Storms near Alabama
The record holds 166 tropical cyclones whose tracks passed within 50 km of Alabama between 1851 and 2026. The busiest month is September, with 61 of them. The strongest, measured where each came closest to the place, reached category 4 strength. 14 of the storms have no wind speed in the record.
- 166storms within 50 km
- 13major (category 3 to 5) near here
- 46at category 1 strength or more
A storm counts once, however many times it came close. The category is the storm's strongest point within 50 km, which can be weaker than its peak elsewhere.
How strong were the storms near Alabama?
| Category near here | Storms | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical depression | 29 | 17% |
| Tropical storm | 77 | 46% |
| Category 1 | 22 | 13% |
| Category 2 | 11 | 7% |
| Category 3 | 11 | 7% |
| Category 4 | 2 | 1% |
| Category 5 | 0 | 0% |
| Unknown intensity | 14 | 8% |
The agency behind most of the intensity figures here is the NOAA National Hurricane Center (HURDAT2, Atlantic).
Alabama storms over time
The 2020s only run to 2026, so that bar is for a shorter period. This place's record starts in 1851, and records before the satellite era (about the 1960s) are far less complete.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| 1850s | 7 |
| 1860s | 9 |
| 1870s | 9 |
| 1880s | 9 |
| 1890s | 14 |
| 1900s | 12 |
| 1910s | 12 |
| 1920s | 7 |
| 1930s | 9 |
| 1940s | 8 |
| 1950s | 10 |
| 1960s | 7 |
| 1970s | 9 |
| 1980s | 6 |
| 1990s | 8 |
| 2000s | 17 |
| 2010s | 6 |
| 2020s | 7 |
Earlier decades hold fewer storms partly because they were harder to see. Before weather satellites (about the 1960s) many storms that stayed at sea went unrecorded, so compare decades with care.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| Jan | 0 |
| Feb | 0 |
| Mar | 0 |
| Apr | 0 |
| May | 2 |
| Jun | 16 |
| Jul | 20 |
| Aug | 36 |
| Sep | 61 |
| Oct | 27 |
| Nov | 4 |
| Dec | 0 |
Strongest storms near Alabama
- Michael (2018)6 October 2018 to 15 October 2018, peak Category 4 (135 kt), 920 hPa
- Frederic (1979)29 August 1979 to 15 September 1979, peak Category 4 (115 kt), 943 hPa
- Unnamed storm of September 1882 (North Atlantic)1 September 1882 to 13 September 1882, peak Category 3 (110 kt), 949 hPa
- Eloise (1975)13 September 1975 to 24 September 1975, peak Category 3 (110 kt), 950 hPa
- Opal (1995)27 September 1995 to 6 October 1995, Category 3 (110 kt) near here, peak Category 4 (130 kt), 919 hPa
- Ivan (2004)2 September 2004 to 24 September 2004, Category 3 (110 kt) near here, peak Category 5 (145 kt), 910 hPa
Most recent storms near Alabama
- Isaias (2026)4 October 2026 to 11 October 2026, Category 2 (95 kt) near here, peak Category 3 (105 kt), 959 hPa, provisional
- Nicole (2022)6 November 2022 to 11 November 2022, Tropical storm (35 kt) near here, peak Category 1 (65 kt), 980 hPa
- Ida (2021)26 August 2021 to 4 September 2021, Tropical depression (25 kt) near here, peak Category 4 (130 kt), 929 hPa
- Fred (2021)9 August 2021 to 20 August 2021, peak Tropical storm (55 kt), 991 hPa
- Claudette (2021)17 June 2021 to 23 June 2021, peak Tropical storm (40 kt), 1,003 hPa
Many of these storms killed people and destroyed homes. The figures are the official record's, and this page says nothing about their human cost.
Alabama ranks number 8 among US states and territories for the number of storms.
Notable storms near Alabama with their own pages
- Michael (2018)6 October 2018 to 15 October 2018, peak Category 4 (135 kt), 920 hPa
- Frederic (1979)29 August 1979 to 15 September 1979, peak Category 4 (115 kt), 943 hPa
- Eloise (1975)13 September 1975 to 24 September 1975, peak Category 3 (110 kt), 950 hPa
- Opal (1995)27 September 1995 to 6 October 1995, peak Category 4 (130 kt), 919 hPa
- Ivan (2004)2 September 2004 to 24 September 2004, peak Category 5 (145 kt), 910 hPa
- Dennis (2005)4 July 2005 to 18 July 2005, peak Category 4 (130 kt), 930 hPa
- Elena (1985)28 August 1985 to 4 September 1985, peak Category 3 (110 kt), 953 hPa
- Isaias (2026)4 October 2026 to 11 October 2026, peak Category 3 (105 kt), 959 hPa, provisional
- Georges (1998)15 September 1998 to 1 October 1998, peak Category 4 (135 kt), 937 hPa
- Florence (1953)23 September 1953 to 27 September 1953, peak Category 3 (100 kt), 968 hPa
- Ethel (1960)12 September 1960 to 17 September 1960, peak Category 3 (100 kt), 974 hPa
- Hilda (1964)28 September 1964 to 7 October 1964, peak Category 4 (120 kt), 941 hPa
Alabama counties
Every county that a storm has come near is listed, most storms first. 67 of them have at least 3 storms and their own page.