NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Abbeville, AL
Every tropical system within 75 miles since 1851 and every tornado within 25 miles since 1950.
Data: NOAA NHC HURDAT2 and NOAA SPC tornado and hail reports, through 2025 · Updated
48 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Abbeville, Alabama since 1851, 8 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Fred in 2021. Since 1950, 115 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 4 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 8
- Tropical storms
- 40
- Tornadoes
- 115
- EF3 or stronger
- 4
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
4 deaths in all
What the records show for Abbeville
The strongest storm to pass near Abbeville was Michael in 2018, a Category 2 hurricane with 101 mph winds when its centre passed 39 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1882, whose centre came within 11 miles. The record near Abbeville begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Fred in 2021, a tropical storm 11 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1900s, with 6 systems. Of the 48 systems, 5 have come since 2000. Abbeville has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 80% of the 323 Alabama cities on this site. The highest rating among the 115 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3, reached 4 times; the most recent, on November 25, 1986, came within 23 miles. The deadliest, an EF2 on April 19, 2020, killed 1 person. Of the 115, 7 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 73 have come since 2000. January and April have had the most tornadoes, 21 each. The most recent tornado was on April 7, 2025. Of the 323 Alabama cities, 64% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Abbeville. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 23 times since 1962, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Of the 323 Alabama cities, 89% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Abbeville.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Abbeville
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | FredAug 17 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2019 | NestorOct 19 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2018 | MichaelOct 10 | 39 mi | Category 2 (101 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2017 | IrmaSep 12 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2004 | FrancesSep 7 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1998 | EarlSep 3 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1985 | KateNov 22 | 74 mi | Category 1 (84 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1975 | EloiseSep 23 | 47 mi | Category 2 (97 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1965 | Unnamed 1965 stormJun 15 | overhead | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1964 | HildaOct 5 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1964 | DoraSep 12 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1956 | FlossySep 25 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1953 | FlorenceSep 27 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1950 | KingOct 19 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1941 | Unnamed 1941 stormOct 7 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1937 | Unnamed 1937 stormAug 31 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 1 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormAug 15 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormAug 10 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormJul 29 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1917 | Unnamed 1917 stormSep 29 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormSep 4 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1914 | Unnamed 1914 stormSep 17 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormJul 16 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormSep 28 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1906 | Unnamed 1906 stormJun 13 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1903 | Unnamed 1903 stormSep 14 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormOct 11 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormSep 28 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormSep 18 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormAug 2 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormJul 8 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormOct 9 | 68 mi | Category 2 (97 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 3 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 23 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormOct 20 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormJul 28 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 10 | 11 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1881 | Unnamed 1881 stormAug 28 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 3 | 74 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormSep 20 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1875 | Unnamed 1875 stormSep 27 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 26 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormAug 13 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormSep 16 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1856 | Unnamed 1856 stormAug 31 | 42 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormAug 27 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1851 | Unnamed 1851 stormAug 24 | 47 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 3 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Abbeville: a hurricane's worst winds sit within a few dozen miles of its centre, and inland cities are usually past that.
Tornadoes within 25 miles of Abbeville
By decade
- 2020s25
- 2010s24
- 2000s24
- 1990s6
- 1980s6(1 EF3+)
- 1970s10(3 EF3+)
- 1960s9
- 1950s11
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 25, 1986 | F3 | 23 mi | 44 mi | 0 / 4 |
| Dec 29, 1973 | F3 | 7 mi | 15 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Jan 13, 1972 | F3 | 11 mi | 16.8 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Mar 2, 1971 | F3 | 23 mi | 23.8 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 19, 2020 | EF2 | 11 mi | 5.18 mi | 1 / 0 |
| Nov 5, 2002 | F2 | in town | 6 mi | 1 / 20 |
| Dec 5, 1954 | F2 | 25 mi | 71.5 mi | 1 / 35 |
| Jun 14, 2023 | EF2 | 23 mi | 18.88 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 31, 2020 | EF2 | 15 mi | 29.97 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Mar 3, 2019 | EF2 | 24 mi | 30.86 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 3, 2019 | EF2 | 24 mi | 6.68 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 5, 2017 | EF2 | 11 mi | 10.36 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 115, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Abbeville
The Storm Prediction Center has 23 hail reports within 10 miles of Abbeville since 1962, made on 21 separate days. Of these, 11 were 1 inch across or larger, and none reached 2 inches. The largest size, 1.75 inches (golf ball size), was reported on 4 days, most recently December 28, 2005. The most recent report is from January 21, 2017. May has the most reports, 7.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Abbeville
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Headland, AL, 18 miles southwest of Abbeville at 370 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 93°F and low of 72°F; January is the coolest, at 61°F and 38°F. July is the wettest at 6.7 inches of precipitation on average and October the driest at 3.2 inches; the year adds up to 56.9 inches over 77 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 50% of the year's precipitation (28.7 of 56.9 inches). September has brought the most of the 48 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (19); a normal September there has highs of 89°F and 4.6 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 90 days a year, almost all from May to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 33 nights a year. That 56.9 inches is more than at 46 of the 107 Alabama stations used on this site (43%). Eufaula, 19 miles north, has its own station (Eufaula Wildlife Ref, AL): 54.0 inches a year, 2.9 less than here, and a July average high of 95°F against 93°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 61 | 38 | 4.8 | 7 |
| Feb | 65 | 41 | 5.2 | 6 |
| Mar | 72 | 47 | 4.8 | 7 |
| Apr | 79 | 54 | 4.6 | 5 |
| May | 87 | 63 | 3.7 | 6 |
| Jun | 91 | 69 | 5.2 | 8 |
| Jul | 93 | 72 | 6.7 | 10 |
| Aug | 92 | 71 | 5.1 | 8 |
| Sep | 89 | 66 | 4.6 | 5 |
| Oct | 80 | 56 | 3.2 | 4 |
| Nov | 70 | 47 | 3.9 | 5 |
| Dec | 63 | 41 | 5.1 | 6 |
| Year | 78 | 55 | 56.9 | 77 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Headland, AL (370 ft), from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Normals describe the station; the farther a place is from it, and the bigger the difference in height, the more its weather can differ.
Floods, thunderstorm wind and lightning near Abbeville
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 143 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Abbeville: 133 thunderstorm wind reports, 8 flash floods and 2 lightning strikes. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $657,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 75 mph, on January 12, 2023. Of the 321 Alabama cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 93 have had fewer than Abbeville.
January 19, 2001: thunderstorm wind 10 miles from the centre of Abbeville — $175,000 damage.
NWS: “Four mobile homes, two homes and a barn damaged. Reported by the Clay County Sheriff.”
December 16, 2000: thunderstorm wind 9 miles from the centre of Abbeville — $100,000 damage.
NWS: “Six residences and a barn sustained minor damage. Reported by the Clay County Sheriff.”
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, events whose starting point is on record, 1996 to June 30, 2026. Damage is the NWS estimate in the dollars of the year, not insured losses, and NWS notes that some reports are unverified.
Flood insurance claims, disaster declarations and FEMA risk ratings
Henry County, which includes Abbeville, has been named in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1975, 17 of them major disasters (by incident: 13 severe storms, 11 hurricanes, 2 biological emergencies, 1 drought). The latest major disaster declaration was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes, on July 10, 2020. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Henry County a Very Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Moderate for hurricanes, tornadoes and lightning; Relatively Low for hail, inland flooding, strong wind and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $8.5 million a year, the 53rd highest of 67 Alabama counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $3.0 million (35%), is from inland flooding.
Claims: FEMA, OpenFEMA Dataset FIMA NFIP Redacted Claims – v3, summed over ZIP codes; payments in the dollars of each year, not adjusted for inflation. Declarations: Disaster Declarations Summaries – v2, by county. Retrieved October 25, 2026. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
Risk ratings: FEMA, National Risk Index county table, December 2025 (v1.20), retrieved October 26, 2026; ratings compare counties nationwide, are meant for planning and are no substitute for a local risk assessment. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
What counts as a pass, the distances and the sources: how this storm history is built.
Cities near Abbeville
- Headland, AL16 mi
- Eufaula, AL19 mi
- Georgetown, GA20 mi
- Columbia, AL20 mi
- Clayton, AL21 mi
- Clio, AL21 mi
- Blakely, GA24 mi
- Midland City, AL25 mi
- Ozark, AL27 mi
- Cowarts, AL28 mi
- Ariton, AL28 mi
- Ashford, AL29 mi
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