Alabaster, AL Tornado History — 146 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Alabaster, AL had?
Alabaster has had 146 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 18 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Alabaster?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Alabaster was an EF0 on March 15, 2025.
When is tornado season in Alabaster?
April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Alabaster, with 43 on record. Spring through early summer (April–June) generally sees the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Alabaster
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 70 total, averaging 3.5 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Alabaster since December 29, 2025
These is a preliminary report, not confirmed tornadoes. It has not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and is not counted in the confirmed totals above.
Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete. Ratings are omitted until a survey assigns one.
Confirmed records above are complete through December 29, 2025. NOAA publishes the confirmed archive annually, so tornadoes after that date appear here first and move into the totals above once finalized.
Within 25 miles of Alabaster. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
Tornadoes by Decade
Tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita Rating
F0–F5 ratings (pre-2007) are grouped with their EF equivalents. The Enhanced Fujita scale replaced the original Fujita scale in February 2007.
Tornadoes by Month
Casualties on Record Near Alabaster
175 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Alabaster since 1950, across 13 events. 2,691 injuries have been reported across all events. 2011 was the deadliest year on record.
The deadliest single event was an EF4 on April 27, 2011, which caused 64 fatalities along a 80.7-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Alabaster
About Tornadoes in Alabaster
This overview was written July 24, 2026. The tornado counts and notable-event figures elsewhere on this page reflect the latest data and may differ from this summary.
Alabaster lies just south of Birmingham in central Alabama, in the rolling, wooded country where the southern Appalachians give way to the coastal plain. This is the Deep South, a region where tornadoes are a serious and recurring hazard, and where hilly, tree-covered terrain can hide a tornado until it is close.
Central Alabama's tornado risk is closely tied to the Gulf of Mexico. Warm, humid Gulf air is available much of the year, so when a strong jet stream supplies wind shear the atmosphere can turn severe not only in spring but again during a secondary cool-season peak in late fall and winter. Deep South tornadoes are also more apt to occur after dark and to be embedded in fast squall lines, both of which raise the danger to residents.
The Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale rates tornado strength from EF0 to EF5 based on surveyed damage rather than a measured wind speed. Most tornadoes are weak, but the regional climate is fully capable of producing violent, long-track events. For the Alabaster area's specific record — total counts, the decade and rating breakdowns, and the deadliest, costliest, and most recent events — see the figures compiled from the NOAA Storm Prediction Center elsewhere on this page.