NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Newton, 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
55 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Newton, Alabama since 1851, 11 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Fred in 2021. Since 1950, 160 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 6 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 11
- Tropical storms
- 44
- Tornadoes
- 160
- EF3 or stronger
- 6
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
17 deaths in all
What the records show for Newton
The strongest storm to pass near Newton was Michael in 2018, a Category 3 hurricane with 121 mph winds when its centre passed 48 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1896, whose centre came within 1 mile. The record near Newton begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Fred in 2021, a tropical storm 12 miles away. The 1880s and the 1900s were the busiest decades, with 7 systems each. Of the 55 systems, 8 have come since 2000. Newton has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 85% of the 323 Alabama cities on this site. The strongest of the 160 tornadoes within 25 miles was an EF4 on March 1, 2007; its path came within 13 miles, and it killed 9 people. Of the 160, 13 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 83 have come since 2000. March has had the most tornadoes, 24. The most recent tornado was on May 10, 2025. Newton has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 73% of the 323 Alabama cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 41 times since 1972, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Of the 323 Alabama cities, 67% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Newton.
Compare Newton's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Newton
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | FredAug 17 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2020 | SallySep 17 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 2019 | NestorOct 19 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2018 | MichaelOct 10 | 48 mi | Category 3 (121 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2018 | AlbertoMay 28 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | FayAug 23 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2004 | FrancesSep 7 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2001 | BarryAug 6 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1998 | EarlSep 3 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1995 | OpalOct 5 | 64 mi | Category 1 (85 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1994 | BerylAug 16 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1994 | AlbertoJul 3 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1985 | KateNov 22 | 74 mi | Category 1 (89 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1975 | EloiseSep 23 | 29 mi | Category 2 (106 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1972 | AgnesJun 20 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1965 | Unnamed 1965 stormJun 15 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1964 | HildaOct 5 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1964 | DoraSep 12 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1957 | DebbieSep 8 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1956 | FlossySep 25 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1953 | FlorenceSep 27 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1953 | AliceJun 6 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1950 | KingOct 19 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1937 | Unnamed 1937 stormAug 31 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 1 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormAug 15 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormAug 10 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1917 | Unnamed 1917 stormSep 29 | 4 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormSep 4 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1914 | Unnamed 1914 stormSep 18 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormSep 28 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormJun 29 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1906 | Unnamed 1906 stormJun 13 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1903 | Unnamed 1903 stormSep 14 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormOct 11 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormSep 28 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormSep 17 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormAug 2 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1898 | Unnamed 1898 stormAug 3 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormJul 7 | 1 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormOct 9 | 63 mi | Category 2 (106 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 23 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormOct 20 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormJul 27 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormAug 31 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 10 | 12 mi | Category 1 (84 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1881 | Unnamed 1881 stormAug 28 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormAug 31 | 75 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 3 | 72 mi | Category 1 (89 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormSep 20 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1875 | Unnamed 1875 stormSep 27 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 26 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormAug 12 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1856 | Unnamed 1856 stormAug 31 | 41 mi | Category 1 (87 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1851 | Unnamed 1851 stormAug 24 | 49 mi | Category 2 (101 mph) | Category 3 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Newton: 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 Newton
By decade
- 2020s28
- 2010s26
- 2000s29(1 EF3+)
- 1990s23
- 1980s22(2 EF3+)
- 1970s16(3 EF3+)
- 1960s5
- 1950s11
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 1, 2007 | EF4 | 13 mi | 10.33 mi | 9 / 50 |
| Nov 25, 1986 | F3 | 20 mi | 44 mi | 0 / 4 |
| May 16, 1983 | F3 | 21 mi | 1.5 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Dec 30, 1973 | F3 | 13 mi | 1.5 mi | 0 / 14 |
| Dec 29, 1973 | F3 | 16 mi | 15 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Dec 29, 1973 | F3 | 7 mi | 11.6 mi | 0 / 11 |
| Jan 13, 1972 | F2 | 11 mi | 6.3 mi | 4 / 88 |
| Jan 9, 2024 | EF2 | 22 mi | 34.76 mi | 1 / 10 |
| Apr 19, 2020 | EF2 | 22 mi | 5.18 mi | 1 / 0 |
| Dec 16, 2000 | F2 | 20 mi | 4.5 mi | 1 / 9 |
| Jun 25, 1972 | F2 | 20 mi | 0.5 mi | 1 / 2 |
| May 10, 2025 | EF2 | 17 mi | 15.48 mi | 0 / 1 |
The strongest 12 of 160, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Newton
The Storm Prediction Center has 41 hail reports within 10 miles of Newton since 1972, made on 34 separate days. Of these, 23 were 1 inch across or larger, and none reached 2 inches. The largest size, 1.75 inches (golf ball size), was reported on 9 days, most recently April 5, 2017. The most recent report is from March 13, 2025. March has the most reports, 13.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Newton
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Dothan Regional Airport, AL, 10 miles northeast of Newton at 370 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 93°F and low of 73°F; January is the coolest, at 62°F and 40°F. August is the wettest at 6.2 inches of precipitation on average and October the driest at 2.7 inches; the year adds up to 54.0 inches over 72 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 50% of the year's precipitation (27.2 of 54.0 inches). September has brought the most of the 55 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (19); a normal September there has highs of 88°F and 3.3 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 89 days a year, almost all from May to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 21 nights a year. That 54.0 inches is more than at 12 of the 107 Alabama stations used on this site (11%). Daleville, 7 miles west, has its own station (Enterprise 4 W, AL): 58.0 inches a year, 4.0 more than here, and a July average high of 92°F against 93°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 62 | 40 | 4.8 | 5 |
| Feb | 66 | 43 | 4.8 | 6 |
| Mar | 73 | 49 | 4.7 | 5 |
| Apr | 79 | 55 | 4.8 | 5 |
| May | 87 | 64 | 2.9 | 5 |
| Jun | 91 | 71 | 5.1 | 8 |
| Jul | 93 | 73 | 6.0 | 8 |
| Aug | 92 | 72 | 6.2 | 9 |
| Sep | 88 | 67 | 3.3 | 5 |
| Oct | 81 | 57 | 2.7 | 4 |
| Nov | 71 | 47 | 3.9 | 5 |
| Dec | 64 | 42 | 4.8 | 7 |
| Year | 79 | 57 | 54.0 | 72 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Dothan Regional Airport, AL (370 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 Newton
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 261 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Newton: 223 thunderstorm wind reports, 29 flash floods, 4 floods, 3 lightning strikes and 2 heavy rain events. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $2.9 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 75 mph, on December 20, 2012. February has had the most flash floods, 8 of 29. Of the 321 Alabama cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 243 have had fewer than Newton.
February 11, 2013: flood 4 miles from the centre of Newton — $760,000 damage.
NWS: “Flash flooding transitioned to widespread areal flooding across the county with numerous roads and bridges damaged. Emergency management estimated damage in the county at $760,000, all due to road damage.”
August 8, 2006: thunderstorm wind 9 miles from the centre of Newton — $500,000 damage.
September 16, 2020: flash flood 5 miles from the centre of Newton — $500,000 damage.
NWS: “All county roads and bridges in Geneva county were deemed closed due to flooding. Damage cost was estimated.”
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 Newton's ZIP code 36352 have filed 15 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1994, and were paid $539,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. 87% 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, 15 have fewer than Newton.
Houston County, which includes Newton, has been named in 28 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1975, 17 of them major disasters (by incident: 12 hurricanes, 11 severe storms, 2 biological emergencies, 1 drought). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Sally, on September 20, 2020. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Houston County a Relatively Moderate rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for hurricanes, tornadoes, strong wind and lightning; Relatively Moderate for inland flooding and heat waves; Relatively Low for hail. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $55.2 million a year, the 9th highest of 67 Alabama counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $23.4 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.