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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 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. Spring through early summer (April–June) generally sees the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.

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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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
Preliminary March 16, 2026
3 SSW Somerville, Morgan County, AL

Within 25 miles of Cullman. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.

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.

The deadliest single event was a 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.

About Tornadoes in Cullman

This overview was written July 28, 2026. The tornado counts and notable-event figures elsewhere on this page reflect the latest data and may differ from this summary.

Tornadoes are a recurring part of life in Cullman, the seat of Cullman County in north-central Alabama. On April 24, 1955, an F4 tornado killed five people along an 8.6-mile path near the city. Another F4 struck on March 11, 1963, and early April 1974 brought back-to-back violence: an F4 on April 3, 1974 injured 178 people along a 110.6-mile track, and an F5 the following day, April 4, 1974, killed 28 and injured 272.

Spring dominates the local severe-weather calendar, but the cold months have repeatedly turned dangerous here. An F4 on November 18, 1957 killed three people, and on November 11, 2002 an F3 tore a 72.6-mile path through the region, killing seven. An F3 on January 19, 1988 injured 35 people, and an F3 on February 16, 1995 killed six and injured 130.

On April 27, 2011, an EF4 killed six people along a 46.88-mile track, and another EF4 that same day carved a 127.8-mile path, killing 13 and causing $170,344,000 in property damage. The threat has not faded in recent seasons: an EF2 on March 25, 2023 caused one death, and an EF2 on March 15, 2025 tracked 39.48 miles with a path up to 1,000 yards wide.

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 a 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.

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