Franklin County, Alabama Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1872, 21 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Franklin County, Alabama — about one every 7.3 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Ida (2021), which passed 15 miles away on 31 August 2021.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentIda (2021) — 15 mi away, 31 August 2021
- Strongest stormFrederic (1979) — 45 kt (52 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordFrederic (1979) — 10.4 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles8 of 21
- Peak monthSeptember — 8 storms (38% of all)
- Most active year1950 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1890s and 2000s — 3 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1872–2021
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ida (2021) | 31 Aug 2021 | 15.0 mi | TS / TD | 23 kt |
| Alberto (2018) | 29 May 2018 | 27.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Nate (2017) | 8 Oct 2017 | 48.5 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Katrina (2005) | 30 Aug 2005 | 33.5 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Arlene (2005) | 12 Jun 2005 | 13.5 mi | TS / TD | 21 kt |
| Isidore (2002) | 27 Sep 2002 | 30.0 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Andrew (1992) | 27 Aug 1992 | 34.8 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Danny (1985) | 17 Aug 1985 | 17.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Frederic (1979) | 13 Sep 1979 | 10.4 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Ethel (1960) | 17 Sep 1960 | 18.6 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Easy (1950) | 8 Sep 1950 | 13.3 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Baker (1950) | 31 Aug 1950 | 40.1 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 5 Sep 1949 | 44.8 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | 17 Jun 1934 | 44.2 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 19 Oct 1916 | 13.7 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | 15 Sep 1912 | 38.2 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1895) | 17 Aug 1895 | 44.5 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 9 Sep 1893 | 41.7 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1891) | 8 Jul 1891 | 41.2 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1879) | 2 Sep 1879 | 16.6 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1872) | 13 Jul 1872 | 41.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta (2020) | Post-tropical | 11 Oct 2020 | 15.6 mi | 22 kt |
| Irma (2017) | Remnant low | 12 Sep 2017 | 8.3 mi | 17 kt |
| Harvey (2017) | Post-tropical | 1 Sep 2017 | 37.6 mi | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | Post-tropical | 30 Sep 1915 | 17.0 mi | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1905) | Post-tropical | 10 Oct 1905 | 27.4 mi | 25 kt |
How Franklin County, Alabama compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Franklin County, Alabama ranks #741 — more exposed than 66.4% of them. Within Alabama it ranks #58 of 67, against a state average of 32.6 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Frederic (1979) passed 10 miles away on 13 September 1979 as a tropical storm, reaching 45 kt (52 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1916) passed 14 miles away on 19 October 1916 as a tropical storm, reaching 45 kt (52 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Katrina (2005) passed 34 miles away on 30 August 2005 as a tropical storm, reaching 40 kt (46 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Baker (1950) passed 40 miles away on 31 August 1950 as a tropical storm, reaching 38 kt (44 mph) while within 50 miles.
20 of the 21 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 7.3 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 21 storms spread over the 154 years from 1872 to 2025. 2 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while stretches of a decade or more have passed with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 19 years, between 1960 and 1979. It has been 4 years since the last one; 11 of the 18 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit Franklin County, Alabama?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of Franklin County, Alabama while at hurricane strength. 21 tropical cyclones have passed within that distance since 1872, all of them as tropical storms or depressions. The strongest was Frederic (1979).
When was the last tropical cyclone in Franklin County, Alabama?
Ida (2021), on 31 August 2021, passing 15 miles away — 5 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of Franklin County, Alabama at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect Franklin County, Alabama?
Frederic (1979), which reached 45 kt (52 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 10 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach Franklin County, Alabama?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 7.3 years — 21 storms over the 154 years from 1872 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Franklin County, Alabama borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Itawamba County, Mississippi has 28 on record.