A Terrifying, Deadly Storm Struck Alabama In 1974 And No One Saw It Coming

Let's be real here: Alabama has seen its (un)fair share of terrifying storms. From hurricanes and tornadoes to blizzards and ice storms, Alabama has experienced some of the most devastating natural disasters in U.S. history. One natural disaster that's among the most devastating in U.S. history is the utterly terrifying 1974 Super Outbreak, which saw well over 100 tornadoes in Alabama and surrounding states.

The 1974 Super Outbreak, which took place on April 3rd through 4th, was the second-largest tornado outbreak to ever occur within 24 hours.

It was the largest tornado outbreak in U.S. history right up until the devastating 2011 Super Outbreak, which took place April 25th-28th.

This outbreak produced a total of 148 confirmed tornadoes, which struck the following 13 states: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Michigan, Alabama, Georgia, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, Ohio and New York.

The 1974 Super Outbreak began around 1:00 pm (April 3rd) in Morris, Illinois and ended in Caldwell County, North Carolina around 7:00 am (April 4th).

It had been 24 hours of utter hell. At one point, there'd been no less than 15 different tornadoes on the ground at once.

The results of the 1974 Super Outbreak were $3.5 billion USD worth of damage, a death toll of 319 and 5,484 injuries.

Having produced seven F5 tornadoes and 23 F4 tornadoes, the 1974 Super Outbreak was one of the most violent outbreaks in U.S. history.

At the time of this outbreak, the national average was only about seven tornadoes per year.

Do you remember where you were on the day of the 1974 Super Outbreak? Of all the natural disasters in Alabama to occur, which ones scare you the most? Let us know! And, scary weather aside, are you planning to visit Alabama and need a place to hang your hat while you're here? Check out all the goings-on with our friends at VRBO.

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