At least 10 tornadoes touched down on Thursday across the Southeast U.S., leading to at least five storm-related fatalities in Alabama.


What You Need To Know

  • A major tornado outbreak led to at least 10 tornado reports on Thursday

  • Several violent tornadoes in Alabama produced significant damage

  • We may see strong to severe storms for today

Several tornadoes formed across Alabama on Thursday and led to widespread damage according to local authorities.

In Calhoun County, Ala., the local sheriff confirmed five tornado-related deaths in the town of Ohatchee.

Several other strong tornadoes led to significant damage across Alabama, including widespread damage on the south and east sides of the state's largest city, Birmingham.

Tornado-related damage in Birmingham, Ala. on Thursday, March 25, 2021. AP Photo/Butch Dill

A Dire Forecast

The Storm Prediction Center issued a “high” risk of severe weather in the Deep South, the agency's highest risk level, just eight days after another high risk. We saw everything from strong tornadoes to damaging winds and hail up to 3 inches in diameter.

Luckily for today, the severe chance is much lower, but some strong storms could still pop up in in areas across the southeast. The main threats will be wind and hail.

Two Weeks of Severe in the South

Severe weather occurred in the same area hit by strong winds and numerous tornadoes just last week. The Storm Prediction Center issued the top threat level, a high risk, over parts of the Deep South on March 17.

While high-end tornadoes thankfully did not materialize, there were still 33 confirmed tornadoes that day. Four of them were rated EF-2. Nearly 80 high wind reports also came in that day.

The same storm system produced 13 more tornadoes from Florida to Virginia the following day, including three in North Carolina.

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