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Cullman, AL Tornado History — 190 Tornadoes Since 1950

Alabama · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Cullman, AL had?

Cullman has had 190 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 26 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Cullman?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Cullman was an EF1 on May 20, 2025.

When is tornado season in Cullman?

April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Cullman, with 57 on record. April through June account for 82 of the 190 tornadoes on record near Cullman.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
190
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
26
13.7% of total
Peak Month
April
57 on record
Per Year Avg
2.5
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Cullman

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 85 total, averaging 4.3 per year over this window.

2026 0+2 prelim
2025 3
2024 0
2023 3
2022 2
2021 6
2020 12
2019 4
2018 5
2017 3
2016 6
2015 2
2014 2
2013 3
2012 0
2011 9
2010 7
2009 5
2008 12
2007 1

Striped bars mark preliminary reports not yet confirmed by NWS survey — excluded from the confirmed counts.

Preliminary tornado reports near Cullman since December 29, 2025

These are 2 preliminary reports, not confirmed tornadoes. They have not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and are 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.

Preliminary EF1° May 22, 2026
2 WNW Holly Pond, Cullman County, AL
NWS Storm Survey resulted in the Baileyton EF-1 tornado with a 300 yard width... 8.7 mile length... and max wind of 107 mph. (HUN)
Preliminary March 16, 2026
3 SSW Somerville, Morgan County, AL
Two trees were reported down about one mile south of Gum Springs Baptist Church. (HUN)

Within 25 miles of Cullman. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.

What storm spotters reported near Cullman

One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Cullman and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on May 20, 2025 and the most recent on May 20, 2025. It is already counted in the Cullman totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.

EF1° May 20, 2025
5 SW Flint City, Morgan County, AL
Am EF-1 was found in Morgan County with an max intensity of 105 MPH... maximum path width of 540 yards... and a path length of 11.02 miles. (HUN)

Source: National Weather Service and trained-spotter local storm reports, relayed by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 16
1960s 10
1970s 23
1980s 21
1990s 14
2000s 39
2010s 41
2020s 26

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.

EF0 49
EF1 72
EF2 42
EF3 19
EF4 6
EF5 1
Unrated 1

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 10
Feb 12
Mar 37
Apr 57
May 22
Jun 3
Jul 4
Aug 11
Sep 5
Oct 3
Nov 24
Dec 2

Casualties on Record Near Cullman

83 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Cullman since 1950, across 14 events. 1,100 injuries have been reported across all events. 1974 was the deadliest year on record near Cullman.

The deadliest single event was an F5 on April 3, 1974, which caused 28 fatalities along a 79.5-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Cullman

Deadliest Tornado
F5 on April 3, 1974 — 28 fatalities, 79.5 mi path, 500 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
EF4 on April 27, 2011 — $170.3M in reported property damage.
Widest Tornado
EF4 on April 27, 2011 — 1,408 yards wide.
Longest Path
EF4 on April 27, 2011 — 127.8 mile track.
Most Recent
EF1 on May 20, 2025.

What the record shows near Cullman

The 2010s were the busiest decade near Cullman, with 41 of the 190 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 26 so far. The Cullman record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Cullman, 121 reached EF0 or EF1 and 68 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Cullman is rated EF5, of which 1 is logged. A further 1 near Cullman is unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.

Across the last 20 years Cullman has averaged 4.3 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 85 in total. 2008 was the busiest of them with 12, and 3 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Cullman, AL had?
Since 1950, 190 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Cullman. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Cullman?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Cullman was an F5 on April 3, 1974, which caused 28 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Cullman?
April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Cullman, with 57 tornadoes on record. Tornadoes can occur any time of year, but spring months (April–June) generally see the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
Has Cullman been hit by an EF4 or EF5 tornado?
Within 25 miles of Cullman, there have been 1 EF5 and 6 EF4 tornadoes recorded since 1950. EF4 and EF5 tornadoes are the most destructive ratings on the Enhanced Fujita scale, with winds above 166 mph.
When was the most recent tornado near Cullman?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Cullman was an EF1 on May 20, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Cullman?
Vortex delivers real-time tornado warnings, severe thunderstorm alerts, and SPC outlook updates for any US location via push notification and phone call. Alerts are sourced directly from the National Weather Service and updated within seconds of issuance.

Official Resources

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