At least three people were killed Saturday in severe weather in Alabama that spawned dozens of tornadoes and left damage all over the state.
A spokesperson for Gov. Kay Ivey said early afternoon that three people had died. Officials reported two deaths in Dallas County and one in Winterboro in Talladega County. One of the Dallas County deaths was in Plantersville; it was not immediately known early Sunday afternoon where the other Dallas County death took place. The statement also said 52 of Alabama’s 67 counties reported damage from the storms.
“Our damage assessment continues,” Ivey said in the news release. “The sun has risen in Alabama, though. We pray for those lives we lost, as well as those who were injured. And we pray for our first responders, emergency management officials and linemen who are doing incredible work on the ground right now.”
Ivey connected with affected communities on Sunday, and said in a statement that emergency management officials “have been working hard to assess the damage brought by this weekend’s storms.”
The old Winterboro High School building had significant damage from the March 15 and 16 storms that caused more than a dozen possible tornadoes across the state. (Courtesy of National Weather Service in Birmingham)
The Alabama Emergency Management Agency Sunday said in a Facebook post Sunday that those needing help with clean-up should call 844-965-1386.
The National Weather Service (NWS) said it tracked at least 16 possible tornadoes in central Alabama on radar Saturday. It plans to dispatch multiple teams to affected areas to survey the damage and visually confirm the formation of the tornadoes from radar.
NWS said later on Sunday that the tornado that touched down in Plantersville was an EF3, with winds of up to 165 mph. Jason Holmes, a meteorologist with the NWS, said Sunday afternoon they were able to confirm the tornado in Shelby and rated it as an EF1, which produced winds up to 90 mph, and the one in Talladega near Winterboro as an EF2, with winds up to 120 mph.
“Shelby County was also affected,” Holmes said. “Calera was impacted. There was another possible track west of Calera, and there might be a third one that tracked into the southwest portion there, from Bibb County. The surveys will define the start and endpoints.”
The old Winterboro High School in Talladega County was significantly damaged, but classes were no held held there and students have moved to a new facility. It’s unclear whether there students will have class Monday.
The NWS confirmed five tornadoes as of 4 p.m. Sunday.
Officials reported EF3 tornado damage, with wind gusts between 136 mph and 165 mph, in the Plantersville area of Dallas County. The Talladega County tornado was estimated as an EF2 with wind gusts between 111 mph and 135 mph.
Survey teams reported EF-0 tornado damage, which had wind gusts between 65 mph and 85 mph, in the Thomas Mill area of Bibb County. It spanned about 7.5 miles and 75 yards wide with an estimated wind peak of 80 mph, and lasted about 15 minutes Saturday night.
An EF1 tornado in Calera spanned about 10 miles and 250 yards wide with an estimated wind peak of 90 mph. It lasted about 15 minutes on Saturday night starting at 7:57 p.m., according to the NWS.
The National Weather Service from Mobile reported gusty winds but little damage.
The office in Huntsville reported a possible tornado in south Cullman County as well as some isolated flooding because of the heavy rain.
This is a breaking news story. Updated at 11:33 a.m. with number for clean-up assistance. The story was updated at 12:53 with the third death confirmed in Dallas County. It was updated at 1:37 p.m. with extent of damage in Talladega County. It was updated at 1:56 p.m. with confirmed tornadoes and their ratings on the EF scale. It was updated at 4:54 p.m. with more confirmed tornadoes and their ratings on the EF scale.
