Macon County, Alabama Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1852, 35 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Macon County, Alabama — about one every 5.0 years. Of those, 2 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Fred (2021), which passed 25 miles away on 17 August 2021.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentFred (2021) — 25 mi away, 17 August 2021
- Strongest stormEloise (1975) — 73 kt (84 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1906) — 1.0 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles18 of 35
- Peak monthSeptember — 13 storms (37% of all)
- Most active year1887 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1880s — 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 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fred (2021) | 17 Aug 2021 | 24.8 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Sally (2020) | 17 Sep 2020 | 3.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Irma (2017) | 12 Sep 2017 | 29.4 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Frances (2004) | 7 Sep 2004 | 32.9 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Hanna (2002) | 15 Sep 2002 | 4.0 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Allison (2001) | 12 Jun 2001 | 26.2 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Opal (1995) | 5 Oct 1995 | 41.6 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Alberto (1994) | 4 Jul 1994 | 12.8 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Eloise (1975) | 23 Sep 1975 | 11.9 mi | Cat 1 | 64 kt |
| Becky (1970) | 22 Jul 1970 | 14.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Irene (1959) | 8 Oct 1959 | 45.1 mi | TS / TD | 26 kt |
| Arlene (1959) | 2 Jun 1959 | 33.2 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| King (1950) | 19 Oct 1950 | 4.5 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Easy (1950) | 7 Sep 1950 | 22.9 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1948) | 10 Jul 1948 | 41.0 mi | TS / TD | 26 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 16 Oct 1947 | 16.3 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | 15 Aug 1928 | 9.3 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1926) | 29 Jul 1926 | 4.4 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1923) | 26 Jun 1923 | 45.2 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 4 Sep 1915 | 28.8 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | 14 Jun 1912 | 46.0 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1906) | 13 Jun 1906 | 1.0 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1903) | 15 Sep 1903 | 10.0 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 14 Jun 1901 | 41.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1900) | 15 Sep 1900 | 44.0 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1899) | 2 Aug 1899 | 44.7 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1898) | 1 Sep 1898 | 33.6 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 3 Oct 1893 | 13.3 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1889) | 23 Sep 1889 | 43.3 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1887) | 20 Oct 1887 | 47.6 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1887) | 28 Jul 1887 | 18.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 10 Sep 1882 | 48.3 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1881) | 28 Aug 1881 | 4.0 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1859) | 16 Sep 1859 | 12.9 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1852) | 27 Aug 1852 | 8.3 mi | TS / TD | 40 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lee (2011) | Post-tropical | 6 Sep 2011 | 40.7 mi | 27 kt |
| Five (2010) | Remnant low | 14 Aug 2010 | 30.8 mi | 15 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1907) | Post-tropical | 22 Sep 1907 | 49.9 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | Post-tropical | 11 Oct 1902 | 14.4 mi | 35 kt |
How Macon County, Alabama compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Macon County, Alabama ranks #410 — more exposed than 81.4% of them. Within Alabama it ranks #27 of 67, against a state average of 32.6 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Eloise (1975) passed 12 miles away on 23 September 1975 as a hurricane, reaching 73 kt (84 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1882) passed 48 miles away on 10 September 1882 as a tropical storm, reaching 63 kt (72 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Opal (1995) passed 42 miles away on 5 October 1995 as a hurricane, reaching 60 kt (69 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1893) passed 13 miles away on 3 October 1893 as a tropical storm, reaching 53 kt (61 mph) while within 50 miles.
34 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 22 years, between 1859 and 1881. It has been 4 years since the last one; 13 of the 31 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Macon County, Alabama?
2 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Macon 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 Macon County, Alabama?
Opal (1995), on 5 October 1995, passing 42 miles away — 31 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Fred (2021) in 2021.
What was the strongest storm to affect Macon County, Alabama?
Eloise (1975), which reached 73 kt (84 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 12 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Macon 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
Macon County, Alabama borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Bullock County, Alabama has 38 on record.