Damage from tornadoes in Alabama on March 3rd, 2019.NWS Birmingham
(On March 3) a series of devastating tornadoes ripped through parts of Alabama, Florida and Georgia. According to Accuweather.com, “This was the deadliest tornado outbreak in the U.S. since May 2013, when a massive and devastating tornado killed 24 people in Moore, Oklahoma.” In one case, the National Weather Service even issued a rare tornado emergency because of expected damage from a “confirmed large and destructive tornado.” At least 23 fatalities have been confirmed, and I fear this number may increase as recovery efforts continue. As a meteorologist and a scientist who pays close attention to weather and the risk messaging, there are four things about this outbreak that I noticed.