Lauderdale County, Alabama Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1879, 20 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Lauderdale 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 7 miles away on 31 August 2021.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentIda (2021) — 7 mi away, 31 August 2021
- Strongest stormFrederic (1979) — 44 kt (51 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordIda (2021) — 7.2 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles8 of 20
- Peak monthSeptember — 8 storms (40% of all)
- Most active year2005 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1890s and 2000s — 3 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1879–2021
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ida (2021) | 31 Aug 2021 | 7.2 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Alberto (2018) | 29 May 2018 | 10.8 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Katrina (2005) | 30 Aug 2005 | 33.9 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Arlene (2005) | 12 Jun 2005 | 20.8 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Isidore (2002) | 27 Sep 2002 | 43.4 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Danny (1985) | 17 Aug 1985 | 12.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Frederic (1979) | 13 Sep 1979 | 19.4 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1969) | 2 Oct 1969 | 47.3 mi | TS / TD | 21 kt |
| Ethel (1960) | 17 Sep 1960 | 18.0 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Audrey (1957) | 28 Jun 1957 | 34.9 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Easy (1950) | 8 Sep 1950 | 15.5 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 5 Sep 1949 | 48.7 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1934) | 18 Jun 1934 | 25.0 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 19 Oct 1916 | 17.3 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | 15 Sep 1912 | 48.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1906) | 13 Jun 1906 | 45.4 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1898) | 4 Oct 1898 | 47.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 9 Sep 1893 | 48.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1891) | 8 Jul 1891 | 26.3 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1879) | 2 Sep 1879 | 28.6 mi | TS / TD | 32 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 | 11.2 mi | 20 kt |
| Irma (2017) | Remnant low | 12 Sep 2017 | 23.4 mi | 16 kt |
| Harvey (2017) | Post-tropical | 1 Sep 2017 | 24.1 mi | 29 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | Post-tropical | 30 Sep 1915 | 31.3 mi | 37 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1905) | Post-tropical | 10 Oct 1905 | 48.0 mi | 25 kt |
How Lauderdale County, Alabama compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Lauderdale County, Alabama ranks #774 — more exposed than 64.9% of them. Within Alabama it ranks #61 of 67, against a state average of 32.6 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Frederic (1979) passed 19 miles away on 13 September 1979 as a tropical storm, reaching 44 kt (51 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1916) passed 17 miles away on 19 October 1916 as a tropical storm, reaching 42 kt (48 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Katrina (2005) passed 34 miles away on 30 August 2005 as a tropical storm, reaching 36 kt (41 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Audrey (1957) passed 35 miles away on 28 June 1957 as a tropical storm, reaching 35 kt (40 mph) while within 50 miles.
19 of the 20 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 20 storms spread over the 147 years from 1879 to 2025. 1 separate year 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 18 years, between 1916 and 1934. It has been 4 years since the last one; 12 of the 18 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit Lauderdale County, Alabama?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of Lauderdale County, Alabama while at hurricane strength. 20 tropical cyclones have passed within that distance since 1879, all of them as tropical storms or depressions. The strongest was Frederic (1979).
When was the last tropical cyclone in Lauderdale County, Alabama?
Ida (2021), on 31 August 2021, passing 7 miles away — 5 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of Lauderdale County, Alabama at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect Lauderdale County, Alabama?
Frederic (1979), which reached 44 kt (51 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 19 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach Lauderdale County, Alabama?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 7.3 years — 20 storms over the 147 years from 1879 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Lauderdale County, Alabama borders or sits close to 4 other counties with a published storm record. Tishomingo County, Mississippi has 22 on record.