Reoccurring Nightmares - The 1998 Birmingham F5 Tornado

[@blazernitrox6329]

There's something strangely calming about hearing James Spann's coverage, even on an event that happened almost 25 years ago.

[@weatherboxstudios]

He is a master at his craft

[@beezlebub3955]

Ikr? Sometimes I just listen to his coverage of outbreaks

[@DRLD224]

@@beezlebub3955 I thought i was the only one

[@beezlebub3955]

@@DRLD224 haha nope! I love it!

[@fuckcensorship69]

You spann fans are weird AF. I find him repulsive

[@Achillezbak]

Born and raised in rock creek. We were the only house left standing in our neighborhood. Saw things I'll never forget that evening. I'll never forget James Spann telling tonget into our safe area immediately. We were all crying and scared and my dad was on the front porch wanting to see it without any fear. I remember how quickly he changed when he said a cloud was blocking the lightning and realized that it was a tornado. He said it looked like a wall of wind you couldn't see past. He grabbed us all at the same time and threw us down the stairs into the basement.

[@genevarailfan3909]

He's lucky the lightning hit where it did so he could realize that. It may have saved his life.

[@4jesus1981]

That would be the only reason I would want somebody to throw me down the stairs. You are so blessed.

[@kierevil]

It’s insane that James Spann covered this horrific tornado and 13 years later would cover another horrific tornado that went through Tuscaloosa and Birmingham. James Spann truely is one of, if not the best, meteorologists of all time. He not only does his job amazingly, but he says it straight, no sugar coating required. I aspire to be this man when I eventually become a meteorologist myself.

[@notarotomwithhair5637]

2 years later he would cover an F4 that went a bit south of Tuscaloosa

[@3rdandlong]

As a former radio and TV guy, I heard James Spann's name mentioned and had no idea who he was until I saw a video of his coverage. There is a hurricane Forcaster in Florida by the name of Bryan Norcross is also superstar. He broadcast coverage of a storm while the station was operating on emergency power. Story I heard, he was about to get fired. But after his coverage of the storm, under the circumstances, apparently management had a change of heart. That part was not mentioned in his Wiki.

[@gfear24]

And because of Dr. James Spann, I will never refer to a trampoline as anything other than "The unofficial Alabama State Bird".

[@annap62407]

I’ve been privileged to grow up with him as my local meteorologist. I don’t know what I’m going to do when he retires. He has a true calling to meteorology

[@denisek292]

When this tornado occurred, I was living in a Tuscaloosa apartment, and remember James Spann warning how dire anyone’s chances of living if hit while above-ground. Spann, an exceptional meteorologist, was right. One of my husband’s employees was a volunteer firefighter/EMT for Oak Grove. He was tasked with recovery efforts, which he described as ‘gruesome.’ My son, who was born in Northport a year later, ironically is now a broadcast meteorologist himself. His inspiration….James Spann.

[@b.p.879]

Meteorologists save lives!

[@AlabamaTrumpeter]

I was 8 when this outbreak happened, I'll never forget it. I grew up an hour northwest of Birmingham. It happened on a Wednesday, and my church took a group of people to Oak Grove high school to help clean up on Saturday. I remember hearing that one of the goalposts from the football field was found stuck upside-down in the ground a couple hundred yards away from where it had been. It was not quite at F5 intensity when it hit the school, but it was a direct impact. It's a miracle that nobody inside the school was killed.

[@weatherboxstudios]

Wow! Didn't know that detail about the goal posts. Thanks for sharing!

[@the-angel-of-light-gardevoir8]

Same cannot be said for a certain tornado in 2013, Moore revolutionized saftey codes here in Oklahoma, I actually went to the middle school that had its gym nuked by the ef5 tornado

[@nickyg7421]

I was 14 and home alone. My mom had to work that night. A knew a guy who was kill that night hosting a party. Everyone in the house died.

[@annap62407]

I won’t forget that night either. I was in middle school & lived about 10 miles from Oak Grove, you could feel the air change as we were walking out of church that night & as we were about to leave we were all called back in because of the tornado warning. I felt that same air change the Saturday before the April 27, 2011 tornado. I lived in Fayetteville, NC in 2011, Fayetteville (Ft Bragg) was hit by a rare tornado.

[@joshiedtv6178]

This was an absolutely horrible day for us. I grew up with Matthew Seale’s son that was mentioned, Nathan, and it was the first time I experienced losing a friend. Absolutely awful.

[@weatherboxstudios]

Man, I can't imagine having to go through that at such a young age. Thank you for sharing

[@laraisokay]

I was a student at Samford at the time and while I was grateful we were spared, it was heartbreaking hearing about all of the loss. 😔

[@LeighPhillips78]

I'm so sorry.

[@ILoveOldTWC]

Nathan Seals. That story was very sad. 😢James Spann said that the doctors said if he'd had on a bike helmet, he probably would've survived. He says to this very day to put on a bike helmet, for people of all ages.

[@XxCrystalPhoenix]

I lived through this. I'm about 80% sure the house approximately mid-frame at 10:03 is my childhood home. The tornado skipped our house but took out (essentially) the rest of the neighborhood. Fortunately, our neighbors on either side weren't home at the time. James Spann visited our school the following year and spoke on tornado safety. I distinctly remember him demonstrating super cells with a hula hoop like you did. Such an incredible video; thank you tremendously for making this.

[@BamaDega]

I was in Rock Creek, Al when that monster hit our church. I've never been so frightened and the aftermath was unbelievable. It was my first time to take out my parents new 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee. After climbing over rubble, I found it sitting without much damage. I've never seen that much debris piled, or house after house with only front steps leftover. I can still hear my fellow church members screaming to this day. So loud, the wind distorted their voices.

[@b.p.879]

I grew up in Hueytown and had several good friends who lived in Rock Creek, Concord and Sylvan Springs. We had a punk rock band that practiced in Sylvan in the early 90's, and then I also played in a band out of Pleasant Grove in 96-98. If your church was the same church I'm thinking of, I think I remember dropping off boxes of canned food with my parents after church for a few weeks after the storm. We went to Valley Creek baptist, ourselves.

[@wizarddragon]

I was one of the survivors in Edgewater. I made a decision that saved my life. I lived in a small home and knew this storm was going to be a monster so I decided to ride the storm out in a drainage ditch under the road. It was an insane moment in my life and my house was completely gone with only the foundation left standing. Btw, James Spann is the goat.

[@PaulHosey]

You were safe down there? No debris or anything?

[@ILoveOldTWC]

James Spann is the GOAT.

[@jadefox5285]

Yea, im surprised that was a safe place! I mean, im soo glad it worked for you, smart thinking! I woulda been scared there too! 😬

[@c0rruptedhusky]

babe wake up, new weatherbox video just dropped

[@nathanos42]

yes honey.

[@lifeintornadoalley]

Did you make my coffee and breakfast first?

[@ColibriEL]

I agree

[@Vexossoul]

SIR YES SIR OORAH

[@find127]

Here!

[@CodeEthos]

I remember this was "The Big One" before April 27th and I always was fascinated by the set up on that day. My father who's a Lt. for a fire department remembers watching it go by as he saw the power flashes as it chewed Oak Grove to shreds. I always heard crazy stories that this monster did, from angels protecting the people in a church near Cottondale to more horrifying ones where people were impaled in trees. This F5 to me still beats April 27th by a lot. It truly was Hell on that night.

[@Adrian-zd4cs]

Life long Birmingham Alabama resident here 👍💕 I graduated highschool from Mortimer Jordan in 2001. A week after this storm hit Oak Grove we were playing Oak Grove at our home softball field and the weather turned bad, with the sirens going off. Those poor girls/fans started crying in a panic.

[@caseymckinney2423]

Hey weatherbox, just wanted to say thank you for inspiring me to continue my education in meteorology. I currently just got accepted into the University of Louisville for geographical Meteorology. Thank you for your content, it is super interesting and informative. Keep up the good work.

[@ghostrider5378]

congrats, great job

[@weatherboxstudios]

Congrats Casey! You won't regret it, and if you do change your mind there are many other paths you can take that have similar prereqs

[@Midnight24435]

Warmest wishes, Casey. Good luck in your educational pursuits. Congratulations.

[@denisek292]

If you live and breathe weather, college will be a breeze. My son is a meteorologist, and absolutely loves his job. Wishing you lots of success!

[@OneBrokenEgg]

Congrats, Casey! Warmest wishes and best of luck to you!

[@Pensfan5919]

98 was so insane that this monster gets forgotten. Between downtown Nashville's F3 that spring and yes, even Pittsburgh being hit with an F1 in the summer. Truly crazy year for tornadoes.

[@ItzBIULD]

Then again, Pittsburgh is a tornado magnet in Pennsylvania (not as much as say, Oklahoma City but it still is) and gets tornadoes every 5-10 years-ish.

[@ChefTBo]

The ball in the "fishtank" analogy is probably the best explanation I've seen of the concept

[@Peter-en6bc]

Awesome video! I grew up in Tuscaloosa and was 10 when this tornado happened, I remember this night really well. It was a Wednesday night and we were at church, the sirens were going off so we had to rush home and watched James Spann’s coverages. A few days after we drove up to Oak Grove to see the damage and all that was left of homes were the foundation and all the trees had been stripped of bark. I’ll never forget that. Also, thanks for briefly touching on the 12/16/00 F4 in Tuscaloosa, that tornado missed our house by .25 miles, that’s the most scared I’ve ever been.

[@weatherboxstudios]

Thanks for sharing Ryan! Glad you made it out of the 2000 tornado okay

[@jamessimms415]

Our house was sideswiped by the December 2000 tornado missing the house by 100-150 yards. Still received blown down fences, tumbled dog house, broken porch window, some damage to my late Mothers car. I was away @ Army Reserve drill in Hoover, drove up to Hoover early that morning in very heavy rain. Our PT test was cancelled because of it, & when I learned of the storm, called home. Couldn’t get through to home but to a backyard neighbor whose husband was my CGSC Instructor, she told me everything was ok. Figuring it would be next to impossible to get through & having to turn around to go back to drill, I didn’t come home. Mom had returned home from shopping & was watching Spann on the TV when she turned to take shelter. @ that instant, the tornado hit; but she was uninjured.

[@SixTenVisuals]

What I've noticed over time is that twisters stay out of Jones Valley, which is the densely packed central Bham. The twisters seem to trek outside the rail line that borders Ensley and Pratt City on the north and Red Mtn on the south.

[@Δαβίδ]

Lifelong Jeffco resident here and yes, it's like Red Mountain stops inflow to storms or something. Also the tornadoes always hit the same spots don't they?

[@guydreamr]

It's just coincidence, tornadoes do not follow topography, they are the product of atmospheric conditions from above. They can and will strike anywhere.

[@SixTenVisuals]

@@guydreamr Well, I guess those conditions seemingly happen outside of those boundaries I described. April last year I watched the radar (polygons) during a severe storm/tornado warning and it came up through Blocton, McCalla and Bessemer and seemed headed to Jones Valley. but it did a right turn at the foot of Red Mountain in Bessemer, passing through Hoover and then a small twister touched down in Leeds, ending there. Every system I've seen south of Birmingham seems to always land a twister in Pelham or further south. Every north end system lands a twister in Forestdale , Fultondale, Coalburg areas.

[@michaeltucker7431]

We have the same scenario in Gadsden. Noccalulla mountain somehow interferes with the storms and they either go around us to the north hitting Reece City, Sardis, walnut grove and Altoona or they go around the south through ball play, rainbow city, Southside, and Ohatchee

[@andykluiter4109]

Your thoughtful, rational approach to these videos is much appreciated. I really enjoy them, especially these "historic storm" overview-type entries. Can't wait for your take on the Parkersburg-New Hartford EF5 of 2008. I'm from that neck of the woods. Keep up the good work!

[@weatherboxstudios]

Thanks Andy!

[@XxCrystalPhoenix]

I couldn't agree more.

[@5roundsrapid263]

Many cities have similar tornadoes every few decades. Birmingham is probably the biggest example outside of OKC. Nashville also had eerily similar tornadoes in 1933, 1998, and 2020.

[@RileyCBlackwell9]

This tornado ripped through my hometown of Sylvan Springs just east of Oak Grove shortly after wiping out the high school. I was born later that year and had always been interested in weather after hearing about April 8. Then April 27, 2011 occurred and I knew from then that I wanted to be a meteorologist, highly inspired by James Spann. I am also blessed enough to say I now work with James at ABC 33/40 as the weekend meteorologist so it is definitely a full circle moment!

[@bmaze35640]

Great video. You talked about how a tornado might actually hit an event that didn’t heed a warning. During the 1983 Iron Bowl at Legion Field in Birmingham, Jefferson County went under a tornado warning in the fourth quarter as Bo Jackson scored the game-winning TD. The game wasn’t suspended. Fortunately, it never came together, but ABC recorded the heavy rain and winds as it hit the stadium.

[@jimbaker9616]

I was a senior at Auburn and attended that game. It was flash flooding, lightning striking everywhere, the tornado sirens were drowned out by the sound of the wind. And we wouldn't have left that game for anything. I was soaked down to the bone but I wouldn't have missed that game.

[@jenniferbice8998]

That storm system later dropped a tornado that hit a Winn-Dixie in Oxford, Alabama.

[@jonthegamerboy]

Another great video! 1998 was quite the year for tornadoes

[@weatherboxstudios]

Thank you! I could do at least 3 more vids on 1998 alone

[@nathanwilliamson8544]

I was too young to remember this tornado, but I lived in Huntsville, AL during the April 27 tornado outbreak and I would love to see you do a video about it! Love that you're spreading awareness to this. Folks in Alabama don't have a healthy fear of the weather. Keep up the great work!

[@daver00lzd00d]

I agree with what you said about a tornado nailing a a large gathering of people, I'm always worried about that happening to a music festival which would be worst case scenario, a field full of anywhere between 10k-100k people whose only shelter is gonna be their tents/vehicles anywhere closeby (some venues may have small buildings or something like that scattered around the grounds but certainly not anything substantial or large enough for everyone) I can't imagine what the scene would look like and hope it never does end up occuring

[@PJXay]

i've never been so early to an upload. how terrifying!!! alabama has by far the most violent tornadoes ive ever seen.

[@Midnight24435]

Love when Weatherbox posts. I stop what I'm doing and watch it through.

[@weatherboxstudios]

Thank you!

[@MrVietDonger-y9l]

This tornado is often forgotten. Same with the other F5 tornado in 1998 that occurred in Tennessee . But I’ve always wondered how it received it’s F5 rating because all Of the damage photos it never showed F5 damage .

[@sharkheadism]

I felt the same way about the Nashville F5. I never knew it got that rating until years later, I always thought it was given an F3.

[@Sj430]

@@sharkheadism the downtown Nashville was a F3. The F5 happened in Wayne and Lawrence county Tennessee.

[@samuelraytheweirdcontentgu8551]

I think it had to do with the house foundation specificaly with its bolts in lawrence county

[@VASHtheSTAMPEDE_]

F5 at it's strongest even if it was ef5 damage to one house (or whatever it hits that is well built in ground) and ef1 the rest of the time. Pecos Hank has some great videos about this.

[@samuelraytheweirdcontentgu8551]

@@VASHtheSTAMPEDE_ no

[@HeraldandGerald]

As an amateur weather enthusiast, your visual explanations of different phenomena are absolutely on point. Thank you so much.

[@tomcat4195]

Great video. I'm a meteorologist and was living in Nashville during the 2020 central TN tornadoes. I'd love to see those covered in a future video.

[@weatherboxstudios]

Man that tornado destroyed the Soda Parlor... I loved that place. Thanks for stopping by!

[@tomcat4195]

@@weatherboxstudios Destroyed one of the Burger Republics too! I could see the power flashes from my apartment (I lived in a highrise in the Gulch just on the other side of downtown).

[@Benonpool]

This was my first tornado warning home alone. I lived in roebuck, just a couple miles east of the Airport. On the east side of Birmingham. I remember that day like it was yesterday.

[@SunshineDove]

just got off a stressful day at work so this is absolutely perfect to unwind to :D thanks for all the hard work making content, seriously this is like the best part of my day so far lol

[@lifeintornadoalley]

Clifford!

[@banditiot]

All the video, you are very good at describing stuff for newbies like myself. Thank you so much look forward to seeing uploads

[@weatherboxstudios]

Thank you!

[@superhealthkyle]

Great video! I absolutely love the way you explain the meteorology in your videos.

[@krazyraejr]

you, mr. weatherbox, are a great feeder of my hyperfixation of tornadoes and storms in general. i love your techno music and visuals that you give, its very educational and amusing

[@caliliah]

I trust James Spann with my entire life, his voice comforts me through every tornado season 🥰

[@drstevenrey]

Why does it take so long for me to find this channel, years and years and years after being online. Fantastic content, well researched and totally great presentation. Thanks Steve. Immediately subscribed.

[@mattkowal90]

One unique aspect of the tornado: This is only a handful of F5/EF5 to occur at night. For the most part, statistics show that if a violent tornado occurs at night, they are rated F4/EF4. The only other nocturnal F5/EF5's I can think of are Greensburg 2007, Barnaveld 1984, both Tanner events/Guin 1974, Lubbock 1970, Blackwell 1955, Udall 1955, and Flint 1953. Ruskin Heights 1957 touched down in the daytime and dissipated after dark.

[@215_Philly_4for4]

Your videos are genius. Expertise enough for advanced meteorologists, but explained in a way that normal folks can understand.

[@weatherboxstudios]

Thank you! It's a really hard line to straddle but I'm trying my best

[@215_Philly_4for4]

@@weatherboxstudios I’m no meteorologist but I know enough to get by. Since I was 5 years old atmospheric science and meteorology captivated me. I was too chickenshit to study it in school or become a meteorologist but that was always my childhood dream job. Keep it up man

[@LeCharles07]

You are a fantastic science communicator. That ball and tub of water explanation was so intuitive.

[@QilleWolf]

Love the haircut, it looks slick! Thanks for the video, great stuff as always

[@timcash6372]

Your weather Videos are by far the best I’ve ever seen

[@happy-composer]

Weatherbox, I always learn so much about weather conditions every time I watch your videos. Thank you for not only explaining the conditions that cause these tornadoes but also explaining them in layman’s terms!

[@weatherboxstudios]

Thanks Nic!

[@loophole21_]

Been binging these videos man, super interesting to learn about these tornadoes. Prayers to everyone that is affected by any of these events.

[@vegasaviation2243]

It blows my mind that Dixie alley doesn’t have better radar coverage considering how deadly it is during tornado outbreaks. They need more radar sites for sure. I do think social media is certainly helping individuals be more prepared before & during the events though.

[@Thicc_Cheese_Dip]

It's a mix of the NWS not having the budget to mass-build more radars and the radar sites in that part of the US being cost-prohibitive. West and Central Alabama are among the poorest regions in the US; Tuscaloosa is just north of there, and Selma is right in the middle of west-central Alabama. We have a similar problem here in Texas. There's a major radar hole stretching roughly from Oklahoma's Choctaw Country down close to Houston.

[@brianmaricle9646]

Sounds like a good area for a trailer park 😂😂

[@jcolo80]

Outstanding sweater. And thank you for the content.

[@weatherboxstudios]

Thanks Jay! Thrift store find

[@danielwieten8617]

Hope you tipped your barber well. It looks great. Also thanks for covering this one, pretty underrated.

[@CSX8954]

14:40 That statement aged well, cause I can tell you Easter 2020 I survived the EF3 tornado that hit Chattanooga, TN that night, and we're right on the northeast edge of Dixie Ally. Talk about a punch in the face that night was. Keep up the good work

[@beezlebub3955]

Your videos are the best man, you have that perfect combination of info, animation and the perfect voice/vernacular, I always get excited and look forward to a long future of your content

[@weatherboxstudios]

Thanks! Glad you enjoy

[@Jerorawr_XD]

New favorite upstart KZbin channel. Thanks for all the hard work. Fascinating videos to watch!

[@RyanLarmeuWX]

I work in the Birmingham/Tuscaloosa market as an on-air meteorologist. I love to watch your videos. It was a little weird to see my boss used as a clip at 1:19 LOL

[@weatherboxstudios]

Oh nice! I've seen some clips of WVUA coverage, you guys do a great job. Thanks for stopping by Ryan!

[@RyanLarmeuWX]

@@weatherboxstudios Richard Scott is one of the best! His coverage is pretty good if I say so myself!

[@joshuawarkentin9199]

Thanks for all the work you do into explaining the weather setup the leads to these extreme weather events. Your videos are by far the best produced, education packed, and most interesting out there. Have a happy Thanksgiving from this Canadian!

[@weatherboxstudios]

Thanks Joshua!

[@gallonoffuel]

This channel is the best thing to ever come out of Ohio.

[@weatherboxstudios]

I will absolutely take than and run with it

[@punkrockstormchaser]

Ay markipliers from ohio

[@chacaabbaylee768]

Well done as always brother. Very well done. You gonna end up getting Spanns job when he retires if you keep up this level. You project major meteorologist tones which is a gift few possess.

[@badwater]

Great job. I live in BHM and remember this well. I had friends who lived in Sylvan Springs whose home was flattened. They appear in the news footage at the beginning of your video. Of course, 4/27/2011 was off the scale… I hope to never experience that again. Thank you.

[@AceNe1ght]

I was 8 and I lived in north Birmingham with my grandma when this occurred. I remember that the clouds were dark and ominous all afternoon. That evening we watched in horror as the tornado destroyed the local neighborhoods. My grandma realized that we would soon be in the path of the storm. It was terrifying to know that an EF4 was only a mile and a half away and barreling towards us. Grandma put my 5 year old brother and I in a closet just as the power went out. We sat in the dark and listened to a battery radio. I remember hearing the wind and rain howling outside and a constant distant thunder. We were all scared, there was nothing we could do but wait and pray. Then it just dissipated. It was over in the blink of an eye and we were spared. I don’t know if I would be here today if that tornado had kept on its path but I am thankful it didn’t. We were lucky but others were not. My heart goes out to those killed on that day. It’s a date I’ll never forget.

[@comic-csg7414]

I might take up meteorology as a minor… my brother studies it in great detail too. Recently subbed and enjoy your analyses very much! Well done.

[@weatherboxstudios]

Thank you! And I would if you're interested, it's worth it

[@thegamingmanatee6803]

Great video. As someone who was born in 91 I remember this all too well. Would love to see a video on the Blizzard of 92 that occured here sometime!

[@franklinthompson7336]

The intro music plus the video earned an instant like, I haven't found someone who loves the same vibes!

[@tornadostories]

Such amazing production 😍

[@dillyboyq]

I’ve missed you and your videos so much! Watched thru them ALL so I was fiending for more of this premium content. Thank you ❤

[@bamagrl26]

I was in Bosnia deployed when my mom called to tell me about this tornado. She lived in Montgomery, Alabama. R.I.P. to those who lost loved ones.

[@tomshiba51]

I didn't even know about this tornado Thank you for the video.

[@Jessa-RM]

The synth took me by surprise in the best way, the fusion of two of my favorite things, 80's synth lines and extreme weather.

[@Straswa]

Great work Weatherbox! I appreciate your insight on tornadoes.

[@megaoldskool76]

Pratt City (western Birmingham) have seen damaging deadly tornadoes (F5-F4, EF4) in 77, 98 and 2011, with a close call in the 1974 outbreak!! I was in all of them. Thx for remembering 1998.

[@HurricaneHomer9]

Great work dude!

[@weatherboxstudios]

Thank you!

[@AJKPenguin]

A great way to end the day. Thank you @weatherbox Steve. Happy Thanksgiving all. 🦃

[@weatherboxstudios]

Hope you're doing well Adam!

[@AJKPenguin]

@@weatherboxstudios Thank you sir. I pray you're well. Enjoy this fair weather today, hopefully Erie can keep some clouds at bay.

[@jimburnsjr.]

Happy Thanksgiving bud... thanks for the videos

[@weatherboxstudios]

You too Jim!

[@itzrenzo8960]

i’m new to your chanel and I have to say this is great, subscribed

[@XxCrystalPhoenix]

After the March 2023 Mississippi tornado outbreak, the ending of this video hits different.

[@maggiesatterfield2402]

I remember that day. I had moved back home to Birmingham after 20 years of living in Michigan. My apartment was in Bessemer -4 miles east of Oak Grove and 4 miles west of Alabaster (suburbs of B'ham) where two of the tornadoes went that night. The f5 went thru Oak Grove and an f3 went thru Alabaster. I was terrified. There were no storm shelters and no basements in my apartment complex. it was also Good Friday.

[@chimrichalds5205]

Is this you on the Synth? Some of these intros are amazing dude

[@earlymorningtwilight9119]

Your videos are so interesting

[@ameliabarker8403]

Fantastic video!!!!🎉

[@weatherboxstudios]

Thanks Amelia!

[@mariagilligan7133]

You are such a great video maker. You also seem like a great guy. You have taught me so much about tornados. I live and grew up in the Pacific northwest. A few years back we had a F 3 blow though port orchard Washington. I would love if you could look at this tornado. It did damage to building's and neighborhoods. We had no warnings. I live about 8 miles from there. I will always remember how green the sky got. Thank you for making great videos

[@weatherboxstudios]

Thanks Maria! I will look into it!

[@kennylay2849]

Love the fresh cut 🔥🔥

[@weatherboxstudios]

Thanks Kenny, I'll let my barber know!

[@chanvalentine8283]

Thanks for using the fish tank and ball to explain the energy release. I never understood that part formation before.

[@cerealrakist7360]

I was in the 2011 tornado and I will never forget the doors and walls sucking in and out on me and it felt as if it was trying to come kill me personally.

[@killzoldyck2177]

Very well put together video man.

[@Dazzlelite22]

Another exceptional video, thank you!

[@Rachelbobachel35]

My new favorite channel!

[@kucnjnj154]

your videos are so good thank you mr weatherbox for making my day

[@weatherboxstudios]

Thank you for watching!

[@buckmoody5939]

I will never forget the 98 , 2011 , storm I have lived in the area my whole life , the 98 storm for me was particularly more frightening because the home I was living in and had just moved from a week earlier was totally demolished, but both storms will always be remembered

[@jacquelinekenknight9280]

I remember this night. We lived in Pinson at the time but moved to Concord a few years afterwards. You could still still the damage from Oak Grove years later- driveways with no house, steps to nowhere, etc. Ironically, Concord was hit by an EF4 on April 27th. Some areas seem more prone than others and get hit several times over the years.

[@EclecticMuse4]

My mom remembers the 1977 tornado (she lived in Roebuck near the tornado damage from that one) and I remember being chased home by thunderstorms on the afternoon of April 8th 1998 in Pinson on the east side of Birmingham. We went to Oak Grove in 2001 for a school function and I remember seeing brick steps leading up to nothing and limbless tree trunks still stripped of bark. The new high school was really nice.

[@theweakestlink2278]

Remember this storm very well. Oak Grove and the western end of the county got hit really hard. The April 27 2011 tornado followed a similar path as well.

[@jenniferruth812]

I so appreciate your videos!

[@weatherboxstudios]

Thanks Ruth!

[@CarrieBHS]

I'm glad a sweater from the event survived and you were able to wear it.

[@PenguinInguinLodge]

Can I just say I love the music at the beginning of all your videos?

[@eamonwright7488]

How ironic Im watching this as this outbreak is approaching my house. The heaviest parts took 45mins to pass through. We're about 75miles east of NOLA. We dodged a bullet last night. Cheers for this video.On APril 8, 1998 I had just left Alabaster, Al (Few miles south of Birmingham) around 5 pm that evening headed towards Mobile. Didn't have cellphones back then and my family were frantic when I reached home in MS.

[@weatherboxstudios]

Glad you avoided the twisters last night!

[@eamonwright7488]

@@weatherboxstudios Ironically about a month ago, I was working about 30 miles from my house when I got an alert about a tornado spotted a half a mile from my moms trailer. I called her to get out of the house and she dismissed my concerns. Well she finally hung the phone up. By the time made it back inside my workplace, she called frantically saying a Tornado was approaching. It apparently was roping out as it went through our 15 acre estate. Mainly a bunch of limbs and insulation was all over the whole property. I believe the only damage my mom endured was a pair of underwear. 😂

[@robynprice8289]

I grew up across the street from the original Oak Grove School. My parents lost everything in that tornado, I was just 9 months old. I almost lost my dad because instead of being in the basement in our rental house next door he was in our home in the master bedroom. He told them in interviews shortly afterwards that the only thing he could do was put a pillow over his head and slide under his and momma's waterbed. They've both past away now and I watch his coverage on the anniversary every year just to hear my dad's voice and to see my momma standing behind him as he speaks. I don't remember it obviously but I'll never forget their stories.

[@calebbwx]

nice. good stuff.

[@lordmatthewanunnahybrid1356]

Another spectacular video.

[@jeffpc34]

I don't know if you've already covered it, but the '65 Palm Sunday outbreak with the twins in Indiana, would be a great one to do.

[@DisposableSupervillainHenchman]

Steve’s ready with a fresh cut and a swaggin’ sweater. Always great content and helpful explanations for weather phenomena.

[@mickdunne981]

Hey 👋 I am new to your channel 🙂 I have subbed and liked the video greetings from Ireland.we are blessed here in Ireland that we don't get Tornadoes like you guys get we get small ones but not as severe as over there but with climate change we probably will get them in years to come.I love your content you explain how the Tornadoes formed very good 👍 keep up the good work 😊

[@DriftyCraft]

You should make a video about the 1998 Kissimmee tornado outbreak, I'd love to hear your take on it

[@JerryFisher]

When I was a kid (forever ago) cellars and basements were always taught as being the best shelters if a tornado was bearing down on a structure. Unfortunately nobody seemed to have considered that taking cover under the stairs or heavy duty tables were necessary. I do recall that the prevailing wisdom of that time was that a person should get into the SW corner of a cellar or basement. Tornadoes on average traveled from the SW to the NE and it was thought that being in that particular corner offered the best protection from any debris or suction. Perhaps that is why so many of the basement deaths occurred? I just skimmed the linked report so maybe I overlooked the same conclusion?

[@Baldevi]

Great work as always. I am fascinated by the statistics showing that in this OEN case, being in their cars could possibly have spared lives. An exception proving a rule maybe; a car is not a safe shelter from even a EF1 tornado. And I am still amazed that the Modular/Mobile Home industry is not being tasked with making some safety features required for these sadly flimsy structures. I live near Abingdon Virginia, which has had about 20 EF 1-3 tornadoes in the vicinity since the 1970s. Even so, when we looked into whether having some modular buildings or homes set on our 150 acre property was a viable option, we were told off the record that this was simply unwise for us. Tornaoes hit here that are NEVER REPOTED, WARNED OR RECORDED. We had one drift by on May 6, 2022, approximately 1.5 miles to the south. It is not listed anywhere one can find records of tornadoes. I've searched and searched, even begged for help to find some information on it. I even experienced the Inflow as damaging rain and wind that was so bad that my south facing windows, in the lea of the house, obscured all visibility past FOUR INCHES beyond the glass. I did not look to the north, the direction the Inflow was coming from; I was only upstairs of the basement because my panicked roommate was barefoot, and I refused to risk her having to walk on debris if the house was hit. I'd grabbed boots, jackets, my computer and phone [using the phone's signal to keep my laptop connected to the interwebs,] and had had to carry the 90 pound dog down the stairs because hew as paralized with fear and wanted to run away, not hide in the basement. I'd even had the time to secure things on the porch, since we did get a Tornado warning on our phones. So seeing the wind driven rain was astonishing. We only lost two trees that we know of, the house was undamaged despite that wind. So when we were told that Modular homes were not suitable for this tiny valley, well I agreed. Thanks for that honesty. Where is the honesty in Dixie Alley tho? Why are these manufacturers not being tasked with making the buildings even a little more sturdy and safe? Why is there no programs to help every household build or buy a tornado shelter even above ground? Another "Superoutbreak" is going to occur for Dixie Alley. It is 100%, and due to appear literally anytime, maybe in Spring, maybe not. Are those citizens ready? Do they have weather radios at the least? How many have generators to back up power for their devices and lights? I really hope they do. I know they are game, brave folk who will gather friends and neighbors to protect them as needed. But an EF5 tornado will level everything in its path short of a bank vault. I shudder to think what the next outbreak will do, how many might die, and how many WILL survive with crippling PTSD and injuries after that EF% passes through their areas. We're also overdue for a repeat of the Jarrell TX slow moving, all devouring Tornado, tho likely it will land somewhere else.It has been 30 years... and that possibility terrifies me too. I am very glad we have a basement that has been assessed as very secure for tornadoes RF1-4 [Low end on the EF4] and we're prepared, storing supplies, a second radio, chairs, blankets, shoes, dry food for the dog, and spare cages for two pet birds. Just because tornadoes are relatively rare does not mean we will never experience one here.

[@weatherboxstudios]

That's a beautiful area you live in, I've been down 58 through the mountains a few times. I have been curious about tornadoes that happen in and near the Appalachian mountains, I will look into it more. Poverty is rampant in Dixie alley and the people there are likely more concerned with surviving day to day life than a tornado. I assume modular homes are most of what these people can afford, and the companies selling the homes don't really care. Unfortunately I don't think it's something that will be solved in this country anytime soon

[@Baldevi]

@@weatherboxstudios I know you are correct about too many people needing to have Modular homes due to their incomes. I Am hoping that since this is the case, some sort of requirement for more sturdy buildings will be created one day. And that funding can be set aside for communities to be able to build shelters for all their members, so then the Modulars are not the only shelter people can pray will save them. It is a beautiful area here indeed. I love it here, good people in a nice environment. I've been researching the history of tornadoes around here and finding they are happening more than is realized. In fact the 1974 Super Outbreak [which was on steroids!] even dropped tornadoes here, luckily fairly weak and touching down where they did little structural damage, and no one was killed as far as I can find. Still I would love to see what you find when you dig in one day. I can link the ONLY reference to that tornado May 6, 2022, its a 90 second video on youtube. Even SPC and NWS have nothing listed, since it was radar indicated. I am not a trained meteorologist, but that looked like tornado all right, and I did hear it from a mile away. kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3KqdoZ4jJWlgbM

[@JacobNascar]

December seems to be a rowdy time for weather in Mississippi. I remember a few years ago there being a tornado on Christmas. It went through rural towns. Also December 10thish was the day I moved into my current house in Mississippi and that was the day of the Mayfield tornado but we had our own severe weather that night too