The weather service said numerous homes were damaged -- some significantly -- on River Run Road and the adjacent side streets. There was a lot of people gathered on the bridge where you could see Brent in the distance. More EF-3 damage occurred along County Road 18, where the weather service said vehicles were moved or flipped, numerous trees were snapped, one site-built home was destroyed and others heavily damaged. Tornado Warnings Storm Spotters (SKYWARN) At least five deaths and multiple injuries have. The tornado weakened more as it neared Highway 77 and dissipated shortly after crossing County Road 114. Other Research Please avoid the area of Wilhite and Milligan road, as a power pole has broken, units are on-scene with Morgan County Sheriff's Office awaiting Joe Wheeler EMCPicture from Ebenezer Fire and Rescue pic.twitter.com/WHOdVP5Hwt, Gradient wind damage at Centre photo from Alan Amos pic.twitter.com/I4uPVJsq5Z. Deadly tornadoes that ripped through Alabama throughout Thursday remain a significant threat to other Southern states as the sun rises on Friday. Picture from The Birmingham Post-Herald The tornado then moved across the rest of Tallapoosa County causing EF-0 to EF-1 tree damage, including in the Sessions area. We found out the next day that the freezer came from 2 miles down the road. Came to warn us as we were outside having a cook out with friends. The weather service said countless trees were snapped and uprooted as the tornado moved northeast toward the Elmore-Coosa county line at U.S. Highway 231. Re-use please credit https://brenttornado.wordpress.com/. About Radar. Weather Service Office Significantly Damaged, Roof of Weather Service Office Centreville. Significant damage to homes and trees occurred along the very wide path. The tornado never lifted from the ground as it followed highway 25 the entire way. Past Events All were looking in awe, disbelief and a sunken heart. There were several people wondering around in a daze, looking for their belongs. I had no idea what it was. Supercell three: Newnan and Peachtree City, Ga. Ive never felt conditions like that before or since. My grandmother, Mrs. Evelyn Cummings, reassured me everything was okay and said to get back in bed. A tornado warning went out almost immediately for counties upstream. Prientice trailer Park on top of Burnt Corn Hill was destroyed. My grandfather was Conger Cummings and had worked for the highway dept several years. I dont know if he got one or not, but Dale Black deserved commendation from the weather service for his work and keeping on task that day. I remember that my Aunt was living with my Grandfather at the time and she was injured and sent to a hospital in Tuscaloosa. Please try another search. Emergency crews continue to remove debris and conduct additional search and rescue efforts after a tornado ripped through a suburban area north of Birmingham, Ala., leaving at least . Witnesses say they saw a large, wedge tornado sweep through the area destroying some homes, but thankfully sparing lives. His photo on the front page of the Centreville Press that week showing Brent Baptist Church, sign, and clock won the Best News Photo from the Alabama Press Association for 1973. I just remember the next morning packing up to go home and my parents talking about a storm in Brent. The next thing I remember is seeing stuff flying all around me. Even though the tornado took a turn just below the Centreville business district, I can still recall the strange feeling in the air that evening. The article included a photo of then-Mayor Melford Worrell addressing a group of merchants whose businesses had been destroyed. Severe Weather Preparedness National Weather Service Daily Rainfall Plots Outreach Materials A moment or two later it was also announced that the Brent Church had been hit. Similar damage was seen in northwest Elmore County as the tornado neared the Coosa River. The National Weather Service has reported several tornadoes in Alabama, including one that touched down near Birmingham and migrated more than 100 miles (160 kilometers) to the northeast, the. I remember strong storms Sunday evening while still at the lake, but not being frightened. One of my first big assignments was to go to Brent a few days after the tornado hit and write a story about what was going on in the devastated town. When we exited the building the air was deathly still and we could hear sirens of the emergency vehicles. CNN's Chad Myers gives an update on the weather system tearing across the south eastern US, including a tornado that . My family and I went around the town to help our neighbors. We didnt know what to do. New Day. ALABAMA TORNADO Brent, AL (Mile Wide EF3) March 25, 2021 HIGH RISK Jayjack Storm Trax 40.7K subscribers Join Subscribe 796 Share 42K views 1 year ago A mile wide WEDGE tornado touched down. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. The tornado demolished more than 12,000 acres of timber and over 500 buildings; 72 people in the area were injured and five of its citizens killed. There was an eerie look to the sky and a funny smell to the air at my parents house. MID-SOUTH RECOVERS FROM DEADLY TORNADOES AS REGION BRACES FOR SEVERE WEATHER, MORE STORMS. The tornado crossed the river near Neely Road on the west bank and Kelly Road on the east bank. Hale County - Reports of trees down on Hale County 21 and Hale County 4. The first was an EF-2 tornado that carved a 35.17-mile path through parts of Choctaw and Marengo counties. Tin and other debris was found in the Oakmulgee Forest many miles away from the path of the storm. He was covering the operation of the NWS Radar Station at Centreville/Brent when he and the staff there became a part of the story. Dale had driven his old fishing truck to work. I just recently reread the article I wrote after my visit to Brent. But all of his windows were still intact. Winter Weather Warnings My family lived in Cottondale, but we camped at Lake Payne numerous times. According to records, the largest tornado in the Brent area was an F4 in 1973 that caused 199 injuries and 7 deaths. We got down as low as we could in the car and held on. Drought Monitor Just before the service was to begin my mom suggested I run over to the house and get a flash light in case the power went out. Contact Us Hale,Bibb, Perry, Shelby,Talladega and Clay Counties TORNADO DEBRIS SIGNATURE NOTED ON RADAR. Previsin de 7 Das The radar site and Brent, about 8 miles to the northeast, were in the crosshairs. Updated: Mar. What was that! Tornado rips through north Birmingham, Alabama area. Late Wednesday night, a student dorm at the University of Montevallo sustained damage from a tornado: This is a window blown out in one of the living rooms at the New Residents Hall at the University of Montevallo photo from Jennifer Howard pic.twitter.com/O8Ewx2Czpc, Minor damage from Tornado at Brooke Hall. Severe Safety w/ ASL I dont recall the buildup to the storm, but I remember my mom and dad calling my brother and me from the yard into a makeshift storm area dug underneath our front porch. Clanton resident John Brasher was a reporter/photographer at the Centreville Press back on May 27, 1973. Special Weather Statements It was me, my two brothers, my mom and dad and our dog. Cheaha. Storm damage in Brent Alabama The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency's Highway Patrol Division reports the following road conditions: Bibb County - Reports of trees down on Alabama 5 South of Brent. It is the sixth longest track tornado of record in U.S. history. These are accounts of those two killer storms on the evening of May 27, 1973. Billboards were hitting the ground all around us. Suddenly, Bob and I felt very sharp pain in our ears. At least five manufactured homes were blown away with their frames thrown considerable distances, the weather service said. Brent, AL is a Very High Risk area for tornados. TORNADOES CONFIRMED ACROSS ALABAMA, GEORGIA TENNESSEE; MORE BAD WEATHER POSSIBLE SATURDAY. The tornado killed seven people and injured several others and caused widespread damage along its long path. Alabama Tornadoes 1973 Weather.gov > NWS Birmingham, Alabama > Alabama Tornadoes 1973 Current Hazards Current Conditions Radar Forecasts Rivers and Lakes Climate and Past Weather Local Programs BMX RSS Feed Stunning imagery from theNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA)GOES East satellite captured the Thursday "supercell" that produced a large tornado in Alabama near Brent and Centerville. My sister and I were in the hospital from May 27th until July 5th. This week's severe weather in the Mid-South was visible from outer space. Sorry, the location you searched for was not found. Minutes later, the house was totally destroyed. or redistributed. Have not lived another night/day like this weatherwise until April 27, 2011. Graphical Forecasts The power did go out and people lit candles. We came through just before it got there and the next day we went to see the devastation. Do you have any info on this Co.? It did hold together. It was the Alabama Highway Department, calling my grandfather to tell him to go survey the damage from a tornado that had hit Brent/Centreville. As many as eight tornadoes might have hit Alabama on Thursday as a result of a "super cell" that later moved into Georgia, said John De Block, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. I dont know where Bob ended up as the storm struck with full force. So we just went home. Severe Thunderstorm Warnings Severe Thunderstorm Warnings We started hearing stuff hitting up against the house. Copyright 2021 WBRC. Brent, AL Weather Forecast, with current conditions, wind, air quality, and what to expect for the next 3 days. NWS We watched Dale pull out of the parking lot on onto the road. We lived Heiberger, i remember going to bed having to talk my self to sleep. i wanted to stay outside and play. My granddad died in 1979. We wanted to see what the conditions were like. The F4, borderline F5, tornado effects ended as fast as they had started. According to the National Weather Service in Birmingham, the Autauga tornado was on. It looked like the town had been scrambled like eggs. A long-tracked tornado moved through Shelby. No buildings were involved, but there was enough thermal damage that families in 26 units had to be displaced, according to Hoover Fire Department Division Chief and spokesman Duane Prater: A brush fire near the City Heights apartment complex in Hoover. We heard that Brent was destroyed. Current Hazards James Remembers the Brent Tornado. The thing I remember most was the capricious nature of the tornado: A grocery store, half obliterated while the other half still contained food neatly placed on shelves; one house still standing in perfect condition even as the two neighboring homes on each side had turned to rubble; a building housing lumber blown away in its entirety, even as stacks of wood remained perfectly in order. Tornado warnings were issued up-stream. My sister and I both survived but had sustained many injuries. We barely made it to his house less than a mile tornado came directy up Hwy 25 from Brent to Wilsonville. We later learned that the tornado hopped across the road and destroyed Wesley Chapel Church, sparing our home and many others nearby. I take tornado watches and warnings very serious today. I stumbled across this site, looking for the N.D. Cass Co. of Alabama. I think I can remember this correctly, but we had been camping since Thursday the week before. DAMAGE REPORTED INCLUDING SNAPPED TREES AND STRUCTURAL DAMAGE. I think he would. Strongest Ever? I had turned 12 years old the day before and I still remember what happened just like it was yesterday. That wonderful man called my uncle and he showed up later to pick us up to take us back home. In some ways, its something I needed to see. Services were being held here when the tornado struck. @NWSHuntsville @DanielleDozier @BenSmith_WHNT @katemckennawx @EmilyOwenWX @BradTravisWAFF @spann #alwx #hunwx @LimestoneEMA pic.twitter.com/iF9wqHMQe4. Tornado Warnings Late that Sunday afternoon, NWS staff at the site detected a tornado forming in Demopolis. He also worked as photo editor, sports editor, and features editor at various times. A large tornado struck in or close to Brent and Centreville, Alabama, around 5 p.m. local time, prompting the Weather Service to issue a "tornado emergency" and warn of potentially "catastrophic" damage. I always looked forward to school being out so I could spend time fishing around Mulberry Creek. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. near Mertz, or 13 miles southwest of Brent, moving east at 55 mph. With nothing left to do at the radar site, Dale, Bob, and I headed to our cars to try to get home. In Limestone County, the Emergency Management Agency reported a tree fell on a mobile home. All rights reserved. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. He worked the radar controls, scanning up and down the height of the storm and plotted its anticipated path on the radar screen. A night that will not be forgotten. My brothers girlfriend at the time , Jane Bamburg lost their home and whole neighborhood in Brent including a small church . I was told in the same place of horrible destruction, there was eggs in a carton that was untouched. We watched in amazement at everything but the kitchen sink swirled around and past those windows. I was 5 at the time & remember Papa having to put down one of his horses. Regional Highs/Lows/Rainfall, Forecasts the warning. Shortly after the storm a young man came running by our car and he was crying. 82 coming into Centerville when we saw the blackest cloud we had ever seen. Tropical My family (Johnsons) lived in Six Mile at the time, and I was 11 when this storm happened. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The tornado demolished more than 12,000 acres of timber and over 500 buildings; 72 people in the area were injured. It plowed through the school and pulled up an extremely old oak tree , and let it go on top of the store . This storm had its beginning just northeast of Demopolis. Air Quality In Brent, a church sustained damage to its facade: Gradient wind damage at Pine View Baptist Church. That room had glass almost from floor to ceiling and faced north. On May 27, 1973, a category 4 tornado tore through the Brent, Centreville, Montevallo, and Greensboro area, leaving 90 percent of the city of Brent destroyed. Winter Weather Warnings The tornado weakened slightly as it moved across County Road 57 but still damaged several homes. The weather service has a list of the longest tracks for tornadoes in Alabama. @NickLilja pic.twitter.com/fE9ZJX4nbq, Mobile home damaged in Brierfield https://t.co/LiDuYr9ifY, Damage in Chelsea along County Road 333 photo from Philip Morris pic.twitter.com/43OWBQGBDL, DEVELOPING: At least one person rescued ftom trailers damaged in Ashby in an apparent tornado @abc3340 @spann #alwx pic.twitter.com/Viog3h5K0q, @spann 59 north at Trussville pic.twitter.com/RUN3ZKidr9. We told him we were fine and ask if he was ok. (Photo courtesy of Garrett Doss). Dale was the radar operator. The weather service said the tornado touched down in Autauga County and remained on the ground until it reached Chambers County on Alabamas eastern border with Georgia. So glad the community banded together & rebuilt! John Brasher was born in Birmingham, and raised in the Shelby Community in Southeast Shelby County. I will always have those scenes embedded in my mind and thinking how very close we were camping in tents. The tornadolifted near Mount Cheaha. As we were cleaning the yard, we found loose checks and newspapers from Brent. #alwx @spann @NWSMobile @michaelwhitewx @WKRGEd tornado warned storm last night. The roof was two thirds gone, and the rest of the building looked as it had been sand blasted. My father was manager of the IGA in centerville at the time , I was 16 yrs old . "In the 16-second timelapse, you can see the lightning that accompanied the storm during March 25," the agency wrote Friday on Twitterin a message accompanying the 16-second clip. We watched as the wind whipped up and a cow and a tractor, among other debris, flew by as if they were lightweight toys. While Selma itself was not hit by an actual tornado that night, Im sure one came very close and just did not touch down as there was a green hue to the sky and rain driven sideways just plain scary! The weather situation turned very serious, very quickly that Sunday afternoon. 90% of the town of Brent was destroyed killing 5 people and injuring 56. Insulation was strung on the ground and on the trees for miles. The Centreville radar continued to track the storm as it worked over Greensboro and targeted Bibb County. Our military training area was over the area west and north of Selma to include from near Demopolis to near Tuscaloosa and the national forest area up to Centreville, and was subdivided into a smaller particular area. Looks like theres a power line almost down. Homes crumbled, trees snapped and roads are impassable in areas of Bibb County including West Blocton and Brent. Past Events Legal Statement. Justice prevails. Summer Safety Campaign Weve been hit and other info was phoned in to Oxmoor. Conciencia y Preparacin, Weather Safety Linhares added that using that definition, 95 of 2,505 tornadoes, or 3.8 percent, qualify as long-track tornadoes. Picture from The BirminghamNews There was no power and some minor damage to the motel but it felt safe after what we had been through. A few minutes later, as Dale was at his console, I was standing in a hallway door that lead into the teletype room. A mile wide WEDGE tornado touched down on March 25, 2021 during a PDS , Particularly Dangerous Situation Tornado Watch that was issued for parts of Mississippi and Alabama. Severe Weather Preparedness In 1973 I was a cub reporter for the Montgomery Advertiser. At least three manufactured homes were obliterated, the weather service said, with their frames thrown up to 100 yards along County Road 43. Power lines and trees down on Alabama 382 (Montgomery Road). And Bob Coe was able to reach his wife at home in Brent to make sure his family took shelter. I ran into my grandparents bedroom. In addition to the obvious property damage, the tornado . This tornado made a lasting impression on me we lived in Mobilebut traveled to Birmingham once a month.Hwy 5 was our route and my dad made a special stop to show us the destructive power of a tornado.Ive been interested in them ever since that day when at the age of 11 I was awed by the power of tornadoes. The tornado that roared through Brent, Alabama on March 25th crossed the river at this cattle farm. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. It let me know that mother nature is not just about chasing bumble bees with an insect net, playing marbles, and drinking lemonade on the front porch, or fishing on the bank of a creek. I also recall the courage, resilience, and resoluteness of the citizens of Brent, as well as their willingness to do all they could to offer help to their neighbors. The tornado continued northeast, causing sporadic EF-1 timber damage as it crossed U.S. Highway 280. So he continued down the road, dodging the trees and lines. Forecast Discussion I was standing beside the radar console, watching Dale work when he first saw what would become Alabamas longest track tornado. When we got there the wind was blowing real hard and the sky was constantly light up with lightening. Rivers and Lakes Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. I assume that this structure doesnt exist anymore as a result of this storm back in 1973. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration I lived in Calera, Al at the time. Local Climatology Brent is located in central Alabama in Bibb County. Fire Weather In Athens, high winds mangled the roof of this building: #BREAKING: A roof was blown off due to high winds this evening near 616 Highway 31 in Athens.
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