Lee County, Alabama
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1953 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
44
Tornado reports
128
Hail reports
28
Floods since 1996
553
All events
34
Deaths
$20.2M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Lee County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 44 in all. Zoom in and the paths widen to their surveyed width.
EF0EF1EF2EF3EF4EF5Unrated
Year by year
All storm eventsTornadoes
NOAA's storm database records tornadoes back to 1950 and hail and thunderstorm wind back to 1955, but floods only from 1996 on. Older floods are missing here. For those, the U.S. Geological Survey's stream gauge records and flood reports are the place to look.
Most significant events
The strongest tornadoes, deadliest events and biggest damage here, up to 50.
National Weather Service meteorologists surveyed damage in far southern Lee County and determined that it was consistent with an EF4 tornado, with maximum sustained winds near 170 mph. This track is a continuation of a track that began in Macon County. The tornado crossed into Le…
The tornado crossed into Lee County, approximately six-tenths of a mile west of County Line Road. It continued to the northeast and strengthened to its maximum intensity near AL-169, with winds of 140 mph. At this location, approximately 6 manufactured homes were lifted, rolled, …
A lightning strike at the Lee County Flea Market in Smiths Station at approximately 12:45 PM CDT resulted in a fatality.
A 34 year old male died when he was struck by lightning while boating on Lake Harding.
A mix of winter precipitation resulted in ice and snow accumulations across Lee county, causing hazardous travel conditions. Freezing rain resulted in ice accumulations on area roadways and Interstate 85 early Tuesday morning, before precipitation transitioned to all snow. Ice ac…
A tornado initially touched down in Macon County Alabama and crossed into Lee County approximately 1 mile southwest of Lee Road 3. It continued its northeastward path causing extensive tree damage across western Lee County. Dozens of houses and mobile homes on the western side of…
The tornado touched down southwest of the community of Salem. It then moved just north of due east, crossing US-280 and several smaller county roads, before lifting at CR-379. Winds estimated at 125-130 mph destroyed 6 mobile homes and 4 site built homes, badly damaged 8 homes, a…
Heavy rains forced the Chattahoochee River to flood eastern sections of Lee County including some back water sections along the river. Lee County Emergency Management Agency reported that the flooded area including the Tranquil Pines area in the southwest part of the county about…
Four to six inches of rainfall in a short period of time caused extensive flooding throughout Lee County. The hardest hit areas were Auburn and Opelika. Numerous roads and highways were closed in and around Auburn and Opelika. Numerous motorists drove into the water covered roads…
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Localized heavy rainfall directly over downtown Auburn resulted in numerous flooded roadways around downtown and Auburn University. Impacted roadways and areas included W Magnolia Ave near Thomas St, Armstrong St, Felton Little Park, East Glenn Ave, Samford Ave, Chewacla Dr, Cook…
Drought Drought
Lingering Severe (D2) drought conditions were removed from Lee County in early June.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Trees were downed across various parts of Lee County.
Drought Drought
Lee County began May in Extreme (D3) drought, which improved to Severe (D2) county-wide by mid month.
Drought Drought
Extreme (D3) conditions persisted across Lee County through April.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Trees were downed on Lee Road 179 south of Lee Road 240, and on Lee Road 300.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A tree fell on a home on Terracewood Dr, a tree and power line were downed on Hunter St, and a tree was downed on Veterans Pkwy.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Two trees were downed across Lee Road 11.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
An outbuilding/shed was partially blown into the roadway at Lee Road 246 and Lee Road 289.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Lee Road 412 was blocked by trees in/out of Hunters Ridge neighborhood with power outages associated.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Trees were downed on Lee Road 213, 309, and 240.
Drought Drought
Severe (D2) to Extreme (D3) conditions persisted across Lee County throughout March.
Drought Drought
Lee County began February with Severe (D2) conditions across the western half and Extreme (D3) conditions across the eastern half. D3 conditions expanded county-wide by the second week of the month.
Winter Weather Winter Weather
Up to one inch of snow fell across southern and southeastern Lee County.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Trees and powerlines were downed in the Salem community.
Drought Drought
Lee County began January in Severe (D2) drought. Much of the county was upgraded to Extreme (D3) by the third week of the month.
Drought Drought
Parts of Lee County remained in Severe (D2) drought through the month of December. Nearly all of the county was again classified as D2 by the end of the month.
Drought Drought
Parts of Lee County remained in Severe (D2) drought through the month of November.
Drought Drought
Portions of the county were upgraded to Severe (D2) drought conditions in late October.
Heat Heat
Hot and humid conditions resulted in heat index values 110F or higher during the afternoon of July 29.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A microburst occurred in Smiths Station, with large sections of metal roofing removed and trusses blown around at mostly open air buildings at the Lee County Flea Market. Additionally, small trees and tree limbs were snapped and power lines were downed around Smiths Station, incl…
Tornado EF0 Tornado
A weak EF0 tornado embedded in a line of severe thunderstorms occurred in the Salem area on the evening of May 3. The tornado began over a wooded area east of Lee Road 151, northeast of the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) Test Track. The 1start point was estimated u…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Trees were downed in Auburn, including on Lee Road 57 and Lee Road 58.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Trees were downed in Opelika, including on Highway 80, Highway 51, and Lee Road 40.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Trees were downed across Lee County.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Trees were downed on Highway 280 and Lee Road 93 near Waverly.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Various roadways around Auburn and Opelika became impassable due to floodwaters.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several trees were downed in the Salem area, including along Highway 280.
Hail Hail
Up to 1.5-inch hail was reported at Wacoochee Elementary School.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several trees were downed along Oak Bowery Rd and Grand National Pkwy.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Multiple trees were downed, some on homes and vehicles, in the Barron's Park neighborhood in Auburn.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Trees were downed along Highway 51 in Beauregard.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Numerous trees were downed in the Auburn and Opelika areas of Lee County.
Heavy Snow Heavy Snow
Lee County saw generally 2-3 of snow across the county, especially south of Interstate 85, where isolated pockets of 3-4 fell.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 16 | 0 |
| 2025 | 18 | 1 |
| 2024 | 9 | 0 |
| 2023 | 17 | 1 |
| 2022 | 5 | 0 |
| 2021 | 12 | 0 |
| 2020 | 17 | 0 |
| 2019 | 12 | 2 |
| 2018 | 7 | 2 |
| 2017 | 21 | 8 |
| 2016 | 13 | 6 |
| 2015 | 8 | 0 |
| 2014 | 5 | 1 |
| 2013 | 13 | 1 |
| 2012 | 29 | 1 |
| 2011 | 34 | 1 |
| 2010 | 12 | 0 |
| 2009 | 35 | 7 |
| 2008 | 24 | 0 |
| 2007 | 18 | 1 |
| 2006 | 18 | 0 |
| 2005 | 21 | 1 |
| 2004 | 11 | 1 |
| 2003 | 11 | 0 |
| 2002 | 9 | 0 |
| 2001 | 6 | 0 |
| 2000 | 9 | 0 |
| 1999 | 9 | 0 |
| 1998 | 16 | 1 |
| 1997 | 9 | 1 |
| 1996 | 18 | 0 |
| 1995 | 10 | 0 |
| 1994 | 4 | 1 |
| 1992 | 4 | 0 |
| 1991 | 6 | 0 |
| 1990 | 8 | 0 |
| 1989 | 7 | 0 |
| 1988 | 5 | 0 |
| 1987 | 2 | 0 |
| 1986 | 6 | 0 |
| 1985 | 2 | 0 |
| 1984 | 4 | 1 |
| 1983 | 3 | 0 |
| 1982 | 1 | 0 |
| 1981 | 3 | 0 |
| 1980 | 5 | 1 |
| 1979 | 1 | 0 |
| 1978 | 1 | 1 |
| 1976 | 1 | 0 |
| 1975 | 2 | 1 |
| 1974 | 2 | 0 |
| 1973 | 1 | 0 |
| 1971 | 5 | 0 |
| 1970 | 1 | 0 |
| 1969 | 1 | 0 |
| 1968 | 1 | 0 |
| 1966 | 1 | 0 |
| 1965 | 1 | 0 |
| 1957 | 1 | 1 |
| 1954 | 1 | 1 |
| 1953 | 1 | 1 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Lee County, measured to its path.
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