A deadly tornado hit the Birmingham suburbs of Fultondale and Center Point around 10:40 pm CST, January 25, 2021. Tragically, a fourteen-year-old Fultondale High School student, Elliott Hernandez, was killed. He was found in the basement of a single-story house that collapsed. At least 30 other people were injured. The tornado had a path length of 9.5 miles and a maximum path width of 500-yards.
Working on video, but here’s a quick picture I got of the tornado crossing I65 near Fultondale just north of Birmingham. Extensive damage! @spann @jpdice_Fox6 @jillgilardi @BradTravisWAFF @simpsonwhnt pic.twitter.com/3iVQhSDdN5
— Brad Arnold (@BradArnoldWX) January 26, 2021
NEW: The Fultondale tornado has been given a rating of EF-3 w/ peak winds around 150 mph. Keep in mind that intensity & width varied along its path. The EF-3 damage was focused near Lykes Blvd to New Castle Rd. We will continue to review, but don't anticipate a change in rating. pic.twitter.com/VXZmQY1cG1
— NWS Birmingham (@NWSBirmingham) January 27, 2021
The National Weather Service has rated the tornado as an EF3 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale. They noted that they are still reviewing the damage, but they don’t expect the rating to change. Many homes were damaged, and several were utterly destroyed. Vehicles were tossed off of Interstate 65 just west of Fultondale. Near the interstate, a Hampton Inn Hotel was heavily damaged. Several other businesses in this vicinity were damaged or destroyed. The Fultondale High School sustained moderate damage from the tornado. Ironically, this twister took a similar track to an EF3 that hit on January 23, 2012.
I found this interesting…back on 1/23/2012 there was an EF-3 tornado that started near Center Point & tracked NE toward the Jefferson/St. Clair county line. Last night's likely tornado may have made a similar track, but started near #Fultondale. #alwx #Birmingham @CBS_42 pic.twitter.com/A6qVVhnBGF
— Dave Nussbaum (@Dave_Nussbaum) January 26, 2021
A tornado warning was issued at 10:34 pm CST, 11 minutes later, at 10:45 pm, the alert was upgraded to a “Particularly Dangerous Situation” (PDS) Tornado Warning. Radar showed that debris was being lofted into the air. At the Darlene Estates in Fultondale, Adam Sessums tweeted that his weather radio alerted him to the tornado, and he and his family were able to get to safety. A large wooden plank was speared through the wall landing into his bed.
Got my wife and baby out of bedroom about 10 minutes b4 this happened. We r in Darlene Estates in Fultondale. Thank u weather radio! @spann pic.twitter.com/VFBWArlfSG
— Adam Sessums (@MSUZeppfan) January 26, 2021
This is what it looked like as the tornado hit Fultondale, AL around 10:40 PM local time in Alabama Monday Night. What you're seeing are transformers being blown as the tornado rips through power lines & other structures in the area. #alwx #tornado pic.twitter.com/eFWqfNiYBb
— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) January 26, 2021
NEW VIDEO—
(FULTONDALE, Ala.)Sunlight shows depth of damage from possible tornado on New Castle Rd. Rescue crews will attempt 2nd search mission soon. 1 death confirmed so far. 17 ppl rushed to hospital. @spann @abc3340 pic.twitter.com/HpTXriYu2U
— Stoney Sharp (@StoneySharp3340) January 26, 2021
@spann @jpdice_Fox6 Aerial shots my dad has taken of Darlene Estates pic.twitter.com/jRA5bK8Bq9
— Pachi (@moon2pachi) January 26, 2021
WOW: the power of the tornado’s winds last night embedded this baseball cap into a wall of this home on New Castle road pic.twitter.com/TAueQIBqDu
— Jonathan Hardison (@FOX6Hardison) January 26, 2021
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5CrptZXPdAhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QONQivpTMg4&t=4shttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BG3o-im_Gd0https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHz2natqkJ4
Sources:
Tornado leaves significant damage in northeastern Jefferson County
14-year-old dead after tornado tears through Fultondale neighborhood
Tornado kills one, tears swath of damage through Fultondale
Coroner identifies teen killed in collapsed home during tornado in Fultondale