Walker County, Alabama Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1879, 24 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Walker County, Alabama — about one every 6.1 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Zeta (2020), which passed 47 miles away on 29 October 2020.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentZeta (2020) — 47 mi away, 29 October 2020
- Strongest stormZeta (2020) — 57 kt (66 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordFay (2008) — 1.1 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles9 of 24
- Peak monthSeptember — 8 storms (33% of all)
- Most active year1916 — 2 storms
- Most active decade2000s — 5 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1879–2020
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zeta (2020) | 29 Oct 2020 | 47.5 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Alberto (2018) | 29 May 2018 | 5.8 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Nate (2017) | 8 Oct 2017 | 3.0 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Fay (2008) | 26 Aug 2008 | 1.1 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Arlene (2005) | 12 Jun 2005 | 31.8 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Ivan (2004) | 16 Sep 2004 | 40.1 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Bill (2003) | 1 Jul 2003 | 21.8 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Isidore (2002) | 27 Sep 2002 | 29.5 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Danny (1997) | 22 Jul 1997 | 48.3 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Andrew (1992) | 27 Aug 1992 | 20.3 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Juan (1985) | 1 Nov 1985 | 35.5 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Frederic (1979) | 13 Sep 1979 | 41.5 mi | TS / TD | 44 kt |
| Babe (1977) | 7 Sep 1977 | 7.0 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Edith (1971) | 17 Sep 1971 | 38.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1969) | 2 Oct 1969 | 25.0 mi | TS / TD | 23 kt |
| Easy (1950) | 8 Sep 1950 | 18.8 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1948) | 11 Jul 1948 | 48.1 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1939) | 17 Aug 1939 | 26.9 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 19 Oct 1916 | 18.7 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 8 Jul 1916 | 25.8 mi | TS / TD | 39 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1895) | 17 Aug 1895 | 34.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1892) | 13 Sep 1892 | 13.2 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1881) | 29 Aug 1881 | 44.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1879) | 2 Sep 1879 | 37.8 mi | TS / TD | 35 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 | 4.2 mi | 18 kt |
| Irma (2017) | Remnant low | 12 Sep 2017 | 16.7 mi | 19 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1932) | Post-tropical | 17 Oct 1932 | 47.0 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | Post-tropical | 30 Sep 1915 | 37.6 mi | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1905) | Post-tropical | 10 Oct 1905 | 27.3 mi | 25 kt |
How Walker County, Alabama compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Walker County, Alabama ranks #648 — more exposed than 70.6% of them. Within Alabama it ranks #48 of 67, against a state average of 32.6 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Zeta (2020) passed 47 miles away on 29 October 2020 as a tropical storm, reaching 57 kt (66 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1916) passed 19 miles away on 19 October 1916 as a tropical storm, reaching 51 kt (59 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Frederic (1979) passed 42 miles away on 13 September 1979 as a tropical storm, reaching 48 kt (55 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Ivan (2004) passed 40 miles away on 16 September 2004 as a tropical storm, reaching 40 kt (46 mph) while within 50 miles.
21 of the 24 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 6.1 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 24 storms spread over the 147 years from 1879 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 5 years since the last one; 9 of the 22 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit Walker County, Alabama?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of Walker County, Alabama while at hurricane strength. 24 tropical cyclones have passed within that distance since 1879, all of them as tropical storms or depressions. The strongest was Zeta (2020).
When was the last tropical cyclone in Walker County, Alabama?
Zeta (2020), on 29 October 2020, passing 47 miles away — 6 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of Walker County, Alabama at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect Walker County, Alabama?
Zeta (2020), which reached 57 kt (66 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 47 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach Walker County, Alabama?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 6.1 years — 24 storms over the 147 years from 1879 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Walker County, Alabama borders or sits close to 7 other counties with a published storm record. Tuscaloosa County, Alabama has 30 on record.