NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Spanish Fort, 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
74 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Spanish Fort, Alabama since 1851, 24 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Zeta in 2020. Since 1950, 163 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 4 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 24
- Tropical storms
- 50
- Tornadoes
- 163
- EF3 or stronger
- 4
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
no recorded deaths
What the records show for Spanish Fort
The strongest storm to pass near Spanish Fort was an unnamed storm in 1882, a Category 3 hurricane with 127 mph winds when its centre passed 65 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was Baker in 1950, whose centre crossed the city. The record near Spanish Fort begins with an unnamed storm in 1852; the most recent system was Zeta in 2020, a Category 1 hurricane 72 miles away. The busiest decade was the 2000s, with 8 systems, 2 of them at hurricane strength. Of the 74 systems, 13 have come since 2000. Spanish Fort has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 95% of the 323 Alabama cities on this site. The highest rating among the 163 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3, reached 4 times; the most recent, on October 13, 2001, came within 22 miles. Of the 163, 6 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 85 have come since 2000. October has had the most tornadoes, 26. The most recent tornado was on May 29, 2025. Spanish Fort has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 76% of the 323 Alabama cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 50 times since 1972, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Of the 323 Alabama cities, 58% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Spanish Fort.
Compare Spanish Fort's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Spanish Fort
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | ZetaOct 29 | 72 mi | Category 1 (85 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2020 | SallySep 16 | 22 mi | Category 2 (97 mph) | Category 2 |
| 2018 | GordonSep 5 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2017 | NateOct 8 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2011 | LeeSep 5 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2009 | IdaNov 10 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 2005 | DennisJul 10 | 35 mi | Category 1 (90 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2005 | CindyJul 6 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2005 | ArleneJun 11 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2004 | IvanSep 16 | 5 mi | Category 2 (105 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2002 | HannaSep 14 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2001 | AllisonJun 11 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2000 | HeleneSep 22 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1998 | GeorgesSep 29 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1997 | DannyJul 19 | 20 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1995 | OpalOct 4 | 54 mi | Category 3 (112 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1995 | ErinAug 3 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1985 | JuanOct 31 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1985 | ElenaSep 2 | 51 mi | Category 3 (117 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1979 | FredericSep 13 | 30 mi | Category 3 (115 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1969 | Unnamed 1969 stormOct 1 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1965 | Unnamed 1965 stormJun 15 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1964 | HildaOct 4 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | EthelSep 15 | 67 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1959 | IreneOct 8 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1956 | FlossySep 24 | 56 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1955 | Unnamed 1955 stormAug 27 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1950 | BakerAug 31 | overhead | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1948 | Unnamed 1948 stormJul 9 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormSep 8 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormSep 11 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1939 | Unnamed 1939 stormSep 26 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1939 | Unnamed 1939 stormAug 13 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1939 | Unnamed 1939 stormJun 16 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1936 | Unnamed 1936 stormJul 31 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1934 | Unnamed 1934 stormOct 6 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormOct 16 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormSep 1 | 27 mi | Category 1 (82 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormSep 21 | 27 mi | Category 1 (84 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormOct 18 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormJun 26 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1919 | Unnamed 1919 stormJul 4 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1917 | Unnamed 1917 stormSep 28 | 63 mi | Category 3 (115 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormOct 18 | 32 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormJul 5 | 35 mi | Category 3 (115 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1914 | Unnamed 1914 stormSep 18 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormSep 14 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1911 | Unnamed 1911 stormAug 12 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormSep 22 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1906 | Unnamed 1906 stormSep 27 | 51 mi | Category 2 (106 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1904 | Unnamed 1904 stormNov 3 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormOct 10 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormAug 15 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1900 | Unnamed 1900 stormSep 13 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1898 | Unnamed 1898 stormAug 3 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1895 | Unnamed 1895 stormAug 16 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormAug 8 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 2 | 25 mi | Category 1 (85 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1892 | Unnamed 1892 stormSep 12 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 23 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormOct 19 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormJun 14 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormSep 28 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 10 | 65 mi | Category 3 (127 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1881 | Unnamed 1881 stormAug 3 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormAug 31 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1879 | Unnamed 1879 stormOct 16 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormSep 19 | 43 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1872 | Unnamed 1872 stormJul 11 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormSep 15 | 69 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormAug 12 | 22 mi | Category 1 (84 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormSep 16 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1855 | Unnamed 1855 stormSep 16 | 75 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormAug 26 | 28 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 3 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Spanish Fort: 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 Spanish Fort
By decade
- 2020s39
- 2010s17
- 2000s29(1 EF3+)
- 1990s15(1 EF3+)
- 1980s20
- 1970s25
- 1960s12(1 EF3+)
- 1950s6(1 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 13, 2001 | F3 | 22 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 21, 1997 | F3 | 14 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 3, 1968 | F3 | 10 mi | 70.4 mi | 0 / 18 |
| Apr 18, 1950 | F3 | 16 mi | 14 mi | 0 / 15 |
| Dec 25, 2012 | EF2 | 10 mi | 5.15 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 9, 2011 | EF2 | 13 mi | 2.05 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 9, 2011 | EF2 | 20 mi | 0.91 mi | 0 / 4 |
| Nov 27, 2004 | F2 | 18 mi | 4.5 mi | 0 / 4 |
| Oct 13, 2001 | F2 | 14 mi | 0.7 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 6, 2000 | F2 | 24 mi | 1.5 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Jul 2, 1989 | F2 | 18 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 10, 1981 | F2 | 15 mi | 1.5 mi | 0 / 62 |
The strongest 12 of 163, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Spanish Fort
The Storm Prediction Center has 50 hail reports within 10 miles of Spanish Fort since 1972, made on 40 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 5 days, most recently July 22, 2023. The most recent report is from June 23, 2025. March has the most reports, 13.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Spanish Fort
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Fairhope 2 NE, AL, 10 miles south of Spanish Fort at 23 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 91°F and low of 70°F; January is the coolest, at 62°F and 37°F. July is the wettest at 9.0 inches of precipitation on average and October the driest at 4.4 inches; the year adds up to 69.5 inches over 82 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 56% of the year's precipitation (38.6 of 69.5 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 74 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (30); a normal September there has highs of 88°F and 6.6 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 81 days a year, almost all from May to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 25 nights a year. That 69.5 inches is more than at 105 of the 107 Alabama stations used on this site (98%). Loxley, 9 miles southeast, has its own station (Robertsdale, AL): 69.0 inches a year, 0.5 less than here, and a July average high of 90°F against 91°F.
Water temperature at the NOAA tide station Mobile State Docks, AL, 9 miles west, 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, 9 miles from Spanish Fort, 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.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Water °F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 62 | 37 | 5.5 | 7 | 53 |
| Feb | 65 | 40 | 4.7 | 6 | 55 |
| Mar | 72 | 46 | 5.1 | 6 | 62 |
| Apr | 78 | 52 | 5.5 | 5 | 69 |
| May | 85 | 60 | 4.9 | 6 | 77 |
| Jun | 89 | 68 | 6.8 | 9 | 83 |
| Jul | 91 | 70 | 9.0 | 10 | 86 |
| Aug | 91 | 69 | 7.2 | 10 | 88 |
| Sep | 88 | 65 | 6.6 | 7 | 84 |
| Oct | 81 | 54 | 4.4 | 5 | 77 |
| Nov | 71 | 44 | 4.6 | 6 | 68 |
| Dec | 64 | 39 | 5.2 | 6 | 60 |
| Year | 78 | 54 | 69.5 | 82 | 72 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Fairhope 2 NE, AL (23 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.
Floods, thunderstorm wind and lightning near Spanish Fort
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 103 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Spanish Fort: 60 thunderstorm wind reports, 36 flash floods, 4 lightning strikes and 3 heavy rain events. They killed 1 person and injured 3, and the NWS estimated $28.5 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 81 mph, on January 7, 1998. April has had the most flash floods, 11 of 36. Of the 321 Alabama cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 261 have had fewer than Spanish Fort.
April 29, 2014: flash flood 3 miles from the centre of Spanish Fort — 1 killed, 1 injured, $27.0 million damage.
NWS: “The southern half of Baldwin county experienced historic flooding the night of April 29th into the early morning of April 30th. Rain totals of 12 to 24 inches were reported, with the maximum rainfall occurring in a swath from Foley south to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, east to the Florida state line.”
August 9, 2015: thunderstorm wind in Spanish Fort — 1 injured, $30,000 damage.
NWS: “Severe thunderstorm wind gusts estimated at 60 mph resulted in downed trees and power lines in the Spanish Fort Estates neighborhood, mainly near the intersection of Yankee Trove Street and Artillery Range Street. The fallen trees and limbs resulted in roof damage to a couple of homes.”
January 24, 1997: thunderstorm wind 4 miles from the centre of Spanish Fort — 1 injured, $15,000 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 Spanish Fort's ZIP code 36527 have filed 104 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1979, and were paid $5.0 million for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Hurricane Katrina in 2005: 21 claims (20% of all) and $3.2 million, then Hurricane Frederic in 1979 with 15 and Hurricane Georges in 1998 with 15. 78% 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, 85 have fewer than Spanish Fort.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Katrina2005 | 21 | $3.2 million |
| Hurricane Frederic1979 | 15 | $300,000 |
| Hurricane Georges1998 | 15 | $826,000 |
Baldwin County, which includes Spanish Fort, has been named in 39 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1969, 24 of them major disasters (by incident: 24 hurricanes, 8 severe storms, 2 biological emergencies, 2 floods). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Sally, on September 20, 2020. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Baldwin County a Relatively High rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Very High for hurricanes and lightning; Relatively High for tornadoes, coastal flooding and strong wind; 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 $237.4 million a year, the 3rd highest of 67 Alabama counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $159.4 million (67%), 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.