Birmingham, AL Tornado History — 164 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Birmingham, AL had?
Birmingham has had 164 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 17 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Birmingham?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Birmingham was an EF1 on November 25, 2025.
When is tornado season in Birmingham?
April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Birmingham, with 52 on record. April through June account for 79 of the 164 tornadoes on record near Birmingham.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Birmingham
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 66 total, averaging 3.3 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Birmingham since December 29, 2025
This 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
Numerous reports of damage along Hwy 11 near Roosevelt Blvd and Mary Taylor Rd. Video confirmation of a tornado from social media. (BMX)
Within 25 miles of Birmingham. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Birmingham
2 local storm reports have been filed within 25 miles of Birmingham and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on November 24, 2025 and the most recent on November 24, 2025. They are already counted in the Birmingham totals above; quoted below is the narrative each reporting office filed at the time.
The tornado began in the vicinity of Hagood Mountain Road in northeast Jefferson County. The tornado then quickly moved northeastward... ending in the vicinity of Brash (BMX)
An EF0 tornado downed trees near West Jefferson and Graysville. (BMX)
Source: National Weather Service and trained-spotter local storm reports, relayed by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
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 Birmingham
180 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Birmingham since 1950, across 16 events. 2,678 injuries have been reported across all events. 2011 was the deadliest year on record near Birmingham.
The deadliest single event was an EF4 on April 27, 2011, which caused 64 fatalities along a 80.7-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Birmingham
What the record shows near Birmingham
The 2000s were the busiest decade near Birmingham, with 37 of the 164 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 19 so far. The Birmingham record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Birmingham, 108 reached EF0 or EF1 and 56 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Birmingham is rated EF5, of which 2 are logged.
Across the last 20 years Birmingham has averaged 3.3 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 66 in total. 2011 was the busiest of them with 10, and 3 of those years passed with none at all.