Macon County, Alabama
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 01087 · population 19,491 · 609 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 296 records for Macon County, Alabama from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 234 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (87 records). The most damaging was the September 16, 2004 high wind ($680,000 in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 26 declarations naming the county since 1975, 24 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Hurricane Helene” on September 26, 2024.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 296on 234 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 013 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $8.4Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 31strongest EF2
- FEMA declarations
- 26latest 2024
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Macon County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 87 since 1956. The rank column places the county among Alabama's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 87 | 74 | 1956-2026 | 0 | 1 | $902K | 57 of 67 |
| Drought | 75 | 72 | 2006-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 1 of 67 |
| Hail | 56 | 39 | 1962-2026 | 0 | 0 | $412K | 49 of 67 |
| Tornadoes | 31 | 22 | 1975-2025 | 0 | 11 | $4.0M | 52 of 67 |
| Floods | 15 | 15 | 1998-2024 | 0 | 0 | $306K | 48 of 67 |
| Heat | 7 | 7 | 1996-2023 | 0 | 1 | – | 35 of 67 |
| Winter storms | 7 | 7 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $66K | 47 of 67 |
| High wind and dust storms | 6 | 6 | 2004-2020 | 0 | 0 | $754K | 33 of 67 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 5 | 5 | 2005-2020 | 0 | 0 | $139K | 30 of 67 |
| Extreme cold | 4 | 4 | 1996-2014 | 0 | 0 | $1.9M | 43 of 67 |
| Heavy rain | 2 | 2 | 2001-2011 | 0 | 0 | $9K | 26 of 67 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2002-2002 | 0 | 0 | – | 53 of 67 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
How many tornadoes has Macon County had?
NOAA records 31 tornadoes in Macon County from 1975 to 2025, the strongest rated EF2, with 0 deaths and 11 injuries recorded in the county. A tornado that crossed a county line is counted in each county it touched, with the length of its path inside the county.
Counted as whole tornadoes rather than county records, the Storm Prediction Center's database holds 31 tornadoes whose track touched Macon County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 31, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 23 people, 0 of them in Macon County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-03-03 14:00, as SPC files it | ColumbusCrossed AL, GA | EF4 | 68.04 mi | 23 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Alabama.
Every tornado record filed for Macon County (31)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-02-16 | Tysonville, Macon County | EF1 7.52 mi x 450 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2024-12-29 | Franklin, Macon County | EF0 0.76 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2024-12-29 | Hornady, Macon County | EF0 2.78 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2024-12-29 | Tysonville, Macon County | EF0 2.56 mi x 175 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2024-12-29 | Shorter, Macon County | EF0 5.55 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2023-03-27 | Tysonville, Macon County | EF2 15.41 mi x 1,450 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2023-01-04 | Society Hill, Macon County | EF0 1.11 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2023-01-04 | Shorter, Macon County | EF0 0.67 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2022-04-05 | Franklin, Macon County | EF1 4.25 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-08-30 | Little Texas, Macon County | EF0 0.48 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-05-04 | Shorter, Macon County | EF0 2.17 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2019-03-03 | Society Hill, Macon County | EF1 2.75 mi x 758 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2019-03-03 | Carver Court, Macon County | EF2 19.16 mi x 1,300 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2017-01-21 | Society Hill, Macon County | EF1 1.86 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2014-04-29 | Society Hill, Macon County | EF0 1.74 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2013-04-11 | Chehaw, Macon County | EF2 4.87 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 1 | – |
| 2011-11-16 | Notasulga, Macon County | EF1 2.01 mi x 700 yd | 0 | 0 | $656K |
| 2009-04-10 | Hardaway, Macon County | EF1 5.55 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $14K |
| 2009-04-10 | Notasulga, Macon County | EF1 19.22 mi x 440 yd | 0 | 0 | $275K |
| 2009-04-10 | Chesson, Macon County | EF0 1.39 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $4K |
| 2007-04-11 | Little Texas, Macon County | EF1 9.72 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | $14K |
| 2005-08-29 | Tuskegee, Macon County | F0 3 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | $45K |
| 2005-07-06 | Shorter, Macon County | F0 3.9 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $27K |
| 2005-07-06 | Tuskegee, Macon County | F1 0.1 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 1 | $73K |
| 2004-09-16 | Tuskegee, Macon County | F0 0.1 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2000-12-16 | Shorter, Macon County | F0 0.7 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $26K |
| 1986-11-26 | Macon County | F1 1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1984-05-03 | Macon County | F2 3.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1984-05-03 | Macon County | F1 7.5 mi x 80 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1983-05-16 | Macon County | F1 6 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1975-01-10 | Macon County | F2 1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 9 | $250K step |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, tornado records by county (path length in the county, maximum width); ratings as published: F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after. Whole-track figures: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950-2025). SPC severe weather database.
When was the last damaging storm in Macon County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the April 11, 2013 tornado (1 injury).
National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed the damage in Macon and Lee Counties and have determined that the damage was due to an EF-2 tornado. Wind speeds in Macon County are estimated at 120 mph. The tornado initially touched down along St. John’s Church Road at Saint John’s Church. Several tree branches were damaged along with several overturned grave markers. The tornado continued north-northeast crossing Hardwich Street where several outbuildings sustained damage, and County Road 39 and State Road 14 where several additonal homes and outbuildings were damaged or destroyed. On County Road 39, one brick home sustained major roofing loss and window glass breakage. One minor injury was caused from flying glass. Also in the same area, one mobile home had significant damage while another was completely destroyed. …
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 449849)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-01 | Thunderstorm WindGreenwood, Macon County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-01 | DroughtMacon County · forecast zone Macon | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-05-06 | HailFt Davis, Macon County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtMacon County · forecast zone Macon | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtMacon County · forecast zone Macon | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-01 | DroughtMacon County · forecast zone Macon | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-01 | DroughtMacon County · forecast zone Macon | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-01 | DroughtMacon County · forecast zone Macon | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-01 | DroughtMacon County · forecast zone Macon | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-11-01 | DroughtMacon County · forecast zone Macon | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-10-28 | DroughtMacon County · forecast zone Macon | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-02-16 | TornadoTysonville, Macon County | EF1 7.52 mi x 450 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975-01-10 | TornadoMacon County | F2 1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 9 | $250K step |
| 2013-04-11 | TornadoChehaw, Macon County National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed the damage in Macon and Lee Counties and have determined that the damage was due to an EF-2 tornado. Wind speeds in Macon County are estimated at 120 mph. The tornado initially touched down along St. John’s Church Road at Saint John’s Church. Several tree branches were ... | EF2 4.87 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 1 | – |
| 2007-08-08 | HeatMacon County · forecast zone Macon A large ridge of high pressure, combined with very dry ground from the recent drought, combined to produce the hottest month on record across Central Alabama in the month of August. The core of the heat wave started around August 4th, when the temepartures first topped the 100 degree mark in several cities. The heat ... | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 2005-07-06 | TornadoTuskegee, Macon County National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed the damage between near the Woodland community and determined the damage was the result of a tornado. The tornado touched down at approximately 234 PM CDT near the intersection of County Road 56 and State Highway 199, about 8 miles northwest of Tuskegee. Several trees ... | F1 0.1 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 1 | $73K |
| 1996-03-06 | Thunderstorm WindShorter, Macon County A man was injured and taken to the hospital when wind destroyed his modular home in Shorter near Interstate 80. | 0 | 1 | $94K |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-09-16 | High WindMacon County · forecast zone Macon | 60 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $680K |
| 2011-11-16 | TornadoNotasulga, Macon County | EF1 2.01 mi x 700 yd | 0 | 0 | $656K |
| 1996-03-06 | Thunderstorm WindTuskegee, Macon County | 0 | 0 | $305K | |
| 2009-04-10 | TornadoNotasulga, Macon County | EF1 19.22 mi x 440 yd | 0 | 0 | $275K |
| 1996-03-06 | Thunderstorm WindShorter, Macon County | 0 | 1 | $94K | |
| 2005-07-06 | TornadoTuskegee, Macon County | F1 0.1 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 1 | $73K |
| 1998-05-03 | HailTuskegee, Macon County | 2.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $72K |
| 2005-08-29 | TornadoTuskegee, Macon County | F0 3 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | $45K |
Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $250K, in the dollars of the day) holds: January 10, 1975 (tornado, Macon County); May 3, 1984 (tornado, Macon County); November 26, 1986 (tornado, Macon County).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Macon County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 1 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 20 | 25 | 16 | 15 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 0 | 19 | 46 | 10 |
| Hail | 0 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 13 | 19 | 8 | 4 |
| Tornadoes | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 9 | 6 | 11 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 2 | 7 | 1 | 5 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
Records by month in Macon County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 24 · Feb 22 · Mar 40 · Apr 40 · May 27 · Jun 28 · Jul 22 · Aug 35 · Sep 17 · Oct 8 · Nov 14 · Dec 19 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Macon County
FEMA's register lists 26 declarations that include Macon County: 15 major disasters, 11 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (10) and severe storm (10).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-09-26 | EM-3618 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| 2023-05-05 | DR-4710 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes |
| 2020-09-14 | EM-3545 | Hurricane | Hurricane Sally |
| 2020-05-21 | DR-4546 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2020-03-29 | DR-4503 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3472 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2017-11-16 | DR-4349 | Hurricane | Hurricane Nate |
| 2017-10-08 | EM-3394 | Hurricane | Hurricane Nate |
| 2017-09-11 | EM-3389 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| 2016-01-21 | DR-4251 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2011-04-28 | DR-1971 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2011-04-27 | EM-3319 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds |
| 2008-08-30 | EM-3292 | Hurricane | Hurricane Gustav |
| 2005-09-10 | EM-3237 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2005-07-10 | DR-1593 | Hurricane | Hurricane Dennis |
| 2004-09-15 | DR-1549 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ivan |
| 2003-05-12 | DR-1466 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding |
| 2000-12-18 | DR-1352 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Tornadoes |
| 1996-03-20 | DR-1108 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding and Tornadoes |
| 1995-10-04 | DR-1070 | Hurricane | Hurricane Opal |
| 1993-03-15 | EM-3096 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall, Winter Storm |
| 1990-03-21 | DR-861 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
| 1977-07-20 | EM-3045 | Drought | Drought |
| 1975-10-02 | DR-488 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
| 1975-03-14 | DR-458 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1975-01-18 | EM-3007 | Tornado | Tornadoes |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
How many floods has Macon County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 15 flood or flash flood records for Macon County from 1998 to 2024, on 15 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Macon County ranks 2590th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $56,000 on 5 claims filed in Macon County; the most in one year was 1 in 2010. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
2010: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2024: 1; the other years: 0.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.
FEMA's modeled risk for Macon County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Macon County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $5.4 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | $379K | 48 modeled event-days a year |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $210K | 67 a year (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | $350K | once in about 10 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $297K | once in about 586 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $374K | 8.7 modeled event-days a year |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $760K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $158K | 1.4 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Very Low | $36K | once in about 785 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Macon County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Tornadoes in AlabamaEvery Alabama tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Severe thunderstorm wind in AlabamaThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, by county, year and month
- The Alabama recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Macon CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Macon County's FEMA declarations (CSV)26 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis