NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Greensboro, 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
26 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Greensboro, Alabama since 1851, 0 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Zeta in 2020. Since 1950, 108 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 10 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 0
- Tropical storms
- 26
- Tornadoes
- 108
- EF3 or stronger
- 10
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
36 deaths in all
What the records show for Greensboro
None of the 26 tropical systems was at hurricane strength as it passed Greensboro; the strongest was Zeta in 2020, a tropical storm with 70 mph winds when its centre crossed the city. The record near Greensboro begins with an unnamed storm in 1852; the most recent system was Zeta in 2020. The busiest decade was the 1910s, with 5 systems. Of the 26 systems, 5 have come since 2000. Greensboro has more tropical storms and hurricanes within 75 miles than 67% of the 323 Alabama cities on this site. The highest rating among the 108 tornadoes within 25 miles is F4 or EF4, reached 3 times; the most recent, on April 27, 2011, came within 16 miles. The deadliest, an F4 on December 16, 2000, killed 11 people. Of the 108, 15 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 85 have come since 2000. March has had the most tornadoes, 25. The most recent tornado was on March 15, 2025. Of the 323 Alabama cities, 71% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Greensboro. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 28 times since 1988, with stones up to 2.75 inches (baseball size). Of the 323 Alabama cities, 85% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Greensboro.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Greensboro
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | ZetaOct 29 | overhead | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2017 | NateOct 8 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2011 | LeeSep 5 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2005 | DennisJul 11 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2004 | IvanSep 16 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1995 | OpalOct 5 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1985 | JuanNov 1 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1979 | FredericSep 13 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1950 | BakerAug 31 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1936 | Unnamed 1936 stormAug 1 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormOct 16 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormOct 18 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormJul 8 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormSep 30 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormSep 14 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormJun 14 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormSep 22 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormAug 16 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 3 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1892 | Unnamed 1892 stormSep 13 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1881 | Unnamed 1881 stormAug 29 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormSep 1 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormSep 16 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormSep 16 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1855 | Unnamed 1855 stormSep 17 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormAug 27 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 3 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Greensboro: 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 Greensboro
By decade
- 2020s30(2 EF3+)
- 2010s33(3 EF3+)
- 2000s22(1 EF3+)
- 1990s2(1 EF3+)
- 1980s4
- 1970s11(2 EF3+)
- 1960s5(1 EF3+)
- 1950s1
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 16, 2000 | F4 | 25 mi | 18 mi | 11 / 144 |
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF4 | 16 mi | 122.04 mi | 7 / 17 |
| May 27, 1973 | F4 | 5 mi | 139.1 mi | 7 / 199 |
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF3 | 8 mi | 72.13 mi | 7 / 50 |
| Mar 10, 1992 | F3 | 3 mi | 18 mi | 2 / 7 |
| Mar 25, 2021 | EF3 | 3 mi | 79.66 mi | 0 / 13 |
| Mar 25, 2021 | EF3 | 16 mi | 11.11 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 15, 2011 | EF3 | 23 mi | 18.37 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 26, 1971 | F3 | 18 mi | 4.3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Dec 11, 1961 | F3 | 13 mi | 9.4 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Feb 3, 2022 | EF2 | 9 mi | 25.87 mi | 1 / 8 |
| Jan 12, 2023 | EF2 | 2 mi | 21.9 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 108, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Greensboro
The Storm Prediction Center has 28 hail reports within 10 miles of Greensboro since 1988, made on 20 separate days. Of these, 17 were 1 inch across or larger, and one reached 2 inches. The largest, 2.75 inches (baseball size), fell on February 13, 2007. The most recent report is from March 26, 2023. March has the most reports, 11.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Greensboro
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Greensboro 2 WNW, AL, 2 miles northwest of Greensboro at 280 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 91°F and low of 71°F; January is the coolest, at 56°F and 35°F. June is the wettest at 5.8 inches of precipitation on average and October the driest at 3.3 inches; the year adds up to 55.0 inches over 77 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 46% of the year's precipitation (25.1 of 55.0 inches); the other six months are wetter. September has brought the most of the 26 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (11); a normal September there has highs of 86°F and 3.8 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 68 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 44 nights a year. That 55.0 inches is more than at 22 of the 107 Alabama stations used on this site (21%). Marion, 16 miles east, has its own station (Greensboro, AL): 54.9 inches a year, 0.1 less than here, and a July average high of 90°F against 91°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56 | 35 | 5.0 | 6 |
| Feb | 61 | 39 | 5.5 | 8 |
| Mar | 68 | 45 | 5.6 | 8 |
| Apr | 75 | 52 | 4.7 | 6 |
| May | 82 | 60 | 3.9 | 6 |
| Jun | 88 | 68 | 5.8 | 7 |
| Jul | 91 | 71 | 4.1 | 8 |
| Aug | 91 | 70 | 4.0 | 7 |
| Sep | 86 | 65 | 3.8 | 4 |
| Oct | 77 | 53 | 3.3 | 5 |
| Nov | 66 | 43 | 4.1 | 5 |
| Dec | 59 | 39 | 5.2 | 8 |
| Year | 75 | 53 | 55.0 | 77 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Greensboro 2 WNW, AL (280 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 Greensboro
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 56 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Greensboro: 46 thunderstorm wind reports, 9 flash floods and 1 heavy rain event. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $315,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 75 mph, on April 15, 2022. May 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 Greensboro.
May 3, 2009: thunderstorm wind in Greensboro — $100,000 damage.
NWS: “Numerous trees and power lines were blown down across Hale County, including around Greensboro. A total of 9 homes were damaged by fallen trees, including 5 homes in the Faunsdale area.”
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 Greensboro's ZIP code 36744 have filed 18 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1979, and were paid $116,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. 6% 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, 22 have fewer than Greensboro.
Hale County, which includes Greensboro, has been named in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1973, 13 of them major disasters (by incident: 10 hurricanes, 6 severe storms, 2 biological emergencies, 2 floods). The latest major disaster declaration was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes, on January 15, 2023. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Hale County a Very Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for lightning; Relatively Moderate for tornadoes; Relatively Low for hurricanes, inland flooding, strong wind and heat waves; Very Low for hail. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $7.8 million a year, the 55th highest of 67 Alabama counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $3.3 million (43%), 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 Greensboro
- Marion, AL16 mi
- Moundville, AL18 mi
- Uniontown, AL19 mi
- Gallion, AL19 mi
- Demopolis, AL20 mi
- Eutaw, AL25 mi
- Brent, AL27 mi
- Duncanville, AL27 mi
- Linden, AL30 mi
- Livingston, AL32 mi
- Centreville, AL32 mi
- Tuscaloosa, AL34 mi
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