Tuscaloosa, AL Tornado History — 125 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Tuscaloosa, AL had?
Tuscaloosa has had 125 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 16 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Tuscaloosa?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Tuscaloosa was an EF1 on March 15, 2025.
When is tornado season in Tuscaloosa?
March is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Tuscaloosa, with 31 on record. April through June account for 29 of the 125 tornadoes on record near Tuscaloosa.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Tuscaloosa
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 57 total, averaging 2.9 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Tuscaloosa 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
TDS observed from KBMX radar. (BMX)
An EF-0 tornado with winds up to 80 mph was confirmed in western Jefferson County. Path length 5.83 miles and width 200 yards. (BMX)
Within 25 miles of Tuscaloosa. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. 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 Tuscaloosa
189 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Tuscaloosa since 1950, across 10 events. 2,662 injuries have been reported across all events. 2011 was the deadliest year on record near Tuscaloosa.
The deadliest single event was an EF4 on April 27, 2011, which caused 64 fatalities along a 80.7-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Tuscaloosa
What the record shows near Tuscaloosa
The 2000s were the busiest decade near Tuscaloosa, with 33 of the 125 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 26 so far. The Tuscaloosa record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Tuscaloosa, 84 reached EF0 or EF1 and 40 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Tuscaloosa is rated EF5, of which 2 are logged. A further 1 near Tuscaloosa is unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Tuscaloosa has averaged 2.9 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 57 in total. 2022 was the busiest of them with 11, and 6 of those years passed with none at all.