News Summary
A severe weather outbreak in central Alabama led to at least six confirmed tornadoes and widespread damage on Tuesday. A Tornado Emergency was declared as meteorologists confirmed two EF-2 tornadoes and additional reports are still being assessed. Storms resulted in baseball-sized hail and damaging winds while power outages affected over 105,000 customers. Recovery efforts continue as local residents stay vigilant for further updates.
Huntsville, Alabama – A severe weather outbreak impacted central Alabama on Tuesday, resulting in widespread reports of damage and at least six confirmed tornadoes. A Tornado Emergency was declared for the area between 6:35 and 6:45 PM CDT, highlighting the strength and severity of the storm system that rolled through the region.
Incredible video footage captured funnel clouds and tornadoes in cities such as Athens, Madison, and Huntsville. The North Alabama area experienced multiple severe storms throughout the day, leading meteorologists to confirm two EF-2 tornadoes with estimated winds of 125 mph and 134 mph. These assessments are ongoing, as storm surveys will take several days to complete, and the tornado count could rise as new reports come in.
The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Huntsville has confirmed three tornadoes thus far, with more likely to follow. Similarly, the Birmingham weather service has reported three confirmed tornadoes classified as EF-1s in central Alabama. In addition to tornado activity, the storms produced instances of baseball-sized hail and damaging straight-line winds, causing extensive damage to trees and power lines across the affected areas.
Local NWS offices received numerous reports of damage from north and central Alabama throughout the evening and into the following morning. Residents have been encouraged to submit photos of storm damage to assist with recovery assessments. Multiple tornado warnings were issued starting after noon on Tuesday for Lauderdale and Colbert counties, with the last warning from the Huntsville weather service office being issued just before 10 PM. The Birmingham weather service followed suit with its last tornado warning for Bullock and Macon counties the subsequent morning.
Fortunately, no severe weather risk is anticipated for the southern third of Alabama in the coming days. The highest risk for tornadoes was noted in the enhanced risk zone over northern Alabama. Forecasters noted a significant risk of damaging winds and large hail as well, which contributed to the storm’s impact.
Following the storms, lingering showers were expected to affect South Alabama, while a mostly dry weather pattern is forecast through Friday. Temperatures are anticipated to range in the low to mid-80s through Thursday, with a drop into the 70s on Friday. Looking ahead to the Memorial Day weekend, scattered showers may make their way to the northern half of Alabama, while southern areas are expected to remain dry.
The storms also caused significant disruptions to power services, impacting over 105,000 customers due to outages reported on Saturday and Sunday. Efforts by Alabama Power have led to a reduction in outages, bringing the number down to less than 40,000 by 9 AM on Sunday.
In addition to tornado destruction, significant flooding issues arose in cities like Hueytown, Sylacauga, and Vestavia Hills, affecting yards and roadways. Notably, road closures have been reported at Merryvale Road at Highway 31 due to pavement damage resulting from the heavy rainfall.
As recovery efforts continue, local residents are urged to stay vigilant regarding potential weather updates and to adhere to safety measures in the aftermath of the storms. More assessments are expected in the coming days, as meteorologists analyze the full extent of the damage caused by the severe weather event.
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Additional Resources
- WVTM 13: Alabama Tornado NWS Survey
- Wikipedia: Tornado
- AL.com: Tornado Damage in Alabama
- Google Search: Alabama tornado 2025
- ABC 33/40: Severe Weather Authority
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Tornado
- WBRC: Weekend Morning Storms Damage
- Google News: Alabama tornado severe weather
Author: STAFF HERE HUNTSVILLE WRITER
The HUNTSVILLE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREHuntsville.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Huntsville, Madison County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Panoply Arts Festival, Rocket City Brewfest, and Huntsville Comic & Pop Culture Expo. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce and HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, plus leading businesses in aerospace, defense, and manufacturing that power the local economy such as Boeing, SAIC, and Mazda Toyota Manufacturing. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBirmingham.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Alabama's dynamic landscape.
