NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Andalusia, 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
52 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Andalusia, Alabama since 1851, 11 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Fred in 2021. Since 1950, 80 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 2 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 11
- Tropical storms
- 41
- Tornadoes
- 80
- EF3 or stronger
- 2
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
2 deaths in all
What the records show for Andalusia
The strongest storm to pass near Andalusia was Eloise in 1975, a Category 2 hurricane with 107 mph winds when its centre passed 23 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was Opal in 1995, whose centre came within 13 miles. The record near Andalusia begins with an unnamed storm in 1852; the most recent system was Fred in 2021, a tropical storm 64 miles away. The 1880s and the 2000s were the busiest decades, with 6 systems each. Of the 52 systems, 9 have come since 2000. Andalusia has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 85% of the 323 Alabama cities on this site. The highest rating among the 80 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3, reached 2 times; the most recent, on September 17, 1971, came within 19 miles. The deadliest, an F1 on March 12, 2001, killed 2 people. Of the 80, 9 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 39 have come since 2000. May has had the most tornadoes, 11. The most recent tornado was on December 10, 2024. Of the 323 Alabama cities, 92% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Andalusia. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 69 times since 1956, with stones up to 4 inches (softball size). Andalusia has more hail reports within 10 miles than 61% of the 323 Alabama cities.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Andalusia
Of the 52 tracks on the map, 20 were moving northeast as they passed Andalusia, 16 north and 10 northwest. Eloise (1975), the strongest pass, was heading north and came ashore 65 miles south of Andalusia. Within 75 miles of Andalusia, 22 of the 52 came ashore, 11 of them as hurricanes. In the last 30 seasons (1996–2025), 10 came near Andalusia: 3.3 a decade, against 2.9 a decade from 1851 to 1995.
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | FredAug 17 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2020 | SallySep 16 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 2 |
| 2011 | LeeSep 5 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2009 | ClaudetteAug 17 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | FayAug 23 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2005 | DennisJul 10 | 60 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2004 | IvanSep 16 | 71 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2001 | BarryAug 6 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2000 | HeleneSep 22 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1997 | DannyJul 20 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1995 | OpalOct 5 | 13 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1994 | AlbertoJul 3 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1985 | JuanOct 31 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1975 | EloiseSep 23 | 23 mi | Category 2 (107 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1969 | Unnamed 1969 stormOct 1 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1965 | Unnamed 1965 stormJun 15 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1964 | HildaOct 5 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1957 | DebbieSep 8 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1956 | FlossySep 25 | 60 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1953 | FlorenceSep 26 | 48 mi | Category 1 (76 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1953 | AliceJun 6 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1948 | Unnamed 1948 stormJul 9 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1939 | Unnamed 1939 stormAug 13 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1937 | Unnamed 1937 stormAug 31 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1936 | Unnamed 1936 stormJul 31 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormOct 6 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormAug 15 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1919 | Unnamed 1919 stormJul 4 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1917 | Unnamed 1917 stormSep 29 | 41 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormOct 18 | 45 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormSep 4 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1914 | Unnamed 1914 stormSep 18 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1906 | Unnamed 1906 stormJun 13 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1904 | Unnamed 1904 stormNov 3 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1903 | Unnamed 1903 stormSep 14 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormOct 11 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormSep 17 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormAug 2 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1898 | Unnamed 1898 stormAug 3 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormJul 7 | 40 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 3 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 23 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormOct 19 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormJul 27 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormSep 28 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 10 | 27 mi | Category 1 (93 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormAug 31 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormOct 16 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormSep 19 | 58 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormAug 12 | overhead | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormSep 16 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormAug 27 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 3 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Andalusia: a hurricane's worst winds sit within a few dozen miles of its centre, and inland cities are usually past that.
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Tornadoes within 25 miles of Andalusia
By decade
- 2020s10
- 2010s11
- 2000s18
- 1990s15
- 1980s6
- 1970s9(1 EF3+)
- 1960s6
- 1950s5(1 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 17, 1971 | F3 | 19 mi | 0.3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 3, 1956 | F3 | 20 mi | 3.8 mi | 0 / 2 |
| May 10, 2024 | EF2 | 24 mi | 24.24 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 19, 2020 | EF2 | 5 mi | 1.21 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 15, 2016 | EF2 | 20 mi | 2.19 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jan 4, 2015 | EF2 | 18 mi | 14.32 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 15, 2011 | EF2 | 3 mi | 22.95 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 17, 2008 | EF2 | 11 mi | 14.42 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 15, 2006 | F2 | 10 mi | 15.81 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Dec 28, 1983 | F2 | 5 mi | 15 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Jul 11, 1979 | F2 | 10 mi | 7.1 mi | 0 / 4 |
| Mar 31, 1976 | F2 | 7 mi | 3.8 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 80, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Andalusia
The Storm Prediction Center has 69 hail reports within 10 miles of Andalusia since 1956, made on 54 separate days. Of these, 43 were 1 inch across or larger, and 8 reached 2 inches. The largest, 4 inches (softball size), fell on July 22, 2018. The most recent report is from June 9, 2025. March has the most reports, 15.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Andalusia
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Andalusia 3 W, AL, 3 miles southwest of Andalusia at 250 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 91°F and low of 70°F; January is the coolest, at 61°F and 35°F. August is the wettest at 6.3 inches of precipitation on average and October the driest at 3.4 inches; the year adds up to 60.3 inches over 70 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 51% of the year's precipitation (30.8 of 60.3 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 52 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (18); a normal September there has highs of 87°F and 5.1 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 80 days a year, almost all from May to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 58 nights a year. That 60.3 inches is more than at 83 of the 107 Alabama stations used on this site (78%). Florala, 21 miles south, has its own station (Crestview Bob Sikes Airport, FL): 63.7 inches a year, 3.4 more than here, and a July average high of 92°F against 91°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 61 | 35 | 5.2 | 6 |
| Feb | 65 | 38 | 4.6 | 5 |
| Mar | 72 | 44 | 5.0 | 6 |
| Apr | 78 | 50 | 4.9 | 5 |
| May | 84 | 59 | 4.3 | 5 |
| Jun | 89 | 68 | 5.7 | 8 |
| Jul | 91 | 70 | 6.2 | 9 |
| Aug | 90 | 70 | 6.3 | 8 |
| Sep | 87 | 65 | 5.1 | 5 |
| Oct | 79 | 53 | 3.4 | 3 |
| Nov | 70 | 42 | 4.1 | 5 |
| Dec | 63 | 37 | 5.5 | 6 |
| Year | 77 | 53 | 60.3 | 70 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Andalusia 3 W, AL (250 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 Andalusia
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 113 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Andalusia: 100 thunderstorm wind reports, 8 flash floods, 4 floods and 1 heavy rain event. They killed 0 people and injured 2, and the NWS estimated $892,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 90 mph, on April 19, 2020. Of the 321 Alabama cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 93 have had fewer than Andalusia.
April 19, 2020: thunderstorm wind 5 miles from the centre of Andalusia — 2 injured.
NWS: “A storm survey identified a one mile area of significant straight line wind damage near the Gantt and Heath areas. Winds were estimated to be between 80 to 90 mph.”
March 12, 2001: thunderstorm wind 5 miles from the centre of Andalusia — $200,000 damage.
NWS: “The line of intense thunderstorms that had moved through the Red Level and Pigeon Creek areas of Covington county caused more damage along U. S.”
June 26, 2007: thunderstorm wind 2 miles from the centre of Andalusia — $100,000 damage.
NWS: “High winds from a thunderstorm blew down several trees and power lines in Andalusia. Two buildings suffered wind damage and trees fell on two homes and caused damage.”
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
Flood insurance policyholders in Andalusia's 2 ZIP codes have filed 29 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1994, and were paid $221,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Flooding in 1998: 12 claims (41% of all) and $49,000, then Hurricane Georges in 1998 with 10. 93% of the claims carry the name of a storm or flood event; the rest have no event name. Of the 118 Alabama cities on this site with 10 or more claims, 44 have fewer than Andalusia.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Flooding1998 | 12 | $49,000 |
| Hurricane Georges1998 | 10 | $137,000 |
Covington County, which includes Andalusia, has been named in 33 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1975, 21 of them major disasters (by incident: 15 hurricanes, 13 severe storms, 2 biological emergencies, 1 drought). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Sally, on September 20, 2020. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Covington County a Relatively Moderate rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for hurricanes and lightning; Relatively Moderate for tornadoes; Relatively Low for inland flooding, strong wind and heat waves; Very Low for hail. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $33.1 million a year, the 22nd highest of 67 Alabama counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $17.5 million (53%), is from hurricanes.
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 Andalusia
- Red Level, AL10 mi
- Opp, AL14 mi
- Brantley, AL20 mi
- Florala, AL21 mi
- Kinston, AL21 mi
- Elba, AL25 mi
- Laurel Hill, FL26 mi
- Georgiana, AL29 mi
- Evergreen, AL30 mi
- Samson, AL30 mi
- Luverne, AL31 mi
- Baker, FL33 mi
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