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Tornado in Washington County, Alabama
33 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.
Washington County, Alabama, has 33 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 22 different years.
March is the busiest month, with 10 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 16 events against 9 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1% of the 3,206 tornado events recorded in Alabama; its 3.1 per 100 square miles compares with 6.3 statewide.
NCEI attributes 3 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 11 at (E)F0, 11 at (E)F1, 9 at (E)F2, 2 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Alabama
| Measure | Washington County | Alabama | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 33 | 3,206 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 3.1 | 6.3 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 21.8 | 6.4 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 3 | 692 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | March | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
1Feb
3Mar
10Apr
4May
0Jun
1Jul
1Aug
0Sep
3Oct
0Nov
4Dec
6
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 33 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 Mar 2025 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Feb 2025 | Tornado | EF2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Dec 2022 | Tornado | EF2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Nov 2022 | Tornado | EF3 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Mar 2019 | Tornado | EF1 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Mar 2019 | Tornado | EF1 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Feb 2018 | Tornado | EF0 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Nov 2014 | Tornado | EF1 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Feb 2013 | Tornado | EF1 | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Dec 2012 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF1 | $300K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF2 | $50K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 15 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF3 | $2.0M | — | 3 | 3 | County |
| 8 Apr 2010 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Mar 2010 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jan 2009 | Tornado | EF1 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Nov 2006 | Tornado | F1 | $750K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jul 2005 | Tornado | F0 | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Dec 2002 | Tornado | F0 | $8K | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Dec 2002 | Tornado | F0 | $15K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Dec 2002 | Tornado | F0 | $8K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Dec 2002 | Tornado | F0 | $8K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Mar 1996 | Tornado | F0 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Mar 1996 | Tornado | F0 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Nov 1988 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Sep 1985 | Tornado | F1 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Mar 1984 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Mar 1976 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Mar 1972 | Tornado | F2 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Sep 1971 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Sep 1971 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Mar 1970 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 1969 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Washington County had?
33 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 Washington County?
15 Mar 2025 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Washington County?
The tornado of 10 Jan 2009, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $2.5M.
How does Washington County compare with Alabama for tornado?
3.1 events per 100 square miles against 6.3 statewide; the county holds 33 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.