NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Hamilton, 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
14 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Hamilton, Alabama since 1851, 0 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Katrina in 2005. Since 1950, 103 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 10 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 0
- Tropical storms
- 14
- Tornadoes
- 103
- EF3 or stronger
- 10
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
126 deaths in all
What the records show for Hamilton
None of the 14 tropical systems was at hurricane strength as it passed Hamilton; the strongest was Frederic in 1979, a tropical storm with 52 mph winds when its centre passed 6 miles away. The record near Hamilton begins with an unnamed storm in 1860; the most recent system was Katrina in 2005, a tropical storm 31 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1910s, with 3 systems. Of the 14 systems, one has come since 2000. Of the 323 Alabama cities on this site, 64% have more tropical storms and hurricanes within 75 miles than Hamilton. The highest rating among the 103 tornadoes within 25 miles is F5 or EF5, reached 3 times; the most recent, on April 27, 2011, came within 2 miles. Of the 103, 8 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 63 have come since 2000. April has had the most tornadoes, 23. The most recent tornado was on March 23, 2025. Of the 323 Alabama cities, 75% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Hamilton. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 54 times since 1963, with stones up to 4 inches (softball size). Of the 323 Alabama cities, 52% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Hamilton.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Hamilton
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | KatrinaAug 30 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1979 | FredericSep 13 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1957 | AudreyJun 28 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1950 | BakerAug 31 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormJun 17 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormOct 18 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormOct 19 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormJul 8 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormSep 30 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormSep 9 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1892 | Unnamed 1892 stormSep 13 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1881 | Unnamed 1881 stormAug 29 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormSep 2 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormOct 3 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Hamilton: 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 Hamilton
By decade
- 2020s22(1 EF3+)
- 2010s24(3 EF3+)
- 2000s17
- 1990s5
- 1980s13(2 EF3+)
- 1970s7(2 EF3+)
- 1960s6(1 EF3+)
- 1950s9(1 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF5 | 2 mi | 132 mi | 72 / 145 |
| Apr 3, 1974 | F5 | 14 mi | 79.5 mi | 28 / 272 |
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF5 | 7 mi | 37.3 mi | 23 / 137 |
| Mar 24, 2023 | EF3 | 12 mi | 36.56 mi | 2 / 55 |
| Feb 4, 1971 | F3 | 8 mi | 34.1 mi | 1 / 13 |
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF3 | 9 mi | 31.84 mi | 0 / 25 |
| Mar 12, 1986 | F3 | 18 mi | 2.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 26, 1982 | F3 | 15 mi | 12 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 7, 1961 | F3 | 24 mi | 25.9 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Apr 8, 1957 | F3 | 3 mi | 51.4 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jan 12, 2023 | EF2 | 24 mi | 9.18 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 13, 2019 | EF2 | 17 mi | 13.2 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 103, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Hamilton
The Storm Prediction Center has 54 hail reports within 10 miles of Hamilton since 1963, made on 42 separate days. Of these, 32 were 1 inch across or larger, and 2 reached 2 inches. The largest, 4 inches (softball size), fell on April 27, 2011. The most recent report is from October 12, 2022. March has the most reports, 16.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Hamilton
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Hamilton 3 S, AL, 4 miles south of Hamilton at 435 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 92°F and low of 68°F; January is the coolest, at 53°F and 28°F. December is the wettest at 6.4 inches of precipitation on average and October the driest at 3.8 inches; the year adds up to 61.7 inches over 80 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 43% of the year's precipitation (26.6 of 61.7 inches); the other six months are wetter. September has brought the most of the 14 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (5); a normal September there has highs of 87°F and 3.9 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 78 days a year, almost all from May to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 96 nights a year. Snowfall averages 1.3 inches a year, most of it in January and February. That 61.7 inches is more than at 92 of the 107 Alabama stations used on this site (86%). Hackleburg, 12 miles northeast, has its own station (Haleyville, AL): 66.2 inches a year, 4.5 more than here, and a July average high of 89°F against 92°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 53 | 28 | 5.5 | 7 | 0.4 |
| Feb | 58 | 31 | 6.0 | 7 | 0.4 |
| Mar | 67 | 38 | 5.3 | 8 | 0.3 |
| Apr | 75 | 45 | 6.1 | 7 | 0.0 |
| May | 82 | 55 | 5.8 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 89 | 64 | 4.9 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 92 | 68 | 5.1 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 91 | 67 | 4.3 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 87 | 60 | 3.9 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 76 | 47 | 3.8 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Nov | 64 | 36 | 4.6 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Dec | 55 | 31 | 6.4 | 8 | 0.2 |
| Year | 74 | 48 | 61.7 | 80 | 1.3 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Hamilton 3 S, AL (435 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 Hamilton
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 124 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Hamilton: 114 thunderstorm wind reports, 6 flash floods, 2 heavy rain events, 1 flood and 1 lightning strike. They killed 0 people and injured 1, and the NWS estimated $970,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 75 mph, on February 21, 2001. December has had the most flash floods, 2 of 6. Of the 321 Alabama cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 64 have had fewer than Hamilton.
March 18, 2013: thunderstorm wind 2 miles from the centre of Hamilton — 1 injured.
NWS: “Numerous trees were reported down in Hamilton, with some trees falling on homes and causing damage. One tree landed on a car, trapping and injuring the person inside.”
February 21, 2001: thunderstorm wind 7 miles from the centre of Hamilton — $250,000 damage.
NWS: “Dime to quarter size hail was reported across Marion County with a line of thunderstorms that moved through. The hail completely covered the ground in many locations.”
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
Marion County, which includes Hamilton, has been named in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1973, 17 of them major disasters (by incident: 12 severe storms, 7 hurricanes, 2 biological emergencies, 2 tornadoes). The latest major disaster declaration was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes, on May 5, 2023. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Marion County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Very High for lightning; Relatively High for tornadoes; Relatively Moderate for strong wind; Relatively Low for hurricanes, hail, inland flooding and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $16.6 million a year, the 35th highest of 67 Alabama counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $6.1 million (37%), 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).
Hamilton in the notable storm records: The April 27, 2011 EF5 Tornado in Alabama, near Madison
What counts as a pass, the distances and the sources: how this storm history is built.
Cities near Hamilton
- Hackleburg, AL12 mi
- Guin, AL14 mi
- Winfield, AL20 mi
- Sulligent, AL21 mi
- Phil Campbell, AL21 mi
- Smithville, MS22 mi
- Red Bay, AL22 mi
- Spruce Pine, AL22 mi
- Haleyville, AL23 mi
- Golden, MS23 mi
- Fulton, MS23 mi
- Belmont, MS28 mi
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