VORTEX
TORNADO HISTORY
← All Cities

Dothan, AL Tornado History — 157 Tornadoes Since 1950

Alabama · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Dothan, AL had?

Dothan has had 157 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 3 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Dothan?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Dothan was an EF2 on May 10, 2025.

When is tornado season in Dothan?

April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Dothan, with 30 on record. April through June account for 47 of the 157 tornadoes on record near Dothan.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
157
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
3
1.9% of total
Peak Month
April
30 on record
Per Year Avg
2.1
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Dothan

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 73 total, averaging 3.6 per year over this window.

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

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

Preliminary tornado reports near Dothan since December 29, 2025

These are 6 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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 June 17, 2026
1 NNE Ewell, Dale County, AL
Video of a tornado around 1:30 pm CDT. TDS on radar was most apparent from 1:36 pm to 1:39 pm CDT. Tornado likely dissipated near (31.50...-85.55) around 1:41 pm CDT. P (TAE)
Preliminary May 26, 2026
2 SE Headland Municipal, Henry County, AL
Home reported collapsed. Trees down in the area. (TAE)
Preliminary EF1° March 12, 2026
2 N Pearce, Houston County, AL
EF1 tornado confirmed by storm survey. Lasted from 4:18 am CDT to 4:28 am CDT. (TAE)
Preliminary EF1° March 12, 2026
1 SSW Murphy Station, Henry County, AL
EF1 tornado confirmed by storm survey. Lasted from 4:07 am CDT to 4:09 am CDT. (TAE)
Preliminary EF0° January 25, 2026
2 ESE Madrid, Houston County, AL
EF0 tornado confirmed by storm survey. Started at 2:02 CST and ended at 3:03 CST. (TAE)
Preliminary January 25, 2026
Pleasant Plains, Houston County, AL
Corrects EF rating of previous tornado report from Pleasant Plains. EF1 confirmed by storm survey. Started at 1:52 pm CT and ended at 2:09 pm CT. (TAE)

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

What storm spotters reported near Dothan

One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Dothan and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on May 10, 2025 and the most recent on May 10, 2025. It is already counted in the Dothan totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.

May 10, 2025
Holland Crossroads, Holmes County, FL
All lanes on SR-79 near SR-2 reported closed due to debris on the roadway. (TAE)

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

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 11
1960s 4
1970s 15
1980s 20
1990s 21
2000s 24
2010s 30
2020s 32

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 53
EF1 75
EF2 26
EF3 3

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 15
Feb 12
Mar 21
Apr 30
May 10
Jun 7
Jul 2
Aug 6
Sep 7
Oct 19
Nov 14
Dec 14

Casualties on Record Near Dothan

8 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Dothan since 1950, across 5 events. 255 injuries have been reported across all events. 1972 was the deadliest year on record near Dothan.

The deadliest single event was an F2 on January 13, 1972, which caused 4 fatalities along a 6.3-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Dothan

Deadliest Tornado
F2 on January 13, 1972 — 4 fatalities, 6.3 mi path, 100 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
F2 on March 5, 1984 — est. ~$27.5M (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
EF1 on March 9, 2024 — 1,020 yards wide.
Longest Path
EF1 on April 19, 2015 — 38.7 mile track.
Most Recent
EF2 on May 10, 2025.

What the record shows near Dothan

The 2020s are the busiest decade on record so far near Dothan, with 32 of the 157 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles. The Dothan record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Dothan, 128 reached EF0 or EF1 and 29 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Dothan is rated EF3, of which 3 are logged.

Across the last 20 years Dothan has averaged 3.6 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 73 in total. 2021 was the busiest of them with 9, and 5 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Dothan, AL had?
Since 1950, 157 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Dothan. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Dothan?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Dothan was an F2 on January 13, 1972, which caused 4 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Dothan?
April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Dothan, with 30 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.
When was the most recent tornado near Dothan?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Dothan was an EF2 on May 10, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Dothan?
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

More Cities in Alabama