Decatur, AL Tornado History — 184 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Decatur, AL had?
Decatur has had 184 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 22 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Decatur?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Decatur was an EF0 on May 27, 2025.
When is tornado season in Decatur?
April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Decatur, with 53 on record. April through June account for 105 of the 184 tornadoes on record near Decatur.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Decatur
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 103 total, averaging 5.2 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Decatur 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
Two trees were reported down about one mile south of Gum Springs Baptist Church. (HUN)
Within 25 miles of Decatur. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Decatur
4 local storm reports have been filed within 25 miles of Decatur and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on May 20, 2025 and the most recent on May 27, 2025. They are already counted in the Decatur totals above; quoted below is the narrative each reporting office filed at the time.
An EF-0 tornado with peak wind of 83 mph... path length of 0.12 miles... and path width of 25 yards. (HUN)
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)
Roof torn off of a two story home as well as significant damage to roofs and walls of surrounding houses. (HUN)
An EF-1 tornado was found in Limestone county with a maximum speed of 100 MPH... a maximum width of 65 yards... and a path length of 0.86 miles. (HUN)
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 Decatur
193 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Decatur since 1950, across 18 events. 1,773 injuries have been reported across all events. 1974 was the deadliest year on record near Decatur.
The deadliest single event was an EF5 on April 27, 2011, which caused 72 fatalities along a 132.0-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Decatur
What the record shows near Decatur
The 2010s were the busiest decade near Decatur, with 52 of the 184 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 28 so far. The Decatur record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Decatur, 125 reached EF0 or EF1 and 54 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Decatur is rated EF5, of which 4 are logged. A further 5 near Decatur are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Decatur has averaged 5.2 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 103 in total. 2011 was the busiest of them with 16, and 1 of those years passed with none at all.