Helena, AL Tornado History — 151 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Helena, AL had?
Helena has had 151 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 19 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Helena?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Helena was an EF0 on March 15, 2025.
When is tornado season in Helena?
April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Helena, with 44 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
Recent Tornado Activity Near Helena
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 71 total, averaging 3.5 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Helena 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
Within 25 miles of Helena. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
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 Helena
178 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Helena since 1950, across 16 events. 2,792 injuries have been reported across all events. 2011 was the deadliest year on record.
The deadliest single event was an EF4 on April 27, 2011, which caused 64 fatalities along a 80.7-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Helena
About Tornadoes in Helena
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.
Helena, a Shelby County suburb on the southern edge of the Birmingham metro near the Cahaba River, carries a tornado history marked by violent spring storms. An F4 tornado struck on April 15, 1956, killing 25 people and injuring 200 along a 21.3-mile path. An F5 followed on April 4, 1977, carving a 14.7-mile track with 22 deaths and 130 injuries, and another F5 hit on April 9, 1998, killing 32 people and injuring 259 along a 30.3-mile path.
Spring remains the season when the area's tornadoes cluster, concentrated from March through May. On April 27, 2011, an EF4 tore an 80.68-mile path through the region, killing 64 people and injuring 1,500, while EF3, EF2, and EF1 tornadoes struck the same day. Long-track EF3s returned on March 25, 2021, one running 50.13 miles and another 79.66 miles.
Cold-season tornadoes are a recurring local hazard as well. EF2 tornadoes touched down on December 25, 2015, an EF2 struck on February 6, 2020, and an EF3 on January 26, 2021 killed one person and injured 30 along a 10.4-mile track. Activity has continued in recent years, with an EF3 on March 31, 2022 that tracked 29.24 miles, and EF0 and EF1 tornadoes touching down on March 16, 2025.