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Tornado in Franklin County, Alabama
30 tornadoes events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Tornado.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.
NCEI records 30 tornado events in Franklin County, Alabama, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 21 years.
April is the busiest month, with 8 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 16 events against 4 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.9% of the 3,206 tornado events recorded in Alabama; its 4.7 per 100 square miles compares with 6.3 statewide.
NCEI attributes 28 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 8 at (E)F0, 7 at (E)F1, 10 at (E)F2, 3 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 1 at (E)F5 and 1 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Alabama
| Measure | Franklin County | Alabama | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 30 | 3,206 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 4.7 | 6.3 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 9.4 | 6.4 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 28 | 692 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | April | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
4Feb
5Mar
4Apr
8May
1Jun
3Jul
0Aug
0Sep
0Oct
0Nov
4Dec
1
Magnitude distribution
Enhanced Fujita scale wind estimates
- EF0/F0
- 65–85 mph (EF0)
- EF1/F1
- 86–110 mph (EF1)
- EF2/F2
- 111–135 mph (EF2)
- EF3/F3
- 136–165 mph (EF3)
- EF4/F4
- 166–200 mph (EF4)
- EF5/F5
- over 200 mph (EF5)
- Unrated
- no rating recorded
Tornado rating as recorded (Fujita scale before February 2007, Enhanced Fujita after).
Recorded events
All 30 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Feb 2025 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Feb 2025 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Feb 2025 | Tornado | EF2 | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 5 Jan 2025 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 2024 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jan 2023 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2019 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Nov 2018 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Mar 2018 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Mar 2018 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Apr 2017 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Dec 2016 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Nov 2016 | Tornado | EF2 | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 28 Apr 2014 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF2 | $600K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF5 | $50M | — | 27 | — | County |
| 7 Apr 2006 | Tornado | F0 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jan 1999 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 May 1993 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Nov 1988 | Tornado | F3 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 1974 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | 4 | County |
| 4 Feb 1971 | Tornado | F3 | $25K | — | 1 | 1 | County |
| 29 Jun 1967 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jun 1967 | Tornado | — | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Mar 1964 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 11 Mar 1963 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 31 Jan 1958 | Tornado | F2 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Nov 1957 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Apr 1957 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Feb 1953 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | 6 | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Franklin County had?
30 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of tornadoes became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded tornado event in Franklin County?
15 Feb 2025 (Tornado, EF2). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Franklin County?
The tornado of 27 Apr 2011, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $50M; 27 deaths recorded.
How does Franklin County compare with Alabama for tornado?
4.7 events per 100 square miles against 6.3 statewide; the county holds 30 of the state's 3,206 recorded events.
Provenance
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Tornado hub and the county page.