Etowah County, Alabama Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1892, 23 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Etowah County, Alabama — about one every 5.8 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Zeta (2020), which passed 28 miles away on 29 October 2020.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentZeta (2020) — 28 mi away, 29 October 2020
- Strongest stormZeta (2020) — 55 kt (63 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1916) — 2.9 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles10 of 23
- Peak monthJuly and September — 6 storms (26% of all)
- Most active year1892 — 1 storms
- Most active decade1970s and 2000s — 4 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1892–2020
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zeta (2020) | 29 Oct 2020 | 27.7 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Fay (2008) | 26 Aug 2008 | 44.9 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Cindy (2005) | 7 Jul 2005 | 40.4 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Ivan (2004) | 17 Sep 2004 | 11.9 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Bill (2003) | 2 Jul 2003 | 4.1 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Danny (1997) | 23 Jul 1997 | 3.8 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Opal (1995) | 5 Oct 1995 | 7.9 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Andrew (1992) | 28 Aug 1992 | 37.9 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Juan (1985) | 1 Nov 1985 | 36.2 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Babe (1977) | 7 Sep 1977 | 11.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Eloise (1975) | 23 Sep 1975 | 48.2 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Edith (1971) | 18 Sep 1971 | 27.5 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Becky (1970) | 23 Jul 1970 | 15.4 mi | TS / TD | 23 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1969) | 2 Oct 1969 | 47.2 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Irene (1959) | 9 Oct 1959 | 47.4 mi | TS / TD | 21 kt |
| Easy (1950) | 8 Sep 1950 | 44.7 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1948) | 11 Jul 1948 | 26.9 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1939) | 17 Aug 1939 | 43.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 9 Jul 1916 | 2.9 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1906) | 13 Jun 1906 | 11.5 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 14 Jun 1901 | 22.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1898) | 3 Oct 1898 | 9.5 mi | TS / TD | 31 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1892) | 13 Sep 1892 | 44.0 mi | TS / TD | 35 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (2020) | Post-tropical | 25 Sep 2020 | 26.9 mi | 15 kt |
| Irma (2017) | Remnant low | 12 Sep 2017 | 45.3 mi | 22 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1932) | Post-tropical | 17 Oct 1932 | 4.1 mi | 35 kt |
How Etowah County, Alabama compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Etowah County, Alabama ranks #668 — more exposed than 69.7% of them. Within Alabama it ranks #49 of 67, against a state average of 32.6 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Zeta (2020) passed 28 miles away on 29 October 2020 as a tropical storm, reaching 55 kt (63 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Opal (1995) passed 8 miles away on 5 October 1995 as a tropical storm, reaching 46 kt (53 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Eloise (1975) passed 48 miles away on 23 September 1975 as a tropical storm, reaching 46 kt (53 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1892) passed 44 miles away on 13 September 1892 as a tropical storm, reaching 35 kt (40 mph) while within 50 miles.
20 of the 23 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 5.8 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 23 storms spread over the 134 years from 1892 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 23 years, between 1916 and 1939. It has been 5 years since the last one; 10 of the 22 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit Etowah County, Alabama?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of Etowah County, Alabama while at hurricane strength. 23 tropical cyclones have passed within that distance since 1892, all of them as tropical storms or depressions. The strongest was Zeta (2020).
When was the last tropical cyclone in Etowah County, Alabama?
Zeta (2020), on 29 October 2020, passing 28 miles away — 6 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of Etowah County, Alabama at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect Etowah County, Alabama?
Zeta (2020), which reached 55 kt (63 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 28 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach Etowah County, Alabama?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 5.8 years — 23 storms over the 134 years from 1892 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Etowah County, Alabama borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. St. Clair County, Alabama has 24 on record.