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Montgomery, AL Tornado History — 145 Tornadoes Since 1950

Alabama · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Montgomery, AL had?

Montgomery has had 145 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 9 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Montgomery?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Montgomery was an EF1 on May 21, 2025.

When is tornado season in Montgomery?

April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Montgomery, with 29 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
145
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
9
6.2% of total
Peak Month
April
29 on record
Per Year Avg
1.9
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Montgomery

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

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

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

Preliminary tornado reports near Montgomery since December 29, 2025

These 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.

Preliminary EF1° January 25, 2026
6 WNW Pintlala, Lowndes County, AL

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

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 6
1960s 4
1970s 11
1980s 10
1990s 14
2000s 39
2010s 32
2020s 29

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 63
EF1 49
EF2 24
EF3 7
EF4 2

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 18
Feb 11
Mar 23
Apr 29
May 8
Jun 4
Jul 6
Aug 6
Sep 3
Oct 3
Nov 20
Dec 14

Casualties on Record Near Montgomery

28 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Montgomery since 1950, across 7 events. 279 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 7 fatalities along a 44.2-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Montgomery

Deadliest Tornado
EF4 on April 27, 2011 — 7 fatalities, 44.2 mi path, 880 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
EF4 on April 27, 2011 — $167.0M in reported property damage.
Widest Tornado
EF3 on January 12, 2023 — 1,500 yards wide.
Longest Path
F2 on December 23, 1956 — 121.7 mile track.
Most Recent
EF1 on May 21, 2025.

About Tornadoes in Montgomery

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.

Montgomery sits on the Alabama River in the flatlands of central Alabama, and its tornado history keeps a double rhythm: the spring months of March and April, and a second, colder season that stretches from November into January.

Spring has brought the city violent storms. An F4 struck on April 18, 1969, killing 2 people and injuring 14 along a 52.4-mile track. On May 3, 1984, an F3 cut a 7-mile path near the city, killing 5 and injuring 37. And on April 28, 2011, an EF4 tracked 44.18 miles through the area, killing 7 people, injuring 30, and causing $167 million in property damage.

The cold season carries its own danger here. On December 23, 1956, an F2 stayed on the ground for 121.7 miles on a track that crossed the area. On February 17, 2008, an EF3 injured 50 people along a 14.65-mile path and did $10,100,000 in damage. An EF2 on November 30, 2022 killed 2 people, and weeks later, on January 12, 2023, an EF3 killed 7 and injured 16 while carving an 82.31-mile track across the region. December 29, 2024 brought a family of EF0 and EF1 tornadoes in a single day, and an EF1 followed on May 21, 2025 — a reminder that both halves of Montgomery's severe-weather year demand attention.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Montgomery, AL had?
Since 1950, 145 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Montgomery. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Montgomery?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Montgomery was an EF4 on April 27, 2011, which caused 7 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Montgomery?
April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Montgomery, with 29 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 Montgomery been hit by an EF4 or EF5 tornado?
Within 25 miles of Montgomery, there have been 0 EF5 and 2 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 Montgomery?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Montgomery was an EF1 on May 21, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Montgomery?
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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