Lamar County, Alabama Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1872, 23 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Lamar County, Alabama — about one every 6.7 years. Of those, 1 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Ida (2021), which passed 45 miles away on 31 August 2021.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentIda (2021) — 45 mi away, 31 August 2021
- Strongest stormFrederic (1979) — 55 kt (63 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordAndrew (1992) — 4.1 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles10 of 23
- Peak monthAugust — 8 storms (35% of all)
- Most active year2005 — 3 storms
- Most active decade2000s — 7 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 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ida (2021) | 31 Aug 2021 | 44.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Nate (2017) | 8 Oct 2017 | 45.3 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Fay (2008) | 26 Aug 2008 | 31.3 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Katrina (2005) | 30 Aug 2005 | 34.5 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Dennis (2005) | 11 Jul 2005 | 38.7 mi | TS / TD | 26 kt |
| Arlene (2005) | 12 Jun 2005 | 14.3 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Bill (2003) | 1 Jul 2003 | 49.1 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Isidore (2002) | 27 Sep 2002 | 9.5 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Barry (2001) | 7 Aug 2001 | 39.0 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| Andrew (1992) | 27 Aug 1992 | 4.1 mi | TS / TD | 24 kt |
| Frederic (1979) | 13 Sep 1979 | 6.2 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Babe (1977) | 7 Sep 1977 | 34.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Ethel (1960) | 17 Sep 1960 | 19.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Baker (1950) | 31 Aug 1950 | 15.5 mi | TS / TD | 39 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1919) | 5 Jul 1919 | 47.0 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 19 Oct 1916 | 29.0 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 8 Jul 1916 | 12.4 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | 15 Sep 1912 | 25.1 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1895) | 17 Aug 1895 | 10.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 9 Sep 1893 | 36.7 mi | TS / TD | 31 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1881) | 29 Aug 1881 | 17.8 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1879) | 2 Sep 1879 | 10.6 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1872) | 13 Jul 1872 | 35.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 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 | 24 Sep 2020 | 24.1 mi | 20 kt |
| Irma (2017) | Remnant low | 12 Sep 2017 | 48.9 mi | 18 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | Post-tropical | 30 Sep 1915 | 4.1 mi | 39 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1905) | Post-tropical | 10 Oct 1905 | 10.4 mi | 25 kt |
How Lamar County, Alabama compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Lamar County, Alabama ranks #669 — more exposed than 69.7% of them. Within Alabama it ranks #50 of 67, against a state average of 32.6 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Frederic (1979) passed 6 miles away on 13 September 1979 as a hurricane, reaching 55 kt (63 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1916) passed 29 miles away on 19 October 1916 as a tropical storm, reaching 48 kt (55 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Katrina (2005) passed 34 miles away on 30 August 2005 as a tropical storm, reaching 43 kt (49 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1879) passed 11 miles away on 2 September 1879 as a tropical storm, reaching 41 kt (47 mph) while within 50 miles.
21 of the 23 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 23 storms spread over the 154 years from 1872 to 2025. 2 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while decades have gone by with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 31 years, between 1919 and 1950. It has been 4 years since the last one; 9 of the 19 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Lamar County, Alabama?
1 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Lamar County, Alabama at hurricane strength since 1872. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 23.
When was the last hurricane in Lamar County, Alabama?
Frederic (1979), on 13 September 1979, passing 6 miles away — 47 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Ida (2021) in 2021.
What was the strongest storm to affect Lamar County, Alabama?
Frederic (1979), which reached 55 kt (63 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 6 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Lamar County, Alabama?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 6.7 years — 23 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
Lamar County, Alabama borders or sits close to 5 other counties with a published storm record. Lowndes County, Mississippi has 32 on record.