Tornadoes in Alabama
The Storm Prediction Center records 2,741 tornadoes that touched Alabama between 1950 and 2025, and 2,681 of them began there. A tornado that crossed a state line counts in every state it touched. They killed 778 people and injured 9,631. The busiest month is April, with 606 tornadoes. Alabama ranks number 9 among states for the number of tornadoes recorded.
- 2,741tornadoes
- 778deaths
- 9,631injuries
- 541per 10,000 sq mi of land
- 67counties touched
Tornadoes per 10,000 square miles lets you compare states of different sizes. It counts every tornado that touched the state.
How strong were Alabama's tornadoes?
| Rating | Tornadoes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| F0 / EF0 | 913 | 33% |
| F1 / EF1 | 1,105 | 40% |
| F2 / EF2 | 510 | 19% |
| F3 / EF3 | 156 | 6% |
| F4 / EF4 | 37 | 1% |
| F5 / EF5 | 9 | <1% |
| Unknown rating | 11 | <1% |
Alabama tornadoes over time
The 2020s only run to 2025, so that bar is for a shorter period. The record starts in 1950.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 135 |
| 1960s | 159 |
| 1970s | 265 |
| 1980s | 258 |
| 1990s | 255 |
| 2000s | 608 |
| 2010s | 604 |
| 2020s | 457 |
The record has changed over the decades as detection and reporting improved, so more weak tornadoes show up in recent years than in the 1950s. The year with the most in Alabama was 2011, with 150.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| Jan | 198 |
| Feb | 195 |
| Mar | 449 |
| Apr | 606 |
| May | 293 |
| Jun | 96 |
| Jul | 76 |
| Aug | 87 |
| Sep | 108 |
| Oct | 128 |
| Nov | 304 |
| Dec | 201 |
Deadliest tornadoes that touched Alabama
- Athens, Alabama tornado27 April 2011, EF5, 72 deaths, 145 injuries, 132 miles long
- Tuscaloosa, Alabama tornado27 April 2011, EF4, 64 deaths, 1,500 injuries, 80.7 miles long
- Learned, Mississippi tornado3 March 1966, F5, 58 deaths, 518 injuries, 202.5 miles long
- Birmingham, Alabama tornado8 April 1998, F5, 32 deaths, 259 injuries, 30.3 miles long
- Decatur, Alabama tornado3 April 1974, F5, 28 deaths, 272 injuries, 79.5 miles long
- Athens, Alabama tornado3 April 1974, F5, 28 deaths, 267 injuries, 52 miles long
Strongest tornadoes that touched Alabama
- Athens, Alabama tornado27 April 2011, EF5, 72 deaths, 145 injuries, 132 miles long
- Learned, Mississippi tornado3 March 1966, F5, 58 deaths, 518 injuries, 202.5 miles long
- Birmingham, Alabama tornado8 April 1998, F5, 32 deaths, 259 injuries, 30.3 miles long
- Decatur, Alabama tornado3 April 1974, F5, 28 deaths, 272 injuries, 79.5 miles long
- Athens, Alabama tornado3 April 1974, F5, 28 deaths, 267 injuries, 52 miles long
- Lakeview, Alabama tornado27 April 2011, EF5, 25 deaths, 33.7 miles long
Most recent tornadoes in Alabama
- Alabama tornado25 November 2025, EF0, 4.2 miles long
- Alabama tornado25 November 2025, EF1, 17.9 miles long
- Alabama tornado26 October 2025, EF1, 1.2 miles long
- Alabama tornado29 May 2025, EF0, 2.5 miles long
- Alabama tornado27 May 2025, EF0, 0.1 miles long
Notable Alabama tornadoes with their own pages
- Athens, Alabama tornado27 April 2011, EF5, 72 deaths, 145 injuries, 132 miles long
- Tuscaloosa, Alabama tornado27 April 2011, EF4, 64 deaths, 1,500 injuries, 80.7 miles long
- Learned, Mississippi tornado3 March 1966, F5, 58 deaths, 518 injuries, 202.5 miles long
- Birmingham, Alabama tornado8 April 1998, F5, 32 deaths, 259 injuries, 30.3 miles long
- Decatur, Alabama tornado3 April 1974, F5, 28 deaths, 272 injuries, 79.5 miles long
- Athens, Alabama tornado3 April 1974, F5, 28 deaths, 267 injuries, 52 miles long
- Lakeview, Alabama tornado27 April 2011, EF5, 25 deaths, 33.7 miles long
- Birmingham, Alabama tornado15 April 1956, F4, 25 deaths, 200 injuries, 21.3 miles long
- Smithville, Mississippi tornado27 April 2011, EF5, 23 deaths, 137 injuries, 37.3 miles long
- Auburn, Alabama tornado3 March 2019, EF4, 23 deaths, 90 injuries, 68 miles long
- Birmingham, Alabama tornado4 April 1977, F5, 22 deaths, 130 injuries, 14.7 miles long
- Pinson, Alabama tornado27 April 2011, EF4, 22 deaths, 85 injuries, 97.3 miles long
Many of these tornadoes killed or injured people. The numbers are the official record's, and they may be revised.
Alabama counties
Every county that a tornado has touched is listed, most tornadoes first. 67 of them have at least 3 tornadoes and their own page.