Blount County

Population 60,156 (2025) 645 sq mi

Blount County has recorded 57 tornadoes since 1950, 14th most of 67 counties in Alabama; the most recent was on November 30, 2022.

Hazard fingerprint for Blount County Tornado: 92th percentile. Tropical: 34th percentile. Wildfire: 0th percentile. Flood: 47th percentile. Hail & wind: 73th percentile. Heat: 39th percentile. Cold: 34th percentile. Winter: 23th percentile. TORTROPFIREFLOODSEVEREHEATCOLDWINTER

Hazard fingerprint Each spoke is this county’s percentile among U.S. counties where that hazard occurs. How it is computed

2026
  • Tornado damage paths since 195057
  • Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger16

At a glance

The record for Blount County in eight numbers. Each links to its section below.

Tornadoes since 1950

57

14th of 67 in Alabama

30% more than the typical Alabama county

Details

Flood insurance claims

27

40th of 67 in Alabama

$814,000 paid since 1979

Details

Tropical cyclones within 50 mi

4

62nd of 67 in Alabama

None at hurricane strength since 1851

Details

Strongest tornado

EF4

April 27, 2011, 127.8 mile path

Strongest tropical cyclone

TS

Tropical storm Zeta, 2020, 18.5 miles away

Largest earthquake within 50 mi

5.1magnitude

October 18, 1916, 18.6 miles away

Details

Federal disaster declarations

25

Most recent: Hurricane Helene, 2024

Details

Record high

107°F

July 29, 1930

Details

Tornadoes

About one every 1.3 years since 1950, 5 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.

Strongest

April 27, 2011

EF4, 127.8 mile path

1,408 yards wide; 13 killed along the whole path.

Most recent

Wednesday, November 30, 2022

EF0, 3.5 mile path

4 years ago.

Tornadoes by decade Doppler radar era² 1950s: 5 5 1960s: 0 1970s: 7 7 1980s: 3 3 1990s: 5 5 2000s: 11 11 2010s: 17 17 2020s: 9 9 1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
Recorded tornadoes per decade. The 2020s are incomplete.
Tornadoes by month J: 2 F: 2 M: 14 A: 23 23 M: 2 J: 0 J: 0 A: 1 S: 3 O: 1 N: 8 D: 1 JFMAMJJASOND
By month of occurrence, all years.

Every recorded tornado

Tornadoes in Blount County since 1950
Nov 30, 2022EF03.550000
Mar 31, 2021EF00.26500
Mar 17, 2021EF112.930000
Apr 12, 2020EF15.020000
Apr 12, 2020EF221.744030
Apr 12, 2020EF10.811500
Apr 12, 2020EF25.650000
Apr 12, 2020EF13.822500
Apr 12, 2020EF00.512500
Apr 8, 2019EF16.31,17500
Apr 8, 2019EF02.232500
Mar 14, 2019EF117.21,17500
Mar 14, 2019EF02.611500
Mar 19, 2018EF16.488000
Mar 19, 2018EF00.910000
Mar 31, 2016EF10.327500
Apr 28, 2014EF214.61,30020
Apr 28, 2014EF17.81,00000
Apr 28, 2014EF18.880040
Apr 27, 2011EF4127.81,4085413
Apr 27, 2011EF114.820000
Apr 27, 2011EF23.220030
Nov 30, 2010EF11.715000
Apr 24, 2010EF329.640000
Apr 24, 2010EF10.920000
Apr 8, 2010EF00.25000
May 6, 2009EF00.13000
Apr 19, 2009EF26.330000
Aug 25, 2008EF10.46000
Mar 15, 2008EF26.067500
Sep 22, 2006F24.420030
Sep 22, 2006F20.320000
Sep 22, 2006F21.310000
Mar 13, 2006F00.12500
Nov 10, 2002F110.630000
Nov 24, 2001F410.1500220
May 24, 2001F01.03000
Feb 27, 1999F20.45010
Apr 16, 1998F02.18000
Apr 16, 1998F13.710000
Nov 28, 1994F11.610050
Mar 27, 1994F02.515010
Mar 19, 1986F20.27300
Apr 5, 1985F11.010000
Nov 15, 1983F20.53300
Mar 20, 1976F319.240110
Mar 20, 1976F00.11000
Mar 29, 1975F13.03030
Oct 15, 1974F128.81010
Apr 1, 1974F216.9800110
Dec 29, 1973F10.13000
Jan 25, 1971F02.01000
Nov 18, 1957F426.1100123
Apr 12, 1953F10.510000
Jan 20, 1953F10.11010
Feb 13, 1952F16.040060
Nov 16, 1951F21.51010
  1. Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Blount County: 3.
  2. Weak tornadoes were under-recorded before Doppler radar coverage became national in the early 1990s, so earlier decades read low. Ratings use the Fujita scale before February 2007 and the Enhanced Fujita scale after.

Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

4 passed within 50 miles since 1851; none at hurricane strength.

Strongest within 50 miles

October 29, 2020

Zeta, Tropical storm

18.5 miles at closest approach, winds near 63 mph.

Most recent

October 29, 2020

Zeta, Tropical storm

18.5 miles at closest approach.

Tropical cyclones within 50 miles by decade 50s: 0 60s: 0 70s: 0 80s: 0 90s: 1 1 00s: 0 10s: 1 20s: 0 30s: 0 40s: 0 50s: 0 60s: 0 70s: 0 80s: 0 90s: 1 00s: 0 10s: 0 20s: 1 50s60s70s80s90s00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s00s10s20s
Storms within 50 miles, by decade. Records before about 1900 miss storms that never reached land or ships.

Every storm within 100 miles

Tropical cyclones within 100 miles
Zeta202018.5Tropical storm63Category 3
Katrina200594.2Tropical storm44Category 5
Opal199516.8Tropical storm49Category 4
Frederic197954.3Tropical storm49Category 4
Eloise197559.9Tropical storm61Category 3
Baker195077.2Tropical storm46Category 2
Unnamed19326.5Post-tropical40Tropical storm
Unnamed191636.6Tropical storm52Category 2
Unnamed191547.1Post-tropical44Category 4
Unnamed191579.5Tropical storm39Category 2
Unnamed191261.8Tropical storm44Tropical storm
Unnamed190757.4Post-tropical40Tropical storm
Unnamed190385.8Tropical storm40Category 1
Unnamed190278.9Post-tropical40Category 2
Unnamed189394.2Tropical storm58Category 4
Unnamed18926.7Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed188156.3Tropical storm46Category 2
Unnamed186082.6Tropical storm46Category 2
Unnamed185993.4Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed185595.9Tropical storm46Category 3
  1. Tropical storms and hurricanes (34 kt or more, still tropical) at closest approach. Post-tropical remnants with gale-force winds are listed but not counted. Direct: track within 50 miles; near: within 100 miles. Distance is measured to the county boundary for counties and to the city centre for cities, using positions interpolated hourly between HURDAT2 fixes.

National Hurricane Center HURDAT2, 1851 to 2025.

Wildfire and smoke

No large wildfire has been mapped here since satellite mapping began in 1984.

Smoke overhead

Smokiest year

2023: 50 days

Heavy smoke on 5 days in 2023, the most of any year.

Last 10 years

10.6 days a year

Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.

2025

7 days

Medium or heavy smoke. 37 so far in 2026.

Days with medium or heavy smoke overhead, by year 2011: 7 2012: 5 2013: 1 2014: 0 2015: 3 2016: 0 2017: 1 2018: 4 2019: 3 2020: 4 2021: 13 2022: 19 2023: 50 50 2024: 5 2025: 7 201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Days each year on which a satellite-traced plume of medium or heavy smoke covered the county’s population centre, 2011 to 2025.
  1. A smoke day is a date on which a smoke plume traced by NOAA Hazard Mapping System analysts from satellite imagery covered this place's point (the county's population centre or the city centre). Counts here are of medium or heavy smoke. Since 2018 analysts have often drawn light smoke as one area over most of the continent, so light-smoke counts are not comparable from year to year. The plumes show smoke anywhere in the air above, not air quality at the ground, and smoke hidden by cloud is missed.

NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, 2011 to 2026, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Floods and flood insurance

27 federal flood insurance claims since 1979, with $814,000 paid.

Federal flood insurance claims by year
Claims per year since 1979. Years with fewer than five claims are not shown.

Claims by ZIP code

Flood insurance claims by ZIP code
3512118$705,000

Flood events since 1996

  • Flash Flood39
  • Flood7
  • Heavy Rain2

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).

OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026. NOAA Storm Events through 2026.

River crests

Most severe crest

February 16, 1990

Mulberry Fork near Arkadelphia, 42.90 ft

17.90 feet above the 25.0 ft flood stage; moderate flooding by today’s categories.

Most recent moderate or major crest

April 7, 2025

Mulberry Fork near Arkadelphia, 33.23 ft

Moderate flooding.

Highest river crests above flood stage
Feb 16, 1990Mulberry Fork near Arkadelphia42.90+17.90Moderate
Jan 7, 2009Mulberry Fork near Arkadelphia40.65+15.65Moderate
Apr 14, 1979Mulberry Fork near Arkadelphia39.11+14.11Moderate
Jan 4, 1982Mulberry Fork near Arkadelphia36.32+11.32Moderate
Feb 11, 1994Mulberry Fork near Arkadelphia36.27+11.27Moderate
Mar 10, 2011Mulberry Fork near Arkadelphia36.00+11.00Moderate
Jan 8, 1998Mulberry Fork near Arkadelphia35.30+10.30Moderate
Mar 13, 1977Mulberry Fork near Arkadelphia34.28+9.28Moderate
Apr 7, 2025Mulberry Fork near Arkadelphia33.23+8.23Moderate
Apr 4, 2000Mulberry Fork near Arkadelphia33.16+8.16Moderate
Feb 6, 2004Mulberry Fork near Arkadelphia33.15+8.15Moderate
May 3, 2010Mulberry Fork near Arkadelphia32.95+7.95Moderate
Feb 20, 1991Mulberry Fork near Arkadelphia30.50+5.50Moderate
Feb 14, 2025Mulberry Fork near Arkadelphia30.27+5.27Moderate
May 4, 1984Mulberry Fork near Arkadelphia30.06+5.06Moderate
Jan 13, 1989Mulberry Fork near Arkadelphia29.94+4.94Minor
Dec 10, 2004Mulberry Fork near Arkadelphia29.92+4.92Minor
Jan 23, 1999Mulberry Fork near Arkadelphia29.90+4.90Minor
Jan 25, 2002Mulberry Fork near Arkadelphia29.67+4.67Minor
Feb 24, 2022Mulberry Fork near Arkadelphia28.97+3.97Minor
Mar 21, 2001Mulberry Fork near Arkadelphia28.86+3.86Minor
Dec 25, 2015Blue Springs Creek near Blountsville11.77+3.77Minor
Feb 6, 2020Blue Springs Creek near Blountsville11.49+3.49Minor
Jan 27, 1996Mulberry Fork near Arkadelphia28.46+3.46Minor
May 3, 1997Blue Springs Creek near Blountsville11.37+3.37Minor

River gauges

River gauges and their highest listed crests
Blue Springs Creek near Blountsville8.011.77 ftDec 25, 20150
Mulberry Fork near Arkadelphia25.042.90 ftFeb 16, 19900
  1. Crests are the highest and the recent crests the National Weather Service lists for each river gauge in the county that has a flood stage, not every flood. Flood categories use each gauge's current flood stages; crests from before levees, dams or channel changes may not be comparable. Crests measured on an old datum are left out of the rankings.

NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge records, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Drought

In severe drought or worse for 88 of 1,581 months since 1895 (6%); the longest spell lasted 16 months.

88

Months in severe drought or worse since 1895

32

Months in extreme drought

6%

Share of all months, severe or worse

38

Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996

Lowest reading

September 1925

−5.65, extreme drought

Longest severe spell

16 months

June 1897 to September 1898.

Latest month

September 2026

+1.34, slightly wet

Last severe month: April 2017.

Months in severe drought or worse, by year 1895: 0 1896: 1 1897: 9 1898: 9 1899: 0 1900: 0 1901: 0 1902: 5 1903: 1 1904: 0 1905: 0 1906: 0 1907: 0 1908: 0 1909: 0 1910: 1 1911: 0 1912: 0 1913: 0 1914: 2 1915: 0 1916: 0 1917: 0 1918: 0 1919: 0 1920: 0 1921: 0 1922: 0 1923: 0 1924: 1 1925: 6 1926: 0 1927: 0 1928: 0 1929: 0 1930: 0 1931: 5 1932: 0 1933: 0 1934: 0 1935: 0 1936: 0 1937: 0 1938: 0 1939: 0 1940: 0 1941: 2 1942: 1 1943: 0 1944: 1 1945: 0 1946: 0 1947: 0 1948: 0 1949: 0 1950: 0 1951: 0 1952: 1 1953: 1 1954: 5 1955: 1 1956: 1 1957: 0 1958: 0 1959: 0 1960: 0 1961: 0 1962: 0 1963: 0 1964: 0 1965: 0 1966: 0 1967: 0 1968: 0 1969: 0 1970: 0 1971: 0 1972: 0 1973: 0 1974: 0 1975: 0 1976: 0 1977: 0 1978: 1 1979: 0 1980: 0 1981: 0 1982: 0 1983: 0 1984: 0 1985: 0 1986: 6 1987: 0 1988: 2 1989: 0 1990: 0 1991: 0 1992: 0 1993: 0 1994: 0 1995: 0 1996: 0 1997: 0 1998: 0 1999: 0 2000: 5 2001: 0 2002: 0 2003: 0 2004: 0 2005: 0 2006: 0 2007: 10 10 2008: 3 2009: 0 2010: 0 2011: 0 2012: 0 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 0 2016: 4 2017: 4 2018: 0 2019: 0 2020: 0 2021: 0 2022: 0 2023: 0 2024: 0 2025: 0 18951905191519251935194519551965197519851995200520152025
Months each year with a Palmer index of −3 or lower, 1895 to 2025. Twelve means the whole year.
  1. The Palmer Drought Severity Index is computed by NOAA each month from the county's average temperature and precipitation, relative to the county's own climate. Zero is normal; -3 or lower is severe drought and -4 or lower extreme drought. It describes the long-term balance of moisture, not water supply or crop losses.

NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, 1895 to September 2026, issued October 6, 2026.

Earthquakes

4 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles since 1900; the largest was magnitude 5.1 in 1916.

2

Magnitude 2.5+ inside the county since 1973

18

Magnitude 3+ within 50 miles since 1973

4

Magnitude 4+ within 50 miles since 1900

1

Magnitude 5+ within 50 miles since 1900

Largest within 50 miles

October 18, 1916

Magnitude 5.1

Near Irondale, Alabama; 18.6 miles away, 8.7 miles deep.

Most recent, magnitude 3 or more

September 13, 2011

Magnitude 3.0

1 km NNW of Leeds, Alabama; 14.2 miles away.

Earthquakes of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles, by year 1973: 0 1974: 0 1975: 2 1976: 0 1977: 0 1978: 0 1979: 0 1980: 0 1981: 0 1982: 0 1983: 0 1984: 0 1985: 0 1986: 0 1987: 0 1988: 0 1989: 0 1990: 0 1991: 0 1992: 0 1993: 0 1994: 2 1995: 1 1996: 0 1997: 0 1998: 0 1999: 0 2000: 2 2001: 1 2002: 0 2003: 3 3 2004: 3 2005: 0 2006: 0 2007: 1 2008: 1 2009: 0 2010: 1 2011: 1 2012: 0 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 0 2016: 0 2017: 0 2018: 0 2019: 0 2020: 0 2021: 0 2022: 0 2023: 0 2024: 0 2025: 0 19731978198319881993199820032008201320182023
Per year, 1973 to 2025.

Every earthquake of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles

Earthquakes of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles
Apr 29, 20034.647.112.38 km S of Valley Head, Alabama
Apr 23, 19574.14.33.15 km SSE of Trafford, Alabama
May 5, 19314.04.7—0 km S of Clay, Alabama
Oct 18, 19165.118.68.7Near Irondale, Alabama
  1. Earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more in the USGS Comprehensive Catalog since 1900. Within 50 miles means the epicentre lies within 50 miles of the county boundary (or inside the county).
  2. Small earthquakes were under-recorded before the modern seismic networks of the 1970s and are still missed in remote areas, so early decades read low. Magnitudes are as the catalogue reports them and mix scales (moment, local and body-wave).

USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, 1900 to present, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Severe weather and other events

681 events in the National Weather Service record, 586 of them since 1996.

73

Hail reports, 1 inch or larger

10

Hail, 2 inches or larger

246

Damaging gusts, 58 mph+

34

Winter weather events since 1996

6

Heat events since 1996

6

Cold events since 1996

Largest hail

May 9, 2024

4.50 inches

Strongest measured or estimated gust

April 27, 2011

90 mph

More event types since 1996

Other Storm Events types since 1996
Lightning1111Aug 13, 2010

Costliest events since 1996

  1. Apr 27, 2011Tornado$19.5 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    The fourteenth segment of this long track tornado crossed back over the Mulberry Fork of the Black Warrior River from eastern Cullman County (See Storm Data for Huntsville) into western Blount County southwest of Bangor. This tornado began in Pickens County, 5 miles northeast of Pickensville, and tracked through Tuscaloosa, Fayette, Walker, Cullman (See Storm Data for Huntsville), and Blount Counties, before dissipating in Marshall (See Storm Data for Huntsville) County. As the tornado moved northeast, the path width gradually increased from 0.25 mi (440 yds) to a maximum of 0.70 mi (1232 yds) in Blountsville. The tornado continued its path of significant tree damage as it crossed…

  2. Apr 27, 2011Tornado$4.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    A tornado developed along a Quasi-Linear Convective System. It initially touched down in far northern Jefferson County, northeast of Warrior, and tracked northeastward into Blount County and across the western bank of Mountain Woods Lake before it lifted northeast of Sagefield Rd. As the tornado moved into Blount County near Sibleyville Rd, it intensified to an EF2 rating with winds of 135 mph. An outbuilding was destroyed and many trees downed near the county line. The tornado continued northeast, before making a slight eastward turn and moving along the western edge of Mountain Woods Lake. Along the lake, twenty to twenty-five homes were damaged with at least 3 homes destroyed.…

  3. Sep 22, 2006Tornado$1.5 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    The tornado touched down just southwest of the Allgood community, north of Highway 75. The tornado then tracked northeastward, remaining north of Highway 75 the entire time. It dissipated in the city of Oneonta, just north of the Blount County Courthouse near 7th Street. Numerous trees and power lines were blown down along the tornado path. Oneonta High School suffered significant damage to its football field press box, and two concession stands were destroyed. The high school structure also sustained roof damage. The Blount County Courthouse sustained roof damage and many flagpoles were broken down. Several homes and out-buildings received major damage and a local gas station had…

  4. Mar 15, 2008Tornado$960,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    The tornado touched down just east of CR-27, about 5 miles south-southeast of Oneonta. It then moved north of River Road, through the Highland Lake community, and across CR-29 near the Appalachian Community. The Appalachian School property sustained damage, but the school was spared any significant damage. The tornado continued northeastward and strengthened as it nearly paralleled CR-12, before lifting just north of the intersection of CR-12 and US-231. Along the entire path, several hundred trees were either snapped off or were uprooted. A few dozen chicken houses were damaged and many were destroyed. Many outbuildings, garages, and sheds were destroyed. At least 25 homes…

  5. Nov 24, 2001Tornado$800,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    The F4 tornado first touched down in the vicinity of the Mt. Carmel Church, south of US 231 on CR 29, where several trees were snapped off. The tornado tracked northeast and produced extensive F2-type damage to homes and trailer homes along Tidwell Road where several injuries occurred. All trees in the neighborhood were snapped mid-trunk. As the tornado crossed US 231, it completely destroyed a frame house with F4 magnitude damage. Large trees around the house were uprooted and snapped at mid-trunk. From there, the tornado continued moving northeast and produced it's worst, F4 magnitude damage, between Robbins Lake and Airport Road. Large trees were completely snapped off at…

  6. Dec 23, 1998Ice Storm, Blount$700,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    A winter storm brought a mixture of freezing rain...sleet...and rain to the northern half of Alabama. The northwestern quarter of Alabama was especially hard hit. The precipitation began in a narrow band across Fayette, Walker, Cullman, and Marshall counties around 2 am and then around 5am in the rest of the counties and lasted until early afternoon on the 24th. The northwestern quarter of the state saw temperatures at or below freezing for the majority of the event. Liquid equivalent precipitation ranged from one to three inches. Significant ice accumulations of one half to one inch were common across the area. Numerous trees were down across every county. Significant power…

  7. Apr 27, 2011Tornado$480,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    The eighth segment of this long track tornado entered southwestern Blount County just north of Albright Rd from southern Cullman County (See Storm Data for Huntsville). This tornado began in Pickens County, 5 miles northeast of Pickensville, and tracked through Tuscaloosa, Fayette, Walker, Cullman (See Storm Data for Huntsville), and Blount Counties, before dissipating in Marshall (See Storm Data for Huntsville) County. While the average path width of this tornado in this portion of Blount County was around 0.4 mile (704 yds), the tornado maximum path width was 0.5 mile (880 yds). As the storm moved northeast, it caused significant roof damage to a single family home on Acton Bend…

  8. Apr 19, 2009Tornado$400,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    The tornado touched down at the intersection of CR-27 and Jones Chapel Road. It then traveled northeastward and crossed Lake Rd, CR-29, Putman Road, and Hicks Road, before moving into Saint Clair County. Six chicken houses were completely destroyed, killing nearly 100,000 chickens. One home had its second story destroyed, and another home suffered a complete roof collapse. One large industrial barn was destroyed. Two additional homes, several more chicken sheds, and about 9 outbuilding also received varying degrees of damage. About 200 trees were snapped and uprooted.

  9. Nov 10, 2002Tornado$400,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    The F1 rated Oneonta Tornado began at 10:22 pm, about 1.4 miles southwest of Allgood just west of State Route (SR) 75. The tornado traveled across Allgood, downing trees and doing some damage to structures. It traveled across Boat Landing Road where trees were downed and then crossed Springville Boulevard where several structures were damaged. The tornado then clipped the southeastern sections of Oneonta before turning more easterly.The tornado crossed County Road 29, where two more structures were damaged, and then crossed US Highway 231. Additional trees were downed along Montgomery Drive. The tornado continued to down trees as it dissipated just after moving into Etowah County,…

  10. Apr 27, 2011Tornado$230,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    The tenth segment of this long track tornado crossed back over the Mulberry Fork of the Black Warrior River into western Blount County north of Ricetown Rd from eastern Cullman County (See Storm Data for Huntsville). This tornado began in Pickens County, 5 miles northeast of Pickensville, and tracked through Tuscaloosa, Fayette, Walker, Cullman (See Storm Data for Huntsville), and Blount Counties, before dissipating in Marshall (See Storm Data for Huntsville) County. The average and maximum path width of this tornado in this portion of Blount County was around 0.3 mile (528 yds). As the tornado crossed the Mulberry Fork of the Black Warrior River several times, it caused…

  1. Storm Events records before 1996 cover only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail. Damage figures are as reported by the National Weather Service at the time, not adjusted for inflation.

NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1950 to 2026, issued October 26, 2026.

Weather records

From Birmingham Airport, 28.3 miles from the county’s population centre, with records from 1930.

All-time high
107°FJul 29, 1930
All-time low
−6°FJan 21, 1985
Warmest night
81°F4 times, most recently Jul 8, 2016
Coldest day
13°FDec 12, 1962
Wettest day
9.75 inSep 16, 2004
Snowiest day
10.3 inMar 13, 1993
Hottest year
2016mean 66.3°F
Coldest year
1976mean 60.3°F
Wettest year
196176.48 in
Driest year
200728.86 in
Snowiest season
13.0 in1992-93
Average monthly high and low temperature and precipitation, last 30 years, Birmingham Airport 32°F 55° 34° 5.2 Jan 60° 39° 5.0 Feb 68° 45° 6.0 Mar 75° 52° 5.3 Apr 82° 61° 5.1 May 88° 69° 5.1 Jun 91° 72° 5.8 Jul 91° 71° 4.4 Aug 86° 66° 3.6 Sep 77° 54° 3.1 Oct 66° 43° 3.9 Nov 58° 38° 4.8 Dec Precipitation, inches
Average daily high and low by month, and average monthly precipitation, over the last 30 years.
Days reaching 95°F per year 1976: 6 1977: 27 1978: 12 1979: 3 1980: 45 1981: 23 1982: 2 1983: 17 1984: 6 1985: 7 1986: 20 1987: 21 1988: 24 1989: 9 1990: 39 1991: 18 1992: 4 1993: 30 1994: 0 1995: 44 1996: 7 1997: 6 1998: 25 1999: 29 2000: 34 2001: 1 2002: 8 2003: 0 2004: 2 2005: 6 2006: 30 2007: 34 2008: 9 2009: 3 2010: 49 2011: 56 56 2012: 24 2013: 1 2014: 12 2015: 27 2016: 36 2017: 1 2018: 9 2019: 42 2020: 5 2021: 2 2022: 19 2023: 25 2024: 28 2025: 14 19761986199620062016
Days reaching 95°F each complete year, last 50 years. Thirty-year average: 18.1.
Snowfall by winter 1976: 1.4 in 1977: 1.9 in 1978: 0.0 in 1979: 0.3 in 1980: 0.0 in 1981: 6.6 in 1982: 1.5 in 1983: 2.0 in 1984: 0.3 in 1985: 0.0 in 1986: 7.6 in 1987: 1.0 in 1988: 0.0 in 1989: 0.4 in 1990: 0.0 in 1991: 4.4 in 1992: 13.0 in 13.0 1993: 0.0 in 1994: 1.0 in 1995: 1.5 in 1996: 0.0 in 1997: 1.7 in 1999: 3.0 in 2000: 0.0 in 2001: 0.0 in 2002: 0.0 in 2003: 0.0 in 2004: 0.0 in 2005: 0.0 in 2006: 0.0 in 2007: 0.1 in 2008: 2.0 in 2009: 1.7 in 2010: 2.0 in 2011: 0.0 in 2012: 2.1 in 2013: 5.0 in 2014: 0.8 in 2015: 0.0 in 2016: 0.3 in 2017: 4.0 in 2018: 0.0 in 2019: 0.0 in 2020: 0.0 in 2021: 0.8 in 2022: 0.0 in 2023: 0.0 in 2024: 2.0 in 2025: 0.8 in 19761986199620072017
Total snowfall each winter (July to June), last 50 winters.

Median first snow

January 19

Earliest: November 24, 1938

Median last snow

February 4

Latest: April 3, 1987

37 of 95 winters had no measurable snow.

Station Birmingham Airport (USW00013876), 616 ft elevation, 28.3 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1930 to October 26, 2026; 99.9% of days in the last 30 years are complete. Records at a single station can differ from a city’s official threaded record, which may combine several stations.

NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily.

Federal disaster declarations

25 since 1953. The most recent: Hurricane Helene, September 26, 2024.

Federal disaster declarations
Sep 26, 2024HurricaneHurricane HeleneEmergencyEM-3618-AL
Sep 14, 2020HurricaneHurricane SallyEmergencyEM-3545-AL
Jul 10, 2020Severe StormSevere ThunderstormsMajor disasterDR-4555-AL
May 21, 2020Severe StormSevere Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4546-AL
Mar 29, 2020BiologicalCovid-19 PandemicMajor disasterDR-4503-AL
Mar 13, 2020BiologicalCovid-19EmergencyEM-3472-AL
Apr 17, 2019Severe StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4426-AL
Sep 11, 2017HurricaneHurricane IrmaEmergencyEM-3389-AL
Jan 21, 2016Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4251-AL
May 2, 2014Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4176-AL
Apr 28, 2011Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1971-AL
Apr 27, 2011Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line WindsEmergencyEM-3319-AL
Aug 30, 2008HurricaneHurricane GustavEmergencyEM-3292-AL
Sep 10, 2005HurricaneHurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergencyEM-3237-AL
Sep 15, 2004HurricaneHurricane IvanMajor disasterDR-1549-AL
May 12, 2003Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1466-AL
Nov 14, 2002Severe StormSevere Storms and TornadoesMajor disasterDR-1442-AL
Dec 7, 2001Severe StormSevere Storms and TornadoesMajor disasterDR-1399-AL
Mar 5, 2001Severe StormSevere Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1362-AL
Feb 23, 1996Severe StormSevere Winter Storms, Ice and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1104-AL
Mar 15, 1993SnowstormSevere Snowfall, Winter StormEmergencyEM-3096-AL
Feb 17, 1990Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes & FloodingMajor disasterDR-856-AL
Jul 20, 1977DroughtDroughtEmergencyEM-3045-AL
Apr 9, 1977FloodSevere Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-532-AL
Apr 4, 1974TornadoTornadoesMajor disasterDR-422-AL

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).

OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, retrieved October 30, 2026. Statewide declarations are not listed.

How this compares

Where Blount County stands among 67 counties in Alabama and 3,143 in the United States.

Ranks
Tornadoes since 19505714 / 67293 / 3,143
Tornadoes rated F3/EF3 or stronger523 / 67242 / 3,143
Tropical cyclones within 50 mi462 / 671,001 / 3,143
Hurricane-strength passes within 50 mi0——
Wildfire acres since 19840——
Flood insurance claims2740 / 671,936 / 3,143
Flood insurance paid$814,00029 / 671,574 / 3,143
Disaster declarations2531 / 67769 / 3,143
Flood events since 19964822 / 671,462 / 3,143
Hail and wind events since 199640520 / 67715 / 3,143
Winter storm events since 19963412 / 672,342 / 3,143
Reported damage since 1996$32.1 million22 / 671,116 / 3,143
River crests at major flood stage0——
High tide flooding days a year, last 10 years0.0——
Months in severe drought since 18958861 / 672,681 / 3,143
Medium or heavy smoke days a year, last 10 years10.638 / 672,456 / 3,143
Earthquakes M4+ within 50 mi since 190044 / 67793 / 3,143
Earthquakes M2.5+ in the county since 1973222 / 67665 / 3,143

Neighbouring counties

Neighbouring counties
Cullman County93580830
Etowah County355157129
Jefferson County110115,2252,884
Marshall County754041
St. Clair County44775896
Walker County5991,21365

Sources and vintage

Every number on this page comes from these public records.

  • Tornadoes NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, through 2025.
  • Tropical cyclones NOAA National Hurricane Center HURDAT2 (Atlantic; Northeast and Central Pacific), through 2025.
  • Wildfire USGS/USFS Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity, through 2026.
  • Storm events NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, through 2026.
  • Flood insurance OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026.
  • Declarations OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Weather records NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily, station USW00013876.
  • River crests NOAA National Weather Service, National Water Prediction Service river gauges, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Drought NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, through September 2026.
  • Smoke NOAA NESDIS Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Earthquakes USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat), retrieved October 30, 2026.

Joins, thresholds and known limits are set out in the methodology. Found an error? Report it. Page built October 30, 2026.