Alabama
Gulf moisture meets cold-front fury.
Tornadoes tear across the center, hurricanes push surge up Mobile Bay, and the rivers that make this state beautiful are the same ones that flood it. Alabama's weather doesn't do anything halfway.
Enter your Alabama ZIP for live alerts, forecasts, and county-specific data.
Know your region
What you prepare for depends on where in Alabama you live.
Northern Alabama
Huntsville, Decatur, the Tennessee Valley. This is Alabama's tornado corridor. Long-track supercells sweep across the valley from March through May. The April 2011 outbreak killed 252 people statewide, many of them here. The Tennessee River adds flood risk after heavy rain.
Primary hazards: tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, flooding
Central Alabama
Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Montgomery. The state's population center sits in the path of both Dixie Alley tornadoes and tropical remnants pushing north from the Gulf. The 2011 Tuscaloosa tornado (EF4) cut a mile-wide swath through the city.
Primary hazards: tornadoes, severe storms, heat, flooding
Gulf Coast
Mobile, Baldwin County, the beaches. Direct hurricane exposure from the Gulf of Mexico. Hurricane Ivan (2004) and Sally (2020) demonstrated the storm surge and wind risk. Coastal flooding is increasing with rising sea levels.
Primary hazards: hurricanes, storm surge, flooding, heat
Your hazard profile
5 hazards that apply to Alabama.
Each links to a full guide with during-event protocol, recovery steps, and resources specific to AL.
Tornadoes
Alabama averages 44 tornadoes per year in Dixie Alley. The April 2011 Super Outbreak killed 252 people. Peak season is March through May, with a secondary peak in November. Many strike at night.
Read the tornadoes guide →
Hurricanes
Mobile and Baldwin counties face direct Gulf hurricane landfall. Inland areas deal with tropical-storm-force winds and flooding from remnants. Hurricane Ivan (2004) and Sally (2020) caused billions in damage.
Read the hurricanes guide →
Flooding
Alabama has more navigable waterways than any other state. The Tennessee, Black Warrior, Alabama, and Tombigbee rivers flood regularly. Flash flooding is the number one weather-related killer in the state.
Read the flooding guide →
Severe thunderstorms
Straight-line winds exceeding 70 mph multiple times per year. Large hail damages vehicles and roofs. Lightning is a year-round risk. A weather radio is essential.
Read the severe thunderstorms guide →
Heat waves
Summer heat indices regularly exceed 105°F. High humidity makes cooling difficult. Heat-related illness is a serious risk for outdoor workers, the elderly, and anyone without reliable air conditioning.
Read the heat waves guide →
Alabama resources
The agencies and programs that cover your state.
Alabama EMA
The state's emergency management agency. Coordinates disaster response, manages shelters, distributes FEMA resources.
Alabama PRIOR App
The state's official preparedness information and alert system. Shelter locations, evacuation routes, and county-level alerts.
NWS Birmingham
Central Alabama forecast office. Severe weather outlooks, SKYWARN spotter training, and the forecast discussions that explain what the models show.
AL 2-1-1
Statewide information and referral service. Food assistance, energy assistance, housing resources, disaster recovery programs.
The lesson of 2011
Alabama learned what Dixie Alley means.
On April 27, 2011, Alabama experienced the worst tornado outbreak in state history. In a single day, 62 tornadoes struck the state, killing 252 people. Long-track EF4 and EF5 tornadoes carved paths through Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, and dozens of smaller communities.
The lesson was not that tornadoes happen here. Everyone knew that. The lesson was that the scale of what is possible exceeded what most people had imagined. Safe rooms and storm shelters moved from "good idea" to "non-negotiable" across the state. NOAA weather radios went from hardware-store curiosity to bedside essential.
For every Alabama household, the preparation starts with a shelter plan and a weather radio that works at 2 a.m.