Storms near Shelby County
The record holds 34 tropical cyclones whose tracks passed within 50 km of Shelby County, Alabama between 1860 and 2021. The busiest month is September, with 10 of them. The strongest, measured where each came closest to the place, reached category 1 strength. 3 of the storms have no wind speed in the record.
- 34storms within 50 km
- 0major (category 3 to 5) near here
- 2at category 1 strength or more
A storm counts once, however many times it came close. The category is the storm's strongest point within 50 km, which can be weaker than its peak elsewhere.
How strong were the storms near Shelby County?
| Category near here | Storms | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical depression | 17 | 50% |
| Tropical storm | 12 | 35% |
| Category 1 | 2 | 6% |
| Category 2 | 0 | 0% |
| Category 3 | 0 | 0% |
| Category 4 | 0 | 0% |
| Category 5 | 0 | 0% |
| Unknown intensity | 3 | 9% |
The agency behind most of the intensity figures here is the NOAA National Hurricane Center (HURDAT2, Atlantic).
Shelby County storms over time
The 2020s only run to 2021, so that bar is for a shorter period. This place's record starts in 1860, and records before the satellite era (about the 1960s) are far less complete.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| 1860s | 3 |
| 1880s | 1 |
| 1890s | 2 |
| 1900s | 3 |
| 1910s | 3 |
| 1920s | 1 |
| 1930s | 2 |
| 1940s | 1 |
| 1950s | 4 |
| 1960s | 1 |
| 1970s | 2 |
| 1980s | 1 |
| 1990s | 3 |
| 2000s | 3 |
| 2010s | 2 |
| 2020s | 2 |
Earlier decades hold fewer storms partly because they were harder to see. Before weather satellites (about the 1960s) many storms that stayed at sea went unrecorded, so compare decades with care.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| Jan | 0 |
| Feb | 0 |
| Mar | 0 |
| Apr | 0 |
| May | 2 |
| Jun | 4 |
| Jul | 7 |
| Aug | 3 |
| Sep | 10 |
| Oct | 7 |
| Nov | 1 |
| Dec | 0 |
Strongest storms near Shelby County
- Opal (1995)27 September 1995 to 6 October 1995, Category 1 (80 kt) near here, peak Category 4 (130 kt), 919 hPa
- Unnamed storm of October 1916 (North Atlantic)9 October 1916 to 19 October 1916, Category 1 (65 kt) near here, peak Category 2 (95 kt), 970 hPa
- Zeta (2020)24 October 2020 to 30 October 2020, Tropical storm (60 kt) near here, peak Category 2 (95 kt), 973 hPa
- Unnamed storm of August 1881 (North Atlantic)21 August 1881 to 30 August 1881, Tropical storm (50 kt) near here, peak Category 2 (90 kt), 970 hPa
- Ivan (2004)2 September 2004 to 24 September 2004, Tropical storm (50 kt) near here, peak Category 5 (145 kt), 910 hPa
Most recent storms near Shelby County
- Claudette (2021)17 June 2021 to 23 June 2021, Tropical depression (25 kt) near here, peak Tropical storm (40 kt), 1,003 hPa
- Zeta (2020)24 October 2020 to 30 October 2020, Tropical storm (60 kt) near here, peak Category 2 (95 kt), 973 hPa
- Alberto (2018)25 May 2018 to 31 May 2018, Tropical depression (30 kt) near here, peak Tropical storm (55 kt), 990 hPa
Many of these storms killed people and destroyed homes. The figures are the official record's, and this page says nothing about their human cost.
A storm that came near several counties counts in each one, so county counts add up to more than the state's.
Notable storms near Shelby County
- Ivan (2004)2 September 2004 to 24 September 2004, peak Category 5 (145 kt), 910 hPa
- Opal (1995)27 September 1995 to 6 October 1995, peak Category 4 (130 kt), 919 hPa