Marion County, Alabama Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1872, 22 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Marion County, Alabama — about one every 7.0 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Ida (2021), which passed 31 miles away on 31 August 2021.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentIda (2021) — 31 mi away, 31 August 2021
- Strongest stormFrederic (1979) — 48 kt (55 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1879) — 4.7 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles8 of 22
- Peak monthAugust and September — 8 storms (36% of all)
- Most active year1916 — 2 storms
- Most active decade2000s — 4 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 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 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 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ida (2021) | 31 Aug 2021 | 31.3 mi | TS / TD | 24 kt |
| Alberto (2018) | 29 May 2018 | 33.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Nate (2017) | 8 Oct 2017 | 43.7 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Fay (2008) | 26 Aug 2008 | 39.7 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Katrina (2005) | 30 Aug 2005 | 38.2 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Arlene (2005) | 12 Jun 2005 | 6.7 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Isidore (2002) | 27 Sep 2002 | 12.2 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Andrew (1992) | 27 Aug 1992 | 19.0 mi | TS / TD | 23 kt |
| Danny (1985) | 17 Aug 1985 | 35.3 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Frederic (1979) | 13 Sep 1979 | 5.1 mi | TS / TD | 44 kt |
| Babe (1977) | 7 Sep 1977 | 46.3 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Ethel (1960) | 17 Sep 1960 | 23.0 mi | TS / TD | 23 kt |
| Easy (1950) | 8 Sep 1950 | 28.9 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Baker (1950) | 31 Aug 1950 | 32.6 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 19 Oct 1916 | 14.4 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 8 Jul 1916 | 38.4 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | 15 Sep 1912 | 36.7 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1895) | 17 Aug 1895 | 23.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 9 Sep 1893 | 43.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1881) | 29 Aug 1881 | 44.3 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1879) | 2 Sep 1879 | 4.7 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1872) | 13 Jul 1872 | 35.6 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 | 33.3 mi | 22 kt |
| Beta (2020) | Post-tropical | 25 Sep 2020 | 40.5 mi | 20 kt |
| Irma (2017) | Remnant low | 12 Sep 2017 | 24.5 mi | 18 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | Post-tropical | 30 Sep 1915 | 5.0 mi | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1905) | Post-tropical | 10 Oct 1905 | 16.3 mi | 25 kt |
How Marion County, Alabama compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Marion County, Alabama ranks #705 — more exposed than 68.1% of them. Within Alabama it ranks #55 of 67, against a state average of 32.6 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Frederic (1979) passed 5 miles away on 13 September 1979 as a tropical storm, reaching 48 kt (55 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed (October 1916) passed 14 miles away on 19 October 1916 as a tropical storm, reaching 48 kt (55 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Katrina (2005) passed 38 miles away on 30 August 2005 as a tropical storm, reaching 40 kt (46 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed (July 1916) passed 38 miles away on 8 July 1916 as a tropical storm, reaching 40 kt (46 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 7.0 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 22 storms spread over the 154 years from 1872 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 34 years, between 1916 and 1950. It has been 4 years since the last one; 10 of the 18 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit Marion County, Alabama?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of Marion County, Alabama while at hurricane strength. 22 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 Marion County, Alabama?
Ida (2021), on 31 August 2021, passing 31 miles away — 5 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of Marion County, Alabama at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect Marion County, Alabama?
Frederic (1979), which reached 48 kt (55 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 5 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach Marion County, Alabama?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 7.0 years — 22 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
Marion County, Alabama borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Itawamba County, Mississippi has 28 on record.