Perry County, Alabama Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1852, 34 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Perry County, Alabama — about one every 5.1 years. Of those, 1 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Claudette (2021), which passed 4 miles away on 20 June 2021.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentClaudette (2021) — 4 mi away, 20 June 2021
- Strongest stormZeta (2020) — 64 kt (74 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordClaudette (2021) — 4.3 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles17 of 34
- Peak monthJuly, August, September and October — 7 storms (21% of all)
- Most active year1916 — 2 storms
- Most active decade2000s — 6 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 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claudette (2021) | 20 Jun 2021 | 4.3 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Zeta (2020) | 29 Oct 2020 | 16.4 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Alberto (2018) | 29 May 2018 | 24.3 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Nate (2017) | 8 Oct 2017 | 27.2 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Claudette (2009) | 17 Aug 2009 | 47.0 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Cindy (2005) | 7 Jul 2005 | 16.8 mi | TS / TD | 24 kt |
| Arlene (2005) | 12 Jun 2005 | 24.0 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Ivan (2004) | 16 Sep 2004 | 5.9 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Bill (2003) | 1 Jul 2003 | 42.5 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Barry (2001) | 6 Aug 2001 | 17.0 mi | TS / TD | 21 kt |
| Danny (1997) | 21 Jul 1997 | 9.3 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Alberto (1994) | 7 Jul 1994 | 29.1 mi | TS / TD | 10 kt |
| Juan (1985) | 1 Nov 1985 | 25.8 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Edith (1971) | 17 Sep 1971 | 30.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1969) | 1 Oct 1969 | 23.9 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Irene (1959) | 8 Oct 1959 | 46.2 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Arlene (1959) | 1 Jun 1959 | 11.2 mi | TS / TD | 21 kt |
| King (1950) | 20 Oct 1950 | 49.5 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Baker (1950) | 31 Aug 1950 | 46.9 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1939) | 27 Sep 1939 | 15.1 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1939) | 15 Aug 1939 | 31.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1926) | 30 Jul 1926 | 12.4 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1919) | 5 Jul 1919 | 45.2 mi | TS / TD | 23 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 18 Oct 1916 | 9.8 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 8 Jul 1916 | 45.0 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | 14 Jun 1912 | 15.4 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1907) | 22 Sep 1907 | 20.2 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1900) | 14 Sep 1900 | 27.8 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1895) | 17 Aug 1895 | 49.0 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1892) | 13 Sep 1892 | 24.0 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1881) | 29 Aug 1881 | 23.8 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1879) | 16 Oct 1879 | 27.6 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1860) | 16 Sep 1860 | 48.0 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1852) | 27 Aug 1852 | 48.2 mi | TS / TD | 45 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lee (2011) | Post-tropical | 5 Sep 2011 | 30.2 mi | 33 kt |
| Five (2010) | Remnant low | 14 Aug 2010 | 35.4 mi | 18 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1932) | Post-tropical | 16 Oct 1932 | 1.6 mi | 39 kt |
Storms that came back
3 named storms in this record passed Perry County, Alabama more than once.
- Alberto — 2 passes (1994, 2018)
- Arlene — 2 passes (1959, 2005)
- Claudette — 2 passes (2009, 2021)
How Perry County, Alabama compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Perry County, Alabama ranks #426 — more exposed than 80.7% of them. Within Alabama it ranks #30 of 67, against a state average of 32.6 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Zeta (2020) passed 16 miles away on 29 October 2020 as a tropical storm, reaching 64 kt (74 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1916) passed 10 miles away on 18 October 1916 as a hurricane, reaching 61 kt (70 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Ivan (2004) passed 6 miles away on 16 September 2004 as a tropical storm, reaching 60 kt (69 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Baker (1950) passed 47 miles away on 31 August 1950 as a tropical storm, reaching 46 kt (53 mph) while within 50 miles.
33 of the 34 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 5.1 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 34 storms spread over the 174 years from 1852 to 2025. 5 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 19 years, between 1860 and 1879. It has been 4 years since the last one; 14 of the 28 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Perry County, Alabama?
1 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Perry County, Alabama at hurricane strength since 1852. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 34.
When was the last hurricane in Perry County, Alabama?
Unnamed Storm (1916), on 18 October 1916, passing 10 miles away — 110 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Claudette (2021) in 2021.
What was the strongest storm to affect Perry County, Alabama?
Zeta (2020), which reached 64 kt (74 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 16 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Perry County, Alabama?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 5.1 years — 34 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
Perry County, Alabama borders or sits close to 5 other counties with a published storm record. Marengo County, Alabama has 40 on record.