A relentless barrage of severe weather tore across the heart of the U.S. Tuesday evening into early Wednesday, as multiple tornadoes touched down from the lower Ohio Valley to the Deep South. Confirmed tornado activity struck Alabama, Tennessee, and Illinois, with storms bringing destructive winds, lightning, and power outages to tens of thousands.
The outbreak marked the eighth straight day of severe weather across the country, a dramatic reversal after an unusually quiet start to May, which is typically the most active tornado month in the U.S.
Alabama Tornado Prompts Rare Emergency Alert
In northern Alabama, a large tornado was spotted near Athens Tuesday evening, part of a sprawling system of supercells that triggered dozens of Tornado Warnings. The National Weather Service issued a Tornado Watch that extended well into the night and, at one point, escalated to a rare Tornado Emergency for the Huntsville and Madison areas.
The confirmed tornado in that region weakened before reaching the center of Huntsville, allowing the emergency declaration to expire. However, the storm still left behind visible damage in Athens, where strong winds snapped multiple power poles and downed trees.
Dramatic video from Grant, Alabama, captured vivid lightning flashing through the clouds as the tornado-warned storm passed overhead.
Factory Roof Torn Away Near Tennessee Airport
In Jackson, Tennessee, another tornado struck near the city’s airport, damaging buildings and industrial warehouses. Footage released by the Tennessee Highway Patrol showed debris swirling into the air as a storm system ripped the roof off a nearby factory.
State troopers and staff had been taking shelter at the time. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and law enforcement quickly returned to assist those affected by the storm.
A separate tornado was also observed farther north near Springfield, Illinois, prompting a Tornado Warning for the city and urgent safety measures inside the Illinois State Capitol building, where employees were instructed to shelter in the building’s lowest levels.
While speaking to FOX Weather, an employee inside the Capitol could be heard listening to an emergency alert over the loudspeaker instructing people to avoid windows and seek shelter underground.
Storms Sweep into Georgia, Causing Overnight Chaos
By early Wednesday, the storm system had moved into the Southeast, battering Georgia with damaging winds and heavy rain. Numerous Severe Thunderstorm Warnings and Tornado Warnings were issued across the state.
In Gordon County, authorities reported widespread damage, including trees and power lines downed across multiple roadways. At least one storm-related crash was confirmed, and drivers were warned to be alert for roadway debris.
Farther south in Cherokee County, fallen trees shut down portions of Reinhardt College Parkway, particularly west of Land Road. Emergency crews advised residents to avoid the area while cleanup efforts were underway.
Severe Weather Streak Shows No Signs of Slowing
As cleanup crews race to clear roads and restore power across impacted areas, forecasters caution that the pattern isn’t over yet. The persistent instability, fueled by warm moist Gulf air, continues to support the development of dangerous supercells across large portions of the central and southeastern U.S.
This string of violent weather, stretching over more than a week, has demonstrated how quickly conditions can escalate, even after a deceptively calm start to the month.
