1977 — April 4, Tornado, Smithfield, Jefferson County, Alabama — 22

— 22 Grazulis, Thomas P. The Tornado: Nature’s Ultimate Windstorm. 2001, p. 299.
— 22 Grazulis, Thomas P. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 1192.
— 22 NCDC. Event Record Details, Tornado, Alabama, 4 Apr 1977, Jefferson County 1500.
— 22 National Weather Service WFO Birmingham, AL. April 4, 1977, Smithfield F5 Tornado.

Narrative Information

National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office, Birmingham, AL: “The tornado began around 3 pm CST, 4 miles northwest of Birmingham near U.S. Highway 78, and then traveled northeast for 15 miles at 60 mph, crossing Interstate 65. At it’s widest point, the tornado was 3/4 of a mile wide. Over 150 homes were damaged with almost 50 completely destroyed. A total of 22 people were killed with over 130 injured. This one storm alone caused over $25 million in damage ($83 million in today dollars). Daniel Payne College near U.S. Highway 78 sustained heavy damage from this massive tornado with estimates over $1 million dollars. The college, opened in 1880, later closed its doors in 1977, likely a result of the enormous cost and amount of damage. There were six other tornadoes on this day including five F2 tornadoes and an F3 tornado across North and Central Alabama. Timely tornado warnings provided by the National Weather Service allowed people to take necessary action well ahead of the approaching storm. The new NOAA Weather Radio program played a huge role in the process. Warnings were broadcast live on the Birmingham KIH-54 transmitter which was just implemented five months prior to this event.” (NWS WFO Birmingham, AL. April 4, 1977, Smithfield F5 Tornado.)

Sources

Grazulis, Thomas P. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, VE: Environmental Films, 1993, 1,326 pages.

Grazulis, Thomas P. The Tornado: Nature’s Ultimate Windstorm. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2001, 324 pages.

National Climatic Data Center. Event Record Details, Tornado, Alabama, 4 Apr 1977, Jefferson County 1500. NCDC, NOAA, Department of Commerce. Accessed 2-5-2009 at: http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~1704

National Weather Service Forecast Office Birmingham, AL.. April 4, 1977, Smithfield F5 Tornado. Accessed 1-4-2009 at: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/bmx/significant_events/1977/smithfield/index.php