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NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database

Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Semmes, 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

69 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Semmes, Alabama since 1851, 20 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Zeta in 2020. Since 1950, 164 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 5 of them rated EF3 or stronger.

Hurricanes
20

within 75 mi, since 1851

Tropical storms
49

below hurricane strength

Tornadoes
164

within 25 mi, since 1950

EF3 or stronger
5

1 deaths in all

What the records show for Semmes

The strongest storm to pass near Semmes was Camille in 1969, a Category 5 hurricane with 168 mph winds when its centre passed 75 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1860, whose centre came within 5 miles. The record near Semmes begins with an unnamed storm in 1852; the most recent system was Zeta in 2020, a Category 1 hurricane 52 miles away. The 1930s and the 2000s were the busiest decades, with 7 systems each. Of the 69 systems, 12 have come since 2000. Semmes has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 92% of the 323 Alabama cities on this site. The highest rating among the 164 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3, reached 5 times; the most recent, on November 21, 1997, came within 12 miles. The deadliest, an F1 on January 26, 1996, killed 1 person. Of the 164, 12 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 89 have come since 2000. April has had the most tornadoes, 23. The most recent tornado was on May 29, 2025. Semmes has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 77% of the 323 Alabama cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 63 times since 1959, with stones up to 2 inches (hen egg size). Semmes has more hail reports within 10 miles than 55% of the 323 Alabama cities.

Compare Semmes's storm record with another city →

Tropical storms and hurricanes near Semmes

Tropical systems that passed within 75 miles of Semmes, Alabama, newest first
YearStormClosestStrength when closestPeak
2020ZetaOct 2952 miCategory 1 (86 mph)Category 3
2020SallySep 1644 miCategory 2 (98 mph)Category 2
2018GordonSep 526 miTropical storm (63 mph)Tropical storm
2017NateOct 827 miTropical storm (62 mph)Category 1
2011LeeSep 545 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
2009IdaNov 1036 miTropical storm (40 mph)Category 2
2005DennisJul 1052 miCategory 1 (78 mph)Category 4
2005CindyJul 630 miTropical storm (43 mph)Category 1
2005ArleneJun 1143 miTropical storm (47 mph)Tropical storm
2004IvanSep 1627 miCategory 2 (104 mph)Category 5
2002HannaSep 1410 miTropical storm (43 mph)Tropical storm
2001AllisonJun 1118 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1998GeorgesSep 29overheadTropical storm (41 mph)Category 4
1997DannyJul 1933 miCategory 1 (75 mph)Category 1
1995ErinAug 323 miTropical storm (63 mph)Category 2
1985JuanOct 3143 miTropical storm (61 mph)Category 1
1985ElenaSep 248 miCategory 3 (116 mph)Category 3
1979FredericSep 1312 miCategory 3 (112 mph)Category 4
1969CamilleAug 1875 miCategory 5 (168 mph)Category 5
1965Unnamed 1965 stormJun 1575 miTropical storm (58 mph)Tropical storm
1964HildaOct 413 miTropical storm (60 mph)Category 4
1960EthelSep 1647 miTropical storm (55 mph)Category 3
1959IreneOct 841 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
1956FlossySep 2471 miCategory 1 (91 mph)Category 1
1955Unnamed 1955 stormAug 2769 miTropical storm (52 mph)Tropical storm
1950BakerAug 3122 miCategory 1 (84 mph)Category 2
1948Unnamed 1948 stormSep 471 miTropical storm (52 mph)Category 1
1948Unnamed 1948 stormJul 965 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1947Unnamed 1947 stormSep 821 miTropical storm (45 mph)Tropical storm
1944Unnamed 1944 stormSep 1111 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
1939Unnamed 1939 stormSep 2635 miTropical storm (43 mph)Tropical storm
1939Unnamed 1939 stormAug 1362 miTropical storm (44 mph)Category 1
1939Unnamed 1939 stormJun 1622 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
1936Unnamed 1936 stormJul 3171 miTropical storm (62 mph)Category 2
1934Unnamed 1934 stormOct 660 miTropical storm (48 mph)Tropical storm
1932Unnamed 1932 stormOct 1646 miTropical storm (49 mph)Tropical storm
1932Unnamed 1932 stormSep 19 miCategory 1 (77 mph)Category 1
1926Unnamed 1926 stormSep 2132 miTropical storm (72 mph)Category 4
1923Unnamed 1923 stormOct 1845 miTropical storm (55 mph)Tropical storm
1923Unnamed 1923 stormJun 26overheadTropical storm (41 mph)Tropical storm
1919Unnamed 1919 stormJul 463 miTropical storm (44 mph)Tropical storm
1916Unnamed 1916 stormOct 1854 miCategory 2 (102 mph)Category 2
1916Unnamed 1916 stormJul 517 miCategory 2 (101 mph)Category 3
1914Unnamed 1914 stormSep 1832 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1912Unnamed 1912 stormSep 1413 miTropical storm (60 mph)Category 1
1911Unnamed 1911 stormAug 1212 miTropical storm (63 mph)Category 1
1907Unnamed 1907 stormSep 2134 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1906Unnamed 1906 stormSep 2731 miCategory 2 (100 mph)Category 3
1902Unnamed 1902 stormOct 1066 miTropical storm (56 mph)Category 2
1901Unnamed 1901 stormAug 1511 miTropical storm (72 mph)Category 1
1900Unnamed 1900 stormSep 1327 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1895Unnamed 1895 stormAug 1618 miTropical storm (45 mph)Tropical storm
1894Unnamed 1894 stormAug 810 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
1893Unnamed 1893 stormOct 26 miCategory 1 (89 mph)Category 4
1892Unnamed 1892 stormSep 1237 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
1889Unnamed 1889 stormSep 2346 miTropical storm (69 mph)Category 2
1887Unnamed 1887 stormOct 192 miTropical storm (54 mph)Category 1
1887Unnamed 1887 stormJun 1447 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1885Unnamed 1885 stormSep 2712 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 1
1881Unnamed 1881 stormAug 37 miTropical storm (48 mph)Tropical storm
1880Unnamed 1880 stormAug 3150 miTropical storm (60 mph)Category 2
1877Unnamed 1877 stormSep 1955 miCategory 1 (81 mph)Category 1
1872Unnamed 1872 stormJul 1144 miTropical storm (49 mph)Tropical storm
1863Unnamed 1863 stormOct 174 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
1860Unnamed 1860 stormSep 1546 miCategory 1 (75 mph)Category 2
1860Unnamed 1860 stormAug 125 miCategory 1 (92 mph)Category 3
1859Unnamed 1859 stormSep 1626 miTropical storm (72 mph)Category 1
1855Unnamed 1855 stormSep 1652 miCategory 1 (81 mph)Category 3
1852Unnamed 1852 stormAug 266 miCategory 2 (96 mph)Category 3

Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Semmes: 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 Semmes

By decade

  • 2020s55
  • 2010s18
  • 2000s16
  • 1990s11(1 EF3+)
  • 1980s16(1 EF3+)
  • 1970s28(1 EF3+)
  • 1960s12(1 EF3+)
  • 1950s8(1 EF3+)
Strongest tornadoes near Semmes, Alabama
DateRatingDistancePathKilled / injured
Nov 21, 1997F312 mi1 mi0 / 0
May 19, 1980F325 mi4.3 mi0 / 0
Mar 27, 1976F318 mi13.9 mi0 / 0
Nov 3, 1968F39 mi70.4 mi0 / 18
Apr 18, 1950F36 mi14 mi0 / 15
Jan 12, 2023EF218 mi11.65 mi0 / 0
Dec 25, 2012EF212 mi5.15 mi0 / 0
Mar 9, 2011EF214 mi0.91 mi0 / 4
Nov 6, 2000F219 mi1.5 mi0 / 2
Jul 2, 1989F221 mi1 mi0 / 0
Feb 10, 1981F224 mi0.5 mi0 / 2
May 19, 1980F216 mi0.1 mi0 / 0

The strongest 12 of 164, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.

Hail in Semmes

The Storm Prediction Center has 63 hail reports within 10 miles of Semmes since 1959, made on 53 separate days. Of these, 40 were 1 inch across or larger, and 3 reached 2 inches. The largest size, 2 inches (hen egg size), was reported on 3 days, most recently January 21, 2017. The most recent report is from June 16, 2023. May has the most reports, 18.

Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.

Weather by month in Semmes

The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Mobile, AL, 6 miles south of Semmes at 208 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 91°F and low of 73°F; January is the coolest, at 62°F and 41°F. July is the wettest at 7.7 inches of precipitation on average and October the driest at 4.0 inches; the year adds up to 67.3 inches over 80 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 52% of the year's precipitation (35.1 of 67.3 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 69 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (28); a normal September there has highs of 88°F and 5.3 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 77 days a year, almost all from May to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 21 nights a year. That 67.3 inches is more than at 102 of the 107 Alabama stations used on this site (95%). Whistler, 9 miles east, has its own station (Mobile Dwtn Airport, AL): 60.6 inches a year, 6.7 less than here, and a July average high of 92°F against 91°F.

Water temperature at the NOAA tide station Mobile State Docks, AL, 14 miles east, averaged 88°F in August and 53°F in January over 2021–2025. It averaged 80°F or warmer from June to September. Sea level at the Mobile State Docks tide gauge, 14 miles from Semmes, has risen 1.82 ± 0.24 inches per decade from 1980 to 2025, NOAA's linear trend; at that pace it is 18.2 inches in a hundred years. That is faster than at 113 of the 144 U.S. gauges with a NOAA trend.

Monthly climate normals 1991–2020 at Mobile, AL
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. inDays ≥ 0.1"Water °F
Jan62415.7753
Feb66444.5655
Mar72505.4662
Apr78565.7669
May85645.4677
Jun89716.6983
Jul91737.71186
Aug91736.9988
Sep88695.3684
Oct80584.0477
Nov70484.6568
Dec64435.5760
Year785767.38072

Averages for 1991–2020 at Mobile, AL (208 ft), from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals; water temperature: average of hourly readings 2021–2025 at the NOAA tide station Mobile State Docks, AL, from NOAA Tides & Currents. Normals describe the station; the farther a place is from it, and the bigger the difference in height, the more its weather can differ.

Alabama weather by month, station by station →

Floods, thunderstorm wind and lightning near Semmes

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 160 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Semmes: 111 thunderstorm wind reports, 40 flash floods, 5 lightning strikes, 3 floods and 1 heavy rain event. They killed 0 people and injured 1, and the NWS estimated $1.8 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 86 mph, on April 11, 2005. August has had the most flash floods, 8 of 40. Of the 321 Alabama cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 272 have had fewer than Semmes.

  • July 17, 2015: lightning strike 6 miles from the centre of Semmes — 1 injured.

  • September 1, 2008: flash flood 9 miles from the centre of Semmes — $250,000 damage.

  • June 5, 1998: thunderstorm wind 4 miles from the centre of Semmes — $200,000 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

Flood insurance policyholders in Semmes's ZIP code 36575 have filed 25 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1979, and were paid $312,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. 52% 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, 36 have fewer than Semmes.

Mobile County, which includes Semmes, has been named in 41 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1969, 27 of them major disasters (by incident: 26 hurricanes, 9 severe storms, 2 biological emergencies, 1 drought). The latest major disaster declaration was Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes, on January 15, 2023. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Mobile County a Relatively High rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Very High for hurricanes and lightning; Relatively High for tornadoes, inland flooding and coastal flooding; Relatively Moderate for hail, strong wind and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $298.2 million a year, the highest of 67 Alabama counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $178.2 million (60%), is from hurricanes.

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 Semmes