St. Clair County, Alabama Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1892, 24 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of St. Clair County, Alabama — about one every 5.6 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Claudette (2021), which passed 39 miles away on 20 June 2021.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentClaudette (2021) — 39 mi away, 20 June 2021
- Strongest stormZeta (2020) — 57 kt (66 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordDanny (1997) — 1.5 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles12 of 24
- Peak monthJuly and September — 6 storms (25% of all)
- Most active year1898 — 2 storms
- Most active decade2000s — 4 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1892–2021
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claudette (2021) | 20 Jun 2021 | 38.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Zeta (2020) | 29 Oct 2020 | 8.7 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Alberto (2018) | 29 May 2018 | 48.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Fay (2008) | 26 Aug 2008 | 47.2 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Cindy (2005) | 7 Jul 2005 | 33.1 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Ivan (2004) | 17 Sep 2004 | 12.2 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Bill (2003) | 1 Jul 2003 | 14.1 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Danny (1997) | 22 Jul 1997 | 1.5 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Opal (1995) | 5 Oct 1995 | 15.4 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Juan (1985) | 1 Nov 1985 | 21.8 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Babe (1977) | 7 Sep 1977 | 24.2 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Edith (1971) | 17 Sep 1971 | 12.3 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Becky (1970) | 23 Jul 1970 | 36.1 mi | TS / TD | 24 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1969) | 2 Oct 1969 | 32.1 mi | TS / TD | 23 kt |
| Irene (1959) | 9 Oct 1959 | 43.8 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Easy (1950) | 8 Sep 1950 | 17.1 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1948) | 10 Jul 1948 | 7.0 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1939) | 17 Aug 1939 | 30.2 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 9 Jul 1916 | 6.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1906) | 13 Jun 1906 | 13.3 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 14 Jun 1901 | 48.2 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1898) | 3 Oct 1898 | 36.5 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1898) | 1 Sep 1898 | 45.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1892) | 13 Sep 1892 | 40.1 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 4 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 | 28.4 mi | 15 kt |
| Irma (2017) | Remnant low | 12 Sep 2017 | 17.6 mi | 22 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1932) | Post-tropical | 17 Oct 1932 | 4.3 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1907) | Post-tropical | 22 Sep 1907 | 47.7 mi | 35 kt |
How St. Clair County, Alabama compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, St. Clair County, Alabama ranks #647 — more exposed than 70.7% of them. Within Alabama it ranks #47 of 67, against a state average of 32.6 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Zeta (2020) passed 9 miles away on 29 October 2020 as a tropical storm, reaching 57 kt (66 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Opal (1995) passed 15 miles away on 5 October 1995 as a tropical storm, reaching 50 kt (58 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Ivan (2004) passed 12 miles away on 17 September 2004 as a tropical depression, reaching 36 kt (41 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Juan (1985) passed 22 miles away on 1 November 1985 as a tropical storm, reaching 35 kt (40 mph) while within 50 miles.
22 of the 24 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 5.6 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 24 storms spread over the 134 years from 1892 to 2025. 1 separate year saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while decades have gone by with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 23 years, between 1916 and 1939. It has been 4 years since the last one; 12 of the 22 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit St. Clair County, Alabama?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of St. Clair County, Alabama while at hurricane strength. 24 tropical cyclones have passed within that distance since 1892, all of them as tropical storms or depressions. The strongest was Zeta (2020).
When was the last tropical cyclone in St. Clair County, Alabama?
Claudette (2021), on 20 June 2021, passing 39 miles away — 5 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of St. Clair County, Alabama at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect St. Clair County, Alabama?
Zeta (2020), which reached 57 kt (66 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 9 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach St. Clair County, Alabama?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 5.6 years — 24 storms over the 134 years from 1892 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
St. Clair County, Alabama borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Shelby County, Alabama has 30 on record.