NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Oakman, 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
16 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Oakman, Alabama since 1851, 0 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Zeta in 2020. Since 1950, 134 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 18 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 0
- Tropical storms
- 16
- Tornadoes
- 134
- EF3 or stronger
- 18
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
192 deaths in all
What the records show for Oakman
None of the 16 tropical systems was at hurricane strength as it passed Oakman; the strongest was Zeta in 2020, a tropical storm with 67 mph winds when its centre passed 43 miles away. The record near Oakman 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 16 systems, 2 have come since 2000. Of the 323 Alabama cities on this site, 56% have more tropical storms and hurricanes within 75 miles than Oakman. The highest rating among the 134 tornadoes within 25 miles is F5, reached 2 times; the most recent, on April 8, 1998, came within 17 miles. The deadliest, an EF4 on April 27, 2011, killed 64 people. Of the 134, 7 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 82 have come since 2000. April has had the most tornadoes, 40. The most recent tornado was on November 25, 2025. Oakman has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 52% of the 323 Alabama cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 35 times since 1972, with stones up to 2.75 inches (baseball size). Of the 323 Alabama cities, 75% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Oakman.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Oakman
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | ZetaOct 29 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2004 | IvanSep 16 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1995 | OpalOct 5 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1985 | JuanNov 1 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1979 | FredericSep 13 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1950 | BakerAug 31 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormOct 17 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormOct 18 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormJul 8 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormSep 30 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormJun 14 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1892 | Unnamed 1892 stormSep 13 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1881 | Unnamed 1881 stormAug 29 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormSep 2 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormSep 16 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1855 | Unnamed 1855 stormSep 17 | 71 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 Oakman: 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 Oakman
By decade
- 2020s18
- 2010s24(6 EF3+)
- 2000s40(4 EF3+)
- 1990s13(1 EF3+)
- 1980s15
- 1970s9(1 EF3+)
- 1960s6(3 EF3+)
- 1950s9(3 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 3, 1966 | F5 | 21 mi | 202.5 mi | 58 / 518 |
| Apr 8, 1998 | F5 | 17 mi | 30.3 mi | 32 / 259 |
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF4 | 21 mi | 80.68 mi | 64 / 1500 |
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF4 | 2 mi | 127.8 mi | 13 / 54 |
| Nov 17, 1957 | F4 | 18 mi | 7.2 mi | 4 / 15 |
| Apr 3, 1974 | F4 | 8 mi | 110.6 mi | 3 / 178 |
| Mar 6, 1967 | F4 | 12 mi | 20.9 mi | 2 / 25 |
| Nov 10, 2002 | F3 | 15 mi | 72.6 mi | 7 / 53 |
| Nov 10, 2002 | F3 | 18 mi | 44.3 mi | 4 / 38 |
| Nov 24, 2001 | F3 | 16 mi | 38.9 mi | 2 / 1 |
| Feb 13, 1952 | F3 | 15 mi | 5.6 mi | 1 / 14 |
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF3 | 23 mi | 7.96 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 134, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Oakman
The Storm Prediction Center has 35 hail reports within 10 miles of Oakman since 1972, made on 32 separate days. Of these, 25 were 1 inch across or larger, and 3 reached 2 inches. The largest, 2.75 inches (baseball size), fell on June 27, 1972. The most recent report is from May 8, 2025. March and April have the most reports, 10 each.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Oakman
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Bankhead L&D, AL, 15 miles south of Oakman at 280 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 91°F and low of 71°F; January is the coolest, at 54°F and 34°F. January is the wettest at 6.2 inches of precipitation on average and October the driest at 3.3 inches; the year adds up to 60.3 inches over 84 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 45% of the year's precipitation (26.9 of 60.3 inches); the other six months are wetter. September has brought the most of the 16 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (7); a normal September there has highs of 86°F and 4.0 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 70 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 60 nights a year. That 60.3 inches is more than at 80 of the 107 Alabama stations used on this site (75%). Parrish, 6 miles east, has its own station (Jasper, AL): 61.8 inches a year, 1.5 more than here, and a July average high of 90°F against 91°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 54 | 34 | 6.2 | 8 |
| Feb | 59 | 37 | 5.9 | 8 |
| Mar | 67 | 43 | 5.8 | 8 |
| Apr | 75 | 51 | 5.4 | 7 |
| May | 82 | 59 | 4.4 | 6 |
| Jun | 89 | 68 | 5.2 | 7 |
| Jul | 91 | 71 | 5.3 | 8 |
| Aug | 91 | 70 | 4.3 | 7 |
| Sep | 86 | 64 | 4.0 | 5 |
| Oct | 77 | 53 | 3.3 | 5 |
| Nov | 65 | 42 | 4.8 | 6 |
| Dec | 57 | 37 | 5.7 | 9 |
| Year | 74 | 52 | 60.3 | 84 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Bankhead L&D, 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 Oakman
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 53 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Oakman: 47 thunderstorm wind reports and 6 flash floods. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $107,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 81 mph, on April 27, 2011. September 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 Oakman.
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
Walker County, which includes Oakman, has been named in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1973, 15 of them major disasters (by incident: 10 severe storms, 6 hurricanes, 2 biological emergencies, 2 floods). The latest major disaster declaration was Severe Thunderstorms, on July 10, 2020. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Walker County a Relatively Moderate rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for tornadoes and lightning; Relatively Moderate for inland flooding, strong wind and heat waves; Relatively Low for hail; Very Low for hurricanes. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $34.8 million a year, the 20th highest of 67 Alabama counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $19.3 million (56%), 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 Oakman
- Parrish, AL6 mi
- Berry, AL13 mi
- Cordova, AL13 mi
- Quinton, AL15 mi
- Jasper, AL15 mi
- Carbon Hill, AL17 mi
- Adger, AL17 mi
- Sumiton, AL19 mi
- Dora, AL20 mi
- Nauvoo, AL21 mi
- Mulga, AL23 mi
- Empire, AL23 mi
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