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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

within 75 mi, since 1851

Tropical storms
50

below hurricane strength

Tornadoes
116

within 25 mi, since 1950

EF3 or stronger
5

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.

Compare Chunchula's storm record with another city →

Tropical storms and hurricanes near Chunchula

Tropical systems that passed within 75 miles of Chunchula, Alabama, newest first
YearStormClosestStrength when closestPeak
2020ZetaOct 2947 miCategory 1 (85 mph)Category 3
2020SallySep 1646 miCategory 1 (91 mph)Category 2
2018GordonSep 537 miTropical storm (60 mph)Tropical storm
2017NateOct 825 miTropical storm (59 mph)Category 1
2011LeeSep 535 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
2009IdaNov 1047 miTropical storm (39 mph)Category 2
2005DennisJul 1042 miTropical storm (69 mph)Category 4
2005CindyJul 625 miTropical storm (40 mph)Category 1
2005ArleneJun 1137 miTropical storm (43 mph)Tropical storm
2004IvanSep 1624 miCategory 2 (97 mph)Category 5
2002HannaSep 1441 miTropical storm (58 mph)Tropical storm
2001AllisonJun 1113 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1998GeorgesSep 2928 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 4
1997DannyJul 1943 miCategory 1 (75 mph)Category 1
1995ErinAug 39 miTropical storm (61 mph)Category 2
1985JuanOct 3144 miTropical storm (59 mph)Category 1
1985ElenaSep 262 miCategory 3 (116 mph)Category 3
1979FredericSep 1320 miCategory 2 (106 mph)Category 4
1964HildaOct 427 miTropical storm (60 mph)Category 4
1960EthelSep 1650 miTropical storm (49 mph)Category 3
1959IreneOct 842 miTropical storm (45 mph)Tropical storm
1950BakerAug 3117 miCategory 1 (75 mph)Category 2
1948Unnamed 1948 stormSep 472 miTropical storm (51 mph)Category 1
1948Unnamed 1948 stormJul 969 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1947Unnamed 1947 stormSep 834 miTropical storm (43 mph)Tropical storm
1944Unnamed 1944 stormSep 1118 miTropical storm (45 mph)Tropical storm
1939Unnamed 1939 stormSep 2629 miTropical storm (41 mph)Tropical storm
1939Unnamed 1939 stormAug 1349 miTropical storm (43 mph)Category 1
1939Unnamed 1939 stormJun 1612 miTropical storm (44 mph)Tropical storm
1936Unnamed 1936 stormAug 159 miTropical storm (54 mph)Category 2
1934Unnamed 1934 stormOct 661 miTropical storm (43 mph)Tropical storm
1932Unnamed 1932 stormOct 1640 miTropical storm (48 mph)Tropical storm
1932Unnamed 1932 stormSep 119 miCategory 1 (75 mph)Category 1
1926Unnamed 1926 stormSep 2146 miCategory 1 (74 mph)Category 4
1923Unnamed 1923 stormOct 1850 miTropical storm (55 mph)Tropical storm
1923Unnamed 1923 stormJun 266 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1919Unnamed 1919 stormJul 454 miTropical storm (39 mph)Tropical storm
1916Unnamed 1916 stormOct 1852 miCategory 2 (97 mph)Category 2
1916Unnamed 1916 stormJul 627 miCategory 1 (92 mph)Category 3
1914Unnamed 1914 stormSep 1845 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1912Unnamed 1912 stormSep 1419 miTropical storm (55 mph)Category 1
1912Unnamed 1912 stormJun 1371 miTropical storm (49 mph)Tropical storm
1911Unnamed 1911 stormAug 1226 miTropical storm (63 mph)Category 1
1907Unnamed 1907 stormSep 2231 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1906Unnamed 1906 stormSep 2739 miCategory 1 (94 mph)Category 3
1902Unnamed 1902 stormOct 1067 miTropical storm (54 mph)Category 2
1901Unnamed 1901 stormAug 167 miTropical storm (69 mph)Category 1
1900Unnamed 1900 stormSep 1340 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1898Unnamed 1898 stormAug 369 miTropical storm (40 mph)Category 1
1895Unnamed 1895 stormAug 1619 miTropical storm (43 mph)Tropical storm
1894Unnamed 1894 stormAug 85 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
1893Unnamed 1893 stormOct 2overheadCategory 1 (84 mph)Category 4
1892Unnamed 1892 stormSep 1234 miTropical storm (45 mph)Tropical storm
1889Unnamed 1889 stormSep 2354 miTropical storm (69 mph)Category 2
1887Unnamed 1887 stormOct 1910 miTropical storm (53 mph)Category 1
1887Unnamed 1887 stormJun 1461 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1885Unnamed 1885 stormSep 2725 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 1
1881Unnamed 1881 stormAug 313 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
1880Unnamed 1880 stormAug 3137 miTropical storm (59 mph)Category 2
1879Unnamed 1879 stormOct 1668 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
1877Unnamed 1877 stormSep 1967 miCategory 1 (81 mph)Category 1
1872Unnamed 1872 stormJul 1248 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
1860Unnamed 1860 stormSep 1545 miTropical storm (71 mph)Category 2
1860Unnamed 1860 stormAug 124 miCategory 1 (86 mph)Category 3
1859Unnamed 1859 stormSep 1629 miTropical storm (68 mph)Category 1
1855Unnamed 1855 stormSep 1653 miCategory 1 (77 mph)Category 3
1852Unnamed 1852 stormAug 264 miCategory 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+)
Strongest tornadoes near Chunchula, Alabama
DateRatingDistancePathKilled / injured
Apr 15, 2011EF320 mi18.3 mi4 / 28
Nov 21, 1997F312 mi1 mi0 / 0
Mar 27, 1976F314 mi13.9 mi0 / 0
Nov 3, 1968F314 mi70.4 mi0 / 18
Apr 18, 1950F310 mi14 mi0 / 15
Jan 12, 2023EF24 mi11.65 mi0 / 0
Dec 25, 2012EF217 mi5.15 mi0 / 0
Feb 10, 1981F225 mi1.5 mi0 / 62
Apr 13, 1980F225 mi0.1 mi0 / 0
Jun 16, 1977F212 mi0.1 mi0 / 0
Feb 23, 1977F222 mi13.9 mi0 / 0
Apr 7, 1973F225 mi0.1 mi0 / 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.

Monthly climate normals 1991–2020 at Mobile, AL
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. inDays ≥ 0.1"Water °F
Jan62415.7753
Feb66444.5655
Mar72505.4662
Apr78565.7669
May85645.4677
Jun89716.6983
Jul91737.71186
Aug91736.9988
Sep88695.3684
Oct80584.0477
Nov70484.6568
Dec64435.5760
Year785767.38072

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.

Alabama weather by month, station by station →

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