There are several reports of extensive damage in Shelby County after a large tornado touched down Thursday afternoon. WVTM 13 captured footage of a twister on the ground live on air. See the footage above.
Pelham police reported numerous houses damaged in Chandalar, utility lines down at the Pelham Civic Complex and along Highway 31 and Hwy. 119.
ONLY LOCAL TRAFFIC is being allowed into communities damaged by the tornado," Pelham PD said. "Please do not try to respond to these areas."
Police say approximately 30 to 50 homes and structures sustained damaged.
"Please keep in mind, that is a very preliminary number," Pelham PD said. "Crews are still in the field assessing the damage. Please continue to stay away from tornado damaged communities."
Pelham Mayor Gary Waters has since implemented a curfew for the city until Monday. The curfew is from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. each day through Monday.
Anyone who has been displaced by the storms or sustained tornado damage is encouraged to call 1-800-RED-CROSS for assistance
The Cahaba Valley Estates neighborhood was hit hard by the storm.
"We have received multiple reports of damage in different areas of Shelby County," the sheriff's office said. "This includes trees and power lines down across the roadway. Please avoid driving on the roadway unless absolutely necessary to allow public safety personnel time to clear these areas."
The Shelby County Sheriff's Office is helping Eagle Point families reunite in the parking lot of Baumhower's at 1001 Doug Baker Boulevard.
WVTM 13 received photos of snapped trees off Highway 280 in the Eagle Point area.
The Shelby County Sheriff's Office is helping Eagle Point families reunite in the parking lot of Baumhower's at 1001 Doug Baker Boulevard.
"Helena has received major damage as a result of the tornado," Helena police said. "All phone lines to HPD are down. Call 911 if you need emergency assistance. Please stay out of the area of Old Town on Hwy 261."
Tim Lawson took these photos of the destruction in Greystone Farms:
The severe weather threat is still ongoing in central Alabama. Click here for the latest updates. Watch live coverage here.
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5:55 p.m.
Tornado Emergency continues for parts of Shelby County, including areas around Columbiana and Wilsonville. The storm was moving toward Fayetteville and Childersburg, in Talladega County.
Watch live coverage above or click here.
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5:45 p.m.
Pelham's mayor has implemented a curfew after a tornado ripped through parts of the city this afternoon. The curfew will begin at 10 p.m. and last until 6 a.m. each day through Monday.
5:38 p.m.
Tornado reported in north Chilton County nearing the Shelby County line and towards Calera.
5:30 p.m.
The Calhoun County coroner says five people were killed in a tornado Thursday afternoon. Four the victims were in Ohatchee and another was in Wellington. Click here for more.
5:29 p.m.
Tornado Emergency for south Shelby and north Chilton Counties, including Calera and Jemison. At 5:29pm, a confirmed large and destructive tornado located over Ashby, 7 miles southwest of Montevallo, moving northeast at 40 mph.
Watch live coverage above or click here.
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5:25 p.m.
Tornado Warning for Calhoun and Etowah counties until 6:15 p.m.
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5:15 p.m.
Tornado emergency for Brent and Centreville. The NWS reports a large and dangerous tornado moving just south of downtown Centreville, moving east at 50 mph.
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5:07 p.m.
Tornado warning for Chilton and Shelby counties until 6 p.m. At 5:07 p.m., a large and destructive tornado was located over Brent moving northeast at 55 mph.
Watch live coverage above or click here.
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5:05 p.m.
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey released the following statement:
“Significant and dangerous weather continues to impact portions of Alabama, and I urge all folks in the path of these tornadoes and storm systems to remain on high alert. Tragically, we are receiving reports of loss of life. I offer my sincerest prayers to all impacted. Unfortunately, the day is not over yet. Y’all, please stay safe and vigilant!”
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5 p.m.
Tornado warning for Bibb County until 5:30 p.m. At 5 p.m., a confirmed large and destructive tornado was located near Harrisburg, eight miles southwest of Brent, moving east at 50 mph.
Watch live coverage above or click here.
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4:57 p.m.
Tornado warning for St. Clair County until 6 p.m. At 454 PM CDT, a tornado producing storm was located over Alton, or over Trussville, moving northeast at 55 mph.
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4:50 p.m.
A confirmed tornado was located over northeastern Birmingham, moving northeast at 55 mph towards Trussville.
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4:45 p.m.
Tornado Warning for Jefferson County until 5:30 p.m. A severe storm capable of producing a tornado was located over northeast Birmingham, moving northeast at 55 mph.
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4:43 p.m.
Alabama Power says there are nearly 17,000 outages statewide.
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4:35 p.m.
A large and extremely dangerous tornado was located near Greensboro moving northeast at 55 mph. Storm chasers reported a large, wedge tornado five miles north-northwest of Greensboro.
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4:30 p.m.
Tornado warning for Hale County until 5 p.m. A large and extremely dangerous tornado was located over Sayerville, seven miles west of Greensboro, moving northeast at 50 mph.
Watch live coverage above or click here.
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4:10 p.m.
Tornado Warning for Hale and Tuscaloosa counties until 5:15 p.m. At 4:10 p.m., a tornado producing storm was locating near Union, eight miles north of Eutaw, moving northeast at 40 mph.
Watch live coverage above or click here.
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4 p.m.
Calhoun County Sheriff Matthew Wade is reporting three fatalities and two injuries after a possible tornado strike in the Ohatchee and Wellington area. Wade also said multiple structures were damaged or destroyed. Click here to learn more.
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3:53 p.m.
Latest update on road conditions from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency:
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3:51 p.m.
Tornado Warning continues for Blount County until 4:45 p.m. At 350 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Hayden, or 12 miles southwest of Cleveland, moving northeast at 60 mph.
Watch live coverage above or click here.
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3:45 p.m.
Tornado Warning for Blount and Jefferson counties until 4:45 p.m. At 3:43 p.m., a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Warrior, or 11 miles north of Gardendale, moving northeast at 60 mph.
Watch live coverage above or click here.
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3:43 p.m.
Alabama Power says there are currently about 14,000 outages in metro Birmingham.
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3:28 p.m.
Video and images of extensive tornado damage in Shelby County are coming into the WVTM 13 Newsroom. One of the hardest hit areas we've seen so far is in the Eagle Point neighborhood. Click here for more.
3:15 p.m.
Tornado Warning for Cherokee until 4 p.m. At 3:13 p.m., a confirmed tornado was located near Piedmont, moving northeast at 40 mph.
Watch live coverage above or click here.
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3 p.m.
Tornado Warning for Cherokee and Etowah counties until 4 p.m. At 2:57 p.m., a tornado producing storm was located near Jacksonville State University, or near Jacksonville, moving northeast at 45 mph. "Long lived supercell continues to produce a tornado in northern Calhoun County. Radar confirmed tornado will move just north of Jacksonville, and is heading toward Piedmont."
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2:53 p.m.
A confirmed tornado was located near Alexandria, seven miles west of Jacksonville, moving northeast at 45 mph.
2:50 p.m.
Tornado Warning for Calhoun County until 3:30 p.m. "Radar CONFIRMED tornado heading toward the Wellington community," NWS Birmingham said. "TAKE SHELTER NOW if you are its path. This supercell storm has produced significant damage along its path."
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2:45 p.m.
Tornado Warning for Calhoun County until 3:30 p.m. At 2:43 p.m., a confirmed tornado was located over Ohatchee, or 10 miles northwest of Saks, moving northeast at 40 mph.
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2:35 p.m.
Tornado warning continues for St. Clair and Talladega counties until 2:45 p.m.At 227 PM CDT, a confirmed tornado was located near Ragland, or 11 miles northeast of Pell City, moving northeast at 50 mph.
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2:20 p.m.
Tornado warning continues for St. Clair and Talladega counties until 2:45 p.m. At 2:20 p.m., a confirmed tornado was located near Riverside, or near Pell City, moving northeast at 45 mph.
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2:10 p.m.
Tornado warning continues for St. Clair and Talladega counties until 2:45 p.m. At 2:07 p.m., a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Bald Rock, or near Moody, moving northeast at 40 mph.
Watch live coverage above or click here.
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2:05 p.m.
There are several reports of extensive damage in Helena and Pelham.
"Helena has received major damage as a result of the tornado," Helena police said. "All phone lines to HPD are down. Call 911 if you need emergency assistance. Please stay out of the area of Old Town on Hwy 261."
Pelham police reported numerous houses damaged in Chandalar, utility lines down at the Pelham Civic Complex and along Hwy 31 and Hwy 119.
"We have received multiple reports of damage in different areas of Shelby County," the sheriff's office said. "This includes trees and power lines down across the roadway. Please avoid driving on the roadway unless absolutely necessary to allow public safety personnel time to clear these areas."
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2:02 p.m.
Tornado warning continues for Pickens County until 2:30 p.m. At 2:01 p.m., a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located over Carrollton, moving northeast at 50 mph.
Watch live coverage above or click here.
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1:59 p.m.
Tornado Warning continues for Shelby, St. Clair and Talladega counties until 2:45 p.m. A confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was located over Vandiver near Leeds moving northeast at 40 mph. "Tornado, with a history of considerable damage, is moving from northeastern Shelby County into St. Clair County," NWS Birmingham said. "Pell City is in its path."
Watch live coverage above or click here.
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1:48 p.m.
Tornado warning continues for Shelby County until 2 p.m. At 1:47 p.m., a confirmed large and destructive tornado was located over Mount Laurel, or near Chelsea, moving northeast at 45 mph.
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1:45 p.m.
Tornado warning for Shelby, St. Clair and Talladega counties until 2:45 p.m. At 1:45 p.m., a confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was located over Mt. Laurel near Chelsea, moving northeast at 45 mph.
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1:36 p.m.
A confirmed large and destructive tornado was located over Indian Springs Village near Hoover, moving northeast at 45 mph. "TORNADO EMERGENCY! Radar confirmed tornado, with a history of producing damage, is moving down the SR-119 corridor, toward Meadow Brook, Inverness," NWS Birmingham said. "Lee Branch businesses need to expedite their tornado plans NOW!"
Watch live coverage above or click here.
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1:33 p.m.
Tornado Warning continues for Jefferson and Shelby counties until 2 p.m. At 1:30 p.m. A large and extremely dangerous tornado located over Oak Mountain Amphitheater in Pelham, moving northeast at 45 mph. Areas near Spain Park, Oak Mountain High School, Meadowbrook and Inverness are in the path.
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1:29 p.m.
Tornado Warning for Pickens County until 2:30 p.m. At 1:28 p.m., a severe thunderstorm warning capable of producing a tornado was located over Paulette, 17 miles southwest of Aliceville, moving northeast at 45 mph.
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1:20 p.m.
A confirmed tornado was located near Helena moving northeast at 40 mph. South of downtown Helena and north of downtown Pelham are in the path.
Watch live coverage above or click here.
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