Alabama Annual Rainfall and Climate Data - see below for individual cities

 

Alabama climate data

City

Avg Annual Precip

Avg Annual Snow

 Avg. # days of Precip Avg # thunderstorm days Avg # hail days

Avg # severe thunderstorm watches per year

Avg # tornado watches per year

 # of reported tornadoes in county - 1960-2010
Birmingham 53.99 1.9 117 57 2

12

 10 69
Huntsville 57.51 1.5 117 54 2 17 8 54
Mobile 66.29 2.7 117 79 1 21 16 71
Montgomery 54.77 0.4 122 59 1 20 14 33
  • Alabama Precipitation Average - 58.28 inches - 4th wettest in U.S.
  • Alabama Tornado Average - 20.1 per year - 14th highest in U.S. 
  • Largest reported Tornado in Alabama from 1950-2011, 4/27/2011 - 2,600 yards / 1.47 miles wide
  • Date with highest number of reported Tornadoes in Alabama from 1950-2011  -  April 27th, 177 tornadoes
  • Average time of occurrence of reported Tornadoes in Alabama from 1950-2011 - 1:39pm
  • Alabama Annual Lightning Density - 16 flashes per square mile - 4th highest in U.S.
  • Record Driest year in Alabama from 1895-2012 - 1964, avg precipitation 52.46 inches 
  • Record Wettest year in Alabama from 1895-2012 - 1975, avg precipitation 76.23 inches

Alabama Precipitation Data

  • Driest location ranked by lowest annual average precipitation: Montgomery, central Alabama, 48.36"
  • Wettest location ranked by highest annual average precipitation: Robertsdale, southern Alabama, 67.31"
  • Snowiest location ranked by highest annual average snowfall: Valley Head, northeastern Alabama, 5.3"
  • State precipitation record for 24 hours - Dauphin Island, southwestern Alabama, 7/19-20/1997, 32.52"
  • State precipitation record for 1 year - Evergreen, southern Alabama, 1975, 114.01"
  • State snowfall record for 24 hours - Florence, northwestern Alabama, 12/31-1/1/1964, 19.2"
  • State snow record for 1 season - Florence, northwestern Alabama, 163-1964, 27.9"
  • During the year 2011, Alabama experienced an all-time record 160 tornado reports, breaking the previous record during 2008 when 94 tornadoes were reported. During the month of April alone, Alabama experinced an amazing 140 tornadoes, breaking the previous record during April, 2009 when 36 tornadoes were reported. 
  • Storm of the Century" - On the evening of March 12, 1993, a low pressure system began to strengthen in the Gulf of Mexico and move northeast towards Alabama. By the next morning, a snow storm of record proportions had blasted Alabama with more than a foot of snow in a band from Birmingham northeast to DeKalb and Cherokee Counties. Every square inch of the state received some measurable snowfall. The heavy snow along with 40 to 55 mph wind caused widespread power outages and brought most travel to a standstill. Damages exceeded 50 million dollars.
  • During the late afternoon and evening hours on April 3rd, 1974 at least 8 tornadoes, including 4 violent, long-lived storms,  brought widespread destruction to northern Alabama. This tornado "Super Outbreak" that also affected 12 other  eastern states caused over $50 million damage in Alabama. The F5 tornado, that nearly wiped the town of Guin off  the map, was one of the most powerful twisters ever to strike the United States, and its path through the Bankhead National Forest could be seen on satellite pictures months afterwards
  • On the night of September 12th, 1979, the eye of Hurricane Frederic passed over Dauphin Island and then made landfall on the Alabama coast near Bayou La Batre. Peak wind gusts over 135 mph were felt along the Alabama coastline. Hurricane force gusts were felt as far inland as Choctaw County. Massive damage, totaling over $1 billion, was felt along the coast, and nearly 90 percent of the Mobile area lost electrical power due to the storm. After it made landfall, Frederic moved north along the Alabama/Mississippi border dropping from 3 to as much as 10 inches of rain along its path.
Alabama temperature records and averages
Precipitation data for other U.S. states and Top 10 US climate extremes

Data sources: National Climatic Data Center, Severe thunderstorm / tornado watch data period is 1999 - 2008, NOAA Storm Prediction Center, Tornado climate data - NOAA Storm Prediction Center, State lightning flash density average - 1997-2011, Vaisala