Mobile County, Alabama Hurricane History
Since 1852, 57 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Mobile County, Alabama — about one every 3.1 years. Of those, 20 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Sally (2020), which passed 38 miles away on 16 September 2020.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentSally (2020) — 38 mi away, 16 September 2020
- Strongest stormFrederic (1979) — 108 kt (124 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordHanna (2002) — 4.0 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)Unnamed Storm (1860) — 12.0 miles
- Passes within 25 miles32 of 57
- Peak monthSeptember — 24 storms (42% of all)
- Most active year1887 — 2 storms
- Most active decade2000s — 6 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi7
- Record span1852–2020
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 24 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sally (2020) | 16 Sep 2020 | 37.7 mi | Cat 2 | 85 kt |
| Gordon (2018) | 5 Sep 2018 | 26.7 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Nate (2017) | 8 Oct 2017 | 33.6 mi | TS / TD | 56 kt |
| Fay (2008) | 24 Aug 2008 | 41.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Cindy (2005) | 6 Jul 2005 | 37.0 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Arlene (2005) | 11 Jun 2005 | 39.2 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Ivan (2004) | 16 Sep 2004 | 22.4 mi | Cat 2 | 91 kt |
| Hanna (2002) | 14 Sep 2002 | 4.0 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Allison (2001) | 11 Jun 2001 | 24.9 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Georges (1998) | 29 Sep 1998 | 7.0 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Danny (1997) | 19 Jul 1997 | 26.4 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Erin (1995) | 3 Aug 1995 | 24.7 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Juan (1985) | 31 Oct 1985 | 37.6 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Elena (1985) | 2 Sep 1985 | 44.5 mi | Cat 3 | 101 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1984) | 27 Oct 1984 | 32.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1980) | 20 Jul 1980 | 49.5 mi | TS / TD | 24 kt |
| Frederic (1979) | 13 Sep 1979 | 13.9 mi | Cat 3 | 98 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1977) | 25 Oct 1977 | 27.2 mi | TD | — |
| Unnamed Storm (1977) | 19 Jul 1977 | 23.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1976) | 24 Sep 1976 | 23.4 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Hilda (1964) | 4 Oct 1964 | 8.3 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Florence (1960) | 26 Sep 1960 | 30.6 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Irene (1959) | 8 Oct 1959 | 35.9 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Baker (1950) | 31 Aug 1950 | 17.6 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 8 Sep 1947 | 19.7 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1944) | 11 Sep 1944 | 5.8 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1939) | 26 Sep 1939 | 41.7 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1939) | 16 Jun 1939 | 20.6 mi | TS / TD | 41 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1936) | 23 Aug 1936 | 20.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1932) | 1 Sep 1932 | 11.5 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1926) | 21 Sep 1926 | 26.6 mi | Cat 1 | 64 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1923) | 18 Oct 1923 | 49.8 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1923) | 26 Jun 1923 | 7.6 mi | TS / TD | 36 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1922) | 17 Oct 1922 | 18.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 5 Jul 1916 | 19.2 mi | Cat 3 | 97 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1914) | 18 Sep 1914 | 26.6 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | 14 Sep 1912 | 16.6 mi | TS / TD | 54 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1911) | 12 Aug 1911 | 8.2 mi | TS / TD | 57 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1907) | 21 Sep 1907 | 39.1 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1906) | 27 Sep 1906 | 33.9 mi | Cat 2 | 90 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 15 Aug 1901 | 17.4 mi | TS / TD | 63 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1900) | 13 Sep 1900 | 15.7 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1895) | 16 Aug 1895 | 23.4 mi | TS / TD | 39 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 8 Aug 1894 | 12.4 mi | TS / TD | 41 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 2 Oct 1893 | 13.3 mi | Cat 1 | 78 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1892) | 12 Sep 1892 | 44.3 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1889) | 23 Sep 1889 | 39.8 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1887) | 19 Oct 1887 | 6.9 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1887) | 14 Jun 1887 | 33.5 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1885) | 27 Sep 1885 | 5.8 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1881) | 3 Aug 1881 | 10.7 mi | TS / TD | 44 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1877) | 19 Sep 1877 | 48.7 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1872) | 11 Jul 1872 | 47.8 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1870) | 30 Jul 1870 | 17.3 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1860) | 12 Aug 1860 | 12.0 mi | Cat 1 | 80 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1859) | 16 Sep 1859 | 19.4 mi | TS / TD | 63 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1852) | 26 Aug 1852 | 12.9 mi | Cat 2 | 83 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Five (2010) | Remnant low | 13 Aug 2010 | 23.4 mi | 25 kt |
| Ida (2009) | Post-tropical | 10 Nov 2009 | 29.0 mi | 35 kt |
| Ten (2007) | Remnant low | 22 Sep 2007 | 29.5 mi | 20 kt |
How Mobile County, Alabama compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Mobile County, Alabama ranks #133 — more exposed than 94.0% of them. Within Alabama it ranks #1 of 67, against a state average of 32.6 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 3 Frederic (1979) passed 14 miles away on 13 September 1979 as a hurricane, reaching 108 kt (124 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 3 Ivan (2004) passed 22 miles away on 16 September 2004 as a hurricane, reaching 105 kt (121 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 3 Unnamed Storm (1916) passed 19 miles away on 5 July 1916 as a hurricane, reaching 105 kt (121 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 3 Elena (1985) passed 45 miles away on 2 September 1985 as a hurricane, reaching 101 kt (116 mph) while within 50 miles.
50 of the 57 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 3.1 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 57 storms spread over the 174 years from 1852 to 2025. 6 separate years 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 12 years, between 1964 and 1976. It has been 5 years since the last one; 8 of the 50 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Mobile County, Alabama?
20 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Mobile County, Alabama at hurricane strength since 1852. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 57.
When was the last hurricane in Mobile County, Alabama?
Sally (2020), on 16 September 2020, passing 38 miles away — 6 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Sally (2020) in 2020.
What was the strongest storm to affect Mobile County, Alabama?
Frederic (1979), which reached 108 kt (124 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 14 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Mobile County, Alabama?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 3.1 years — 57 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
Mobile County, Alabama borders or sits close to 5 other counties with a published storm record. Baldwin County, Alabama has 56 on record.