US: Alabama tornadoes kill five, head towards Georgia

Tornadoes arise from early spring ‘super cell’ storms, leaving destroyed homes in their wake.

A series of tornadoes, part of so-called “supercell” storms, tore across Alabama and moved into Georgia early on Friday, leaving at least five people dead amid ruins of wrecked homes, splintered trees and crumpled businesses. Authorities said one tornado travelled roughly 160km (100 miles) across Alabama on Thursday, leaving a long path of damage. Meanwhile, the National Weather Service for Atlanta said a “dangerous, fast-moving” tornado ripped through some of the metro’s southern suburbs just after midnight. With power knocked out to tens of thousands and people now tasked with clearing away the debris and rebuilding, the violent weather that swept parts of Alabama and the region marked the most dreaded part of springtime in the Deep South: tornado season.