Dallas County, Alabama Hurricane History
Since 1852, 35 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Dallas County, Alabama — about one every 5.0 years. Of those, 3 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Claudette (2021), which passed 25 miles away on 20 June 2021.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentClaudette (2021) — 25 mi away, 20 June 2021
- Strongest stormOpal (1995) — 65 kt (75 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordDanny (1997) — 3.8 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles13 of 35
- Peak monthOctober — 9 storms (26% of all)
- Most active year1939 — 2 storms
- Most active decade2000s — 5 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1852–2021
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 1 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claudette (2021) | 20 Jun 2021 | 25.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Zeta (2020) | 29 Oct 2020 | 39.3 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Alberto (2018) | 29 May 2018 | 20.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Nate (2017) | 8 Oct 2017 | 44.7 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Claudette (2009) | 17 Aug 2009 | 47.1 mi | TS / TD | 23 kt |
| Cindy (2005) | 7 Jul 2005 | 6.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Arlene (2005) | 12 Jun 2005 | 32.6 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Ivan (2004) | 16 Sep 2004 | 19.6 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Barry (2001) | 6 Aug 2001 | 12.3 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Danny (1997) | 21 Jul 1997 | 3.8 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Opal (1995) | 5 Oct 1995 | 39.4 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Alberto (1994) | 7 Jul 1994 | 37.1 mi | TS / TD | 10 kt |
| Juan (1985) | 1 Nov 1985 | 12.7 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1969) | 1 Oct 1969 | 15.2 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Irene (1959) | 8 Oct 1959 | 27.4 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Arlene (1959) | 2 Jun 1959 | 32.6 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1948) | 10 Jul 1948 | 35.8 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 16 Oct 1947 | 48.9 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1944) | 11 Sep 1944 | 29.5 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1939) | 27 Sep 1939 | 9.3 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1939) | 14 Aug 1939 | 49.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1937) | 1 Sep 1937 | 49.2 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1926) | 30 Jul 1926 | 30.7 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1919) | 5 Jul 1919 | 45.1 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 18 Oct 1916 | 13.0 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | 14 Jun 1912 | 24.0 mi | TS / TD | 39 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1907) | 22 Sep 1907 | 3.8 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1900) | 14 Sep 1900 | 5.4 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1899) | 2 Aug 1899 | 36.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 3 Oct 1893 | 33.4 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1892) | 13 Sep 1892 | 42.5 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1881) | 29 Aug 1881 | 35.4 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1879) | 16 Oct 1879 | 28.4 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1859) | 16 Sep 1859 | 29.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1852) | 27 Aug 1852 | 24.9 mi | TS / TD | 45 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lee (2011) | Post-tropical | 5 Sep 2011 | 7.0 mi | 33 kt |
| Five (2010) | Remnant low | 14 Aug 2010 | 12.5 mi | 18 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1932) | Post-tropical | 16 Oct 1932 | 20.2 mi | 40 kt |
Storms that came back
3 named storms in this record passed Dallas County, Alabama more than once.
- Alberto — 2 passes (1994, 2018)
- Arlene — 2 passes (1959, 2005)
- Claudette — 2 passes (2009, 2021)
How Dallas County, Alabama compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Dallas County, Alabama ranks #409 — more exposed than 81.5% of them. Within Alabama it ranks #26 of 67, against a state average of 32.6 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Opal (1995) passed 39 miles away on 5 October 1995 as a hurricane, reaching 65 kt (75 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Zeta (2020) passed 39 miles away on 29 October 2020 as a tropical storm, reaching 64 kt (74 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Ivan (2004) passed 20 miles away on 16 September 2004 as a hurricane, reaching 63 kt (72 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1916) passed 13 miles away on 18 October 1916 as a hurricane, reaching 61 kt (70 mph) while within 50 miles.
35 of the 35 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 5.0 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 35 storms spread over the 174 years from 1852 to 2025. 3 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 1859 and 1879. It has been 4 years since the last one; 14 of the 31 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Dallas County, Alabama?
3 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Dallas County, Alabama at hurricane strength since 1852. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 35.
When was the last hurricane in Dallas County, Alabama?
Ivan (2004), on 16 September 2004, passing 20 miles away — 22 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Claudette (2021) in 2021.
What was the strongest storm to affect Dallas County, Alabama?
Opal (1995), which reached 65 kt (75 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 39 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Dallas County, Alabama?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 5.0 years — 35 storms over the 174 years from 1852 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Dallas County, Alabama borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Wilcox County, Alabama has 42 on record.