NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Ashford, 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
56 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Ashford, Alabama since 1851, 11 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Fred in 2021. Since 1950, 164 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 2 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 11
- Tropical storms
- 45
- Tornadoes
- 164
- EF3 or stronger
- 2
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
3 deaths in all
What the records show for Ashford
The strongest storm to pass near Ashford was Michael in 2018, a Category 3 hurricane with 117 mph winds when its centre passed 26 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1896, whose centre came within 22 miles. The record near Ashford begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Fred in 2021, a tropical storm 9 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1880s, with 8 systems, 2 of them at hurricane strength. Of the 56 systems, 6 have come since 2000. Ashford has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 85% of the 323 Alabama cities on this site. The highest rating among the 164 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3, reached 2 times; the most recent, on March 22, 2005, came within 21 miles. The deadliest, an EF2 on January 9, 2024, killed 1 person. Of the 164, 12 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 92 have come since 2000. April has had the most tornadoes, 30. The most recent tornado was on May 10, 2025. Ashford has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 77% of the 323 Alabama cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 61 times since 1971, with stones up to 2.75 inches (baseball size). Ashford has more hail reports within 10 miles than 53% of the 323 Alabama cities.
Compare Ashford's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Ashford
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | FredAug 17 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2019 | NestorOct 19 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2018 | MichaelOct 10 | 26 mi | Category 3 (117 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2017 | IrmaSep 11 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2008 | FayAug 23 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2004 | FrancesSep 7 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1998 | EarlSep 3 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1994 | BerylAug 16 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1994 | AlbertoJul 3 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1985 | KateNov 22 | 55 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1975 | EloiseSep 23 | 51 mi | Category 2 (106 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1972 | AgnesJun 20 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1965 | Unnamed 1965 stormJun 15 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1964 | HildaOct 5 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1964 | DoraSep 12 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1957 | DebbieSep 8 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1956 | FlossySep 25 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1953 | FlorenceSep 27 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1953 | AliceJun 6 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1950 | KingOct 19 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1941 | Unnamed 1941 stormOct 7 | 57 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1937 | Unnamed 1937 stormAug 31 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 1 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormAug 14 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormAug 10 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormJul 29 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1917 | Unnamed 1917 stormSep 29 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormSep 4 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1914 | Unnamed 1914 stormSep 17 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormJul 16 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormSep 28 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormJun 29 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1906 | Unnamed 1906 stormJun 13 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1903 | Unnamed 1903 stormSep 14 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormSep 28 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormSep 17 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormAug 2 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1898 | Unnamed 1898 stormAug 3 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormJul 7 | 22 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormOct 9 | 46 mi | Category 2 (100 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 23 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormOct 20 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormJul 27 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJul 1 | 73 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormSep 21 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormAug 31 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 10 | 31 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1881 | Unnamed 1881 stormAug 28 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormOct 10 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 3 | 54 mi | Category 1 (85 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormSep 20 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1875 | Unnamed 1875 stormSep 27 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 26 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormAug 13 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1856 | Unnamed 1856 stormAug 31 | 22 mi | Category 1 (84 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1851 | Unnamed 1851 stormAug 24 | 29 mi | Category 2 (99 mph) | Category 3 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Ashford: 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 Ashford
By decade
- 2020s35
- 2010s34
- 2000s23(1 EF3+)
- 1990s19
- 1980s19
- 1970s17(1 EF3+)
- 1960s6
- 1950s11
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 22, 2005 | F3 | 21 mi | 18 mi | 1 / 18 |
| Dec 29, 1973 | F3 | 13 mi | 15 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Jan 9, 2024 | EF2 | 5 mi | 34.76 mi | 1 / 10 |
| Apr 19, 2020 | EF2 | 15 mi | 5.18 mi | 1 / 0 |
| May 10, 2025 | EF2 | 24 mi | 15.48 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Jan 9, 2024 | EF2 | 20 mi | 16.33 mi | 0 / 7 |
| Jun 14, 2023 | EF2 | 21 mi | 18.88 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jan 2, 2017 | EF2 | 21 mi | 10.87 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jan 2, 2017 | EF2 | 15 mi | 4.34 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jan 2, 2017 | EF2 | 9 mi | 7.82 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 22, 2005 | F2 | 7 mi | 3 mi | 0 / 4 |
| Sep 15, 2004 | F2 | 21 mi | 8 mi | 0 / 3 |
The strongest 12 of 164, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Ashford
The Storm Prediction Center has 61 hail reports within 10 miles of Ashford since 1971, made on 42 separate days. Of these, 33 were 1 inch across or larger, and one reached 2 inches. The largest, 2.75 inches (baseball size), fell on January 9, 2024. 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 Ashford
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Headland, AL, 14 miles northwest of Ashford 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 56 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (20); 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%). Cottonwood, 10 miles southwest, has its own station (Marianna Municipal Airport, FL): 51.2 inches a year, 5.7 less than here, and a July average high of 92°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 Ashford
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 305 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Ashford: 257 thunderstorm wind reports, 38 flash floods, 4 lightning strikes, 3 floods and 3 heavy rain events. They killed 2 people and injured 8, and the NWS estimated $4.8 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 86 mph, on June 7, 2013. February has had the most flash floods, 22 of 38. Of the 321 Alabama cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 268 have had fewer than Ashford.
June 7, 2013: thunderstorm wind 8 miles from the centre of Ashford — 1 killed.
July 26, 2017: lightning strike 8 miles from the centre of Ashford — 1 killed.
April 25, 2015: thunderstorm wind 9 miles from the centre of Ashford — 3 injured, $2.2 million 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 Ashford's ZIP code 36312 have filed 19 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1978, and were paid $617,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. Of the 118 Alabama cities on this site with 10 or more claims, 26 have fewer than Ashford.
Houston County, which includes Ashford, has been named in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1975, 17 of them major disasters (by incident: 12 hurricanes, 11 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 Houston County a Relatively Moderate rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for hurricanes, tornadoes, strong wind and lightning; Relatively Moderate for inland flooding and heat waves; Relatively Low for hail. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $55.2 million a year, the 9th highest of 67 Alabama counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $23.4 million (42%), 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 Ashford
- Cowarts, AL4 mi
- Cottonwood, AL10 mi
- Dothan, AL11 mi
- Columbia, AL11 mi
- Headland, AL15 mi
- Malone, FL16 mi
- Midland City, AL17 mi
- Slocomb, AL19 mi
- Blakely, GA21 mi
- Newton, AL22 mi
- Greenwood, FL23 mi
- Graceville, FL24 mi
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