Tonight is the 34th anniversary of the worst tornado outbreak in U.S. history. Alabama was hard hit that night. I have been sharing actual bulletins issued by the NWS Birmingham, many by our own J.B. Elliott on that chaotic night.
THERE IS NO SEVERE WEATHER IN ALABAMA TONIGHT…THESE ARE HISTORIC BULLETINS…
Good news from Little Rock…the tornado that was approaching the city has apparently dissipated for the time being. The NWS Little Rock just reported that the rear flank downdraft had snuffed out the storm and spotters reported it had disappeared. There was quite a bit of damage reported between Benton and Bryant along I-30.
SEVERE STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
10 PM CDT WED APR 3 1974
AS OF 10 PM APPROXIMATELY 18 PERSONS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN TORNADOES IN NORTH ALABAMA THIS EVENING.
REPORTS FROM STATE TROOPERS…CIVIL DEFENSE…AND HAM RADIO OPERATORS…AND THE MAYOR OF CULLMAN GIVE THESE FIGURES.
LAUDERDALE COUNTY…13 DEAD…LIMESTONE COUNTY…3 DEAD…CULLMAN COUNTY…2 DEAD IN THE CITY OF CULLMAN. IN ADDITION THERE HAVE BEEN SOME DEATHS IN JASPER 35 MILES NORTHWEST OF BIRMINGHAM IN WALKER COUNTY. EARLIER REPORTS INDICATED 2 DEAD. THEN THE DEATH TOLL PROBABLY STANDS AT 20 AT LEAST.
INJURIES ARE NUMEROUS.
A HOSPITAL AT JASPER WAS HIT AND AMBULANCES FROM BIRMINGHAM HAVE BEEN DISPATCHED TO AID IN PATIENT TRANSFER.
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NWS Log
1020PM HSV WSO abandoned
SEVERE STORM REPORT
1022PM CDT WED APR 3 1974
URGENT
HUNTSVILLE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE OFFICE ABANDONED. TORNADO BEARING DOWN ON HUNTSVILLE JETPORT.
HUNTSVILLE AREA SHOULD BE ESPECIALLY ALERT.
TORNADO WARNING ALREADY IN EFFECT FOR THAT AREA.
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