Birmingham, Alabama tornadoes

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53confirmed tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Birmingham since NOAA records began in 1950. Most recent: December 10, 2023, EF1.

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Map

Every tornado path within 10 miles

Tornado paths, 1950 to 2025
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(E)F0(E)F1(E)F2(E)F3(E)F4(E)F5Unrated

Each path is a straight line from where the tornado started to where it ended, which is all most NOAA records hold. Tap a path for its details.

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Recent warnings near Birmingham

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The record

At a glance

Total53within 10 miles, 1950 to 2025
Per year0.7average since 1950
Peak monthApril15 of 53
StrongestF5Apr 8, 1998
Deaths152whole paths, see note
Injuries2,414whole paths, see note

Deaths and injuries are NOAA's totals for each tornado's whole path, which can run well beyond Birmingham.

Seasons

When tornadoes hit here

By month

150 Jan: 4Feb: 5Mar: 6Apr: 15May: 10Jun: 2Jul: 0Aug: 1Sep: 0Oct: 2Nov: 3Dec: 5JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

April is the peak month, with 15 of 53 tornadoes.

By time of day

90 12 AM: 4: 1: 03 AM: 2: 3: 16 AM: 1: 2: 09 AM: 0: 0: 212 PM: 5: 4: 03 PM: 9: 3: 26 PM: 4: 3: 49 PM: 1: 1: 112 AM3 AM6 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PM9 PM

Most often around 3:00 PM. Times as recorded by NOAA, mostly Central Standard Time.

By year, 1950 to 2025

40 1950: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 0: 1: 1: 1: 11960: 0: 0: 0: 2: 0: 0: 1: 2: 0: 11970: 0: 1: 1: 1: 1: 1: 1: 1: 0: 31980: 0: 0: 1: 0: 2: 1: 0: 0: 0: 01990: 2: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 1: 02000: 2: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 2: 1: 1: 12010: 1: 4: 2: 0: 0: 1: 0: 1: 0: 02020: 0: 3: 1: 2: 0: 019501960197019801990200020102020

The line is the five-year average. Tornadoes before about 1953 were under-reported, and better radar since the 1990s finds more weak ones.

By rating

EF0
8
EF1
26
EF2
8
EF3
6
EF4
3
EF5
2

Ratings before February 2007 use the original F scale; the numbers line up with today's EF scale. Unknown means NOAA could not assign a rating.

The record

Notable tornadoes

Deadliest

EF4, April 27, 2011

64 deaths, 1,500 injuries Strongest

F5, April 8, 1998

30.3 mile path Longest path

80.68 miles, EF4

April 27, 2011, whole path Widest

2,600 yards, EF4

April 27, 2011
Every tornado

All 53 tornadoes, newest first

DateRatingPath lengthWidthDeathsInjuries
Dec 10, 2023EF11.78 mi200 yd00
Dec 10, 2023EF13.02 mi600 yd00
Feb 17, 2022EF112.64 mi400 yd00
Mar 25, 2021EF14.78 mi700 yd00
Mar 17, 2021EF03.46 mi660 yd01
Jan 25, 2021EF310.4 mi900 yd130
Jun 22, 2017EF18.29 mi255 yd04
Dec 25, 2015EF20.92 mi280 yd02
Dec 10, 2012EF11.05 mi250 yd00
Jan 23, 2012EF315.69 mi800 yd175
Apr 27, 2011EF480.68 mi2,600 yd641500
Apr 27, 2011EF27.76 mi200 yd020
Apr 27, 2011EF13.39 mi100 yd00
Apr 11, 2011EF10.38 mi100 yd00
Oct 26, 2010EF14.3 mi200 yd00
May 3, 2009EF02.6 mi200 yd00
Apr 11, 2008EF00.3 mi30 yd00
Mar 1, 2007EF10.9 mi400 yd00
Apr 8, 2006F13.2 mi100 yd00
Apr 8, 2006F12.3 mi100 yd01
May 31, 2004F04.2 mi150 yd00
Apr 3, 2000F15.7 mi350 yd00
Apr 2, 2000F14.5 mi400 yd00
Apr 8, 1998F530.3 mi1,320 yd32259
Apr 20, 1996F00.3 mi45 yd00
Nearby

Birmingham and its county

Birmingham spans 2 counties, each with its own record since 1950: Jefferson County (110 tornadoes) and Shelby County (51). A county's record counts every tornado inside its borders, while this page counts every path within 10 miles of the city, so the two overlap without matching.

Nearby cities

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Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025. City point and population: US Census Bureau, 2024. Each path is a straight line between NOAA's start and end points.