1921 — April 16, Tornadoes (5), eight counties, Alabama                                            —      15

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 5-22-2025 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–19  Anniston Star, AL. “Total of 19 Reported Killed by Tornado in Sweep Over [AL]. 4-17-1921, p.1.

            –4  Cave Springs near Tuscumbia [Tuscumbia is county seat of Colbert County]

–4  Ralph [Tuscaloosa County]

–7  Spring Valley, Leighton vicinity [Colbert County]

–4  Sulligent [Lamar County]

–1  Tyler, Dallas County

–15  Grazulis.  Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 493 and 773-774

–4  Lamar County                              00:00   F2

            –1  Colbert and Lauderdale counties 01:00   F2       

            –5  Franklin and Colbert counties      03:00   F3

            –4  Greene and Tuscaloosa counties  07:30   F3

            –1  Dallas County, AL                       12:30   F2

–15  NWS, Birmingham AL Weather Forecast Office. Alabama Tornado Database. “1921”

            –1  Sardis-Tyler

–4  2M SW Ralph-Northport

–5  N Russellville-4 NW Leighton

–1  3 E Tuscumbia-Killen

–4  8 W Vernon-Sulligent-Crews

–14  Mobile News-Item, AL. “14 Killed In Alabama By Big Storm.” 4-18-1921, p. 1.

Narrative Information

 NWS: Series of 9 tornadoes begin to strike at just at midnight a.m. and continuing until 1:50 p.m. in the counties of Lamar, Colbert, Lauderdale, Franklin, Colbert, Hale, Dallas, Elmore and Chambers, killing fifteen people.  (NWS WFO Birmingham AL.  Alabama Tornado Database)

Newspaper

April 16: “Town of Ralph, near Tuscaloosa, is Razed; Four Are Killed, Five Hurt Fatally.

Ten Reported Dead in North Alabama

Three Killed in Community Near Tuscumbia and Seven Near Leighton, Reports State

“Birmingham, Ala., April 16. – United Press – Thirteen are known to be dead, scores are injured, many more are homeless and property loss runs far into the thousands, as the result of Saturday’s [Apr 16] tornado in Alabama. The heaviest loss of life and property occurred in the village of Ralph, 20 miles southeast of Tuscaloosa, where Mr. David T. Barton and her 18 months old child and two negroes were killed and thirty buildings wrecked.

“Four negroes were killed at Cave Springs near Tuscumbia, and four negroes were killed near Sulligent, in Lamar county. A negro woman was killed at Tyler, Dallas county, when her cabin was blown down upon her.

“The loss in Alabama as the result of orchards being uprooted, and farm garden vegetation being swept away will be heavy.

“Crippled telegraph and telephone communication tonight hid the full story of disaster incidental to the storm which swept a wide swath through portions of Alabama this morning but it is certain that there was a considerable loss of life, many injured and an enormous property damage entailed.

“The little town of Ralph, 20 miles southeast of Tuscaloosa, is the heaviest sufferer of places heard from so far. There are four dead, five fatally hurt, 20 others less seriously injured and about 30 buildings razed by the wind.

“Reports from Albany, Ala., about 75 miles north of Birmingham, indicate a loss of seven lives and many injured at Leighton, a community near Tuscumbia. Property loss there and in surrounding villages is described as heavy.

“In Birmingham there was no life lost bur property damage is heavy. Many houses were unroofed or topped over. Trees were laid prostrate in all sections of the city and vegetation was seriously damaged….

Heavy Toll in North Alabama

“Sheffield, Ala., April 16. – (United Press) – Several dead, many injured and heavy property destruction were the toll taken by a tornado which hit this section early today. Lines of communication have since been practically paralyzed. Meager reports reaching Sheffield, which was just outside the tornado’s path, indicate that the damage to property will reach several thousand dollars.

“Three negroes were killed at Spring Valley, seven miles west of here. Physicians and Red Cross work4rs from here have hurried there to aid the large number reported injured by the twister.

“At Leighton, ten miles east of here many were injured and large property damage was sustained.

“South of here the transmission lines of the Alabama Power Company were twisted and torn to pieces. Railroad service to the south is completely tied up.” (Anniston Star, AL. “Total of 19 Reported Killed by Tornado in Sweep Over Alabama. 4-17-1921, p. 1.)

April 18: “Birmingham, Ala., April 18. – With sunshine and slowly rising temperature, North Alabama was today emerging from freezing weather, following Saturday’s storm which took a toll of 14 lives and caused injury to more than a hundred others. Wire communication remains in crippled condition. Clouds and winds last night saved fruit and tender vegetation according to the district weather forecaster.” (Mobile News-Item, AL. “14 Killed In Alabama By Big Storm.” 4-18-1921, p. 1.)

Sources

Anniston Star, AL. “Total of 19 Reported Killed by Tornado in Sweep Over Alabama. 4-17-1921, p. 1. Accessed 5-22-2025 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/anniston-star-apr-17-1921-p-1/

Grazulis, Thomas P. Significant Tornadoes Update 1992-1995. St. Johnsbury, VE: The Tornado Project of Environmental Films, January 1997, 128 pages.

Mobile News-Item, AL. “14 Killed In Alabama By Big Storm.” 4-18-1921, p. 1. Accessed 5-22-2025 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/the-mobile-news-item-apr-18-1921-p-1/

National Weather Service Forecast Office, Birmingham, AL. Alabama Tornado Database.   NWS/NOAA. Accessed 1-4-2009 at: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/bmx/tornadoes/mainlist2.php

And 5-22-2025 at: https://www.weather.gov/bmx/tornadodb_1921