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- 27:45 TV Tower collapse in distance- 38:27 Tuscaloosa Tornado - 2:34:00 Lightning Strike - 3:25:17 Tornado moving through Birmingham - 3:30:00 Tornado from Red Mountain Expressway ALDOT cam - 3:33:25 Fultondale Damage - 5:07:38 Tuscaloosa Damage - 5:37:30

[@jpkjnn6733]

Thank you! Most useful comment!

[@ThePackerMan71]

Let's not forget 1:45:11, the beginning of the deadliest tornado of the outbreak.

[@DM-qg4bi]

Thanks Mr. South 👍

[@tmorelli1982]

No coverage of the hackleburg EF5?

[@fluffypenguins]

@@tmorelli1982 he covered it as it went into hackleburg, but when it crossed the county line it was out of the Birmingham television market. There were other tornadoes in his television market that he had to cover. Huntsville picked up the hackleburg/Phil Campbell tornado

[@brody_wx568]

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

[@killersopinion1829]

James said he felt responsible for the lives lost this day...but we know he saved so many more!

[@ariefpraditya6061]

And yet he still felt guilty for 252 people who died that day

[@altfactor]

Were it not for James Spann and other meteologists in the area, the death toll that day in Alabama would have been at least ten times that number, maybe even twenty times that number (or between 2,500 and 5,000 dead). It could have been that tragic!

[@millhousemillard2140]

@@ariefpraditya6061 he said he feels like it should of been 30

[@peachxtaehyung]

Yeah me either. He takes it way too hard and blames himself

[@LucasVanderBartlett]

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

[@megaoldskool76]

Lucas Vander-Bartlett He did such an awesome job👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@allysonkitchens5840]

Jason is great. He does a fantastic job covering North Alabama at Channel 19 in Huntsville.

[@Zoomer30]

Saw a behind the scenes video that show the stress Jason was under because his family farm had gotten hit and he didn't know if anyone was killed.

[@jasonjekyll8576]

@James Nuttes the best

[@TILR]

The work and passion people who work for the public can bring.

[@excitedpatsfanwx681]

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

[@nutmeg13sm]

What’s your major? Or are you in high school? I’m a nursing student doing the same thing lol

[@excitedpatsfanwx681]

Dusty Frost I’m in high school

[@jasonjekyll8576]

I use this for study and even to help me sleep sometimes lol

[@marketingheavydutytowcompa6996]

You had homework to do but instead you were watching weather from the year 2011? Well that explains why the Youth of today don't have a clue what's going on in the world today

[@excitedpatsfanwx681]

Marketing Heavy Duty Tow Companies bro i was listening to it

[@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.

[@patrickperry8951]

One of the best

[@kenperk9854]

Shortly after the Spielberg Tornado nailed Cullman, almost all of Alabama from the Tennessee state line to north of Mobile, exploded with dozens of large, violent, longtrack tornadoes. From that point forward James and Jason HAD to have set a record. It was unbelievable how many tornadoes they were juggling at the same time! And they weren't just Alabama tornadoes. They were also tracking many large, dangerous and deadly tornadoes Rolling across the state line from Mississippi. Thanks a lot Mississippi. 😠 They were on the air, non-stop from about 2:PM till around 10:00 PM and they never missed a beat. The meteorologists in Huntsville and Chattanooga also did a great job in the Tennessee Valley tracking all the Tornadoes in Northeast Alabama. Huntsville alone issued NINETY TWO! tornado and tornado Emergencies in North Alabama but 33/40 was incredible!

[@josephsmith1644]

I second that i would go Brian Norcross he saved half of miami dade county during hurricane andrew scariest night of my life..

[@erselley9017]

@@josephsmith1644 That coverage was amazing. If I'm not mistaken they had to shelter mid broadcast and they grabbed some batteries and broadcasted from a tiny room in their basement. The man they had outside was a boss. I remember seeing them laying down in the floor of their van that they parked under a bypass and expressed concern the van was going to blow over. Brian was like I think it's time to come back inside and he couldn't because they thought the van would flip over while driving the half mile back to the station so they just rode it out in the van.

[@3rdandlong]

@@josephsmith1644 Amazing you mention Brian Norcross. Many years ago, (from story I heard) he was on verge of losing his job or getting cut (not clear on this though) until a Hurricane rolled through, and he broadcast storm coverage Live in a dimly lit studio on emergency power. I vaguely remember seeing the actual clip of him doing this during the storm. I used to be in TV News so that's how I know this. So yes you are correct. He got a very big promotion after that and may have received an award too. Amazing you know this little tid-bit. Cheers.

[@altfactor]

It may have been the worst tragedy in Alabama history, but arguably the "finest hour" in the history of Alabama television broadcasting. Although there were some fatalities, the reporting of James Spann and other TV meteorologists that day and evening may have saved dozens if not hundreds of other lives.

[@chinahatchild3030]

altfactor Well I’ll be damned, let’s hope this won’t happen again.

[@newstarcadefan]

@@chinahatchild3030 we hope not...but mother nature...she has plans. Up here in Pennsylvania, we still remember the outbreak of 85 and pray an F5/EF5 don't happen.

[@Deweycox710]

It's hard to survive an EF-5 if you're at your home unless you have a underground safe place or a tornado grade shelter built. That's why if possible always go to a storm shelter if possible if there is fair warning!

[@newstarcadefan]

@@Deweycox710 actually that is true. That's why the only F5 Tornado to hit Pennsylvania devistated everywhere it touched from Niles Ohio, cutting through to the Wheatland/Hermitage Pennsylvania area, then ending in Mercer, PA

[@mm-gl7sz]

I was at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa in the 70s when they didn't have the technology they had in 2011 or now but I can tell you James Spann was on top of all severe weather situations back then as well. Excellent meteorogist who since the advent of social media is getting the recognition he deserves

[@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.

[@tracyfrederick5606]

I watched a Facebook live and we had people from , Madrid , Okinawa, and Versailles in the stream. I live 80 miles south in another coverage area. James Spann's voice is POWERFUL. He groomed Jason Simpson to follow in his footsteps. He's changed the industry.

[@carl0jin304]

He came to my little brother school

[@shannonelaine3556]

Same here, I live in Ohio, and I cannot stand our weather people, James is awesome!

[@josephgibson4250]

I hope you won't be hearing him often on Facebook live

[@davidbird60]

I live in Birmingham, and to his immense credit, James Spann is considered the most trusted man in Alabama

[@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.

[@carl0jin304]

I dont remember where i lived i think huytown or hoover

[@patrickperry8951]

I had just left there earlier in the day

[@plawson8577]

ALF Raydough Tragically with Joplin, most people ignored the Tornado Warnings. The Local News Stations also deliberately ignored the NWS PDS Tornado Watch issued 6 hours earlier. Local News was also sloppy and ill advised.

[@conjr6832]

I was in moundville that day. The one in hale county came 3 miles by my house, scary day. I was like 12

[@junkiexl86]

Luckily the Tuscaloosa torando wasnt nearly as strong as the Phil Campbell/Hackleburg tornado (started at 57:37) which left nothing but bare slabs of concrete foundations and went on to be the deadliest tornado of the outbreak. Had that one went through Tuscaloosa....oh man.

[@Kimtwister]

RESPECT THE POLYGON

[@supertornadogun1690]

R e S p E c T t H e P o L y G o N

[@joestueckrath5275]

SuperTornadoGun respect any severe thunderstorm warning and tornado warning just get in to a shelter like a basement or a safe room designed to be tornado shelter

[@silasthegreat983]

P O L Y G O N L I V E S M A T T E R

[@silasthegreat983]

Anna Marie Munyenze they matter to but Polygon lives are significant too

[@Neotheaterr]

@Anna Marie Munyenze polygon lives matter too

[@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.

[@joelfogelsanger5773]

I think Adam Joseph could do a good job too.

[@claytondusauzay6745]

I live in Northern NJ, where WABC-TV is our local abc affiliate. Lee Goldberg and company do a pretty decent job with severe weather. But I am familiar with Cecily, Karen and Adam at 6abc. I saw Adam cover a tornado warning a few years back when I was visiting Atlantic City.

[@rayc512]

Just have tornados last week in mercer county what a ride!

[@sirn4te]

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

[@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.

[@MAGA4EVA1986]

Idk if you’re like me but I love watching good tornado coverage and the major outbreak of December 10/11th, 2021 in Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee and Missouri was absolutely amazing!! I know they eventually said it was multiple tornadoes but throughout the broadcasts it seemed as though it was one long track tornado for over 200 MILES!! I recommend checking out the local 6 coverage with meteorologist Trent Okerson whom did a phenomenal job and even though 70+ people died because it was a nighttime tornado outbreak and that monster F-4 tornado was on the ground for what seemed at the time like 200 miles (and personally I believe it was) it would’ve been much much worse without him and to a lesser extent also his partner/co-meteorologist Noah Bergren who did a good job as well although I think he was a little too hung up on certain things but that’s a nit pick thing. The fact is they all saved A LOT OF LIVES THAT NIGHT/EARLY MORNING!!

[@kaelynjacksonn]

brad travis is also amazing. he saves so many lives here in north alabama. alabama has been blessed with amazing meteorologists

[@jessreinhardt4408]

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

[@peachxtaehyung]

You should listen to the episode of his podcast weatherbrains called "heavy hearts " about this day. He gets emotional and it's really touching

[@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!"

[@3rdandlong]

If I was in your neck of the woods (if you are in AL), I'd start making Tee-shirts: "Respect The Polygon". People in Portland would have no idea what I was talking about. James is a savior to you all.

[@kakkycoasties8670]

He's the goat!

[@midsouthexpress]

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

[@LillaVya]

If he still works in that field he will likely be in his suspenders tomorrow

[@midsouthexpress]

@@LillaVya He is still at that station and I promise you he will be standing in his suspenders tomorrow!

[@finmueller7827]

@@midsouthexpress he was standing in them and still is at 10

[@lhaviland8602]

Sleeves rolled up is code red.

[@jeffreyrobinson6628]

Yes indeed

[@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. His reporting gave a lot of other Heroes the ability to act in such scary times. A lot of them that will never know their names. When things like this happen you learn real quick how strong and how quick people are willing to sacrifice their lives in an instant to save others. It's one of those things that still makes me proud of the people of our country. We don't sacrifice kids to save ourselves.

[@indy_go_blue6048]

I guess there's a difference between meteorolists and weathercasters. The 2 main people in our market (CBS; we get NBC and ABC from Indianapolis, 60 miles away) couldn't wipe mud from the heels of Mr. Spann's shoes. They r-e-a-d the weather from the prompter I guess and are sometimes 2 or 3 feet off on the green screen. They're good for a laugh, but not when the chips are down.

[@TJB270]

Well said. If anything, they get way too much criticism

[@gregusmc2868]

I lived through the 74 Xenia tornado (as a 10 year old) and our meteorologists used old WW2 surplus military radar. Still do (not)

[@adema1978]

James Spann was pleading and warning to take shelter. I'm Dutch never experienced a tornado. But for what I see and hear he did what he did to warn everyone. He did well and he should be praised.

[@kenperk9854]

it was like the banging song by MARTHA & THE VANDELAS. tHAT DAY, There was NOWHERE TO RUN AND KNOW WHERE TO HIDE!

[@firechasersparkles2023]

Tornadoes certainly make you regain a sense of respect for Mother Nature. She could easily wipe us all out if she wanted to.

[@dyer2cycle]

...this is as good of tornado coverage as you can get, period....professional and tireless...after watching this video for hours, I only have one complaint about it...having to stare at F.O.R.D. on the screen for hours.......

[@pittbulldawg93]

Tornadoes...... Brought to you by Ford lol 😂

[@tracyfrederick5606]

$$$ bills must be paid

[@lhaviland8602]

How else are you going to run away from the tornado?

[@csonkaperdido]

@@lhaviland8602 in a reliable car... Like a Chevy!

[@lhaviland8602]

@@csonkaperdido lol

[@trainstorm1225]

I know he’s just doing his job, but I guarantee he’s saved lives. The man’s a hero.

[@BlakeNix]

He is.

[@zacheadrick721]

This man has saved countless of lives from this point on also we are possibly going to get another outbreak today and his house along with his wife was hit and he only paused for a minute to check on her and got right back to helping give warnings and save other lives

[@briankristensen4101]

Thank you for sharing this historic footage. Span is a true pro that cares for public safety and it shows on this day.

[@timbartschwolfman]

Brian Kristensen He was Being Brave and helping people to get through the storms

[@hawyee0418]

don't forget Jason

[@marvinjohnson7523]

Don’t forget the skywatchers to

[@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.

[@ILoveOldTWC]

It's just incredible how at 3:30:30, Jason has the sky cam on wide angle and you still can't see all of the tornado since it's so huge.

[@pookiedookiedoo]

@Parker Speights how does that make them a simp....? weirdo

[@excitedpatsfanwx681]

@Parker Speights he’s saying that when he got the sky cam all the way out all you could see was the wall cloud connected to the tornado

[@calebwmsgolf]

@Parker Speights simp? Is that the best word you could find? Do you even know what simp means?

[@tatummvp99]

@Parker Speights nigga that’s the rain that’s how hard it’s raining then the tornado is dark is the clouds so it may blend in the rain or it’s rainwrapped. Also hes not a simp saying something weather wise is not being a simp btw u probably don’t even know what simp is.

[@jpkjnn6733]

@Parker Speights maybe you could tell him without being such an insufferable little prick? If you're so unsure as to what the best approach is, that'd be my suggestion.

[@ILoveOldTWC]

April 3-4, 1974 was the largest tornado outbreak in U.S. history. April 25-28, 2011: Hold my beer

[@Dcwest0616-the-best-on-youtube]

ILoveStorms ahahahahaah this needs more likes

[@ILoveOldTWC]

@@Dcwest0616-the-best-on-youtube I just thought of that today while I was folding clothes. It will probably have more likes as time goes on.

[@Dcwest0616-the-best-on-youtube]

good

[@georgiastormtrackers8730]

Hold my Tornado

[@Dcwest0616-the-best-on-youtube]

Georgia Storm Trackers ur debris ball is to small for me to hold

[@manda60]

The Mayor of Tuscaloosa said it at 3 hrs 12 mins. James and his team saved a lot of lives that day.

[@excitedpatsfanwx681]

And now people complain about him interrupting their shows

[@thunderturtle347]

Time stamp pls

[@carlaschurman4508]

What an amazing meteorologist! He had to have saved hundreds. Bless you, Sir. 💞💯 I'm from Kansas and parents lost home in Nebraska 7 tornadoes one night. I can totally appreciate his passion.

[@tracyfrederick5606]

He is a superhero to us !

[@carlaschurman4508]

@@tracyfrederick5606 I can appreciate that. 💗👍

[@gejordan45]

I can’t believe it’s been 10 years. Feels like yesterday.

[@UrielAurora6972]

James Spann is a legend. I'm watching this video from Springfield Missouri. We had dealt with the EF5 in Joplin only a few weeks later after the outbreak in Alabama. We empathize with you all.

[@kaelynjacksonn]

2011 was a year that devastated so many lives. we empathize with you guys in/ around joplin. that was a beast

[@Peersoncasteell]

I’m just north of Springfield I definitely remember a lot of bad Ozarks tornadoes 2019 was a pretty rough year. I highly recommend reading whatstands in a storm. It’s a book about this outbreak that has interviews with him. Told the story of people that were impacted by the outbreak. It’s a pretty hard-hitting Account of The weather side and emotional of it.

[@13_cmi]

2011 was both an amazing and horrible year for tornadoes. So many ef5s and borderline ef5s but so many deaths.

[@christylittle4384]

Our Alabama disaster relief helped with setting up disaster relief utilizing social media for the Joplin tornado. We coordinated with the EMA handling the Joolin tornado & had relief trucks headed there in a few hours after the tornado hit. We were the first state to use social media in a large scale way to coordinate relief supplies and we helped trained many other relief agencies across the country.

[@timdarr8008]

I live in northern Indiana and I remember this day. The lives that these two meteorologists saved are great. I have seen what storms do to people’s lives and the two gentlemen that were on the air for 16 hours should be given a medal. Great job!!!!!

[@3rdandlong]

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) quietly (with little/no public fanfare) has annual awards for television people who do great things on-air, or in their job function. I would guess the NAB may have possibly recognized these two for this event-as it would qualify as something important for the public, or the television market this station serves. There is another organization (which I don't remember the name of) that also is likely to present awards for television people/station for special moments like this.

[@eric19902008]

These two earned my respect for they way they covered the weather that day. Jason is in Huntsville now, but if either of them say the weather may get bad, we listen in our family

[@HannahG93]

2011 was not a good year for tornadoes. I live in Oklahoma and we lost half of our house from an EF4 two days after the Joplin tornado.

[@weatherguy8380]

The Cullman tornado has always amazed me with the horizontal vorticies

[@scorpionsithlord]

Those horizontal vorticies are actually inflow tubes, feeding and intensifying the tornado. The Moore tornado in '99 had a very clear and defined inflow jet when it crossed Interstate 35.

[@lhaviland8602]

Classic "dead man walking"

[@hughmasson2200]

I don't think I've ever watched someone "work" as brilliantly as James does here. He is incredibly skilled. Also, I doubt there has ever been someone under as much pressure for such an extended amount of time as James is here. Hats off to Jason, too. He was ready to go at 3 that morning.

[@vegasaviation2243]

Could not have asked for a better duo to handle that historic day. They handled it perfectly. Saved many lives.

[@landondow]

Honestly, i think one of the most impressive parts of the coverage is both of their knowledge of the area they're covering. They aren't just reading names of towns off of the radar. They know the towns as well as a lot of specific buildings and roads, its amazing.

[@sarahboothe1731]

I was pregnant with my first baby when this tornado hit my home. I'll NEVER forget this day! Not only was I afraid for my unborn baby and myself but my husband was out working in it. Then we helped with search and rescue the next few days afterwards and I've never been able to get the images of pulling victims (alive and deceased)from the rubble out of my mind. So many people died that day! Now today, February 16, 2023, we have a 3/5 severe weather risk. We have a safe plan, we're prepared, but no matter how ready you think you are, it's still hard not to be anxious! Thank you James Spann and team for keeping us updated on the weather for every single day and especially bad weather days! We love and appreciate y'all in Northport Al! 🖤🖤🖤

[@bingfan22]

I'm really sorry that you had to go through that! It really must have been terrifying! I wish you and your family all the best!

[@tider77]

Anyone else watching this on the 10 year anniversary 4-27-2021?

[@flydragon7256]

Yep, it's been 10 years since the tragic event.

[@tider77]

@@flydragon7256 I'll never forget that day. I was on 280 when that EF2 hit Cahaba Heights

[@LQOTW]

What a great job you all did covering that scary day! Amazing dedication to public safety. James Spann's voice is beautiful for broadcasting. It has a timbre similar to Alan Alda's and his diction is very clear. I live in NW Wisconsin (smaller market, I'm sure) and many of the on air reporters can barely utter their own names without tripping over or swallowing half the syllables.

[@BlakeNix]

Alan Alda! That’s true, never thought of it until you said something and I’ve heard him for years! He does do a great job...

[@davemacri9171]

This is a realy professional broadcast, I know this is older news now, but I was stil on the edge of my seat the entire time listening to this and I live North of the boarder in the center of Canada

[@doctordarkly53]

10 years ago we faced the deadliest tornado outbreak in American History. Let’s hope we’re even more prepared for another event like this.

[@nolancain8792]

We definitely are. Better radars, debris indicators, hi-res velocity. It now enables fast detection.

[@Beaster37]

Although this was quiet deadly, it was not the deadliest tornado outbreak in American history (342 Fatalities April 2011). The Tri-State outbreak in 1925 was (747 fatalities March 1925).

[@alexgilbert2]

@@Beaster37the reasoning for more than twice those deaths were from lack of communication and there was nothing anyone could do about it

[@timdarr8008]

This meteorologist saves thousands of lives.... people & pets. He knows his geography as well as I know the county that I live in. He is to be credited with the knowledge and keeping people up to date with the areas that the tornado is approaching. We always give credit to police officers, dispatchers, emt’s and firefighters for saving lives ...... but that day we give to James Spann. He busted his ass to keep people alive, and he did just that. Congrats 🎊🎈.

[@johnshottie4415]

He knows every single road in the state. He’s a legend.

[@stardust2441]

It's still insane to me how this man was live for 8 HOURS STRAIGHT what a legend

[@sierratrilogy]

James Spann should teach a master class on broadcast meteorology, especially in emergent situations.

[@joygrace7924]

Tuscaloosa to Birmingham has become a Death Alley for violent tornadoes.

[@F5Storm1]

Huntsville is worse

[@ILoveOldTWC]

@@F5Storm1 Huntsville had it in both the April 3, 1974 Super Outbreak and the April 27, 2011 Super Outbreak. Huntsville is to Dixie Alley what Oklahoma City is to traditional Tornado Alley.

[@gastonbell108]

For years the meteorologists didn't even know Dixie Alley was a thing, because so many of the tornadoes were night and/or rain-wrapped and thus went unreported unless they hit somebody's house. Nowadays they know that Dixie Alley is potentially MORE dangerous than Tornado Alley because of the visibility issues, the higher population density and the greater number of trailer homes.

[@tracyfrederick5606]

@@gastonbell108 this was my second super outbreak. 1974 then this one. It was so much scarier as an adult. I had never heard of Dixie Alley until after this outbreak.

[@janblackman6204]

Especially pleasant grove

[@2DSTORMS]

Watched multiple times, but still amazed at that day. Loved Spann's coverage!

[@danc3488]

James wrote a book about this day called All You Can Do Is Pray. It was released in March. He'll be going around on book tours soon. What a day this was. The emotions he showed as the day wore on...at 6:26:00 when he said "Let me tell ya what, folks...this ain't my first rodeo. I've been here a looooong time...." Gave me chills

[@mikeridgland4783]

This day was so terrifying. They literally just kept coming, and coming ..I was approximately 8 miles west of hackleburg and I remember seeing debris like paper, books, curtains, just circling in the air.we also found a bible still in tact right up against our HVAC unit.

[@tracyfrederick5606]

Thank god you were okay. That's too close for comfort.

[@trainmaster1919]

god gave you more study material.

[@tmorelli1982]

That was definitely the most terrifying tornado of the day.

[@kaelynjacksonn]

that tornado is the one that tracked all the way into tenn. it went through my county, destroyed a pharmacy (my now job), and killed way too many people. i’m thankful that we were missed (by 2 miles). it did ef-4 damage in my county and i remember finding a cross that was still intact but was broken off of a steeple from a church, i was only 5 at the time

[@theweakestlink2278]

Will never forget that day. We had a newborn baby and lived in a double wide mobile home at the time. We were very fortunate the closest tornado stayed several miles away from us that day. That was a nerve racking day to say the least. So many people lost their life.

[@Zoomer30]

38:23 Watch the tower 🗼 Doesn't make it.

[@rudylittlewolf]

Yup and that's when they lost the video on it.

[@GameStrikerX2]

I'm extremely surprised James never rolled his sleeves up during this day or even any part of the 4 day weather outbreak honestly

[@annieoops6243]

2:38:20 marking right around the time the skycam comes back and the shock in James voice gave me chills 😩 I still remember this day like it was today.

[@davidmatheny1993]

If you see a velocity signature like at 3:19:00 coming anywhere near you, do not waste another second getting in shelter. It takes one very violent tornado for the winds away and towards the radar to be on opposite sides of the rotation.

[@jakesanservino7500]

With that signature even someone who can’t read velocity could tell something was off. Just remarkable

[@davidmatheny1993]

@Lauren Smith I believe that was the single biggest reason that outbreak was so deadly, other than so many of those tornadoes being incredibly violent. Those morning storms knocked out so much power that it could not all be restored by the worse weather that afternoon.

[@sadietaylorsversion13]

i was tiny when this happened but i remember this vividly. i’m from dekalb county, which was also wrecked by a tornado or two and even though james didn’t cover our area i know he saved hundreds of lives. such an amazing man.

[@mari052k]

I was 7 when the tornado came from Mississippi to Tuscaloosa. I saw the tornado coming straight toward our neighborhood but thankfully there wasn't much damage. That shit was the most terrifying thing I've ever seen

[@Bootmahoy88]

I admire how clear and objective James Spann remains throughout this coverage.

[@callmegabzplz]

I hope Spann gets major bonuses because I couldn’t just imagine standing and talking for 8+ hours straight.

[@peachxtaehyung]

He does it because he has a passion for it not because of what he gets paid. He really has passion for what he does unlike some other meteorologists

[@GameTesterDev]

Ford sponsoring a 9 hour broadcast... Pretty sure I read somewhere that Spann got a huge check of about $130,000 for that one broadcast...

[@peachxtaehyung]

@@GameTesterDev I'm sure that's the check that everyone split. But if it is all his just imagine what I'm sure the broadcasting station got. Because I'm sure meteorologists are getting a smaller check than the broadcast station lol

[@user-zr2lt6dh8j]

Every town should have a meteorologist like this guy... he's like Brian Norcross to Hurricane Andrew. They stuck through it all the way with their people...

[@kaelynjacksonn]

i was nearly 6 when this happened. i survived the ef-5 that tore through marion, franklin, limestone, lawrence, morgan and madison counties. one of 3 ef-5’s that day. 106 miles long and peak winds of 210 mph. 72 people died and 145 people were injured. i still remember everything from this day.

[@guwpi]

I remember being in 5th grade and school got out early because of this. I got home and we were watching the Tornado live on the news. Scariest thing ever.

[@omegamemer69420]

I was a preschooler then and all i remember is waking up and the house was damaged pretty badly, then my grandpa comes and tells me and my mom to get in his truck to go to their basement.

[@shadowbolt518]

I live in Virginia, and we don't have all that many tornadoes, but when we do, our severe weather coverage sucks. But then again, it would hard to live up to the man James Spann!

[@b7grams]

35:25 reminds me a bit of the Jarrell, TX tornado in that you can see the dead man walking.

[@rickyricardo4331]

The man is a living legend and even finds the time to thank all the behind-the-scenes staff like production and engineering!

[@cal4720]

This is amazing. Thank you for documentation of this terrible event for the whole southeast.

[@abbiesapp2922]

As someone who was in Hartselle/Decatur (bc I was finishing the school year in Decatur) on this day, I was terrified all day. You could feel it that something wasn't gonna be good that day. My mom ended up picking me up before lunch, when there was a break in the weather, and we headed home. We were at Kroger when the power went out, and they said there was a tornado in Decatur (not near my school, but no one knew how long it would stay on the ground). We headed home and just did our best to stay safe. We were fortunate to not get hit, but we had family in Athens (near the Tuscaloosa EF5) and they were in a mobile home, so we checked on them the next day and really saw the extent of the damage. (I wanted to add that we had just moved to Hartselle. And the tornado mentioned at 7:15 was the Decatur tornado i was talking about. This day really shaped my future, and it inspired me to pursue meteorology as my career. (I also really got a sense of when bad storms were gonna happen, and last Easter (April 2020) I actually couldn't sleep all night when Georgia had some bad storms come through, and I ended up saving my grandmother and aunts and cousins, because they had a tornado (I think it was declared an EF3) come crazy close to them, luckily it didn't hit them, but my cousin said she could hear it, and it was really loud. My mom thought I was crazy, but she really freaked out when she saw that, and she was happy that I did wake them up and texted my cousin.)

[@rdmfeyna-sleep]

I lived in Alberta City, east side of Tuscaloosa just past the university. This thing was about a half mile from me, and it was enormous. The sound was like nothing else. Because my particular street was quite hilly, we did not suffer as much damage. But I still to today have a lot of storm anxiety that I'm working through. I thank James Spann and his coverage for literally saving lives, including mine.

[@skeekie]

I was smack dab in the middle of all this...single most terrifying day of my life

[@steveburtonomaha]

What these guys did that day was nothing short of heroic.

[@mws755]

How was it heroic?

[@TheGuyHawk]

@@mws755 they reported the weather, often down to the affected street name, saving countless lives.

[@ThatBamaDude14]

A day I will never forget. I remember them talking about this day a week in advance and what was likely to come. I remember being home and early that morning around 10 a bad thunderstorm that sounded like a tornado going over the house and sitting in the hallway with the dog. Once it passed I said nope I need to go to my grandparents and get in the storm shelter. We ended up spending 8 hours or so in the storm shelter that day. When it was all done we got home around 9 that night knowing a large tornado had touched down in the vicinity of our home and not knowing what we were coming home to. Luckily it had missed our home by about two miles but there was so many down trees and limbs. The eeriest and most gut wrenching thing was the debri in our yard. Bits of metal roofs, wallpaper from people's homes, etc...

[@2milk867]

This poor guy had to be on the air for 8 hours... Much respect!

[@slushiestcrane]

More than 8. He was on before dawn that day.

[@Niallisababe1]

Of course James is a top meteorologist, but our dude Jason was downright amazing on this historic weather event day as well

[@Zoomer30]

That Cullman skycam was a textbook example of tornado storm structure. Wall cloud with the rainshaft to the right.

[@junkiexl86]

Its what most people theorize storm structure to be. In reality, wall clouds do not precede or accompay many tornadoes and thus only looking specifically for such structure is poor storm spotting/tracking. It does look good though, esp a LP, high-contrast stovepipe with a clearly defined WC.

[@lhaviland8602]

The Tuscaloosa-Birmingham storm is first mentioned at 1:51:02

[@gnatprwt2596]

Lived in bama 7 years and we knew if James takes his jacket off shits getting real ... if the tie comes of... apocalypse

[@jamesmeyers887]

I cracking up you said when he takes his tie off it's apocalypse but when take off his coat and roll up his sleeve stuff is about to hit the fans as the tornado

[@oscarxruby4life800]

Has he ever taken off his tie?

[@hutchinsonfamily1]

True true, also watch out for the *p o l y g o n*

[@trade21]

@@hutchinsonfamily1 respect the polygon lmao

[@fitfogey]

Watching this brings it all back again. Went to work during the first morning round and saw spinning clouds go over us. We were like “we are outta here.” Went home and hunkered down before the afternoon big wave came through. No power for 3 days. The thing I wonder is if people remember even after all of the destruction was how beautiful the weather was for those days when none of us had power. Blue skies and cool weather and we also had the every eight year cicada noise in the background. Never forget this time as long as I live.

[@yesiamyes2403]

I was a little girl in the middle of North Carolina when this outbreak brought a tornado right down our street. We were so lucky to have experienced the tail end of it, when it was really only a wall of debris. But many friends and family in Sanford were not so lucky,. They had lost houses, roofs, walls, cars, and even lives. A family friend found a neighbors shed in their tree, and also lost their roof. I remember the fear my mom was in, and later my dad when his work had let them leave, and how little I took it seriously. Now I understand that they had seen the type of damage a tornado could do and were thinking of serious life or death situations. We were without power for about two weeks. I still remember our little storm radio we had to use. We live in a valley, and rarely get more than an hour long thunder storm, we usually just get lots of rain. MAYBE a hail storm but it's very very rare and the hail is very very small. Most times it looks like sleet. We haven't had a tornado in the immediate area since the 2011 April tornado, and I thank God for it. The tornado warnings that have definitely come through in the 10 years since get me on edge every time though, and I immediately prep the bathroom with pillows (its the only protection we got :D ). Tornados may be pushing me to study meteorology, but I definitely wouldn't like to live through one without a storm shelter.

[@deborahjohnson5463]

We love James Spann & everyone at 33/40. He is a hero and life saver!!! Give that man a raise and a trophy.

[@calmheart1782]

You can hear how afraid James is for people and see it in mannerisms. But, he stayed so professional and called out the track of the storm and communities in it’s path, saving the lives of so many people.

[@EvieDelacourt]

This was a terrifying day. This happened in the middle of the work week (I think a Wednesday), and my husband and I both worked in downtown Birmingham in the UAB (university/hospital) area. Everyone in the area had been monitoring the weather closely, because I think there had already been severe storms west of us in the day or two before this, and we knew we were next in line. When we heard the reports of the Tuscaloosa tornado and found out the same massive tornado was headed straight up the interstate in our direction, I think the university closed all non-emergency services so we could leave early. (Or if they didn't, maybe it was my boss at the time who made that call, I can't remember for sure anymore.) I rushed home just minutes ahead of the storm, because I knew the community where I live was also in the direct path, and my children (in middle school and high school at the time) were home alone after school, so I wanted to get to them before the storm hit. My husband didn't get to leave as early, so when the warnings went off, he looked out the window of his high rise building and watched the tornado pass through the north edge of the city just a couple of miles from him, grabbing a few still photos and short video of the immense wedge before dashing downstairs to the basement. I made it back home mere minutes before the storm passed over our area, though it briefly lifted off the ground for several miles as it did before touching down again in the next county over, so we fortunately got through it with no damage, just darkness and a terrifying wall of sound overhead while we hid out in the basement. The next day, we found pharmacy scripts and fast food receipts from Tuscaloosa littering our yard. My daughter and I later went to Tuscaloosa with our church youth group to help participate in the relief efforts and cleanup there, and it looked like Ground Zero of an explosion. That, were it not for those few brief minutes that the tornado lifted back up, could have been how our home had ended up as well. James Spann is more of a superhero in the eyes of us "Dixie Alley" residents than any dude on some silver screen wearing spandex and a cape. (I have immense respect for our other local meteorologists also, but Mr. Spann is a true legend.)

[@foxtatertot]

Even 10 years after, this day is remembered.

[@CollectorNamedW]

Yup. I remember this even today.

[@marvinjohnson7523]

James Spann is a legend Jason Simpson did a awesome job so did their skywatchers

[@Moose6340]

I watched a chunk of the ABC 33/40 livestream as this happened while sitting here up in NC. I was incredibly impressed both with James Spann's coverage and the fact that 33/40 kept their stream going with zero glitches in the middle of all this (in 2011 no less). But Spann, he's just astonishing with that encyclopedic knowledge of Alabama precisely positioning everything and telling people exactly where the problems are and what they need to do. The whole team should be justifiably proud of what they did that day.

[@bigbob1122]

My wife's family lives in Mississippi and any time I make the drive from Birmingham to Tuscaloosa and then down towards Meridian on 59/20 it always blows my mind at just how long the Tuscaloosa tornado was on the ground, it's a LONG drive. In 2011 I lived near Trussville and remember watching the tornado work its way closer and closer to us for over an hour. We fully expected to take a direct hit only for it to lift up briefly near Tarrant before touching back down in St. Clair County and then continuing into Georgia. Even though we were in a basement, that 10-15 minutes it lifted up could very well have saved our lives. Strangely enough, not even a year later on January 23, 2012 an EF3 tornado touched down in Tarrant and essentially filled the gap left in the path of the April 27th tornado, passing about a block away from my home and dissipating right at the St. Clair County line.

[@weinerdisc8099]

2:39:02 That's a scary sight.

[@millhousemillard2140]

Fredo in the cut

[@michealkelly9441]

Almost exactly a month later, Joplin tornado hits. Then in May 2013, Moore and El Reno EF5s

[@HannahG93]

Two days after Joplin there was another tornado that went through El Reno and travelled to Guthrie, that was a ef5 too. My family was in the path, it was very scary.

[@UrielAurora6972]

My husband and his family had been in St John's hospital the moment that tornado hit Joplin. He said it was comparable to a war zone. Completely surreal.

[@jesperlehmann4336]

I still see this Video in May 2020.. I'm still Blown away and amazed, by how insane and powerful the storms and weather was that day.. I absolutely love storms and Tornadoes 🌪 - but then again, it's terrible every time people are in the path of severe weather and storms.. Stay safe 🙏 love from Denmark 🇩🇰

[@jaredpatterson1701]

Everything was spinning that day! The only.saving grace was the storms were speeding

[@hiimjohnquinones2971]

He gives just enough urgency and facts to be reassuring but also to let people know to get the heck out of there

[@kennethsummers1887]

And Jason bruh u did a hell of a job man

[@kennethsummers1887]

James Nuttes absolutely man. I’ve watched that video of him in the am storms over and over.... first tier hall of famer in my boon

[@kennethsummers1887]

Book

[@Sarahlynn1304]

The 2.5 hr mark is the Tuscaloosa tornado. You can just hear the worry in Jason’s voice. Mad respect for how calm James remained but incredibly professional and stressing the emergency. Wow!

[@kayprivate2720]

Jason's family had just went through the 3 a.m. tornadoes that came through that day too. So he was already on edge before the super outbreak happened in the afternoon. he and James worked around the clock.

[@TasteDaBoot]

Got off work and watched this the whole way through. Such a crazy couple years we had . 11,12,13 was non stop supercells.

[@Csxrailfan90]

James spann is the best chief meteorologist abc 33/40 has

[@ShikataGaNai100]

The saddest thing was that nobody knew of the incredible EF5 damage in Hackelberg and Phil Campbell until much later in the broadcast. Still, James and the team saved countless lives that horrible day.

[@KyraLovesCats384]

I could tell he wanted to cover that storm for those in the other viewing area watching him. He just had so much going on in his own viewing area that he couldnt. He had to focus on keeping his viewing area safe

[@Deathsquadstudios4]

Simply the greatest coverage ever by a meteorologist

[@negan2714]

Crazy to think that 100 years from now a student in meteorologist study will be looking at this storm in class. Hell might even be watching this broadcast who knows what the future technology will be able to do. Just being able to say that I witnessed this alive is amazing. Beautiful but dangerous storms this night.

[@greywalker505]

My city got damage during the first round in the morning. In the afternoon/evening, my county was put under a tornado warning, and one of the worst tornadoes that day just barely missed us. I only found that out in hindsight. Grateful as I am to be alive, imagine realizing that you and your loved ones could have been one of the many hundreds who were killed, injured, or homeless, or even had something as petty as a power outage. Just imagine it.

[@kennywayne999]

So I'm watching this 10 years later, as a parent, and all I can think of is how grateful I am that I wasnt a parent on this day. I lived in Leeds, AL at the time and lost power from the early morning storms, so I never saw a minute of this coverage live. Ignorance really was bliss in this situation, because this is terrifying.

[@kennywayne999]

@Lauren Smith km very sorry for everyone's loss.

[@seancourt3492]

I don't think Jason Simpson gets the respect and credit for the job he did this day.. started off early morning by himself and stayed on through the rest of the day.. Jason and James are legendary

[@ILoveOldTWC]

James Spann was so hard on himself for the high death toll that day. He was very upset with himself for several years. But people have to take responsibility for their actions.

[@88wildcat]

He can only tell people to take cover. He can't wander out of the studio and drag people to cover.

[@nolancain8792]

This is what made me decide to go into meteorology.

[@peytonmorris1499]

I remember this. I lived in Birmingham in the tornado that came through Tuscaloosa came through the metro and it was massive

[@itzkgt2919]

Peyton Morris yep