Selma, AL Tornado History — 90 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Selma, AL had?
Selma has had 90 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 8 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Selma?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Selma was an EF1 on April 6, 2025.
When is tornado season in Selma?
April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Selma, 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 Selma
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 45 total, averaging 2.3 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 Selma
15 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Selma since 1950, across 5 events. 118 injuries have been reported across all events. 2023 was the deadliest year on record.
The deadliest single event was an EF3 on January 12, 2023, which caused 7 fatalities along a 82.3-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Selma
About Tornadoes in Selma
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.
Selma sits on the Alabama River in Dallas County, in the heart of Alabama's Black Belt, where tornado weather arrives in two seasons: spring, and again in the cool months of late fall and winter.
Spring has brought violent storms. An F3 tore a 19-mile path through the area on March 6, 1996, killing four people and injuring 40. On March 1, 2007, an EF4 carved a 6.08-mile track, killing one person, injuring two, and causing an estimated $2,000,000 in damage. Tornadoes touched down repeatedly around Selma on April 15 and 16, 2011, including an EF2 that ran nearly ten miles. On March 31, 2022, an EF3 tracked more than 29 miles and injured two people, and an EF3 that struck on March 16, 2025 killed two.
Cool-season outbreaks have been just as consequential here. An F3 crossed the area on December 6, 1983, killing one person and injuring 19 along a 13-mile path. On January 12, 2023, an EF3 traced an 82.31-mile path up to 1,500 yards wide, killing seven people and injuring 16, while an EF2 the same day tracked more than 23 miles. November 24, 2004 likewise brought a swarm of tornadoes, among them an F2 whose path stretched 49 miles and spanned 1,400 yards.