Advanced Roofing & Construction, LLC has called Huntsville home for many years and we love our community. We are roofers in Huntsville, AL which is located in North Alabama within the Tennessee Valley. In this part of the state, the average temperature will range from 90°F or higher in the summer and around 40°F or lower in the winter season.
This area is prone to storm damage throughout each year. Most severe thunderstorms tend to occur during the spring season and late fall. These storms can deliver large hail with strong damaging winds and even tornadoes. Huntsville is located in a region that is known as Dixie Alley. This is an area that is prone to violent and long-track tornadoes. Read on for our list of the top 6 storms to hit North Alabama:
The Super Outbreak Storm in 2011
This was considered the largest and deadliest tornado outbreak recorded in the United States. It left catastrophic destruction in many different places including Huntsville, Alabama and 249 fatalities were recorded in all of Alabama during this event. More than 650,000 people were affected by the power outage which occurred in this area as a result. Storm damage in Huntsville, AL resulted in it being the biggest city without electricity during this event.
The Super Outbreak in 1974
Occurring in April 1974, this storm was considered the second-largest tornado outbreak in a 24-hour period ever recorded at the time, just behind the Super Outbreak in 2011. Around 30 F4/F5 tornadoes were spotted over the course of the severe weather event. On April 3 and April 4 in 1974, more than 140 tornadoes were confirmed in 13 different states in the United States. This thunderstorm caused a lot of wind damage and hail damage in Huntsville.
It destroyed more than 1,000 buildings in the Huntsville area. First, it hit the Redstone Arsenal and then continued on, damaging many other buildings in its path. There were some interesting electrical phenomena reported as well. For example, some saw ball lightning, luminous clouds and multi-colored flashes too!
F4 Tornado in 1989
On November 15, 1989, a thunderstorm struck the southern part of Huntsville. It caused a lot of destruction to the business districts and residential areas and 21 people died during this natural disaster. Hundreds of people were injured as a result of the F4 tornado. The total damage caused by this thunderstorm was estimated to be around $100 million. Many trees were downed and there were outrageous amounts of residential roof damage and commercial roof damage. Gutters on homes and businesses were also affected by the storm.
The Anderson Hills Tornado in 1995
This thunderstorm struck the Northern Alabama area on May 18, 1995. This event killed one person. Although not as deadly, it did cause a lot of storm damage, resulting in the need for full roof replacements, residential and commercial roof repairs as well as gutter replacements. This thunderstorm was rated an F4. The strongest part of this thunderstorm was detected near Harvest, AL in the northwestern part of Madison County. More than 30 well-constructed buildings were destroyed by this storm.
The January 21, 2010 Tornado
During this event, a powerful EF5 tornado was detected near the Browns Ferry nuclear power plant. This tornado destroyed a lot of transmission towers in the area. This violent storm resulted in a multi-day power outage that occurred in every corner of North Alabama. 9 people in Madison County were killed in the midst of it all.
Tornado Outbreak on March 2 and 3, 2012
This outbreak started early in the morning. Then, it was followed by severe storms and tornadoes which caused a lot of home and roof damage in the Huntsville, Alabama area. The initial round of thunderstorms brought a lot of warm air in. The temperature increase resulted in atmospheric instability and volatile air mass throughout the region. This storm affected multiple other places in the United States such as Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio. 41 people in the United States were killed during this tornado outbreak in 2012.
Tornadoes of November 29-30, 2016
A robust storm broke out on the evening of November 29, 2016 bringing in an EF3 tornado amongst a series of smaller, scattered tornadoes to the people of Lawrence County and surrounding areas. With wind speeds up to 140 MPH and pockets of hail, widespread property damage was reported with SUVs toppled and multiple roofs completely taken off near the path of the storm. Many trees in the path were broken, twisted like toothpicks.
EF2 of March 19, 2018
Early evening on March 19, 2018 brought a nasty cluster of supercells into Northern Alabama that brought very large hail and multiple tornadoes. Cullman County saw the largest hail, with a stone recorded up to over 5 inches in diameter. The EF2 tornado touched down initially up in Limestone County where it caused significant property damage to many single-family homes in the area. Significant roof damage was recorded on these homes with some just having shingles ripped off whereas others suffered complete roof loss.
EF3 in Madison County, April 1, 2023
Within a much larger regional storm, northern Madison County experienced an EF3-speed tornado in the early morning hours of April 1, 2023. Trees were completely uprooted or snapped in the path of the storm as it slowly moved, completely destroying some houses as well. Many single-family homes suffered roof loss, wall collapse, or both. A fatality was recorded in Madison County as a result of a home collapse. Multiple injuries occurred as well having three people in hospital with critical conditions.
Significant Tornadoes of May 8, 2024
The evening of May 8 and morning of May 9, 2024 brought a series of significant tornadoes to Northern Alabama. Particularly, southeastern Madison County, northern Marshal County, and southwest Jackson County experienced a significant EF3-level tornado that accompanied flash flooding that heavily restricted freedom of movement. Multiple mobile homes were ripped off their foundations while multiple roofs from barns and single-family homes were removed and tossed around. Projectile 2x4s were found implanted in some fields in the area up to 18 inches deep.
What to do when disaster strikes…
No matter what natural disasters lie ahead, the team at Advanced Roofing & Construction, LLC is here to help you pick up the pieces and move forward. We care about all of our fellow residents of Madison County and the Tennessee Valley and want to provide our friends, family and community with affordable, reliable and consistent roof repair and roof replacement services during the most dire of times.
We will be here when you need us the most, just reach out to us by calling our office at 256-603-9171, sending us an email, requesting a free roof estimate through our contact page or messaging us on Facebook. Contact us if you are looking for a trusted roofer in Huntsville, AL or a trusted roofer in Madison, AL. We service Madison County and its surrounding areas. We are a local Huntsville roofing company that you can count on to show up!
FAQ About Tornadoes in Alabama
Ideally, hiding in the interior part of the basement is best practice during a tornado. If no basement exists, stay near the middle of the house and away from windows. Get under something sturdy, like a workbench, for extra protection.
On average, Northern Alabama sees about 30 tornadoes every year due to its location in the famed Tornado Alley, one of the most tornado-prone areas in the country. These storms can vary drastically in wind speed and subsequent damage caused, but there is no shortage of this natural disaster here.
Alabama experiences tornado season from November through May every year with the peak of activity falling within March, April, and May. April has, by far, led all months for most tornadoes in Alabama recorded history.
Tornadoes form suddenly, especially in tornado season. Having your house always ready, with a secure roof, proper windows, impact resistant garage doors, and numerous other smaller practices can secure your property when a tornado comes through.
First, create a response plan for where to go during a tornado. Whether that’s the basement or a safe room, stay away from the exterior of the home. From there, ensure your stocked with supplies. Understand that you’ll likely lose power and will either need a generator, or stocks of nonperishable food and bottled water to ride of the storm as services are restored.