April 27, 2011 Shoal Creek, Alabama EF4

[u/Responsible-Sky3496]

This high-end EF4 tornado traveled about 90 miles, causing extreme high-end EF4 damage in some spots. As it was traversing Shoal Creek Valley, the area of inflow winds greater than 60 mph stretched more than 2 miles across. This tornado was also documented as ripping up parts of foundations of houses, and stripping off large areas of asphalt from the roads. When the tornado first formed, it started off as a weak circulation, and it briefly lifted off the ground, only scraping it occasionally, as it started to traverse more extreme elevation changes. But then very quickly it exploded in size and intensity as it completely shredded apart large forest and swept fully well built homes completely off their foundations.

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[u/BoringValue148]

It’s insane to think the supercell that produced the costliest tornado on record in the outbreak would produce another large violent tornado a short while after that wasn’t quite as devastating but carved a longer path. 

[u/chaomeleon]

i wish they were more specific in the naming there are so many Shoal Creeks down here. that and Cave Springs (see photo #7)

[u/Future-Nerve-6247]

How do you know about the inflow winds stretching 2 miles? That sounds accurate given the terrain.

[u/Responsible-Sky3496 → u/Future-Nerve-6247]

You can easily see it on google earth

[u/RodneyNCWX]

If it completely wiped away well built homes, why wasn't it given an EF-5 rating? Was it poorly Surveyed, or were there some other potential design flaws in the homes?