Madison County, Alabama Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1879, 22 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Madison County, Alabama — about one every 6.7 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Ida (2021), which passed 35 miles away on 31 August 2021.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentIda (2021) — 35 mi away, 31 August 2021
- Strongest stormFrederic (1979) — 41 kt (47 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1898) — 3.1 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles13 of 22
- Peak monthSeptember — 6 storms (27% of all)
- Most active year1985 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1970s 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 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ida (2021) | 31 Aug 2021 | 35.1 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Alberto (2018) | 29 May 2018 | 49.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Nate (2017) | 8 Oct 2017 | 5.3 mi | TS / TD | 23 kt |
| Fay (2008) | 26 Aug 2008 | 11.7 mi | TS / TD | 19 kt |
| Ivan (2004) | 17 Sep 2004 | 41.7 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Isidore (2002) | 27 Sep 2002 | 16.5 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Opal (1995) | 5 Oct 1995 | 39.5 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Andrew (1992) | 28 Aug 1992 | 21.9 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Juan (1985) | 1 Nov 1985 | 10.2 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Danny (1985) | 17 Aug 1985 | 12.8 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Frederic (1979) | 13 Sep 1979 | 38.5 mi | TS / TD | 41 kt |
| Babe (1977) | 7 Sep 1977 | 47.2 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Becky (1970) | 23 Jul 1970 | 35.1 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1969) | 2 Oct 1969 | 18.4 mi | TS / TD | 21 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1948) | 11 Jul 1948 | 3.7 mi | TS / TD | 18 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1939) | 17 Aug 1939 | 10.5 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 10 Jul 1916 | 44.2 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1906) | 13 Jun 1906 | 11.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 15 Jun 1901 | 22.0 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1898) | 3 Oct 1898 | 3.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1892) | 13 Sep 1892 | 5.3 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1879) | 2 Sep 1879 | 31.2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delta (2020) | Post-tropical | 11 Oct 2020 | 18.4 mi | 20 kt |
| Beta (2020) | Post-tropical | 25 Sep 2020 | 46.0 mi | 15 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | Post-tropical | 1 Oct 1915 | 21.6 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1905) | Post-tropical | 10 Oct 1905 | 5.3 mi | 25 kt |
How Madison County, Alabama compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Madison County, Alabama ranks #704 — more exposed than 68.1% of them. Within Alabama it ranks #54 of 67, against a state average of 32.6 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Frederic (1979) passed 39 miles away on 13 September 1979 as a tropical storm, reaching 41 kt (47 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Opal (1995) passed 39 miles away on 5 October 1995 as a tropical storm, reaching 40 kt (46 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1892) passed 5 miles away on 13 September 1892 as a tropical storm, reaching 36 kt (41 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Juan (1985) passed 10 miles away on 1 November 1985 as a tropical storm, reaching 33 kt (38 mph) while within 50 miles.
20 of the 22 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 22 storms spread over the 147 years from 1879 to 2025. 1 separate year 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 4 years since the last one; 12 of the 20 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit Madison County, Alabama?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of Madison County, Alabama while at hurricane strength. 22 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 Madison County, Alabama?
Ida (2021), on 31 August 2021, passing 35 miles away — 5 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of Madison County, Alabama at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect Madison County, Alabama?
Frederic (1979), which reached 41 kt (47 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 39 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach Madison County, Alabama?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 6.7 years — 22 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
Madison County, Alabama borders or sits close to 4 other counties with a published storm record. Marshall County, Alabama has 22 on record.