Cherokee County, Alabama Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1898, 19 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Cherokee County, Alabama — about one every 6.7 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Zeta (2020), which passed 6 miles away on 29 October 2020.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentZeta (2020) — 6 mi away, 29 October 2020
- Strongest stormZeta (2020) — 55 kt (63 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordDanny (1997) — 3.4 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles10 of 19
- Peak monthJuly — 6 storms (32% of all)
- Most active year1898 — 1 storms
- Most active decade1970s — 4 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1898–2020
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zeta (2020) | 29 Oct 2020 | 6.1 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Cindy (2005) | 7 Jul 2005 | 29.2 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Ivan (2004) | 17 Sep 2004 | 28.4 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Bill (2003) | 2 Jul 2003 | 13.6 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Danny (1997) | 23 Jul 1997 | 3.4 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Opal (1995) | 5 Oct 1995 | 23.2 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Andrew (1992) | 28 Aug 1992 | 46.6 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Babe (1977) | 7 Sep 1977 | 18.0 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Eloise (1975) | 23 Sep 1975 | 29.1 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Edith (1971) | 18 Sep 1971 | 22.2 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Becky (1970) | 23 Jul 1970 | 6.4 mi | TS / TD | 23 kt |
| Irene (1959) | 9 Oct 1959 | 32.6 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1948) | 10 Jul 1948 | 48.3 mi | TS / TD | 21 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | 15 Aug 1928 | 39.3 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 9 Jul 1916 | 17.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 5 Sep 1915 | 43.2 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1906) | 13 Jun 1906 | 31.6 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 14 Jun 1901 | 6.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1898) | 3 Oct 1898 | 8.7 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 4 systems passed within 50 miles after losing tropical characteristics. These are excluded from the counts above because they were no longer tropical cyclones at their closest approach — but several were highly damaging, so they are listed here.
| Storm | Status | Closest approach | Distance | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (2020) | Post-tropical | 25 Sep 2020 | 48.4 mi | 15 kt |
| Lee (2011) | Post-tropical | 6 Sep 2011 | 29.5 mi | 17 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1932) | Post-tropical | 17 Oct 1932 | 16.7 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1907) | Post-tropical | 22 Sep 1907 | 46.2 mi | 35 kt |
How Cherokee County, Alabama compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Cherokee County, Alabama ranks #809 — more exposed than 63.4% of them. Within Alabama it ranks #64 of 67, against a state average of 32.6 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Zeta (2020) passed 6 miles away on 29 October 2020 as a tropical storm, reaching 55 kt (63 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Eloise (1975) passed 29 miles away on 23 September 1975 as a tropical storm, reaching 50 kt (58 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Opal (1995) passed 23 miles away on 5 October 1995 as a tropical storm, reaching 46 kt (53 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1898) passed 9 miles away on 3 October 1898 as a tropical storm, reaching 35 kt (40 mph) while within 50 miles.
16 of the 19 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 6.7 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 19 storms spread over the 128 years from 1898 to 2025. 0 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while decades have gone by with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 20 years, between 1928 and 1948. It has been 5 years since the last one; 8 of the 18 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit Cherokee County, Alabama?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of Cherokee County, Alabama while at hurricane strength. 19 tropical cyclones have passed within that distance since 1898, all of them as tropical storms or depressions. The strongest was Zeta (2020).
When was the last tropical cyclone in Cherokee County, Alabama?
Zeta (2020), on 29 October 2020, passing 6 miles away — 6 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of Cherokee County, Alabama at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect Cherokee County, Alabama?
Zeta (2020), which reached 55 kt (63 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 6 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach Cherokee County, Alabama?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 6.7 years — 19 storms over the 128 years from 1898 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Cherokee County, Alabama borders or sits close to 7 other counties with a published storm record. Cleburne County, Alabama has 25 on record.