HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — New data this week from the National Weather Service confirms a total of 19 tornadoes ripped across North Alabama and Southern-Middle Tennessee during the night of May 8. This number eclipses the total number of tornadoes confirmed through the years of 2021 through 2023.
Before Wednesday's updated data, the May 8 storms were known to have caused nine confirmed tornadoes, ranging in strength from EF-0 to EF-3.
As of NWS surveys conducted through May 15, the tornadoes that struck our area are as follows:
- Taft (Poorhouse Hollow, Lincoln County TN) - EF-1
- Melton Bluff/Brigadoon (Lawrence/Limestone Counties) - EF-3
- Woodfin Mill (Limestone) - EF-1
- Corders Crossroads (Lincoln County TN) - EF-1
- Rainbow Mountain (Madison County) - EF-0
- Monte Sano (Madison County) - EF-2
- Lim Rock (Jackson County) - EF-0
- Mastin Lake (Madison County) - EF-0
- Scottsboro (Jackson County) - EF-0
- Blossomwood (Madison County) - EF-1
- Henegar (Jackson/DeKalb Counties) - EF-3
- Brooks Crossroads (DeKalb County) - EF-1
- Hopper Road (Lincoln County TN) - EF-1
- New Market (Madison County) - EF-1
- Southwest Flintville (Lincoln County TN) - EF-1
- Northeast Flintville/Whites Gap (Lincoln County TN) - EF-1
- Princeton (Jackson County) EF-1
- Prospect (Giles County TN) - EF-2
- Pisgah (Jackson County) - EF-1
- South Hytop (Jackson County) - EF-1
A total of eight injuries were reported: seven from the Henegar area and one from the Princeton tornado. There were no fatalities reported.
CLEANUP EFFORTS CONTINUE
Huntsville city officials expect crews to complete removal of large tree limb debris at Maple Hill Cemetery by early next week as cleanup continues from the May 8 storm. Large stumps from fallen trees will take longer to remove. Families are being notified when damage to a loved one’s marker is discovered.
The Huntsville Pilgrimage Association (HPA) and Skip Stinson, the cemetery’s restoration specialist, have joined the effort to inspect markers in Blocks 1-15, which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. As money is available, the HPA will fund repairs in those areas along with damaged portions of the cemetery’s stone wall.
The city estimates 1.4 million pounds of debris have been removed from all affected areas of the city.
The Home Depot Foundation tells FOX54 that area stores have donated almost $3,000 worth of relief supplies, including tarps, chainsaws, drills and water, to the city of Henagar. They are still working with other local cities to determine need.