NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Chunchula, 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
67 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Chunchula, Alabama since 1851, 17 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Zeta in 2020. Since 1950, 116 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 5 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 17
- Tropical storms
- 50
- Tornadoes
- 116
- EF3 or stronger
- 5
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
5 deaths in all
What the records show for Chunchula
The strongest storm to pass near Chunchula was Elena in 1985, a Category 3 hurricane with 116 mph winds when its centre passed 62 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1893, whose centre crossed the city. The record near Chunchula begins with an unnamed storm in 1852; the most recent system was Zeta in 2020, a Category 1 hurricane 47 miles away. Of the 67 systems, 12 have come since 2000. Chunchula has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 91% of the 323 Alabama cities on this site. The highest rating among the 116 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3 or EF3, reached 5 times; the most recent, on April 15, 2011, came within 20 miles. Of the 116, 5 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 62 have come since 2000. April has had the most tornadoes, 22. The most recent tornado was on May 29, 2025. Of the 323 Alabama cities, 63% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Chunchula. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 40 times since 1971, with stones up to 2.75 inches (baseball size). Of the 323 Alabama cities, 69% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Chunchula.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Chunchula
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | ZetaOct 29 | 47 mi | Category 1 (85 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2020 | SallySep 16 | 46 mi | Category 1 (91 mph) | Category 2 |
| 2018 | GordonSep 5 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2017 | NateOct 8 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2011 | LeeSep 5 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2009 | IdaNov 10 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 2 |
| 2005 | DennisJul 10 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2005 | CindyJul 6 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2005 | ArleneJun 11 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2004 | IvanSep 16 | 24 mi | Category 2 (97 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2002 | HannaSep 14 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2001 | AllisonJun 11 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1998 | GeorgesSep 29 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1997 | DannyJul 19 | 43 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1995 | ErinAug 3 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1985 | JuanOct 31 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1985 | ElenaSep 2 | 62 mi | Category 3 (116 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1979 | FredericSep 13 | 20 mi | Category 2 (106 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1964 | HildaOct 4 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | EthelSep 16 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1959 | IreneOct 8 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1950 | BakerAug 31 | 17 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1948 | Unnamed 1948 stormSep 4 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1948 | Unnamed 1948 stormJul 9 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormSep 8 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormSep 11 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1939 | Unnamed 1939 stormSep 26 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1939 | Unnamed 1939 stormAug 13 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1939 | Unnamed 1939 stormJun 16 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1936 | Unnamed 1936 stormAug 1 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormOct 6 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormOct 16 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormSep 1 | 19 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormSep 21 | 46 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormOct 18 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormJun 26 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1919 | Unnamed 1919 stormJul 4 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormOct 18 | 52 mi | Category 2 (97 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormJul 6 | 27 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1914 | Unnamed 1914 stormSep 18 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormSep 14 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormJun 13 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1911 | Unnamed 1911 stormAug 12 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormSep 22 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1906 | Unnamed 1906 stormSep 27 | 39 mi | Category 1 (94 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormOct 10 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormAug 16 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1900 | Unnamed 1900 stormSep 13 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1898 | Unnamed 1898 stormAug 3 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1895 | Unnamed 1895 stormAug 16 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormAug 8 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 2 | overhead | Category 1 (84 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1892 | Unnamed 1892 stormSep 12 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 23 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormOct 19 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormJun 14 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormSep 27 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1881 | Unnamed 1881 stormAug 3 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormAug 31 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormOct 16 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormSep 19 | 67 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1872 | Unnamed 1872 stormJul 12 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormSep 15 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormAug 12 | 4 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormSep 16 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1855 | Unnamed 1855 stormSep 16 | 53 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormAug 26 | 4 mi | Category 1 (89 mph) | Category 3 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Chunchula: 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 Chunchula
By decade
- 2020s32
- 2010s15(1 EF3+)
- 2000s15
- 1990s9(1 EF3+)
- 1980s11
- 1970s20(1 EF3+)
- 1960s7(1 EF3+)
- 1950s7(1 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 15, 2011 | EF3 | 20 mi | 18.3 mi | 4 / 28 |
| Nov 21, 1997 | F3 | 12 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 27, 1976 | F3 | 14 mi | 13.9 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 3, 1968 | F3 | 14 mi | 70.4 mi | 0 / 18 |
| Apr 18, 1950 | F3 | 10 mi | 14 mi | 0 / 15 |
| Jan 12, 2023 | EF2 | 4 mi | 11.65 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Dec 25, 2012 | EF2 | 17 mi | 5.15 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 10, 1981 | F2 | 25 mi | 1.5 mi | 0 / 62 |
| Apr 13, 1980 | F2 | 25 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 16, 1977 | F2 | 12 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 23, 1977 | F2 | 22 mi | 13.9 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 7, 1973 | F2 | 25 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 116, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Chunchula
The Storm Prediction Center has 40 hail reports within 10 miles of Chunchula since 1971, made on 38 separate days. Of these, 18 were 1 inch across or larger, and one reached 2 inches. The largest, 2.75 inches (baseball size), fell on August 27, 1973. The most recent report is from June 9, 2025. May has the most reports, 11.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Chunchula
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Mobile, AL, 20 miles south of Chunchula at 208 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 91°F and low of 73°F; January is the coolest, at 62°F and 41°F. July is the wettest at 7.7 inches of precipitation on average and October the driest at 4.0 inches; the year adds up to 67.3 inches over 80 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 52% of the year's precipitation (35.1 of 67.3 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 67 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (27); a normal September there has highs of 88°F and 5.3 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 77 days a year, almost all from May to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 21 nights a year. That 67.3 inches is more than at 102 of the 107 Alabama stations used on this site (95%). Satsuma, 11 miles southeast, has its own station (Mobile Dwtn Airport, AL): 60.6 inches a year, 6.7 less than here, and a July average high of 92°F against 91°F.
Water temperature at the NOAA tide station Mobile State Docks, AL, 20 miles southeast, averaged 88°F in August and 53°F in January over 2021–2025. It averaged 80°F or warmer from June to September. Sea level at the Mobile State Docks tide gauge, 20 miles from Chunchula, has risen 1.82 ± 0.24 inches per decade from 1980 to 2025, NOAA's linear trend; at that pace it is 18.2 inches in a hundred years. That is faster than at 113 of the 144 U.S. gauges with a NOAA trend.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Water °F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 62 | 41 | 5.7 | 7 | 53 |
| Feb | 66 | 44 | 4.5 | 6 | 55 |
| Mar | 72 | 50 | 5.4 | 6 | 62 |
| Apr | 78 | 56 | 5.7 | 6 | 69 |
| May | 85 | 64 | 5.4 | 6 | 77 |
| Jun | 89 | 71 | 6.6 | 9 | 83 |
| Jul | 91 | 73 | 7.7 | 11 | 86 |
| Aug | 91 | 73 | 6.9 | 9 | 88 |
| Sep | 88 | 69 | 5.3 | 6 | 84 |
| Oct | 80 | 58 | 4.0 | 4 | 77 |
| Nov | 70 | 48 | 4.6 | 5 | 68 |
| Dec | 64 | 43 | 5.5 | 7 | 60 |
| Year | 78 | 57 | 67.3 | 80 | 72 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Mobile, AL (208 ft), from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals; water temperature: average of hourly readings 2021–2025 at the NOAA tide station Mobile State Docks, AL, from NOAA Tides & Currents. 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 Chunchula
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 46 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Chunchula: 40 thunderstorm wind reports and 6 flash floods. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $353,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 75 mph, on June 11, 2001. Of the 321 Alabama cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 64 have had fewer than Chunchula.
May 15, 2008: thunderstorm wind 8 miles from the centre of Chunchula — $100,000 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 Chunchula's ZIP code 36521 have filed 12 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1979, and were paid $67,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. 42% 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, 4 have fewer than Chunchula.
Mobile County, which includes Chunchula, has been named in 41 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1969, 27 of them major disasters (by incident: 26 hurricanes, 9 severe storms, 2 biological emergencies, 1 drought). The latest major disaster declaration was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes, on January 15, 2023. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Mobile County a Relatively High rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Very High for hurricanes and lightning; Relatively High for tornadoes, inland flooding and coastal flooding; Relatively Moderate for hail, strong wind and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $298.2 million a year, the highest of 67 Alabama counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $178.2 million (60%), 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 Chunchula
- Citronelle, AL9 mi
- Saraland, AL11 mi
- Satsuma, AL11 mi
- Eight Mile, AL12 mi
- Mount Vernon, AL13 mi
- Wilmer, AL14 mi
- Semmes, AL15 mi
- Chickasaw, AL15 mi
- Whistler, AL15 mi
- Prichard, AL17 mi
- Mcintosh, AL20 mi
- Mobile, AL21 mi
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