Record-Breaking 312 Tornadoes Counted over One Day in South

Many houses and business were reduced to rubble when deadly weather swept through Spalding County in Georgia on Thursday, April 28. (MyFox Atlanta)

Updated: Monday, 02 May 2011, 6:09 PM MST
Published : Monday, 02 May 2011, 6:09 PM MST

(NewsCore) - BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- An astounding and record-breaking 312 tornadoes were recorded in America's South over one day during devastating storms last week, according to preliminary estimates released by federal authorities Monday.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said the tornadoes were counted over a 24-hour period from 8:00am ET on April 27 to 8:00am on April 28, during an outbreak of wild weather that left hundreds of people dead.

The number far exceeds the previous record of 148 twisters in 1974.

There were also a remarkable 362 tornadoes tallied during the entire storm outbreak that cut through seven states from April 25 to April 28, the NOAA said.

April also set a record for most tornadoes in a single month -- more than 600, compared with the previous record of 542 in May 2003.

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