Alabama has a long and well-documented history of severe storms, with 3,078 confirmed tornadoes, 7,838 hailstorm events and 18,435 damaging-wind events recorded by the National Weather Service since 1950. The state ranks 9th nationally for tornado frequency, and averages 41 tornadoes per year over the 75-year record. Alabama sits inside Dixie Alley, the south-eastern severe-weather corridor known for fast-moving and frequently overnight tornadoes. The interactive map below plots every significant severe-weather event in Alabama from the official NOAA Storm Events Database (1950 through September 2025).
Use the map to find your county, click any marker for the date, magnitude, and casualty details of that event, and switch between tornadoes, hail and wind using the chips. For the national view across all 50 states, see our NOAA Storm Reports interactive map. For tornado tracks specifically, see the US Tornado Tracks map; for hail size and frequency, the US Hailstorms map.
Alabama Severe Weather by the Numbers (1950–2025)
- 3,078 tornadoes recorded between 1950 and 2025
- 851 violent tornadoes rated F2/EF2 or stronger
- 20 confirmed F5/EF5 tornadoes on record — the maximum rating on the Fujita and Enhanced Fujita scales
- 679 direct tornado deaths and 8,411 direct injuries
- 7,838 hailstorm events recorded by the NWS
- 18,435 damaging-wind events on record
- 41 tornadoes per year on average across the 75-year record
- April is the peak severe-weather month, accounting for roughly 23.9% of Alabama tornadoes
- 948 total direct deaths from all severe-weather event types tracked by the NWS
When Alabama Severe Weather Happens
Alabama tornado activity is heavily concentrated in spring. March, April, May and June account for 53% of all Alabama tornadoes, with April alone responsible for roughly 23.9%.
- April: 737 tornadoes (23.9%) — peak month
- March: 498 tornadoes (16.2%)
- November: 356 tornadoes (11.6%)
- May: 303 tornadoes (9.8%)
- January: 227 tornadoes (7.4%)
- December: 224 tornadoes (7.3%)
Top 10 Alabama Counties by Tornado Frequency
Tornado activity in Alabama is geographically broad, but a handful of counties have logged many times the state average. The combination of population density (more spotters and damage reports), county land area and local climatology drives the rankings below.
| County | Tornadoes since 1950 |
|---|---|
| Mobile | 121 |
| Baldwin | 115 |
| Jefferson | 107 |
| Cullman | 97 |
| Madison | 92 |
| Tuscaloosa | 92 |
| Dekalb | 72 |
| Limestone | 72 |
| Marshall | 71 |
| Blount | 60 |
The Deadliest Tornadoes in Alabama History
Alabama has lost 679 lives to tornadoes since the National Weather Service began systematic tornado record-keeping in 1950. The single deadliest event killed 44 people in Tuscaloosa County in 2011, rated EF4 on the Fujita scale.
| Date | Location | Rating | Direct deaths | Direct injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 27, 2011 | Tuscaloosa County (near Ralph) | EF4 | 44 | 800 |
| April 8, 1998 | Jefferson County (near Oak Grove) | F5 | 32 | 258 |
| April 27, 2011 | Franklin County (near Nix) | EF5 | 27 | 0 |
| April 15, 1956 | Jefferson County | F4 | 25 | 200 |
| April 27, 2011 | Dekalb County (near Ten Broeck) | EF5 | 25 | 0 |
| April 3, 1974 | Marion County | F5 | 23 | 250 |
| March 3, 2019 | Lee County (near Bupree) | EF4 | 23 | 90 |
| April 4, 1977 | Jefferson County | F5 | 22 | 130 |
| March 27, 1994 | St. Clair, Calhoun And Cherokee County (near Ragland To 5 Ne Rock) | F4 | 22 | 150 |
| November 15, 1989 | Madison County | F4 | 21 | 463 |
Alabama Tornado Strength Distribution
Most Alabama tornadoes are weak: roughly 72% are rated F0/EF0 or F1/EF1. Violent tornadoes (F2+/EF2+) account for around 27.8% of rated tornadoes in the state. Alabama is one of the few states with a confirmed F5 or EF5 tornado on record.
- F0/EF0 (weak): 1,012 tornadoes — 33.1% of rated events
- F1/EF1: 1,195 tornadoes — 39.1% of rated events
- F2/EF2 (strong): 569 tornadoes — 18.6% of rated events
- F3/EF3: 204 tornadoes — 6.7% of rated events
- F4/EF4 (violent): 58 tornadoes — 1.9% of rated events
- F5/EF5 (incredible): 20 tornadoes — 0.7% of rated events
Record-Setting Severe Weather in Alabama
Largest hailstone: 5.38 inches in diameter, observed in Cullman County near Walter on March 19, 2018. The three largest hailstones on record in Alabama measured 5.38″, 4.50″, 4.50″.
Highest measured wind gust: 96 knots (110 mph) recorded in Bibb County near Fairdale on April 11, 2011. Most damaging-wind events in Alabama are estimated rather than measured because anemometers are sparse across the rural areas where supercells most often produce destructive thunderstorm winds.
How Alabama Compares Nationally
Alabama ranks 9th nationally for tornado frequency since 1950, placing it in the upper third of states by severe-weather activity.
- Tornadoes (top 5): Texas (9,908), Kansas (4,890), Oklahoma (4,856), Florida (3,779), Iowa (3,417).
- Alabama tornado total: 3,078 — ranked 9th nationally.
- Alabama hail total: 7,838 hail events on record since 1950.
- Alabama wind total: 18,435 damaging-wind events on record since 1950.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tornadoes does Alabama have on average per year?
Alabama averages 41 tornadoes per year over the 1950–2025 period. Counts vary widely year to year, but the long-term mean over 75 years of NWS records is a reliable benchmark for typical activity.
What was the deadliest tornado in Alabama history?
The April 27, 2011 tornado, rated EF4 on the Fujita scale, killed 44 people and injured 800 in Tuscaloosa County. It remains the single deadliest tornado in the Alabama modern record.
Where in Alabama are tornadoes most common?
The single county with the most tornadoes on record is Mobile County with 121 events. The three most active counties overall are Mobile, Baldwin, Jefferson.
How does Alabama compare to its neighbors?
Alabama shares a severe-weather climate with Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi. Severe storms regularly cross state lines, so the same supercells, hail cores and wind events often appear in Alabama’s neighbors’ records on the same date.
How recent is the data on this map?
The map and statistics on this page are pulled from NOAA’s official Storm Events Database, which currently runs from January 1950 through September 2025. New records typically appear in the database within 30–90 days of the event date, once damage surveys and ratings are complete.
Compare Alabama to Neighboring States
Severe weather doesn’t stop at state lines. The same supercell systems that produce Alabama tornadoes regularly cross into neighboring states. Compare Alabama’s storm history to its land neighbors:
- Tennessee severe storm history — ranked 21st nationally, Dixie Alley state with frequent overnight tornadoes
- Georgia severe storm history — ranked 15th nationally, Dixie Alley state with frequent overnight tornadoes
- Florida severe storm history — ranked 4th nationally, Gulf-coast severe weather and hurricane corridor
- Mississippi severe storm history — ranked 8th nationally, Dixie Alley state with frequent overnight tornadoes
Explore the national NOAA Storm Reports map · US Tornado Tracks map · US Hailstorms map
