Greene County
Population 7,067 (2025) 647 sq mi
18 tropical storms and hurricanes have passed within 50 miles of Greene County since 1851, 1 of them at hurricane strength; the strongest was Zeta in 2020 (Category 1).
Hazard fingerprint Each spoke is this county’s percentile among U.S. counties where that hazard occurs. How it is computed
- Tornado damage paths since 195029
- Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger30
- Major flood years since 19781
At a glance
The record for Greene County in eight numbers. Each links to its section below.
Tornadoes since 1950
29
57th of 67 in Alabama
Fewer than the typical Alabama county, which has had 44
DetailsStrongest tornado
EF4
April 27, 2011, 80.7 mile path
Strongest tropical cyclone
Cat. 1
Hurricane Zeta, 2020, 11.5 miles away
Tornadoes
About one every 2.6 years since 1950, 5 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
Strongest
April 27, 2011
EF4, 80.7 mile path
2,600 yards wide; 64 killed along the whole path.
Most recent
Saturday, March 15, 2025
EF1, 26.5 mile path
Within the past year.
Every recorded tornado
| Mar 15, 2025 | EF1 | 26.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 28, 2024 | EF1 | 14.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 12, 2023 | EF2 | 39.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 29, 2022 | EF1 | 19.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 13, 2022 | EF1 | 17.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 30, 2022 | EF1 | 1.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 30, 2022 | EF1 | 8.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 22, 2022 | EF0 | 3.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 22, 2022 | EF0 | 0.9 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 3, 2022 | EF2 | 25.9 | 8 | 1 |
| May 2, 2021 | EF0 | 1.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 25, 2021 | EF1 | 12.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 3, 2015 | EF0 | 1.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 3, 2015 | EF1 | 1.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 23, 2014 | EF0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF3 | 72.1 | 50 | 7 |
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF4 | 80.7 | 1,500 | 64 |
| Apr 15, 2011 | EF2 | 24.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 15, 2011 | EF2 | 8.7 | 1 | 0 |
| Apr 15, 2011 | EF3 | 18.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 24, 2010 | EF1 | 8.2 | 2 | 0 |
| Mar 4, 2008 | EF1 | 5.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 25, 2005 | F1 | 6.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 25, 2005 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 25, 2003 | F0 | 4.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 10, 1992 | F3 | 18.0 | 7 | 2 |
| Feb 23, 1977 | F2 | 0.2 | 1 | 0 |
| Feb 26, 1971 | F3 | 4.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 18, 1957 | F1 | 28.0 | 5 | 0 |
- Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Greene County: 0.
- 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
18 passed within 50 miles since 1851; 1 at hurricane strength.
Strongest within 50 miles
October 29, 2020
Zeta, Category 1
11.5 miles at closest approach, winds near 74 mph.
Most recent
October 29, 2020
Zeta, Category 1
11.5 miles at closest approach.
Every storm within 100 miles
| Zeta | 2020 | 11.5 | Category 1 |
| Sally | 2020 | 91.1 | Tropical storm |
| Olga | 2019 | 92.3 | Post-tropical |
| Lee | 2011 | 40.5 | Post-tropical |
| Katrina | 2005 | 43.8 | Tropical storm |
| Ivan | 2004 | 20.6 | Tropical storm |
| Opal | 1995 | 78.3 | Tropical storm |
| Erin | 1995 | 63.0 | Tropical storm |
| Juan | 1985 | 51.1 | Tropical storm |
| Frederic | 1979 | 12.1 | Tropical storm |
| Baker | 1950 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1932 | 18.5 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1932 | 70.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1923 | 51.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1916 | 16.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1916 | 26.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1915 | 32.5 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1912 | 17.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1912 | 12.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1907 | 31.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1906 | 69.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1902 | 96.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1901 | 18.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1893 | 68.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1893 | 40.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1892 | 4.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1881 | 12.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1880 | 31.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1879 | 37.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1860 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1860 | 97.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1859 | 68.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1855 | 7.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1852 | 55.3 | Tropical storm |
- 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: 49 days
Heavy smoke on 4 days in 2023, the most of any year.
Last 10 years
11.3 days a year
Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.
2025
8 days
Medium or heavy smoke. 38 so far in 2026.
- 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
111 federal flood insurance claims since 1979, with $1.1 million paid.
Most claims in one year
1991: 37 claims
$190,000 paid.
2nd most
2020: 17 claims
$403,000 paid.
3rd most
1983: 11 claims
$27,000 paid.
Claims by ZIP code
| 35443 | 35 | $205,000 |
| 36740 | 35 | $396,000 |
| 35462 | 25 | $371,000 |
| 35491 | 9 | $70,000 |
| 5 | $9,260 |
Flood events since 1996
- Flash Flood9
- Flood4
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
April 15, 1979
Tombigbee River at Gainesville Lock and Dam, 120.74 ft
19.74 feet above the 101.0 ft flood stage; major flooding by today’s categories.
Most recent moderate or major crest
February 16, 2020
Tombigbee River at Gainesville Lock and Dam, 116.58 ft
Moderate flooding.
River gauges
| Tombigbee River at Gainesville Lock and Dam | 101.0 | 120.74 ft | 2 |
- 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 99 of 1,581 months since 1895 (6%); the longest spell lasted 17 months.
99
Months in severe drought or worse since 1895
20
Months in extreme drought
6%
Share of all months, severe or worse
34
Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996
Lowest reading
May 1898
−5.08, extreme drought
Longest severe spell
17 months
May 1897 to September 1898.
Latest month
September 2026
+0.64, incipient wet spell
Last severe month: March 2017.
- 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
2 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles since 1900; the largest was magnitude 4.5 in 1975.
15
Magnitude 2.5+ inside the county since 1973
29
Magnitude 3+ within 50 miles since 1973
2
Magnitude 4+ within 50 miles since 1900
0
Magnitude 5+ within 50 miles since 1900
Largest within 50 miles
June 24, 1975
Magnitude 4.5
3 km NNW of Fayette, Alabama; 39.1 miles away, 6.2 miles deep.
Most recent, magnitude 3 or more
June 30, 2015
Magnitude 3.5
12 km W of Union, Alabama; inside the county.
Every earthquake of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles
| Nov 7, 2004 | 4.3 | Inside |
| Jun 24, 1975 | 4.5 | 39.1 |
- 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).
- 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
246 events in the National Weather Service record, 214 of them since 1996.
27
Hail reports, 1 inch or larger
2
Hail, 2 inches or larger
58
Damaging gusts, 58 mph+
11
Winter weather events since 1996
11
Heat events since 1996
6
Cold events since 1996
Largest hail
May 6, 2026
2.75 inches
Strongest measured or estimated gust
April 10, 2004
86 mph
Costliest events since 1996
- Apr 27, 2011Tornado$5.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
A tornado touched down in southwestern Greene county and moved northeast through central Hale and Bibb counties, before lifting near Marvel in far northeast Bibb county. The tornado touched down near the Tombigbee River, west of Tishabee on CR 69, and intensified to an EF2 rating with winds of 120 mph. As the tornado moved northeast, hundreds of trees were downed, a barn damaged, two small churches destroyed, and several mobile homes destroyed. The tornado crossed US Hwy 43 near Thornhill, destroying a large metal outbuilding and causing major roof and wall damage to several brick buildings. At least two minor injuries were noted along the path in Greene county. The tornado…
- Sep 16, 2004High Wind, Greene$5.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Thousands of trees and power lines were blown down countywide. At least 3300 customers were without power at the height of the storm. Some locations did not get power back for a week. Twenty five to fifty homes suffered significant damage and many more sustained minor roof damage. Maximum wind gusts were estimated around 90 miles an hour.
- Apr 27, 2011Tornado$2.5 million
National Weather Service narrative
A tornado touched down in northern Greene County and moved northeast through southern Tuscaloosa and western Jefferson Counties, causing devastating damage consistent with a violent EF4 rating to portions of the city of Tuscaloosa and western suburbs of Birmingham, before it lifted northeast of downtown Birmingham. The tornado initially touched down just south of the intersection of CR 60 and CR 208 in Greene County, and moved northeast, crossing mostly rural areas and causing significant tree damage. One outbuilding was destroyed with the debris being swept away and pieces of farm equipment flipped over. This damage was consistent with an EF2 rating with winds of 125 mph. The…
- Aug 29, 2005Tropical Storm, Greene$1.8 million
National Weather Service narrative
Extensive tree and power line damage occurred during Katrina. Numerous structures, homes and vehicles were damaged. Power outages were widespread and lengthy and affected the entire county. Many businesses suffered significant damage.
- Apr 15, 2011Tornado$371,000
National Weather Service narrative
The first segment in this tornado initially touched down in Greene County along County Road 20, 2.2 miles east of Forkland. The tornado then moved northeast into Hale County, where it lifted north of State Highway 25, 2.4 miles west of the Bibb County line. In Greene County, the tornado was rated an EF-1, with maximum winds of 105 mph. The tornado snapped hundreds of trees along its path.
- Sep 25, 2005Tornado$250,000
National Weather Service narrative
A tornado touched down just east of County Road 20 near Trussells Creek. The tornado moved roughly parallel to Trussells Creek and lifted before the town of Clinton. This tornado primarily affect rural countryside in west central Greene County. The tornado did produce significant tree damage along its path as hundreds of trees were snapped off or uprooted along the path. Many acres will have to be clear cut to salvage the timber. The tornado damage path was 6 miles long and 250 yards wide at its widest point. This tornado was produced by the remnants of Hurricane Rita. Begin: 32 50.52/88 03.94 End: 32 54.37/87 59.85
- Apr 10, 2004Thunderstorm Wind$200,000
National Weather Service narrative
A supercell thunderstorm moved across Greene, Hale, and Perry Counties and produced significant wind damage along with very large hail. The supercell produced minor tree damage in extreme northwest Greene County north of Boligee and then became stronger. The most extensive damage started just northeast of Eutaw, in Greene County, along US 11 and ended just north of the Wedgewood community, in Hale County, along SR 60. The swath of damage was 1.5 miles wide at the beginning point and 3 miles wide at the ending point. The path length was approximately 6.5 miles long. Inside this extensive damage area, thousands of trees were snapped off or uprooted, numerous power lines were snapped…
- Jul 10, 2005Tropical Storm, Greene$165,000
National Weather Service narrative
Hundreds of trees and power lines were blown down countywide during Dennis. At least three homes suffered wind damage. At least 1100 customers were without power for several hours. County Roads 148 and 20 and State Highways 11, 43 and 14 were temporarily closed due to fallen trees. A mobile home in Forkland was burned after a power pole fell on the home. A motorists ran into a downed tree in Boligee, but was not injured.
- Mar 4, 2008Tornado$150,000
National Weather Service narrative
The tornado touched down near the intersection of US-11 and CR-135, just east of downtown Eutaw. From there, it moved northeastward, crossing CR-12, CR-131, AL-14, CR-170, and ultimately Interstate 20 near mile marker 43. The tornado lifted before reaching CR-167. One home was destroyed, four homes received major damage, and at least twenty more received at least minor damage. Several hundred trees were either snapped off or blown down along the path.
- Apr 25, 2003Tornado$100,000
National Weather Service narrative
A tornado touched down near the Greene County Power Plant. The tornado moved across the power plant facility and crossed the Black Warrior into Hale County. Numerous trees were blown down along the path with the most extensive damage occurring right along the river. One mobile home was destroyed by a falling tree. One church had shingle damage to its roof . No injuries occurred.Beg: 32 36.230/87 49.016 End: 32 36.373/87 44.662
- 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 Gainesville Lock, 12.2 miles from the county’s population centre, with records from 1957.
- All-time high
- 105°F5 times, most recently Aug 17, 2007
- All-time low
- −2°FJan 21, 1985
- Warmest night
- 80°FJul 16, 1980
- Coldest day
- 15°F2 times, most recently Dec 23, 1989
- Wettest day
- 7.55 inApr 13, 1979
- Snowiest day
- 11.0 inJan 1, 1964
- Hottest year
- 1998mean 65.5°F
- Coldest year
- 1976mean 61.4°F
- Wettest year
- 198380.92 in
- Driest year
- 195430.51 in
Station Gainesville Lock (USC00013160), 125 ft elevation, 12.2 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1957 to October 27, 2026; 91.5% 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
22 since 1953. The most recent: Hurricane Helene, September 26, 2024.
| Sep 26, 2024 | Hurricane | EM-3618-AL |
| Jan 15, 2023 | Severe Storm | DR-4684-AL |
| Sep 14, 2020 | Hurricane | EM-3545-AL |
| May 21, 2020 | Severe Storm | DR-4546-AL |
| Mar 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4503-AL |
| Mar 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3472-AL |
| Apr 17, 2019 | Severe Storm | DR-4426-AL |
| Oct 8, 2017 | Hurricane | EM-3394-AL |
| Sep 11, 2017 | Hurricane | EM-3389-AL |
| Apr 28, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1971-AL |
| Apr 27, 2011 | Severe Storm | EM-3319-AL |
| Aug 30, 2008 | Hurricane | EM-3292-AL |
| Sep 10, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3237-AL |
| Aug 29, 2005 | Hurricane | DR-1605-AL |
| Jul 10, 2005 | Hurricane | DR-1593-AL |
| Sep 15, 2004 | Hurricane | DR-1549-AL |
| Nov 14, 2002 | Severe Storm | DR-1442-AL |
| Mar 15, 1993 | Snowstorm | EM-3096-AL |
| Feb 17, 1990 | Severe Storm | DR-856-AL |
| Apr 18, 1979 | Flood | DR-578-AL |
| Jul 20, 1977 | Drought | EM-3045-AL |
| Mar 27, 1973 | Tornado | DR-369-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 Greene County stands among 67 counties in Alabama and 3,143 in the United States.
| Tornadoes since 1950 | 29 | 57 / 67 |
| Tornadoes rated F3/EF3 or stronger | 5 | 23 / 67 |
| Tropical cyclones within 50 mi | 18 | 28 / 67 |
| Hurricane-strength passes within 50 mi | 1 | 22 / 67 |
| Wildfire acres since 1984 | 0 | — |
| Flood insurance claims | 111 | 21 / 67 |
| Flood insurance paid | $1.1 million | 23 / 67 |
| Disaster declarations | 22 | 52 / 67 |
| Flood events since 1996 | 13 | 61 / 67 |
| Hail and wind events since 1996 | 107 | 64 / 67 |
| Winter storm events since 1996 | 11 | 42 / 67 |
| Reported damage since 1996 | $16.2 million | 39 / 67 |
| River crests at major flood stage | 2 | 23 / 67 |
| High tide flooding days a year, last 10 years | 0.0 | — |
| Months in severe drought since 1895 | 99 | 45 / 67 |
| Medium or heavy smoke days a year, last 10 years | 11.3 | 20 / 67 |
| Earthquakes M4+ within 50 mi since 1900 | 2 | 22 / 67 |
| Earthquakes M2.5+ in the county since 1973 | 15 | 1 / 67 |
Neighbouring counties
| Hale County | 54 | 18 |
| Marengo County | 47 | 22 |
| Pickens County | 55 | 16 |
| Sumter County | 31 | 24 |
| Tuscaloosa County | 94 | 16 |
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 USC00013160.
- 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.