Lightning in Alabama

Events

716

Deaths

40

Injuries

195

Damage

$35 million

• Tornado and Hail in Alabama, March 26 to 28, 20115 deaths · 4 injured · $1.7 million · EF1 · 99 eventsA stalled boundary sagged southward into North Central Alabama on Saturday, March 26, and became a focus for convection ahead of an approaching storm system.
• Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Alabama, April 24, 20102 deaths · 2 injured · $1.5 million · EF3 · 47 eventsA deepening storm system and associated cold front brought widespread severe thunderstorms, including at least 8 tornadoes, to central Alabama.
• Lightning Strike in Alabama, June 26, 20023 deaths · 4 injured · $40,000 · 1 eventLightning was believed to be responsible for a fire in a mobile home in the Shiloh community between Hamilton and Hackleburg of SR 187. Three children were killed and two adults and two other children were injured in the fire.
• Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in Alabama, March 24 to 25, 20231 death · $27 million · EF2 · 63 eventsA severe line of thunderstorms rolled through north Alabama during the late evening hours of the 24th into the early morning hours of the 25th, producing 7 tornadoes.
• Tornadoes and Hail in Alabama, October 24 to 25, 20101 death · 2 injured · $2.0 million · EF2 · 33 eventsA quasi-linear convective system (QLCS) produced three tornadoes in northeast Alabama, including one EF-2 which tracked through portions of Jackson and DeKalb Counties. Severe weather began as early as late evening on the 24th and lasted through the pre-dawn hours on the 25th.
• Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Alabama, May 20 to 21, 20252 injured · $9.8 million · EF2 · 128 eventsAn outbreak of tornadoes, large hail, wind damage and flash flooding occurred during the afternoon and evening of the 20th. Fourteen tornadoes occurred in north Alabama, including 1 EF-0, 10 EF-1, 2 EF-2, and 1 EF-U (unknown) which was a waterspout on Wheeler Lake.
• Tornado and Flash Flooding in Alabama, April 28 to 30, 20141 death · 1 injured · $34 million · EF1 · 21 eventsA strong storm system brought record flooding along with severe thunderstorms that produced damaging winds and tornadoes to the region.
• Damaging Winds and Lightning Strikes in Alabama, August 10, 20152 deaths · 2 injured · $29,000 · 52 kt wind · 9 eventsA broken line of strong to severe thunderstorms developed during the midday hours over north central Alabama. The line filled in as it moved east across the remainder of northeast Alabama. Trees were knocked down in a couple locations in Madison County.
• Lightning Strike in Alabama, May 29, 19992 deaths · 1 injured · 1 eventTwo men were killed as they took shelter on shore after getting off the water. The two men had headed out for a fishing trip on the Black Warrior River. The event occurred near the Arcola Landing.
• Hail and Damaging Wind in Alabama, June 23, 20152 deaths · $5,000 · 1.75 in hail · 4 eventsIsolated, pulse severe thunderstorms developed across southwest and south central Alabama during the afternoon and evening of June 23, 2015.
• Lightning Strike in Alabama, July 23, 20052 deaths · 1 eventA man and his stepson were trying to retrieve their beach belongings during a thunderstorm along the Gulf Shores beach. They were both struck and killed by a lightning bolt. They were on a weekend outing at the beach.
• Flash Flooding and Damaging Winds in Alabama, August 3 to 7, 202323 injured · $48,000 · 70 kt wind · 100 eventsAn active northwest upper flow pattern produced several waves of convective storms during the first week of August.
• Flash Flood and Hail in Alabama, August 3 to 4, 20111 death · $1.3 million · 1.75 in hail · 21 eventsA series of severe thunderstorms produced widespread wind damage. One of the storms knocked a tree down onto a mobile home, killing one occupant. Wind speeds up to 110 mph knocked a series of power poles down as well.
• Flash Flooding and Hail in Alabama, June 12 to 15, 20093 injured · $652,000 · 1.75 in hail · 159 eventsA warm unstable air mass, and several upper level disturbances, helped spark a multi-day period of strong to severe thunderstorms.
• Hail and Damaging Winds in Alabama, August 7, 20231 death · $104,000 · 1 in hail · 37 eventsClusters of strong to severe thunderstorms entered north Alabama during the late morning and early afternoon hours, moving east-southeast through the area. One of the thunderstorms produced a lightning strike, fatally injuring a male in north Florence in Lauderdale County.
• Tornado and Damaging Winds in Alabama, November 30, 2022$20,000 · EF3 · 7 eventsA very warm and moist airmass developed ahead of a strong cold front. Thunderstorms developed ahead of the front and produced damaging winds along with a EF3 tornado that tracked from Greene County Mississippi into Washington County in Alabama.
• Damaging Winds and Lightning Strikes in Alabama, July 16, 20121 death · $254,000 · 52 kt wind · 5 eventsClusters of strong thunderstorms developed during the mid to late afternoon hours. Lightning killed one male at his residence in Madison County. Many of the storms produced frequent cloud to ground lightning, small hail and gusty winds.
• Damaging Wind and Lightning Strikes in Alabama, July 25 to 26, 20101 death · 4 injured · $58,000 · 50 kt wind · 3 eventsTragically, five people were struck by lightning from a thunderstorm at a campground along Lake Guntersville in Marshall County. One person from this group was killed and four were injured. The storm also knocked down some trees and produced intense lightning.
• Damaging Winds and Lightning Strike in Alabama, June 28, 20181 death · $11,000 · 87 kt wind · 58 eventsA long lived thunderstorm complex that originated in the upper Midwest arrived in north Alabama around midday on the 28th. Widespread wind damage was reported with winds up to 100 mph in some locations as estimated by the damage.
• Lightning Strike in Alabama, August 18, 20021 death · 1 injured · $100,000 · 1 eventFour fires were started almost simultaneously by lightning strikes. One man died in a fire caused by a lightning strike. This occurred when the Royal Pines apartment complex caught on fire and damaged eight units.
• Lightning Strike in Alabama, July 5, 20151 death · 7 injured · 1 eventThunderstorms developed across the area and produced frequent lightning. A girl playing volley was struck and later passed away from her injuries.
• Flash Flooding and Hail in Alabama, March 31, 20151 death · 1 injured · $25,000 · 1.75 in hail · 29 eventsA surge of moisture and unstable air aloft (steep mid level lapse rates) created a favorable environment for strong to severe thunderstorms producing large hail as a weak cold front dropped southeast into the Tennessee Valley.
• Tornado and Hail in Alabama, May 1 to 3, 20251 death · 2 injured · $7,000 · EF0 · 40 eventsMultiple days of thunderstorms across Central Alabama resulted in instances of wind damage and hail across the region from May 1-3. During the morning of May 1, a lightning strike in Pell City resulted in an injury.
• Lightning Strike in Alabama, September 6, 20011 death · 6 injured · 1 eventA Lamar County High School student, a ninth grader, was killed when he was hit by lightning during football practice according to newspaper reports. A Sheriff's dispatcher said the sky was overcast when the bolt hit the student.
• Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Alabama, March 8 to 9, 20114 injured · $95,000 · EF2 · 29 eventsA powerful cold front brought widespread severe thunderstorms to southwest Alabama. These thunderstorms produced many reports of large hail...damaging winds and tornadoes. The thunderstorms also produced heavy rain which caused flash flooding.

Lightning everywhereEvery kind of event in Alabama

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24.