NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Altoona, 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
12 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Altoona, Alabama since 1851, 0 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Zeta in 2020. Since 1950, 177 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 23 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 0
- Tropical storms
- 12
- Tornadoes
- 177
- EF3 or stronger
- 23
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
60 deaths in all
What the records show for Altoona
None of the 12 tropical systems was at hurricane strength as it passed Altoona; the strongest was Zeta in 2020, a tropical storm with 62 mph winds when its centre passed 27 miles away. The record near Altoona begins with an unnamed storm in 1892; the most recent system was Zeta in 2020. The busiest decade was the 1910s, with 4 systems. Of the 12 systems, one has come since 2000. Of the 323 Alabama cities on this site, 73% have more tropical storms and hurricanes within 75 miles than Altoona. The highest rating among the 177 tornadoes within 25 miles is F4 or EF4, reached 6 times; the most recent, on April 27, 2011, came within 14 miles. The deadliest, an EF4 on April 27, 2011, killed 22 people. Of the 177, 6 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 94 have come since 2000. April has had the most tornadoes, 68. The most recent tornado was on May 20, 2025. Altoona has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 88% of the 323 Alabama cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 52 times since 1961, with stones up to 3 inches (tea cup size). Of the 323 Alabama cities, 55% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Altoona.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Altoona
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | ZetaOct 29 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1995 | OpalOct 5 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1985 | JuanNov 1 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1975 | EloiseSep 23 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormOct 17 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormOct 19 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormJul 8 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormSep 30 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormJun 14 | 75 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormSep 22 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1898 | Unnamed 1898 stormOct 3 | 75 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1892 | Unnamed 1892 stormSep 13 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Altoona: 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 Altoona
By decade
- 2020s22
- 2010s46(6 EF3+)
- 2000s26(3 EF3+)
- 1990s14(1 EF3+)
- 1980s18(3 EF3+)
- 1970s30(6 EF3+)
- 1960s12(1 EF3+)
- 1950s9(3 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF4 | 19 mi | 97.33 mi | 22 / 85 |
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF4 | 14 mi | 127.8 mi | 13 / 54 |
| Nov 18, 1957 | F4 | 5 mi | 26.1 mi | 3 / 12 |
| Mar 11, 1963 | F4 | 16 mi | 28 mi | 2 / 6 |
| Apr 24, 2010 | EF4 | 24 mi | 16.62 mi | 0 / 5 |
| Nov 24, 2001 | F4 | 2 mi | 10.1 mi | 0 / 22 |
| Nov 10, 2002 | F3 | 17 mi | 72.6 mi | 7 / 53 |
| Feb 16, 1995 | F3 | 15 mi | 14 mi | 6 / 130 |
| Apr 4, 1977 | F3 | 15 mi | 7.3 mi | 1 / 0 |
| Jan 10, 1975 | F3 | 23 mi | 18.8 mi | 1 / 60 |
| May 27, 1973 | F3 | 12 mi | 41.6 mi | 1 / 44 |
| Apr 28, 2014 | EF3 | 18 mi | 11.73 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 177, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Altoona
The Storm Prediction Center has 52 hail reports within 10 miles of Altoona since 1961, made on 35 separate days. Of these, 33 were 1 inch across or larger, and 4 reached 2 inches. The largest, 3 inches (tea cup size), fell on March 19, 2018. The most recent report is from June 14, 2023. March has the most reports, 21.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Altoona
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Oneonta, AL, 11 miles southwest of Altoona at 1,100 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 91°F and low of 70°F; January is the coolest, at 53°F and 33°F. December is the wettest at 5.8 inches of precipitation on average and October the driest at 3.4 inches; the year adds up to 57.2 inches over 75 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 45% of the year's precipitation (25.5 of 57.2 inches); the other six months are wetter. October has brought the most of the 12 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (5); a normal October there has highs of 75°F and 3.4 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 52 days a year, almost all from June to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 65 nights a year. That 57.2 inches is more than at 53 of the 107 Alabama stations used on this site (50%). Horton, 9 miles north, has its own station (Guntersville, AL): 56.9 inches a year, 0.3 less than here, and a July average high of 89°F against 91°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 53 | 33 | 5.5 | 7 |
| Feb | 57 | 35 | 5.5 | 7 |
| Mar | 66 | 42 | 5.1 | 7 |
| Apr | 74 | 50 | 5.6 | 7 |
| May | 81 | 59 | 4.2 | 6 |
| Jun | 87 | 67 | 5.2 | 7 |
| Jul | 91 | 70 | 5.0 | 7 |
| Aug | 90 | 70 | 3.6 | 6 |
| Sep | 85 | 63 | 4.1 | 4 |
| Oct | 75 | 51 | 3.4 | 4 |
| Nov | 64 | 41 | 4.2 | 5 |
| Dec | 55 | 35 | 5.8 | 8 |
| Year | 73 | 51 | 57.2 | 75 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Oneonta, AL (1,100 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 Altoona
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 130 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Altoona: 117 thunderstorm wind reports, 6 flash floods, 3 floods, 3 lightning strikes and 1 heavy rain event. They killed 1 person and injured 4, and the NWS estimated $1.4 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 92 mph, on November 18, 2003. September has had the most flash floods, 2 of 6. Of the 321 Alabama cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 64 have had fewer than Altoona.
April 24, 2010: thunderstorm wind 5 miles from the centre of Altoona — 1 killed, $2,000 damage.
NWS: “Trees and power lines were blown down northwest of Gallant and east of Altoona. One 32 year old man was killed (indirect) when the car he was a passenger in struck a tree that had fallen across the road.”
June 15, 2009: thunderstorm wind 4 miles from the centre of Altoona — 2 injured, $30,000 damage.
NWS: “A mobile home was blown off its foundation, in the Wynville community. Two occupants were briefly trapped and sustained unspecified injuries.”
February 27, 1999: thunderstorm wind 6 miles from the centre of Altoona — 1 injured, $800,000 damage.
NWS: “Numerous trees and power lines were knocked down or uprooted in southern Etowah County sporadically along this path. Many trees blocked roadways.”
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
Etowah County, which includes Altoona, has been named in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1973, 19 of them major disasters (by incident: 12 severe storms, 7 hurricanes, 3 floods, 2 biological emergencies). The latest major disaster declaration was Severe Thunderstorms, on July 10, 2020. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Etowah County a Relatively Moderate rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for tornadoes and strong wind; Relatively Moderate for inland flooding and lightning; Relatively Low for hurricanes, hail and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $50.3 million a year, the 12th highest of 67 Alabama counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $22.9 million (45%), 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 Altoona
- Horton, AL9 mi
- Oneonta, AL11 mi
- Steele, AL11 mi
- Blountsville, AL13 mi
- Boaz, AL13 mi
- Attalla, AL13 mi
- Ashville, AL17 mi
- Albertville, AL17 mi
- Rainbow City, AL17 mi
- Cleveland, AL17 mi
- Holly Pond, AL19 mi
- Gadsden, AL20 mi
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