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Tornado in Monroe County, Alabama
28 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.
Monroe County, Alabama, has 28 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 19 different years.
April is the busiest month, with 8 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 10 events against 8 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 2.7 per 100 square miles compares with 6.3 statewide.
By rating: 8 at (E)F0, 8 at (E)F1, 9 at (E)F2, 2 at (E)F3, 1 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Alabama
| Measure | Monroe County | Alabama | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 28 | 3,206 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 2.7 | 6.3 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 14.3 | 6.4 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 692 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | April | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
2Feb
2Mar
3Apr
8May
2Jun
1Jul
1Aug
0Sep
2Oct
0Nov
0Dec
7
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 28 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Dec 2024 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Dec 2024 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 May 2024 | Tornado | EF2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 2022 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jan 2015 | Tornado | EF0 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF2 | $300K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF2 | $400K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF2 | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Apr 2007 | Tornado | EF1 | $750K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Feb 2006 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Sep 2005 | Tornado | F0 | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Sep 2005 | Tornado | F0 | $80K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Dec 2002 | Tornado | F0 | $8K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Dec 2002 | Tornado | F0 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Mar 1996 | Tornado | F2 | $150K | — | — | 5 | County |
| 19 Feb 1996 | Tornado | F0 | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Mar 1991 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Jan 1982 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Apr 1978 | Tornado | F3 | $2.5M | — | — | 30 | County |
| 20 Jul 1974 | Tornado | F0 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 1973 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 20 Dec 1971 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 23 Apr 1971 | Tornado | F4 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Dec 1967 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Mar 1960 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jun 1957 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | 4 | County |
| 23 Dec 1956 | Tornado | F2 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Monroe County had?
28 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 Monroe County?
28 Dec 2024 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Monroe County?
The tornado of 18 Apr 1978, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $2.5M.
How does Monroe County compare with Alabama for tornado?
2.7 events per 100 square miles against 6.3 statewide; the county holds 28 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.