NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Citronelle, 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
65 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Citronelle, Alabama since 1851, 13 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Zeta in 2020. Since 1950, 77 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 8 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 13
- Tropical storms
- 52
- Tornadoes
- 77
- EF3 or stronger
- 8
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
5 deaths in all
What the records show for Citronelle
The strongest storm to pass near Citronelle was Elena in 1985, a Category 3 hurricane with 115 mph winds when its centre passed 68 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1852, whose centre came within 4 miles. The record near Citronelle begins with an unnamed storm in 1852; the most recent system was Zeta in 2020, a Category 1 hurricane 38 miles away. Of the 65 systems, 12 have come since 2000. Citronelle has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 88% of the 323 Alabama cities on this site. The highest rating among the 77 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3 or EF3, reached 8 times; the most recent, on November 30, 2022, came within 20 miles. The deadliest, an EF3 on April 15, 2011, killed 4 people. Of the 77, 3 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 43 have come since 2000. March and April have had the most tornadoes, 14 each. The most recent tornado was on May 29, 2025. Of the 323 Alabama cities, 94% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Citronelle. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 31 times since 1983, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Of the 323 Alabama cities, 82% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Citronelle.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Citronelle
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | ZetaOct 29 | 38 mi | Category 1 (84 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2020 | SallySep 16 | 54 mi | Category 1 (89 mph) | Category 2 |
| 2018 | GordonSep 5 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2017 | NateOct 8 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2011 | LeeSep 5 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2009 | IdaNov 10 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 2 |
| 2005 | DennisJul 10 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2005 | CindyJul 6 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2005 | ArleneJun 11 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2004 | IvanSep 16 | 30 mi | Category 1 (93 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2002 | HannaSep 14 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2001 | AllisonJun 11 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1998 | GeorgesSep 29 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1997 | DannyJul 19 | 51 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1995 | ErinAug 3 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1985 | JuanOct 31 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1985 | ElenaSep 2 | 68 mi | Category 3 (115 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1979 | FredericSep 13 | 16 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1964 | HildaOct 4 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | EthelSep 16 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1959 | IreneOct 8 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1950 | BakerAug 31 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1948 | Unnamed 1948 stormSep 4 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormSep 8 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormSep 11 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1939 | Unnamed 1939 stormSep 26 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1939 | Unnamed 1939 stormAug 13 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1939 | Unnamed 1939 stormJun 16 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1936 | Unnamed 1936 stormAug 1 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormOct 6 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormOct 16 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormSep 1 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormSep 21 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormOct 18 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormJun 26 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1919 | Unnamed 1919 stormJul 4 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormOct 18 | 57 mi | Category 1 (93 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormJul 6 | 27 mi | Category 1 (91 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1914 | Unnamed 1914 stormSep 18 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormSep 14 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormJun 13 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1911 | Unnamed 1911 stormAug 12 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormSep 22 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1906 | Unnamed 1906 stormSep 27 | 37 mi | Category 1 (91 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormOct 10 | 75 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormAug 16 | overhead | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1900 | Unnamed 1900 stormSep 13 | 44 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 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormAug 8 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 2 | 9 mi | Category 1 (84 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1892 | Unnamed 1892 stormSep 12 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 23 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormOct 19 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormJun 14 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormSep 27 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1881 | Unnamed 1881 stormAug 3 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormSep 1 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormOct 16 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1872 | Unnamed 1872 stormJul 12 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormSep 15 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormAug 12 | 13 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormSep 16 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1855 | Unnamed 1855 stormSep 16 | 47 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormAug 26 | 4 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 3 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Citronelle: 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 Citronelle
By decade
- 2020s20(1 EF3+)
- 2010s11(1 EF3+)
- 2000s12
- 1990s7(1 EF3+)
- 1980s8(2 EF3+)
- 1970s14(1 EF3+)
- 1960s3(1 EF3+)
- 1950s2(1 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 15, 2011 | EF3 | 11 mi | 18.3 mi | 4 / 28 |
| Nov 30, 2022 | EF3 | 20 mi | 20.06 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 21, 1997 | F3 | 21 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 20, 1983 | F3 | 19 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 19, 1980 | F3 | 23 mi | 4.3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 27, 1976 | F3 | 12 mi | 13.9 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 3, 1968 | F3 | 23 mi | 70.4 mi | 0 / 18 |
| Apr 18, 1950 | F3 | 18 mi | 14 mi | 0 / 15 |
| Jan 12, 2023 | EF2 | 5 mi | 11.65 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 16, 1977 | F2 | 21 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 23, 1977 | F2 | 14 mi | 13.9 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 16, 1976 | F2 | 20 mi | 0.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 77, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Citronelle
The Storm Prediction Center has 31 hail reports within 10 miles of Citronelle since 1983, made on 30 separate days. Of these, 13 were 1 inch across or larger, and none reached 2 inches. The largest size, 1.75 inches (golf ball size), was reported on 3 days, most recently April 22, 2005. The most recent report is from June 9, 2025. May has the most reports, 9.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Floods, thunderstorm wind and lightning near Citronelle
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 31 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Citronelle: 25 thunderstorm wind reports and 6 flash floods. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $177,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 70 mph, on April 3, 2017. March has had the most flash floods, 3 of 6. Of the 321 Alabama cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 64 have had fewer than Citronelle.
May 15, 2008: thunderstorm wind 2 miles from the centre of Citronelle — $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
Mobile County, which includes Citronelle, 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 Citronelle
- Chunchula, AL9 mi
- Mount Vernon, AL14 mi
- Mcintosh, AL15 mi
- Wilmer, AL18 mi
- Satsuma, AL19 mi
- Saraland, AL20 mi
- Eight Mile, AL20 mi
- Leakesville, MS21 mi
- Semmes, AL21 mi
- Lucedale, MS24 mi
- Chickasaw, AL24 mi
- Whistler, AL24 mi
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