Gulf Shores, Alabama's History with Tropical Systems

(br) = Brush (ts) = Tropical Storm (bd) = Back Door, meaning coming from over land from opposite coast. Not all names are noted. Also, storms before 1950 were not named. Not every stat on every storm description is given. (since 1871)

Gulf Shores most likely to be hit by a hurricane between August 24th and August 30th

Years within or near core

1872tsbr
1875tsbr
1877
1879tsbr
1880tsbr
1881ts
1882m
1885tsbr
1885bdts
1887br
1887bdtsbr
1889ts
1893br
1894ts
1894br
1895tsbr
1896br
1901br
1901tsbr
1902ts
1906
1907tsbr
1911
1912
1914bdts
1916-2m
1917
1919ts
1923ts
1926m
1932
1934ts
1936br
1939ts
1939tsbr
1947ts
1950
1953br
1955tsbr
1956
1959ts
1960tsbr
1964xtropstbd
1969brm
1975brm
1979m
1985m
1985ts
1995
1995m
1997
1998br
2002ts
2004m
2005ts
2005m
2009ts
2017ts
2017br
2018ts
2018mbr
2020tsbr
2020
2020br
2021ts

66 times in 153 years (as of end of 2024)

Names from list above (C and E storms most likely to impact the area)

Baker
Florence
Flossy
Ethel
Hilda
Camille
Eloise
Irene
Frederic
Elena
Juan
Erin
Opal
Danny
Georges
Hanna
Ivan
Arlene
Dennis
Ida
Cindy
Nate
Gordon
Michael
Cristobal
Sally
Zeta
Claudette

Tropical Storm to Hurricane ratio

TS = 33, 50%
H = 33, 50%

only 19.36% of all tropical systems affecting Gulf Shores are major hurricanes this includes brushes

Longest gap between storms

9 years 1986-1994

How often this area gets affected?

Gulf Shores Brushed or hit every 2.32 years

Average years between direct hurricane hits. (hurricane force winds for at least a few hours)

Once every 7.65 years. (20 hits) State stats (older site)

Average years between major hurricane hits.

Once every 17 years. (9 hits)

Average MPH of hurricane hits. (based on sustained winds from advisories, not gusts)

103 mph

Statistically when this area should be affected next

1 year overdue

Last affected by

2021 June 19th Tropical Storm Claudette passes to north-northwest by 101 miles with 40 mph winds while moving northeast.

This area's hurricane history

1877 September 19th 80 mph from the west-southwest
1882 September 9th, 125 mph from the southwest just east of here. Hit map
1906 September 27th, 110 mph just west causes a very high storm surge of 10 ft
1911 August 11th, 80 mph from the southeast
1912 September 14th, 75 mph from the south
1916 July 5th, 120 mph from the south just west
1916 just east October 18th 115 mph from the south-southwest causes winds over 100 mph & a 10ft storm surge
1917 September 28th, 95 mph from the southwest just east
1926 September 20th, 120 mph from the east-southeast Newspaper headline Pressure in Perdido key area 28.20 between 3 & 4 PM.
1932 August 31st 80 mph from the southeast
1950 August 30th, Baker 85 mph hits from the south, gusts to 115 mph
1956 September 24th, 100 mph (HURDAT) Hurricane Flossy hits from the west-southwest.
1979 September 12th Frederic passed 26 miles to the west with 130 mph winds from the south-southeast, area hit hard. Newspaper headline | Beach damage
1985 September 2nd Elena passes just south with 120 mph winds moving west-northwest after making several odd movements (minor damage) Wind map
1995 August 3rd, Erin from the east-southeast with 85 mph winds most of damage was in Florida Panhandle.
1995 October 4th, 120 mph Opal passed just east & devastates areas in Fla panhandle. Average model error
1997 July 19th, Hurricane Danny 75 mph slow moving in from the west-southwest dumps 25 inches of rain here. NHC Danny report | Message board eyewitness report
2004, September 16th very early morning, Hurricane Ivan direct hit with 130 mph winds moving north-northeast over Eastern Alabama with Ivan having a wind field approximately 85 miles out with an eye of approximately 40 miles. Heavy beach damage, Several condos fell into ocean damage in Billions.Storm up to 12 ft in this area.Unofficial gust of 110 mph. Ivan radar at landfall | Ivan wind swath map | USGS surge info
2005 July 10th Hurricane Dennis passes approximately 40 miles to the east with 120 mph winds while moving North. Radar animation (Brian McNoldy, Univ. of Miami, Rosenstiel School)
2020 September 16th Hurricane Sally eye passes directly over while moving northeast with 110 mph winds.Entire system slow moving takes 10 hrs for core to pass through. Our coverage as it happened Watch 39min | Radar animation(Brian McNoldy, Univ. of Miami, Rosenstiel School) | We were there covering it | NHC report

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Stat sources:

Text Sources:

"Divine Wind" by Kerry Emanuel
"Florida Hurricanes and Tropical Storms" by John M. Williams and Iver W. Duedall
"Florida's Hurricane History" by Jay Barnes
"Hurricane Almanac" by Bryan Norcross
HurricaneCity.com calculations by Jim Williams
"Hurricanes and the Middle Atlantic States" by Rick Schwartz
"Hurricane Watch" by Dr. Bob Sheets and Jack Williams
"Inside the Hurricane" by Pete Davies
"Isaac's Storm" by Erik Larson
"Killer 'Cane" by Robert Mykle
"Lunatic Wind" by William Price Fox
Miami Herald newspaper (microfilm)
"Path of Destruction" by John McQuaid and Mark Schleifstein
Sun Sentinel newspaper (microfilm)
"The Major Hurricanes To Affect The Bahamas" by Wayne Neely
"The Ship and the Storm" by Jim Carrier
Plus many more......