NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Fayette, 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
19 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Fayette, Alabama since 1851, 0 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Zeta in 2020. Since 1950, 142 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 20 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 0
- Tropical storms
- 19
- Tornadoes
- 142
- EF3 or stronger
- 20
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
59 deaths in all
What the records show for Fayette
None of the 19 tropical systems was at hurricane strength as it passed Fayette; the strongest was Zeta in 2020, a tropical storm with 68 mph winds when its centre passed 60 miles away. The record near Fayette begins with an unnamed storm in 1855; the most recent system was Zeta in 2020. The busiest decade was the 1910s, with 4 systems. Of the 19 systems, 3 have come since 2000. Fayette has more tropical storms and hurricanes within 75 miles than 50% of the 323 Alabama cities on this site. The strongest of the 142 tornadoes within 25 miles was an F5 on April 3, 1974; its path came within 18 miles, and it killed 28 people. Of the 142, 8 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 93 have come since 2000. March has had the most tornadoes, 32. The most recent tornado was on March 15, 2025. Fayette has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 59% of the 323 Alabama cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 34 times since 1958, with stones up to 2 inches (hen egg size). Of the 323 Alabama cities, 76% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Fayette.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Fayette
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | ZetaOct 29 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2005 | KatrinaAug 30 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2004 | IvanSep 16 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1985 | JuanNov 1 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1979 | FredericSep 13 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1950 | BakerAug 31 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormOct 16 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormOct 18 | 75 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormOct 18 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormJul 8 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormSep 30 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormSep 15 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormAug 16 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormSep 9 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1892 | Unnamed 1892 stormSep 13 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1881 | Unnamed 1881 stormAug 29 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormSep 2 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormSep 16 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1855 | Unnamed 1855 stormSep 17 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Fayette: 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 Fayette
By decade
- 2020s15
- 2010s34(4 EF3+)
- 2000s44(6 EF3+)
- 1990s7
- 1980s14(3 EF3+)
- 1970s13(4 EF3+)
- 1960s5(1 EF3+)
- 1950s10(2 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 3, 1974 | F5 | 18 mi | 79.5 mi | 28 / 272 |
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF4 | 13 mi | 127.8 mi | 13 / 54 |
| Apr 3, 1974 | F4 | 9 mi | 110.6 mi | 3 / 178 |
| Nov 10, 2002 | F3 | 6 mi | 72.6 mi | 7 / 53 |
| Nov 10, 2002 | F3 | 5 mi | 44.3 mi | 4 / 38 |
| Nov 24, 2001 | F3 | in town | 38.9 mi | 2 / 1 |
| Feb 4, 1971 | F3 | 25 mi | 34.1 mi | 1 / 13 |
| Feb 13, 1952 | F3 | 12 mi | 5.6 mi | 1 / 14 |
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF3 | 9 mi | 7.96 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF3 | 25 mi | 31.84 mi | 0 / 25 |
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF3 | 23 mi | 22.46 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jan 10, 2008 | EF3 | 23 mi | 5.62 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 142, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Fayette
The Storm Prediction Center has 34 hail reports within 10 miles of Fayette since 1958, made on 33 separate days. Of these, 19 were 1 inch across or larger, and one reached 2 inches. The largest, 2 inches (hen egg size), fell on May 9, 2024. The most recent report is from June 8, 2025. March and April have the most reports, 9 each.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Fayette
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Fayette, AL, 2 miles northeast of Fayette at 357 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 92°F and low of 71°F; January is the coolest, at 55°F and 34°F. April is the wettest at 5.8 inches of precipitation on average and September the driest at 3.3 inches; the year adds up to 57.0 inches over 78 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 44% of the year's precipitation (25.2 of 57.0 inches); the other six months are wetter. September has brought the most of the 19 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (9); a normal September there has highs of 87°F and 3.3 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 72 days a year, almost all from May to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 69 nights a year. That 57.0 inches is more than at 48 of the 107 Alabama stations used on this site (45%). Vernon, 16 miles west, has its own station (Vernon, AL): 58.5 inches a year, 1.5 more than here, and the same July average high, 92°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 55 | 34 | 5.5 | 8 |
| Feb | 59 | 37 | 5.5 | 7 |
| Mar | 68 | 43 | 5.3 | 8 |
| Apr | 76 | 50 | 5.8 | 6 |
| May | 83 | 59 | 4.0 | 6 |
| Jun | 89 | 67 | 5.2 | 7 |
| Jul | 92 | 71 | 4.9 | 7 |
| Aug | 91 | 69 | 4.0 | 7 |
| Sep | 87 | 63 | 3.3 | 4 |
| Oct | 77 | 51 | 3.5 | 5 |
| Nov | 65 | 41 | 4.3 | 6 |
| Dec | 57 | 37 | 5.7 | 7 |
| Year | 75 | 52 | 57.0 | 78 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Fayette, AL (357 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 Fayette
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 105 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Fayette: 94 thunderstorm wind reports, 9 flash floods, 1 heavy rain event and 1 lightning strike. They killed 1 person and injured 4, and the NWS estimated $1.3 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 86 mph, on February 16, 2001. April has had the most flash floods, 3 of 9. Of the 321 Alabama cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 105 have had fewer than Fayette.
February 16, 2001: thunderstorm wind 9 miles from the centre of Fayette — 1 killed, 4 injured, $400,000 damage.
NWS: “Jefferson County reported numerous trees and power lines down. One woman was killed in Ensley when a large tree smashed her car.”
February 16, 2001: thunderstorm wind 6 miles from the centre of Fayette — $250,000 damage.
NWS: “Fayette County reported numerous trees and power lines blown down throughout the county. A number of the trees fell onto automobiles and homes causing major 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
Fayette County, which includes Fayette, has been named in 21 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1974, 11 of them major disasters (by incident: 8 severe storms, 6 hurricanes, 2 biological emergencies, 1 drought). The latest major disaster declaration was Severe Storms and Flooding, on May 21, 2020. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Fayette County a Very Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Moderate for tornadoes, strong wind and lightning; Relatively Low for hurricanes, inland flooding and heat waves; Very Low for hail. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $8.6 million a year, the 52nd highest of 67 Alabama counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $3.6 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 Fayette
- Berry, AL15 mi
- Vernon, AL16 mi
- Winfield, AL17 mi
- Millport, AL17 mi
- Guin, AL20 mi
- Sulligent, AL21 mi
- Carbon Hill, AL22 mi
- Reform, AL22 mi
- Oakman, AL26 mi
- Gordo, AL27 mi
- Steens, MS28 mi
- Caledonia, MS28 mi
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