In the afternoon hours of April 27, 2011, a large and long-tracked EF4 tornado moved across Central Alabama, devastating several communities, including Cordova and Blountsville, along a 127.8-mile (205.7 km) path.

The tornado retained this intensity as it caused sporadic damage across rural Alabama, destroying numerous homes and debarking trees.

On the morning of April 27, a strong cold front with several areas of embedded low pressure extended from the Texas Hill Country northeastward towards the Arklatex and the Ozarks, later moving into the lower Ohio Valley.

Warm moist air was in place due to strong southerly flow ahead of the front over Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee.

An upper level disturbance sparked a broad area of showers and thunderstorms as it moved across the frontal boundary on the previous evening.

The eastern edge of the line of showers and storms continued to move eastward, in concert with the upper disturbance, reaching the northwest Alabama border around 2:00 a.m.

During the early afternoon hours, the potential for destructive tornadoes was highlighted by the Storm Prediction Center's upgrade to a high risk for severe weather around 1:00 p.m. CDT.

The tornado touched down near Fairview, where it would reach EF3 intensity as it destroyed a home to the south of Cedar Lake.

[6][7] The tornado damaged numerous brick buildings in the area and uprooted several trees before lifting a short distance north of the town.

At least two homes north of the town were damaged at EF0 intensity as the tornado crossed County Road 49, along with several swaths of trees.

It crossed Alabama State Route 171 at EF3 intensity, debarking several hardwood trees and inflicting minor damage to a home.

The tornado appeared to strengthen even further and several mobile homes were obliterated with debris being lofted and frames twisted and thrown.

South of Oakman, numerous trees were snapped and uprooted, a cell phone tower was knocked down, and mobile homes were destroyed at EF2 intensity.

[7] The tornado continued to the south-southwest of Garden City, straddling the Mulberry Fork before finally moving solidly into Blount County and toward Blountsville.

On the southeast side of Blountsville, the tornado downed many trees and caused high-end EF2 damage to well-built brick and slab foundation homes, one of which had some exterior walls collapse.

[21] In the weeks and months after the tornado, numerous fires started in downtown Cordova within the rubble, which further damaged structures and temporarily stunted recovery efforts.