Alabama tornadoes
Every recorded tornado since 1950 · 67 counties with a record
Alabama has recorded 2,721 tornadoes from 1950 through 2025, about 64 a year since 2000, with 195 rated F3/EF3 or stronger (NOAA Storm Prediction Center). The deadliest was the April 27, 2011 Hackleburg/Phil Campbell tornado (72 deaths in Alabama). Alabama ranks 9th of 52 states and territories by count and 8th of 51 per square mile.
Tornadoes in Alabama, 1950 to 2025
Tornadoes per year (SPC; a tornado that crossed a state line counts in each state it touched).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $1 million
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- $1 billion or more, or 100 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1996: tornado reports rose with NEXRAD Doppler radar, mid-1990s (SPC)
- Tornadoes
- 2,7211950 to 2025
- A year since 2000
- 64average
- Deaths
- 6828,438 injuries
- F3/EF3 or stronger
- 1957% of tornadoes
- Busiest year
- 2011148 tornadoes
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, 1950-2025 (state segments). SPC severe weather database.
Are tornadoes common in Alabama?
Alabama averages about 64 tornadoes a year since 2000, 9th of 52 states and territories by count. The busiest year on record was 2011 (148). Per 10,000 square miles of land, Alabama records 537 tornadoes since 1950, 8th of 51 states and territories by that measure.
Source: NOAA SPC, tornadoes 1950-2025, per 10,000 square miles of land area (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer; places under 1,000 square miles not ranked). Damage colours: Storm Events damage, 2025 dollars.
Which counties in Alabama have the most tornadoes?
Per square mile, Marshall County leads Alabama: 54 days with a tornado record since 1950, 95.4 per 1,000 square miles of land. By raw count, Mobile County has the most tornado records (129 since 1950); large counties collect more records simply by covering more ground, so the ranking counts days with a record per unit of area (a storm filed for several forecast zones adds several records but one day).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, days with a record in the county since 1950 per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer); in brackets, the count of records.
When is tornado season in Alabama?
Alabama's tornadoes by month. The busiest month is April (603 tornadoes).
The values, month by month
Jan 197 · Feb 195 · Mar 448 · Apr 603 · May 291 · Jun 95 · Jul 76 · Aug 86 · Sep 108 · Oct 126 · Nov 295 · Dec 201 (records).
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, state segments by the month they began, 1950-2025.
What were the deadliest tornadoes in Alabama?
| Date | Counties | Rating | Path in state | Killed | Injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-04-27 | Hackleburg/Phil Campbell · Marion, Franklin, Lawrence, MorganWhole track: AL, TN; 72 deaths | EF5 | 118.63 mi | 72 | 145 |
| 2011-04-27 | Tuscaloosa to Birmingham · Greene, Tuscaloosa, Jefferson | EF4 | 80.68 mi | 64 | 1,500 |
| 1998-04-08 | Oak Grove/Pleasant Grove · Tuscaloosa, Jefferson | F5 | 30.3 mi | 32 | 259 |
| 1974-04-03 | Guin · Lamar, Marion, Winston, Lawrence | F5 | 79.5 mi | 28 | 272 |
| 1974-04-03 | Mt. Hope · Lawrence, Morgan, Limestone, Madison | F5 | 52 mi | 28 | 267 |
| 1956-04-15 | Birmingham · Jefferson | F4 | 21.3 mi | 25 | 200 |
| 2011-04-27 | Rainsville/Sylvania · DeKalb | EF5 | 33.66 mi | 25 | 0 |
| 2019-03-03 | Columbus · Macon, LeeWhole track: AL, GA; 23 deaths | EF4 | 26.3 mi | 23 | 90 |
| 1994-03-27 | Ragland to Piedmont · St. Clair, Calhoun, Cherokee | F4 | 50 mi | 22 | 150 |
| 1977-04-04 | Birmingham · Jefferson | F5 | 14.7 mi | 22 | 130 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (state segments: deaths and path inside Alabama), 1950-2025; counties are the first four the SPC lists for the segment. SPC severe weather database.
Where have the strongest tornadoes tracked in Alabama?
- F2/EF2
- F3/EF3
- F4/EF4
- F5/EF5
- no end point filed
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, 1950-2025, start and end points of each track; county lines: Census Bureau cartographic boundaries (2017), via us-atlas. SPC severe weather database. Census cartographic boundary files.
The strongest tornadoes in Alabama
| Date | Counties | Rating | Path in state | Width | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-04-27 | Hackleburg/Phil Campbell · Marion, Franklin, Lawrence, Morgan | EF5 | 118.63 mi | 2,200 yd | 72 |
| 1998-04-08 | Oak Grove/Pleasant Grove · Tuscaloosa, Jefferson | F5 | 30.3 mi | 1,320 yd | 32 |
| 1974-04-03 | Guin · Lamar, Marion, Winston, Lawrence | F5 | 79.5 mi | 500 yd | 28 |
| 1974-04-03 | Mt. Hope · Lawrence, Morgan, Limestone, Madison | F5 | 52 mi | 500 yd | 28 |
| 2011-04-27 | Rainsville/Sylvania · DeKalb | EF5 | 33.66 mi | 1,320 yd | 25 |
| 1977-04-04 | Birmingham · Jefferson | F5 | 14.7 mi | 550 yd | 22 |
| 1974-04-03 | Tanner · Limestone, Madison | F5 | 40.6 mi | 500 yd | 16 |
| 1966-03-03 | Jackson · Pickens, Tuscaloosa | F5 | 66.5 mi | 900 yd | 1 |
| 2011-04-27 | Tuscaloosa to Birmingham · Greene, Tuscaloosa, Jefferson | EF4 | 80.68 mi | 2,600 yd | 64 |
| 1956-04-15 | Birmingham · Jefferson | F4 | 21.3 mi | 200 yd | 25 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database; F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after.
The longest tornado paths in Alabama
| Date | Tornado and counties | Rating | Path in state | Width | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973-05-27 | Demopolis to Childersburg · Hale, Perry, Bibb, Shelby | F4 | 139.1 mi | 800 yd | 7 |
| 2011-04-27 | Reform to Cordova · Pickens, Tuscaloosa, Fayette | EF4 | 127.8 mi | 1,408 yd | 13 |
| 1956-12-23 | Montgomery · Monroe, Conecuh, Butler, Lowndes | F2 | 121.7 mi | 100 yd | 0 |
| 2011-04-27 | Hackleburg/Phil Campbell · Marion, Franklin, Lawrence, Morgan | EF5 | 118.63 mi | 2,200 yd | 72 |
| 1974-04-03 | Jasper to Cullman · Pickens, Tuscaloosa, Fayette, Walker | F4 | 110.6 mi | 500 yd | 3 |
| 2023-01-12 | Jacksons' Gap · Autauga, Elmore, Coosa, Tallapoosa | EF3 | 82.31 mi | 1,500 yd | 7 |
| 2011-04-27 | Tuscaloosa to Birmingham · Greene, Tuscaloosa, Jefferson | EF4 | 80.68 mi | 2,600 yd | 64 |
| 2021-03-25 | Centreville to Calera · Hale, Perry, Bibb, Chilton | EF3 | 79.66 mi | 2,300 yd | 0 |
| 1974-04-03 | Guin · Lamar, Marion, Winston, Lawrence | F5 | 79.5 mi | 500 yd | 28 |
| 2002-11-10 | Carbon Hill to Hanceville · Fayette, Walker, Winston, Cullman | F3 | 72.6 mi | 1,175 yd | 7 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, state segments: path length and width inside the state. SPC severe weather database.
Tornadoes in every Alabama county
All 67 counties: tornadoes whose track touched each, and the strongest
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database: whole tornadoes whose track touched the county (any state segment listing it). SPC severe weather database.
Is Alabama in Tornado Alley?
Tornado Alley has no official boundary; the Storm Prediction Center calls it a media nickname for the central U.S. area of relatively high tornado occurrence. By the record, Alabama ranks 4th of 50 states for tornadoes rated 1 or higher per square mile since 1950 (355 per 10,000 square miles), and it lies in the Southeast area often called Dixie Alley.
Tornado Alley, measured: the states by density and maps of where tornadoes began in two eras.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database and Online Tornado FAQ. SPC's tornado FAQ.
The costliest tornadoes in Alabama
| 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 |
| 2011-04-27 | TornadoLawngate, Limestone County The violent tornado continued it's path from the Tennessee River along the Lawrence/Limestone county line northeast through Tanner and into the east Central portion of Limestone County. Homes were completely obliterated along a wide swath in the Tanner community. Nearly a dozen high tension power lines were snapped or ... | EF4 18.86 mi x 1,320 yd | 4 | 75 | $1.3B |
| 2011-04-27 | TornadoWeller, Jefferson County This tornado initially touched down in rural northern Greene County and moved northeast through southern Tuscaloosa and western Jefferson Counties. The tornado caused devastating damage consistent with a violent EF4 rating to portions of the city of Tuscaloosa and western suburbs of Birmingham and then lifted ... | EF4 32.53 mi x 2,600 yd | 20 | 700 | $918M |
| 1998-04-08 | TornadoOak Grove, Jefferson County A tornado, the second spawned from the same supercell, began in rural sections of eastern Tuscaloosa County 1.5 miles east of the Warrior River. The tornado moved through primarily rural and unpopulated areas of eastern Tuscaloosa County before crossing into extreme southwestern Jefferson County. The tornado remained ... | F5 24.3 mi x 1,320 yd | 32 | 258 | $366M |
| 2007-03-01 | TornadoEnterprise Municipal Airport, Coffee County A tornado touched down just southwest of the Enterprise Municipal Airport. It caused minor damage to some houses. Four chicken houses were destroyed. The tornado then traveled northeast and quickly intensified as it moved into the Enterprise city limits. It severely damaged the high school just north of the downtown. ... | EF4 10.33 mi x 500 yd | 9 | 50 | $356M |
| 2011-04-27 | TornadoSanie, St. Clair County This tornado initially touched down in eastern Jefferson County, north northeast of Trussville and moved northeast through portions of St. Clair, Calhoun, Etowah and Cherokee Counties. The tornado then moved into Georgia, across Polk, Floyd and Bartow (See Storm Data Peachtree City) Counties. The tornado crossed into ... | EF4 28.85 mi x 1,760 yd | 13 | 30 | $262M |
| 2011-04-27 | TornadoBarnesville, Marion County A tornado initially touched down west of Hamilton in southwest Marion County and moved northeast where it caused devastating damage to the city of Hackleburg. The tornado continued into Franklin County and tracked through Lawrence, Morgan, Limestone, and Madison Counties in Alabama. The tornado continued into Lincoln ... | EF5 25.14 mi x 1,320 yd | 18 | 100 | $210M |
| 2011-04-27 | TornadoMiddleton, Calhoun County This tornado initially touched down in eastern Jefferson County, north northeast of Trussville and moved northeast through portions of St. Clair, Calhoun, Etowah and Cherokee Counties, before it moved into Georgia, across Polk, Floyd and Bartow (See Storm Data Peachtree City) Counties. The tornado crossed Neely Henry ... | EF4 17.62 mi x 1,760 yd | 8 | 25 | $160M |
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 $250M, in the dollars of the day) holds: November 15, 1989 (tornado, Madison County, 21 killed); November 15, 1989 (tornado, Madison County).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: property and crop damage as estimated by the National Weather Service, in 2025 dollars.
Are tornadoes becoming more frequent in Alabama?
Alabama's count per decade against the whole country's, and its share. The Storm Prediction Center notes that tornado reports rose especially around the installation of the NEXRAD Doppler radar network in the mid-1990s, so a rising count is partly better detection; the share of the national total is the fairer comparison across decades.
| Decade | Alabama | United States | Alabama's share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 134 | 4,837 | 2.8% |
| 1960s | 155 | 6,863 | 2.3% |
| 1970s | 265 | 8,633 | 3.1% |
| 1980s | 252 | 8,250 | 3.1% |
| 1990s | 253 | 12,205 | 2.1% |
| 2000s | 604 | 12,892 | 4.7% |
| 2010s | 602 | 12,232 | 4.9% |
| 2020-25 | 456 | 8,234 | 5.5% |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, state segments.
The most recent tornadoes in Alabama
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-17 | TornadoEnterprise Municipal Airport, Coffee County | EF0 0.53 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-06-17 | TornadoEwell, Dale County | EFU 5.33 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-25 | TornadoHeadland Municipal Airport, Henry County | EF1 3.39 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $500K |
| 2026-05-25 | TornadoCowarts, Houston County | EF1 7.7 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $50K |
| 2026-05-22 | TornadoHolly Pond, Cullman County | EF1 8.7 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-22 | TornadoBrookwood Airport, Tuscaloosa County | EF1 2.65 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-22 | TornadoExmoor, Marengo County | EF0 0.23 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-22 | TornadoPrairieville, Hale County | EF0 0.42 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-22 | TornadoAlfalfa, Marengo County | EF1 1.85 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-12 | TornadoKinsey, Houston County | EF1 7.1 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $75K |
| 2026-03-12 | TornadoNewville, Henry County | EF1 1.97 mi x 387 yd | 0 | 0 | $100K |
| 2026-03-12 | TornadoMurphy Station, Henry County | EF1 1.39 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $50K |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026; the newest months are revised by NCEI as reports arrive. Search the record at NCEI.
Federal disaster declarations for tornadoes in Alabama
FEMA has declared 38 disasters in Alabama for tornadoes, counting its incident type and declarations that name tornado in the title (FEMA files most storm disasters under Severe Storm); 34 were major disasters, the latest on May 5, 2023.
| Declared | Number | Title | Areas named |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-05-05 | DR-4710 | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes | 10 |
| 2023-01-15 | DR-4684 | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes | 13 |
| 2021-04-26 | DR-4596 | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes | 8 |
| 2020-07-10 | DR-4554 | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes | 10 |
| 2019-04-17 | DR-4426 | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding | 12 |
| 2019-03-05 | DR-4419 | Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes | 1 |
| 2018-04-26 | DR-4362 | Severe Storms and Tornadoes | 4 |
| 2016-01-21 | DR-4251 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding | 39 |
| 2014-05-02 | DR-4176 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding | 21 |
| 2012-02-01 | DR-4052 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding | 3 |
| 2011-04-28 | DR-1971 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding | 67 |
| 2011-04-27 | EM-3319 | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds | 67 |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), through October 2, 2026. OpenFEMA dataset page.
Next
- Marshall County: the county's whole recordThe Alabama county with the most tornadoes per square mile
- Tornadoes across the United StatesEvery state ranked, by year and month
- Every natural hazard in AlabamaTornadoes, floods, storms, heat and the federal declarations
- Severe thunderstorm wind in Alabama20,476 records
- Hail in Alabama8,096 records
- Floods in Alabama3,380 records