Tuscaloosa County, Alabama
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 01125 · population 226,701 · 1,321 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 994 records for Tuscaloosa County, Alabama from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 586 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (391 records). The deadliest single record is the April 27, 2011 tornado: 52 deaths, 800 injuries and $2.0 billion in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 28 declarations naming the county since 1973, 26 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
- 994on 586 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 791,174 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $2.4Bas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 96strongest F5
- FEMA declarations
- 28latest 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 Tuscaloosa County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 391 since 1955. 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 | 391 | 264 | 1955-2026 | 3 | 38 | $6.1M | 38 of 67 |
| Hail | 264 | 157 | 1957-2024 | 0 | 0 | $1.2M | 25 of 67 |
| Tornadoes | 96 | 64 | 1952-2026 | 67 | 1,070 | $2.3B | 35 of 67 |
| Floods | 68 | 60 | 1996-2025 | 4 | 0 | $4.5M | 28 of 67 |
| Drought | 44 | 44 | 2006-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 54 of 67 |
| Lightning | 31 | 29 | 1996-2023 | 0 | 10 | $1.3M | 12 of 67 |
| Heat | 27 | 27 | 1996-2025 | 1 | 50 | $169K | 14 of 67 |
| High wind and dust storms | 20 | 20 | 1999-2025 | 1 | 3 | $2.9M | 24 of 67 |
| Winter storms | 19 | 19 | 1996-2025 | 1 | 0 | $128K | 41 of 67 |
| Extreme cold | 14 | 14 | 1996-2014 | 1 | 0 | $1.9M | 18 of 67 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 9 | 7 | 1996-2007 | 0 | 0 | – | 23 of 67 |
| Heavy rain | 6 | 6 | 1996-2014 | 1 | 1 | – | 16 of 67 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 4 | 4 | 2005-2009 | 0 | 2 | $8.6M | 64 of 67 |
| Landslides and avalanches | 1 | 1 | 2004-2004 | 0 | 0 | $14K | 5 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 Tuscaloosa County had?
NOAA records 96 tornadoes in Tuscaloosa County from 1952 to 2026, the strongest rated F5, with 67 deaths and 1,070 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 93 tornadoes whose track touched Tuscaloosa County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 96: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 185 people, 67 of them in Tuscaloosa County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-04-27 15:43, as SPC files it | Tuscaloosa to Birmingham | EF4 | 80.68 mi | 64 |
| 1966-03-03 18:30, as SPC files it | JacksonCrossed AL, MS | F5 | 202.5 mi | 58 |
| 1998-04-08 18:42, as SPC files it | Oak Grove/Pleasant Grove | F5 | 30.3 mi | 32 |
| 2011-04-27 14:40, as SPC files it | Reform to Cordova | EF4 | 127.8 mi | 13 |
| 2000-12-16 12:54, as SPC files it | Cottondale | F4 | 18 mi | 11 |
| 1974-04-03 17:35, as SPC files it | Jasper to Cullman | F4 | 110.6 mi | 3 |
| 1975-02-23 13:45, as SPC files it | Tuscaloosa | F4 | 14.4 mi | 1 |
| 1952-02-13 20:00, as SPC files it | Berry | F3 | 5.6 mi | 1 |
| 2012-01-23 03:09, as SPC files it | Unnamed | EF2 | 13.13 mi | 1 |
| 1997-01-24 17:00, as SPC files it | Tuscaloosa | F2 | 10 mi | 1 |
| 2021-03-25 11:16, as SPC files it | Unnamed | EF3 | 11.11 mi | 0 |
| 2011-04-27 03:41, as SPC files it | Unnamed | EF3 | 22.46 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Alabama.
Every tornado record filed for Tuscaloosa County (96)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-22 | Brookwood Airport, Tuscaloosa County | EF1 2.65 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-03-15 | Samantha, Tuscaloosa County | EF1 13.4 mi x 500 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-03-15 | Samantha, Tuscaloosa County | EF1 11.54 mi x 600 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-03-15 | Holman, Tuscaloosa County | EF0 2.63 mi x 500 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2023-01-12 | Duncanville, Tuscaloosa County | EF2 6.49 mi x 600 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2022-04-13 | Sterling, Tuscaloosa County | EF0 5.23 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2022-03-30 | Fox, Tuscaloosa County | EF1 3.88 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2022-03-30 | Holman, Tuscaloosa County | EF0 10.64 mi x 450 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2022-03-22 | Hull, Tuscaloosa County | EF0 0.42 mi x 105 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2022-03-22 | Sterling, Tuscaloosa County | EF0 0.97 mi x 175 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2022-02-17 | Sterling, Tuscaloosa County | EF0 1.15 mi x 290 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2022-02-03 | Hagler, Tuscaloosa County | EF0 1.87 mi x 120 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-05-02 | Elrod, Tuscaloosa County | EFU 0.25 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-03-25 | Duncanville, Tuscaloosa County | EF0 1.09 mi x 375 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-03-17 | Kellerman, Tuscaloosa County | EF1 5.46 mi x 650 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-03-17 | Brookwood, Tuscaloosa County | EF1 3.51 mi x 650 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-03-17 | Grimes, Tuscaloosa County | EF1 0.53 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-03-17 | Hull, Tuscaloosa County | EF1 11.53 mi x 550 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2020-04-12 | Fox, Tuscaloosa County | EF1 9.86 mi x 230 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2019-04-14 | Hagler, Tuscaloosa County | EF1 3.51 mi x 475 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2019-03-14 | Kellerman, Tuscaloosa County | EF0 1.24 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2017-01-22 | Hagler, Tuscaloosa County | EF0 0.28 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2015-12-25 | Coaling, Tuscaloosa County | EF0 4.98 mi x 185 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2015-01-03 | Ralph, Tuscaloosa County | EF0 0.88 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2014-04-28 | Yolande, Tuscaloosa County | EF1 2.96 mi x 675 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2014-04-28 | Hull, Tuscaloosa County | EF1 12.47 mi x 1,500 yd | 0 | 13 | – |
| 2012-01-23 | Kellerman, Tuscaloosa County | EF1 1.36 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2012-01-23 | Burchfield, Tuscaloosa County | EF2 0.56 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2012-01-23 | Shirley, Tuscaloosa County | EF2 0.45 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2011-04-27 | Ralph, Tuscaloosa County | EF4 41.79 mi x 1,760 yd | 52 | 800 | $2.0B |
| 2011-04-27 | Coaling, Tuscaloosa County | EF3 18.38 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $12M |
| 2011-04-27 | Holman, Tuscaloosa County | EF3 19 mi x 704 yd | 0 | 0 | $958K |
| 2011-04-27 | New Lexington, Tuscaloosa County | EF2 10.26 mi x 1,320 yd | 0 | 0 | $3.3M |
| 2011-04-27 | Moores Bridge, Tuscaloosa County | EF3 9.15 mi x 1,408 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.6M |
| 2011-04-15 | Ralph, Tuscaloosa County | EF3 17.52 mi x 500 yd | 0 | 0 | $9.3M |
| 2009-05-06 | Shirley, Tuscaloosa County | EF1 0.23 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $138K |
| 2009-05-06 | Samantha, Tuscaloosa County | EF1 0.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $89K |
| 2009-04-02 | Samantha, Tuscaloosa County | EF1 0.59 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $7K |
| 2008-03-04 | Samantha, Tuscaloosa County | EF1 0.79 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $69K |
| 2008-02-06 | New Lexington, Tuscaloosa County | EF1 5.46 mi x 1,000 yd | 0 | 0 | $34K |
| 2008-01-10 | Echola, Tuscaloosa County | EF0 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $7K |
| 2008-01-10 | Sterling, Tuscaloosa County | EF3 5.62 mi x 350 yd | 0 | 0 | $596K |
| 2007-03-01 | Samantha, Tuscaloosa County | EF1 3.73 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $71K |
| 2007-02-13 | Hagler, Tuscaloosa County | EF1 4.75 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | $142K |
| 2006-03-13 | Samantha, Tuscaloosa County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2006-03-13 | Samantha, Tuscaloosa County | F0 2.2 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2005-09-25 | Elrod, Tuscaloosa County | F1 13.8 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $21K |
| 2005-09-25 | Elrod, Tuscaloosa County | F0 0.2 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2005-09-25 | Samantha, Tuscaloosa County | F0 0.8 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $26K |
| 2005-09-25 | Samantha, Tuscaloosa County | F0 5 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | $14K |
| 2005-09-25 | Buhl, Tuscaloosa County | F0 5.8 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $30K |
| 2005-09-25 | Buhl, Tuscaloosa County | F1 6.7 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 2 | $378K |
| 2005-09-25 | Coker, Tuscaloosa County | F0 0.1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2005-09-25 | Buhl, Tuscaloosa County | F1 4.8 mi x 125 yd | 0 | 0 | $302K |
| 2005-09-25 | Buhl, Tuscaloosa County | F0 1.2 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | $91K |
| 2005-09-25 | Echola, Tuscaloosa County | F0 1.6 mi x 80 yd | 0 | 0 | $53K |
| 2005-04-30 | Northport, Tuscaloosa County | F0 6.9 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $144K |
| 2003-11-18 | Tuscaloosa County | F1 6.3 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 2 | $160K |
| 2002-11-10 | Abernant, Tuscaloosa County | F2 2.9 mi x 450 yd | 0 | 3 | $492K |
| 2001-11-24 | Abernant, Tuscaloosa County | F0 0.2 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $2K |
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 Tuscaloosa County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the March 16, 2026 thunderstorm wind (1 injury).
A tree fell onto a car in Brookwood, injuring the occupant.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1318407)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-01 | Thunderstorm WindStokes, Tuscaloosa County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-01 | Thunderstorm WindNorthport, Tuscaloosa County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-22 | TornadoBrookwood Airport, Tuscaloosa County | EF1 2.65 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtTuscaloosa County · forecast zone Tuscaloosa | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-14 | DroughtTuscaloosa County · forecast zone Tuscaloosa | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindHowton, Tuscaloosa County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 1 | – |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindFosters, Tuscaloosa County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-15 | Thunderstorm WindSamantha, Tuscaloosa County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-09 | Thunderstorm WindNew Lexington, Tuscaloosa County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-12-01 | DroughtTuscaloosa County · forecast zone Tuscaloosa | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-11-01 | DroughtTuscaloosa County · forecast zone Tuscaloosa | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-10-01 | DroughtTuscaloosa County · forecast zone Tuscaloosa | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-04-27 | TornadoRalph, Tuscaloosa County This tornado initially touched down in rural northern Greene County and moved northeast through southern Tuscaloosa and western Jefferson Counties, causing devastating damage consistent with a violent EF4 rating to portions of the city of Tuscaloosa and western suburbs of Birmingham, before it lifted northeast of ... | EF4 41.79 mi x 1,760 yd | 52 | 800 | $2.0B |
| 2000-12-16 | TornadoHull, Tuscaloosa County The tornado began in southwestern Tuscaloosa County on the west side of the Black Warrior River. Traveling in a northeasterly direction the tornado moved from a rural, unpopulated area of the Black Warrior River into an area of homes south of Shelton State Community College. The tornado crossed SR 69 destroying a ... | F4 18 mi x 750 yd | 11 | 144 | $21M |
| 2022-03-22 | Flash FloodCoker, Tuscaloosa County Significant flooding across the city of Tuscaloosa and surrounding communities. Water rescues performed at several residences along Hunter Creek and vehicles submerged. Three fatalities in a submerged vehicle, one male and two females. The vehicle they were riding in left the roadway and into drainage ditch near the ... | 3 | 0 | – | |
| 2021-06-19 | Thunderstorm WindCottondale, Tuscaloosa County A large tree fell on a mobile home located off Hargrove Road East and resulted in two fatalities. | 30 kt wind | 2 | 0 | – |
| 2007-08-08 | HeatTuscaloosa County · forecast zone Tuscaloosa 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 ... | 1 | 50 | – | |
| 1975-02-23 | TornadoTuscaloosa County | F4 14.4 mi x 500 yd | 1 | 49 | $25M step |
| 1952-02-13 | TornadoTuscaloosa County | F3 3.3 mi x 100 yd | 1 | 14 | $25K step |
| 1997-01-24 | TornadoTuscaloosa County At approximately 5:00 pm CST, a tornado began on the east side of the Warrior River, south of Interstate 59 and west of County Road 95. Besides trees, the initial damage was to shingles of an apartment complex in the Crabtree area.The tornado moved on a northeasterly track crossing U.S. 82 and Interstate 59. Two large ... | F2 10 mi x 200 yd | 1 | 10 | $9.2M |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-04-27 | TornadoRalph, Tuscaloosa County | EF4 41.79 mi x 1,760 yd | 52 | 800 | $2.0B |
| 2000-12-16 | TornadoHull, Tuscaloosa County | F4 18 mi x 750 yd | 11 | 144 | $21M |
| 2011-04-27 | TornadoCoaling, Tuscaloosa County | EF3 18.38 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $12M |
| 2011-04-15 | TornadoRalph, Tuscaloosa County | EF3 17.52 mi x 500 yd | 0 | 0 | $9.3M |
| 1997-01-24 | TornadoTuscaloosa County | F2 10 mi x 200 yd | 1 | 10 | $9.2M |
| 2005-08-29 | Tropical StormTuscaloosa County · forecast zone Tuscaloosa | 0 | 2 | $8.3M | |
| 2021-06-19 | Flash FloodCoker, Tuscaloosa County | 0 | 0 | $3.6M | |
| 2011-04-27 | TornadoNew Lexington, Tuscaloosa County | EF2 10.26 mi x 1,320 yd | 0 | 0 | $3.3M |
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 $25M, in the dollars of the day) holds: February 23, 1975 (tornado, Tuscaloosa County, 1 killed); April 3, 1974 (tornado, Tuscaloosa 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 Tuscaloosa 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 | 2 | 13 | 18 | 30 | 48 | 123 | 94 | 63 |
| Hail | 1 | 5 | 8 | 11 | 68 | 110 | 48 | 13 |
| Tornadoes | 2 | 2 | 11 | 5 | 11 | 30 | 16 | 19 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 7 | 26 | 21 | 14 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 0 | 21 | 12 | 11 |
| Lightning | – | – | – | – | 8 | 22 | 0 | 1 |
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 Tuscaloosa County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 55 · Feb 81 · Mar 143 · Apr 159 · May 124 · Jun 124 · Jul 85 · Aug 84 · Sep 36 · Oct 26 · Nov 43 · Dec 34 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Tuscaloosa County
FEMA's register lists 28 declarations that include Tuscaloosa County: 18 major disasters, 10 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (11) and hurricane (9).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-09-26 | EM-3618 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| 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 |
| 2017-10-08 | EM-3394 | Hurricane | Hurricane Nate |
| 2017-09-11 | EM-3389 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| 2014-05-02 | DR-4176 | 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 |
| 2005-08-29 | DR-1605 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina |
| 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 |
| 2002-11-14 | DR-1442 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Tornadoes |
| 2001-03-05 | DR-1362 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2000-12-18 | DR-1352 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Tornadoes |
| 2000-03-17 | DR-1322 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1998-04-09 | DR-1214 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Tornadoes |
| 1993-03-15 | EM-3096 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall, Winter Storm |
| 1990-02-17 | DR-856 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes & Flooding |
| 1979-04-18 | DR-578 | Flood | Storms, Wind, Flooding |
| 1977-07-20 | EM-3045 | Drought | Drought |
| 1975-03-14 | DR-458 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 1974-04-04 | DR-422 | Tornado | Tornadoes |
| 1973-03-27 | DR-369 | Tornado | Tornadoes & Flooding |
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 Tuscaloosa County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 68 flood or flash flood records for Tuscaloosa County from 1996 to 2025, on 60 days, with 4 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Tuscaloosa County ranks 748th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Katrina | 2005-08-29 | 1 | 0 |
| Hurricane Dennis | 2005-07-10 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $3.4 million on 298 claims filed in Tuscaloosa County; the most in one year was 43 in 2021. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1979: 39 · 1980: 11 · 1981: 2 · 1982: 13 · 1983: 13 · 1984: 2 · 1985: 4 · 1987: 2 · 1988: 2 · 1990: 6 · 1991: 4 · 1992: 2 · 1996: 2 · 1998: 6 · 1999: 3 · 2000: 11 · 2002: 3 · 2003: 6 · 2004: 10 · 2005: 6 · 2006: 2 · 2007: 1 · 2008: 2 · 2009: 13 · 2010: 25 · 2011: 4 · 2012: 3 · 2013: 1 · 2014: 17 · 2015: 6 · 2016: 4 · 2017: 3 · 2018: 2 · 2019: 5 · 2020: 17 · 2021: 43 · 2023: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2026: 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 Tuscaloosa County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Tuscaloosa County Relatively Moderate overall, with an expected annual loss of $83.1 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado | Relatively High | $18M | 1.4 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | $2.6M | 1.8 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively High | $968K | 70 a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate | $6.1M | 10 modeled event-days a year |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate | $7.2M | once in about 324 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $41M | 2.1 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | $4.2M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | $268K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Tuscaloosa 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 Tuscaloosa CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Tuscaloosa County's FEMA declarations (CSV)28 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis