Alabama averages 4 hurricane impacts per decade. Peak season runs August – October. Know your risk, know your zone, and sign up for alerts before the season starts.
Hurricane Sally (2020) made landfall near Gulf Shores as a Cat 2, causing record flooding in Pensacola and Baldwin County.
Alabama's coastal counties (Mobile and Baldwin) issue evacuation orders by zone. I-65 northbound is the primary evacuation route.
Prep tip: Mobile Bay is a natural funnel for storm surge. Even a Cat 1 can push 10+ feet of water into low-lying areas around the bay.
The Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 – November 30. Peak activity in Alabama typically occurs during August – October. The statistical peak of the season is September 10.
Up to 15 feet along Mobile Bay and the Gulf Shores coast. Storm surge is the deadliest aspect of a hurricane — it can arrive hours before the storm's center. Use our storm surge lookup at /storm-surge to check your specific ZIP code.
Alabama has a high hurricane risk. Standard homeowner's insurance covers wind damage but not flooding. Consider a separate NFIP flood policy if you're in a flood zone. See our full guide at /hurricane-insurance.
Start before the season: know your evacuation zone, build a 7-day emergency kit, have a family communication plan, and sign up for local emergency alerts. Use our preparedness checklist builder at /preparedness for a personalized list.