Randolph County, Alabama Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1852, 28 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Randolph County, Alabama — about one every 6.2 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Fred (2021), which passed 26 miles away on 17 August 2021.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentFred (2021) — 26 mi away, 17 August 2021
- Strongest stormZeta (2020) — 55 kt (63 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1900) — 2.1 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles13 of 28
- Peak monthSeptember — 10 storms (36% of all)
- Most active year1898 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1900s — 4 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 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 10 | 5 | 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 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fred (2021) | 17 Aug 2021 | 25.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Claudette (2021) | 20 Jun 2021 | 7.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Zeta (2020) | 29 Oct 2020 | 48.4 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Cindy (2005) | 7 Jul 2005 | 24.2 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Frances (2004) | 7 Sep 2004 | 38.9 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Hanna (2002) | 15 Sep 2002 | 33.8 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Opal (1995) | 5 Oct 1995 | 42.0 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Alberto (1994) | 6 Jul 1994 | 31.4 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| Eloise (1975) | 23 Sep 1975 | 8.3 mi | TS / TD | 51 kt |
| Edith (1971) | 18 Sep 1971 | 32.5 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Becky (1970) | 23 Jul 1970 | 10.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Irene (1959) | 9 Oct 1959 | 12.1 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Arlene (1959) | 2 Jun 1959 | 29.1 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Easy (1950) | 8 Sep 1950 | 28.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1948) | 10 Jul 1948 | 48.3 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | 15 Aug 1928 | 11.4 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 4 Sep 1915 | 24.6 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | 14 Jun 1912 | 9.2 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1906) | 13 Jun 1906 | 21.4 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1903) | 15 Sep 1903 | 21.6 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 14 Jun 1901 | 12.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1900) | 15 Sep 1900 | 2.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1898) | 3 Oct 1898 | 20.7 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1898) | 1 Sep 1898 | 31.0 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 3 Oct 1893 | 35.7 mi | TS / TD | 49 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1887) | 28 Jul 1887 | 41.2 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1859) | 16 Sep 1859 | 32.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1852) | 27 Aug 1852 | 46.7 mi | TS / TD | 40 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Irma (2017) | Remnant low | 12 Sep 2017 | 26.6 mi | 24 kt |
| Lee (2011) | Post-tropical | 6 Sep 2011 | 2.9 mi | 22 kt |
| Five (2010) | Remnant low | 14 Aug 2010 | 20.8 mi | 15 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1907) | Post-tropical | 22 Sep 1907 | 4.2 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | Post-tropical | 11 Oct 1902 | 15.1 mi | 35 kt |
How Randolph County, Alabama compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Randolph County, Alabama ranks #554 — more exposed than 74.9% of them. Within Alabama it ranks #42 of 67, against a state average of 32.6 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Zeta (2020) passed 48 miles away on 29 October 2020 as a tropical storm, reaching 55 kt (63 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Eloise (1975) passed 8 miles away on 23 September 1975 as a tropical storm, reaching 55 kt (63 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Opal (1995) passed 42 miles away on 5 October 1995 as a tropical storm, reaching 50 kt (58 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1893) passed 36 miles away on 3 October 1893 as a tropical storm, reaching 50 kt (58 mph) while within 50 miles.
26 of the 28 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 6.2 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 28 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 28 years, between 1859 and 1887. It has been 4 years since the last one; 12 of the 24 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit Randolph County, Alabama?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of Randolph County, Alabama while at hurricane strength. 28 tropical cyclones have passed within that distance since 1852, all of them as tropical storms or depressions. The strongest was Zeta (2020).
When was the last tropical cyclone in Randolph County, Alabama?
Fred (2021), on 17 August 2021, passing 26 miles away — 5 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of Randolph County, Alabama at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect Randolph County, Alabama?
Zeta (2020), which reached 55 kt (63 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 48 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach Randolph County, Alabama?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 6.2 years — 28 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
Randolph County, Alabama borders or sits close to 7 other counties with a published storm record. Tallapoosa County, Alabama has 30 on record.