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Vestavia Hills, AL Tornado History — 163 Tornadoes Since 1950

Alabama · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Vestavia Hills, AL had?

Vestavia Hills has had 163 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 20 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Vestavia Hills?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Vestavia Hills was an EF1 on November 25, 2025.

When is tornado season in Vestavia Hills?

April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Vestavia Hills, with 49 on record. April through June account for 75 of the 163 tornadoes on record near Vestavia Hills.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
163
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
20
12.3% of total
Peak Month
April
49 on record
Per Year Avg
2.1
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Vestavia Hills

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 72 total, averaging 3.6 per year over this window.

2026 0+1 prelim
2025 4
2024 1
2023 2
2022 5
2021 6
2020 4
2019 3
2018 0
2017 2
2016 2
2015 2
2014 6
2013 0
2012 4
2011 13
2010 2
2009 8
2008 5
2007 3

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

Preliminary tornado reports near Vestavia Hills since December 29, 2025

This 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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 February 26, 2026
2 SW Trussville, Jefferson County, AL
Numerous reports of damage along Hwy 11 near Roosevelt Blvd and Mary Taylor Rd. Video confirmation of a tornado from social media. (BMX)

Within 25 miles of Vestavia Hills. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.

What storm spotters reported near Vestavia Hills

2 local storm reports have been filed within 25 miles of Vestavia Hills and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on November 24, 2025 and the most recent on November 24, 2025. They are already counted in the Vestavia Hills totals above; quoted below is the narrative each reporting office filed at the time.

November 25, 2025
3 SE Morris, Jefferson County, AL
The tornado began in the vicinity of Hagood Mountain Road in northeast Jefferson County. The tornado then quickly moved northeastward... ending in the vicinity of Brash (BMX)
EF0° November 25, 2025
4 NNW Birmingport, Jefferson County, AL
An EF0 tornado downed trees near West Jefferson and Graysville. (BMX)

Source: National Weather Service and trained-spotter local storm reports, relayed by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 11
1960s 14
1970s 22
1980s 15
1990s 11
2000s 34
2010s 34
2020s 22

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 38
EF1 72
EF2 33
EF3 12
EF4 6
EF5 2

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 9
Feb 15
Mar 26
Apr 49
May 23
Jun 3
Jul 1
Aug 5
Sep 0
Oct 4
Nov 14
Dec 14

Casualties on Record Near Vestavia Hills

197 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Vestavia Hills since 1950, across 18 events. 2,729 injuries have been reported across all events. 2011 was the deadliest year on record near Vestavia Hills.

The deadliest single event was an EF4 on April 27, 2011, which caused 64 fatalities along a 80.7-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Vestavia Hills

Deadliest Tornado
EF4 on April 27, 2011 — 64 fatalities, 80.7 mi path, 2,600 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
EF4 on April 27, 2011 — $2.2B in reported property damage.
Widest Tornado
EF4 on April 27, 2011 — 2,600 yards wide.
Longest Path
EF4 on April 27, 2011 — 97.3 mile track.
Most Recent
EF1 on November 25, 2025.

What the record shows near Vestavia Hills

The 2000s were the busiest decade near Vestavia Hills, with 34 of the 163 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 22 so far. The Vestavia Hills record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Vestavia Hills, 110 reached EF0 or EF1 and 53 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Vestavia Hills is rated EF5, of which 2 are logged.

Across the last 20 years Vestavia Hills has averaged 3.6 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 72 in total. 2011 was the busiest of them with 13, and 3 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Vestavia Hills, AL had?
Since 1950, 163 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Vestavia Hills. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Vestavia Hills?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Vestavia Hills was an EF4 on April 27, 2011, which caused 64 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Vestavia Hills?
April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Vestavia Hills, with 49 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 Vestavia Hills been hit by an EF4 or EF5 tornado?
Within 25 miles of Vestavia Hills, there have been 2 EF5 and 6 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 Vestavia Hills?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Vestavia Hills was an EF1 on November 25, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Vestavia Hills?
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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