James Spann's live coverage of April 27, 2011 tornado outbreak on ABC 33/40

Watch ABC 33/40 Chief Meteorologist James Spann's live wall-to-wall coverage of the deadly storms on April 27, 2011.

[@briansouth7777]

Cullman tornado-

[@brody_wx568]

I don't think James Spann will ever understand how many lives he saved that day

[@LucasVanderBartlett]

Lets not forget Jason Simpson who was live on air from 3am to 9am then continued on in the afternoon.

[@michaelboyer9798]

Over 8 hours non stop coverage. Spann and Simpson know the landmarks of all these small towns. Amazing and admirable. That was a great team. Thanks for posting.

[@michaelatencio2917]

Best weatherman in the U.S. I know James Spann felt bad about this day, but you can't physically make somebody take shelter. He did a tremendous job. Very sorry for the people & families that lost love ones from this tornado outbreak. Outbreaks are rare. 2011 was something else. James Spann always gives his best.

[@claytondusauzay6745]

Here in New Jersey it's rare to have tornado outbreaks and for that I'm glad, but if we ever did, THIS is the guy that I want covering it. And that's with no disrespect to my local meterologists.

[@peytonmorris1499]

I lived through the Tuscaloosa tornado on this day. Kudos to James Spann and Jason Simpson for saving our lives. I will never forget this day.

[@excitedpatsfanwx681]

I’m watching this doing homework from home during the great quarantine of 2020

[@altfactor]

It may have been the worst tragedy in Alabama history, but arguably the "finest hour" in the history of Alabama television broadcasting.

[@BigMoneysLife]

I don't even live in Alabama, and I love watching James. He really did do an awesome job keeping everybody up to date on what was going on with these dangerous storms. He seriously should've gotten an award for the awesome job he did.

[@Kimtwister]

RESPECT THE POLYGON

[@midsouthexpress]

When you see James Spann on TV standing in his suspenders you know it's going to be a bad day.

[@GabbyRN545]

James Spann is the only one I trust in situations like this. Ive literally watched him report until 3 am and I couldn't sleep until he told me it was safe.

[@ILoveOldTWC]

April 3-4, 1974 was the largest tornado outbreak in U.S. history.

[@jessreinhardt4408]

Very touching how he mentions the importance of saving found mementos for people who lost everything; how much it would mean to them.

[@sirn4te]

I'm in Texas and watching this James and Jason are heroic

[@JasonDrennen]

You know meteorologist don't get enough credit. I have never seen a person so passionate and calm under pressure holding it together and worried about saving lives like this guy. He's very knowledgeable and he's good at explaining it to people that does not understand weather. By doing that it emphasizes the severity of the emergency. I guarantee you he saved more life's that day than anybody will ever know. I also guarantee he probably went home wondering what he could have done better to save even more. Not Pat himself on the back and act like an arrogant ass like a lot of others I see. He's truly a superstar and the hero to a lot of people that walked away from this tornado.

[@LDHBees]

James has a gift. He manages to stay focused while keeping multiple location updates going - all at the same time! His ability to manage information live from the field, and from countless storm watchers, is uncanny. God has really used James to save lives and educate Alabamians on tornado safety. Much respect to James Spann and Jason Simpson - what a team they were that day! I worked with both of them and they are good men in every way. As James always tells us, "Respect the polygon!"

[@ILoveOldTWC]

It's just incredible how at

[@kennethnugent8255]

I was in my grandfathers basement in 1974 when this happened. I was 10 years old. I didn't think it would ever happen again. I wonder how many lives James and Jason would have saved back then. The 2 best weathermen in the country. And yes, I watched this video all the way through, because I lived through it just like ya'll did.