Dale County, Alabama Hurricane History
Since 1856, 42 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Dale County, Alabama — about one every 4.0 years. Of those, 7 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Fred (2021), which passed 14 miles away on 17 August 2021.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentFred (2021) — 14 mi away, 17 August 2021
- Strongest stormEloise (1975) — 91 kt (105 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordHelene (2000) — 1.1 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles24 of 42
- Peak monthSeptember — 15 storms (36% of all)
- Most active year1887 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1910s — 6 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1856–2021
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 15 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fred (2021) | 17 Aug 2021 | 13.7 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Alberto (2018) | 29 May 2018 | 41.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Tammy (2005) | 6 Oct 2005 | 9.0 mi | TS / TD | 17 kt |
| Frances (2004) | 7 Sep 2004 | 35.5 mi | TS / TD | 29 kt |
| Hanna (2002) | 15 Sep 2002 | 45.5 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Allison (2001) | 12 Jun 2001 | 35.8 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Helene (2000) | 22 Sep 2000 | 1.1 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Beryl (1994) | 16 Aug 1994 | 37.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Alberto (1994) | 4 Jul 1994 | 22.2 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Eloise (1975) | 23 Sep 1975 | 25.8 mi | Cat 1 | 82 kt |
| Agnes (1972) | 20 Jun 1972 | 49.5 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Becky (1970) | 22 Jul 1970 | 18.9 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1969) | 22 Sep 1969 | 32.5 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1965) | 15 Jun 1965 | 15.5 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Debbie (1957) | 8 Sep 1957 | 20.2 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Flossy (1956) | 25 Sep 1956 | 44.9 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Florence (1953) | 27 Sep 1953 | 29.0 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Alice (1953) | 7 Jun 1953 | 23.7 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| King (1950) | 19 Oct 1950 | 49.1 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 16 Oct 1947 | 35.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1937) | 31 Aug 1937 | 40.8 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | 15 Aug 1928 | 10.4 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1923) | 26 Jun 1923 | 21.2 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1919) | 1 Oct 1919 | 5.4 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1917) | 29 Sep 1917 | 12.3 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 4 Sep 1915 | 18.6 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1914) | 18 Sep 1914 | 26.0 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | 16 Jul 1912 | 8.6 mi | TS / TD | 29 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1911) | 4 Aug 1911 | 27.5 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1906) | 13 Jun 1906 | 3.4 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1904) | 3 Nov 1904 | 33.7 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1903) | 14 Sep 1903 | 21.2 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 17 Sep 1901 | 9.1 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 14 Jun 1901 | 48.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1899) | 2 Aug 1899 | 16.6 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1896) | 7 Jul 1896 | 7.5 mi | Cat 1 | 64 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1889) | 23 Sep 1889 | 14.7 mi | TS / TD | 49 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1887) | 20 Oct 1887 | 15.8 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1887) | 27 Jul 1887 | 18.7 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 10 Sep 1882 | 4.8 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1860) | 13 Aug 1860 | 2.2 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1856) | 31 Aug 1856 | 49.7 mi | Cat 1 | 73 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Five (2010) | Remnant low | 15 Aug 2010 | 28.3 mi | 20 kt |
| Ida (2009) | Post-tropical | 11 Nov 2009 | 44.0 mi | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | Post-tropical | 6 Oct 1934 | 23.5 mi | 30 kt |
Storms that came back
1 named storm in this record passed Dale County, Alabama more than once.
- Alberto — 2 passes (1994, 2018)
How Dale County, Alabama compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Dale County, Alabama ranks #286 — more exposed than 87.0% of them. Within Alabama it ranks #11 of 67, against a state average of 32.6 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 2 Eloise (1975) passed 26 miles away on 23 September 1975 as a hurricane, reaching 91 kt (105 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1882) passed 5 miles away on 10 September 1882 as a hurricane, reaching 80 kt (92 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1896) passed 8 miles away on 7 July 1896 as a hurricane, reaching 76 kt (87 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1917) passed 12 miles away on 29 September 1917 as a hurricane, reaching 75 kt (86 mph) while within 50 miles.
38 of the 42 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 4.0 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 42 storms spread over the 170 years from 1856 to 2025. 4 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while decades have gone by with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 22 years, between 1860 and 1882. It has been 4 years since the last one; 11 of the 37 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Dale County, Alabama?
7 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Dale County, Alabama at hurricane strength since 1856. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 42.
When was the last hurricane in Dale County, Alabama?
Eloise (1975), on 23 September 1975, passing 26 miles away — 51 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Fred (2021) in 2021.
What was the strongest storm to affect Dale County, Alabama?
Eloise (1975), which reached 91 kt (105 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 26 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Dale County, Alabama?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 4.0 years — 42 storms over the 170 years from 1856 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Dale County, Alabama borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Houston County, Alabama has 56 on record.