The tornado damage swaths as depicted in the image above, and on the individual tornado links, are an estimate of the damage widths along the track. In other words, the track width may not represent the actual damage in all locations, as we interpolate the values between actual surveyed damage points. These maps are soley for the purpose of showing the general track of each tornado. Remember, tornadoes do not always move in straight lines, and the intensity does not remain constant. It is also possible to have other thunderstorm wind-related damage in close proximity to the tornado tracks from such features as inflow and rear flank downdrafts, which can produce tornado-like damage. For a satellite image of the tornado tracks, click here. For comprehensive GIS information, including ESRI Shapefiles and Google Earth KMZ files of tornado paths, storm survey points, and tracks of all 62 tornadoes, click on the link below: Pertinent Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Data from the April 27th, 2011 Outbreak

Important Note: The Shapefiles and KMLs are experimental data. To tell the story of April 27, 2011, one has to recognize that there were two distinct waves of widespread severe weather in Central Alabama. The first wave of severe storms moved through during the early morning hours across northern portions of Central Alabama in the form of a Quasi-Linear Covective System (QLCS). This intense line of thunderstorms produced not only widespread damaging straight line winds in the areas of Moody, Pell City and Riverside, but numerous strong tornadoes. The table below is an account of the tornadoes caused by the QLCS: