifically impacting the town of Rainsville. It remained on the ground for 36 minutes during the early evening hours.
What was the Rainsville tornado wind speed?
The Rainsville tornado produced winds estimated at over 200 mph (320 km/h). These extreme velocities resulted in EF5-rated damage, including significant ground scouring and the complete destruction of well-constructed homes. Investigators noted that the force of the wind stripped pavement from roads and mangled heavy vehicles beyond recognition. This wind intensity categorized the event as a violent, high-end tornado.
What was the Rainsville tornado path?
The tornado touched down at 6:19 p.m. CDT near the Lakeview community in DeKalb County, Alabama. It moved northeast for 36.63 miles through areas including Fyffe, Rainsville, Sylvania, Henagar, and Ider. The track crossed into Georgia near Fox Mountain before dissipating outside Rising Fawn at 6:55 p.m. CDT. The total path length covered 58.95 kilometers across the regional landscape.
How many people died in the Rainsville tornado?
The Rainsville tornado caused 25 fatalities. The event also resulted in an unspecified yet sizable number of injuries among the local population. Emergency responders and local hospitals in Birmingham treated the critically injured children and adults following the storm. These casualties occurred as the tornado leveled numerous structures across DeKalb County.
What did the Rainsville tornado destroy?
The tornado obliterated homes, businesses, and public facilities, leaving little debris in its wake. It destroyed Plainview High School, causing up to $15 million in damage to the gymnasiums, school buildings, and coliseum. The vortex also demolished the Mountain View Baptist Church and metal transmission towers in the High Point area. Property destruction included stripping pavement from roads and mangling numerous vehicles beyond recognition.
What caused the Rainsville tornado?
A powerful supercell thunderstorm spawned the tornado amid extremely conducive atmospheric conditions. High storm-relative helicity values exceeding 500 m2s-2 signaled intense wind shear. Surface dewpoints reached 66 to 72 °F while CAPE values ranged from 2,500 to 3,000 J/kg. A negatively tilted trough over Arkansas and Louisiana combined with a strong surface low in Kentucky to drive the tornadic activity.
What happened after the Rainsville tornado?
Governor Robert Bentley declared a state of emergency for the affected counties. Volunteer groups from local schools and churches provided food and shelter while the American Red Cross and Salvation Army established relief centers. Residents eventually met with FEMA at the Tom Bevill Enrichment Center to coordinate rebuilding efforts. The FTC also initiated emergency plans to restore local services damaged by the storm.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Citations
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