Opelika, AL Tornado History — 99 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Opelika, AL had?
Opelika has had 99 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 8 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Opelika?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Opelika was an EF0 on May 3, 2025.
When is tornado season in Opelika?
April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Opelika, 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
Recent Tornado Activity Near Opelika
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 56 total, averaging 2.8 per year over this window.
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 Opelika
49 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Opelika since 1950, across 7 events. 730 injuries have been reported across all events. 2019 was the deadliest year on record.
The deadliest single event was an EF4 on March 3, 2019, which caused 23 fatalities along a 68.0-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Opelika
About Tornadoes in Opelika
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.
Opelika, the seat of Lee County in east-central Alabama near the Georgia line, sits where Gulf moisture feeds potent spring storm systems, and the area's tornado history reflects it. An F3 tornado struck on April 18, 1953, killing 8 people and injuring 495 along a 39.8-mile path, and another F3 on March 20, 1970 killed 2 people and injured 14.
Tornadoes here cluster in spring, and the modern era has brought violent ones. On April 28, 2011, an EF4 carved a 44.18-mile path, killing 7 people and injuring 30, and on March 3, 2019, an EF4 tore across 68.04 miles with a width reaching 1,600 yards, killing 23 people and injuring 90. Earlier, an EF2 on March 1, 2007 followed an 11.74-mile path and caused $28,103,000 in property damage.
The cool season brings its own threat. An F3 on December 5, 1954 injured 7 people along a 51-mile track, a swarm of EF0 and EF1 tornadoes moved through on January 21 and 22, 2017, and an EF3 on January 12, 2023 traveled 82.31 miles, killing 7 people and injuring 16. Later that year, an EF3 on March 26, 2023 injured 5 people, and weaker tornadoes followed in May 2024 and in March and May 2025.