Five people have been killed, several were injured and others are missing after a tornado struck in Calhoun County, Alabama, on Thursday afternoon, according to multiple media reports.
Four of the Calhoun County deaths were in Ohatchee, Alabama, including a family of three, according to reporter Andrew Donley.
Houses and property have been extensively damaged, and at least two people have been injured after being trapped in the Eagle Point area of Birmingham, Alabama. At least 32 homes were damaged in the area.
A Florence, Alabama, police officer reportedly survived a lightning strike Thursday afternoon, according to Hunter Drinkard. The officer suffered burns, Drinkard said, citing the Florence police chief.
A tornado was confirmed Thursday night near Trussville, Alabama, according to WVUA 23.
Alabama Power was reporting at least 14,000 outages in the Birmingham area, according to reporter Stephen Quinn.
Parts of a roof from an office park in Eagle Point landed on Route 280 after a twister hit the building, according to reporter Carol Robinson.
Trees and debris littered U.S. 280 and Dunnavant Valley Road near Birmingham after a tornado.
Heavy flooding was reported near Larkwood Drive in Birmingham after a tornado.
At least one person was injured and structural damage was reported near Greystone Farms near Hoover, Alabama, after a twister.
James Spann, Alabama’s preeminent meteorologist, learned his home was damaged by a tornado while he was on the air Thursday afternoon.
“What I’m doing is texting my wife to be sure she’s in the shelter,” Spann said as he was off camera Thursday afternoon.
Spann’s colleague, ABC 33/40 meteorologist Taylor Sarallo, then took over the broadcast when Spann heard the grim news.
“The reason I had to step out, we had major damage at my house,” Spann said when he returned to the ABC broadcast. “My wife is OK, but the tornado came right through there, and it’s not good, it’s bad. It’s bad.”
Multiple mobile homes, a church and a commercial building were destroyed by a twister southwest of Ohatchee, Alabama.
A tornado downed utility lines and damaged the Civic Complex in Pelham, Alabama. It also damaged houses in Chandalar, according to the Pelham Police Department.
Drone footage revealed extensive damage in Pelham.
Homes in Helena, Alabama, also sustained damage after a tornado in the Riverbend neighborhood.
A tornado emergency was declared near Indian Springs, Alabama, as the storm moved toward Pell City, according to reporter Zach Covey.
Dark clouds were swirling as a tornado formed in Meadowbrook, Alabama, which is south of Birmingham.
Another tornado was on the ground near a Chevrolet dealership in Lake Purdy, Alabama.
Damage was reported to Five Star Lumber in Pelham after a twister.
Branches crashed into the roof of a house during a tornado in Oak Mountain, Alabama.
A tornado was near Jack’s Discount Pharmacy on Thursday afternoon in West Blocton, Alabama, according to reports.
No injuries were reported, but a tornado damaged several houses and trailers near the Mount Carmel area of West Blocton, according to Lauren Walsh.
A tornado was reported over the Oak Mountain Amphitheatre in Pelham.
A tornado was confirmed Thursday afternoon near Tuscaloosa, Alabama, according to WSFA 12 News.
A possible tornado was spotted Thursday afternoon near Moundville, Alabama.
A large tornado was approaching Highway 82 in Hagler, Alabama, according to reporter Griffin Hardy.
A tornado was on the ground near West Blocton en route to Pelham and Alabaster, Alabama, according to reporter Tyler Sebree.
Interstate flooding was reported in Alabama on Thursday morning as Southern states braced for severe storms and more tornadoes.
Parts of Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee on Thursday will be at high risk of strong tornadoes that can stay on the ground for miles, the national Storm Prediction Center warned Thursday.
The University of Alabama announced it is closing until 5 a.m. Friday in advance of the anticipated severe weather.
A storm brought a tree down in Cedartown.
The greatest threat, into Thursday evening, will be in parts of Mississippi, Alabama and west Tennessee, the national Storm Prediction Center said. East Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana also are at risk, and more storms are possible in Georgia and Kentucky.
The Storm Prediction Center expects the worst weather in a region that includes Jackson, Mississippi; and the Alabama cities of Birmingham, Huntsville and Tuscaloosa.
The environment as the storms move in will be “very favorable for long-track strong tornadoes,” the Storm Prediction Center said in its latest briefing.
A flash flood watch Thursday covered northern parts of Alabama and Georgia and portions of Tennessee and western North Carolina.
Up to 4 inches of rain — with higher amounts possible — is expected in northern Alabama, according to the National Weather Service in Huntsville.
