April 3-4, 1974 Superoutbreak of Tornadoes

James Spann and J.B. Elliott look back at the largest outbreak of tornadoes in our nation's history and how Alabama was affected.

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Howto & Style

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• 1974
• tornado
• outbreak

[pau3365]

I Wonder was the Xenia Tornado more powerful twister throughout the entire outbreak or was it Guin? Because according to meteorologist, alot of them say that it was Xenia; cuz the damage and deaths were more severe & appalling than any other tornado in the outbreak (It was so bad that they wanted it to be the 1st F6 rated tornado.)

[HighFlyingAddict]

What I and my family like about ABC 33/40 is that they try to teach their viewers about weather, all we need to know to better protect ouselves aganist severe weather. They do by showing us documentrys of past weather events such as this video, they go on tour around their viewing area and teach us about tornados, showing us pictures and sharing storys. I'm so greatful to have a news station such as ABC 33/40 cause I know they care and that means alot.

[ubernoobly]

My mom was born in 1974 on the day of this tornado and her and her mom had to be rushed to a special room in the hospital , and the tornado ended up hitting the hospital but they lived thru it

[caycay4722]

my birthday is on april 3, born in Dayton

i might as well walk down the street and see where people died on my birthday

(1999)btw

[ncrdisabled]

I was 14 in Louisville Ky fishing in beargrass creak in cherakee park . I seen it coming and ran to a storm tunnel that went back 3 miles lucky there was a ladder 30 feet in. I watched it go by when I got out the trees were almost all gone . We lived in cresent hill my house was half gone tons of damage all around.

[thillwl]

@pau3365 The Xenia tornado had the higher death toll and catastrophic damage, but the Guin tornado was one of the longer tracked tornadoes on record.

[bongojava21]

@pau3365 The Xenia twister hit a more populated area. I don't think it was stronger than the others. Many areas hit that night were small towns and rural areas.

[ChristopherSaindon]

1:38 Wow am I OLD -- I had that boombox :-) Note on this day BTW Brandenberg, KY was a powerful F5, and poor Tanner, Harvest, and Capshaw were hit twice inside of 50 minutes: the first was F5, second F4. April 27 and April 3, 1974 hard to say, but I have to admit for the first time since 1974 we have a legitimate contender. Waiting for the NWS disaster survey. Should be GREAT reading. Love, prayers to all who died, were injured, and to your family & friends.

[talladegajunkie1439]

April 27, 2011 makes this look like nothing.

[wxman1989]

Dr. Fujita came down to survey the Guin tornado and then held a meeting at the NWS office in Birmingham, and said he came very close to rating the Guin tornado the first ever F-6.

[Machi74005]

@F5FTiger I was almost 7 years old and also spent the evening in the basement with my parents in southern Indiana.

[jerardofierros3]

that maybe true for now ........