Shelby County, Alabama Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1881, 30 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Shelby County, Alabama — about one every 4.8 years. Of those, 1 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Claudette (2021), which passed 15 miles away on 20 June 2021.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentClaudette (2021) — 15 mi away, 20 June 2021
- Strongest stormZeta (2020) — 57 kt (66 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordDanny (1997) — 3.2 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles14 of 30
- Peak monthSeptember — 8 storms (27% of all)
- Most active year1916 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1950s — 4 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1881–2021
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claudette (2021) | 20 Jun 2021 | 14.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Zeta (2020) | 29 Oct 2020 | 11.5 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Alberto (2018) | 29 May 2018 | 22.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Nate (2017) | 8 Oct 2017 | 44.8 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Cindy (2005) | 7 Jul 2005 | 21.9 mi | TS / TD | 21 kt |
| Ivan (2004) | 16 Sep 2004 | 10.6 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Bill (2003) | 1 Jul 2003 | 30.2 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Danny (1997) | 22 Jul 1997 | 3.2 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Opal (1995) | 5 Oct 1995 | 27.0 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Alberto (1994) | 7 Jul 1994 | 26.9 mi | TS / TD | 10 kt |
| Juan (1985) | 1 Nov 1985 | 6.2 mi | TS / TD | 36 kt |
| Babe (1977) | 7 Sep 1977 | 44.5 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Edith (1971) | 17 Sep 1971 | 10.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1969) | 2 Oct 1969 | 15.2 mi | TS / TD | 24 kt |
| Irene (1959) | 9 Oct 1959 | 37.6 mi | TS / TD | 24 kt |
| Arlene (1959) | 2 Jun 1959 | 32.0 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| King (1950) | 20 Oct 1950 | 27.0 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Easy (1950) | 8 Sep 1950 | 20.2 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1948) | 10 Jul 1948 | 21.0 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1939) | 27 Sep 1939 | 32.3 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1939) | 17 Aug 1939 | 14.0 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1926) | 30 Jul 1926 | 37.7 mi | TS / TD | 29 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 18 Oct 1916 | 47.5 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 8 Jul 1916 | 4.7 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | 14 Jun 1912 | 31.4 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1906) | 13 Jun 1906 | 44.1 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1900) | 15 Sep 1900 | 38.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1898) | 1 Sep 1898 | 12.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1892) | 13 Sep 1892 | 37.5 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1881) | 29 Aug 1881 | 33.3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beta (2020) | Post-tropical | 25 Sep 2020 | 46.1 mi | 18 kt |
| Irma (2017) | Remnant low | 12 Sep 2017 | 19.6 mi | 22 kt |
| Lee (2011) | Post-tropical | 6 Sep 2011 | 42.4 mi | 28 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1932) | Post-tropical | 17 Oct 1932 | 4.0 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1907) | Post-tropical | 22 Sep 1907 | 32.9 mi | 35 kt |
Storms that came back
1 named storm in this record passed Shelby County, Alabama more than once.
- Alberto — 2 passes (1994, 2018)
How Shelby County, Alabama compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Shelby County, Alabama ranks #513 — more exposed than 76.8% of them. Within Alabama it ranks #38 of 67, against a state average of 32.6 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Zeta (2020) passed 11 miles away on 29 October 2020 as a tropical storm, reaching 57 kt (66 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Opal (1995) passed 27 miles away on 5 October 1995 as a tropical storm, reaching 55 kt (63 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1916) passed 47 miles away on 18 October 1916 as a hurricane, reaching 51 kt (59 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Ivan (2004) passed 11 miles away on 16 September 2004 as a tropical storm, reaching 43 kt (49 mph) while within 50 miles.
28 of the 30 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 4.8 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 30 storms spread over the 145 years from 1881 to 2025. 4 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 13 years, between 1926 and 1939. It has been 4 years since the last one; 14 of the 25 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Shelby County, Alabama?
1 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Shelby County, Alabama at hurricane strength since 1881. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 30.
When was the last hurricane in Shelby County, Alabama?
Unnamed Storm (1916), on 18 October 1916, passing 47 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 Shelby County, Alabama?
Zeta (2020), which reached 57 kt (66 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 11 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Shelby County, Alabama?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 4.8 years — 30 storms over the 145 years from 1881 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Shelby County, Alabama borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Coosa County, Alabama has 34 on record.