When is hurricane season in Alabama? (2024)

With hurricane season in Alabama running from June through November, forecasters are already predicting a very active 2024 Atlantic hurricane season that's 30% above the 30-year norm.

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Jennifer GimbelSenior Managing Editor & Home Insurance ExpertJennifer Gimbel is a senior managing editor at Policygenius, where she oversees all of our insurance coverage. Previously, she was the managing editor at Finder.com and a content strategist at Babble.com.

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Hurricane season in Alabama runs from June 1 through November 30 each year. And 2024 is likely to be more active than previous years, with Tropical Storm Risk (TSR) predicting activity that's 30% above the 30-year norm. [1]  

We break down when and where Alabama homeowners are most likely to see a named storm make landfall in the Heart of Dixie, plus how to make sure you have the proper home insurance coverage to financially weather whatever storm Mother Nature throws your way. 

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What month does Alabama have the most hurricanes?

The month of September sees the most hurricanes make landfall in Alabama, followed by August and July. The months of June and November see the least amount of hurricanes touch down in Alabama during the traditional Atlantic hurricane season.

Total number of hurricanes by month in Alabama

Here’s the total number of hurricanes per month in Alabama between 1851 and 2021, according to the NOAA. [2]

Month

Number of hurricanes, 1851–2021

January

0

February

0

March

0

April

0

May

0

June

0

July

6

August

8

September

13

October

4

November

0

December

0

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Where do hurricanes hit the most in Alabama?

Mobile and other cities along the southern Gulf Coast of Alabama experience the most hurricanes due to their proximity to the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf’s high pressure and warm waters make it a breeding ground for tropical storms and hurricanes during the late summer months.

Hurricanes in Alabama over the last 25 years

Since 1996, Alabama has experienced six hurricanes in the last 25 years, according to data from the NOAA. 

Here’s a breakdown of the hurricanes that made landfall in the Heart of Dixie between 1995 and 2021.

Year

Month of landfall

Name of hurricane

Category when it made landfall

Maximum winds

1997

July

Danny

Category 1

80.6 mph

2004

September

Ivan

Category 3

121 mph

2005

July

Dennis

Category 1

121 mph

2005

August

Katrina

Category 1

126.7 mph

2020

September

Sally

Category 2

109.4 mph

2020

October

Zeta

Category 1

115.2 mph

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Does home insurance in Alabama cover hurricane damage?

Homeowners insurance in Alabama covers damage caused by hurricanes, including the wind, hail, and rain that accompany them. However, water damage from flooding that occurs during a hurricane would not be covered under your standard home insurance policy — you’ll need separate flood insurance for that.

The one exception is if you live in an area at high risk for wind damage — your home insurance policy might exclude damage from wind and hail. In this case, you’ll need to purchase a separate wind-only insurance policy to fill that coverage gap. 

The Alabama Insurance Underwriting Association (Beach Plan) offers wind-and-hail-only policies for homeowners in coastal areas of Baldwin and Mobile counties. If you live in another county, you might be able to find a wind-and-hail-only policy with a private insurance company. You can reach out to a licensed agent at Policygenius to learn more about this type of coverage and your options.

Some Alabama homeowners have a separate windstorm deductible for hurricane damage

If your home is damaged in a hurricane in Alabama, your home insurance company may require you to pay a windstorm deductible that’s separate from your standard homeowners insurance deductible and applies specifically to wind and hail damage.

Windstorm deductibles in Alabama are typically a percentage of your policy’s dwelling coverage limit — usually between 1% and 5% — according to the Alabama Department of Insurance. You can choose your deductible when you purchase your home insurance or windstorm insurance policy. A higher deductible leads to lower insurance rates, and vice versa.

Does Alabama have hurricane deductibles?

Alabama also has hurricane deductibles, which are triggered at the discretion of your home insurance company. Before hurricane season starts, ask your insurer how much your hurricane deductible is and what sort of event will cause it to be triggered.

→ Take a closer look at hurricane deductibles

Consider purchasing flood insurance

Since standard home insurance policies don’t cover damage caused by flooding, homeowners who live on the Gulf Coast or in a high-risk flood zone in Alabama should consider buying flood insurance to ensure your home is fully protected during hurricane season.

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is the main flood insurance provider in the U.S. NFIP policies are written and backed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), but sold through private insurers. However, NFIP coverage limits max out relatively low compared to private flood insurance policies.

Learn more >> NFIP vs. private flood insurance

How to prepare for hurricane season in Alabama

From installing storm-proof shutters on your windows to knowing your evacuation route, here are a few ways to prepare for hurricane season in Alabama.

1. Review your homeowners and flood insurance policies 

In the months leading up to hurricane season, experts recommend you review your home and flood insurance policies to ensure you have enough coverage in the event a tropical storm makes landfall. This is especially important this year, since many homeowners have found they’re underinsured due to rising inflation driving rebuild costs up.

In addition to reviewing your coverage limits, you’ll also want to double-check what your windstorm or hurricane deductibles are, as well as what type of event triggers these. As a reminder, the lower your deductible — the more you’ll have to pay should you file a claim for hurricane damage.

If you want to make any changes to your policy or deductibles, you’ll want to do this before a hurricane nears — many home insurance companies issue moratoriums in the lead-up to a tropical storm. This means they’ll stop writing new policies or updating current ones 24 to 48 hours before a named storm is expected to make an impact, and end it only after the hurricane has made landfall.

2. Get your home ready for a tropical storm

This includes trimming tree limbs that hang close to your roof, removing dead trees from your yard, cleaning up any heavy debris (i.e. branches, bricks, firewood) on your property, and moving lawn furniture inside when a hurricane is expected to make landfall. If you live in an area especially prone to tropical storms, consider installing storm-proof window shutters or upgrading to an impact-resistant roof — doing this could actually result in a discount on your home insurance premiums.

3. Gather supplies for your emergency kit

FEMA recommends packing a few bags with essentials you can easily grab as you take shelter when a hurricane makes landfall. [3] Some items to pack in your emergency kit include: water, non-perishable foods and baby formula, a can opener, pet food, moist towelettes and trash bags, disinfectants, batteries, flashlights, a first aid kit, portable cell phone chargers, a battery-powered radio, and a whistle to signal for help.

4. Sign up for severe weather alerts

Anyone can sign up for severe weather alerts from the National Weather Service via text, email, or phone. And staying up to date on changing weather conditions via your local news and radio stations or even through social media can help ensure you’re prepared should a hurricane make landfall in your area.

5. Know your evacuation route

If you live in a coastal area of Alabama that’s in a mandatory evacuation zone, make sure you know the best route out of town should local officials tell you to evacuate. You can find an open shelter near you by using the Red Cross’s emergency shelter locator tool.

If you’re not required to evacuate, identify a windowless, interior room in your house where you can wait out the storm. If you're trapped by flooding, FEMA recommends you go to the highest level of the building to stay safe amid rising flood water. [4]  

Learn more >> 9 ways to prepare for a hurricane today

5 tips for returning home after a hurricane

Here are a few pointers for staying safe and filing a home insurance claim in the aftermath of a hurricane or tropical storm:

  • Don’t go home until it’s safe to do so. Listen to local officials for information about when it’s safe to return to your home and special instructions.

  • Protect yourself when cleaning up your home. Wear protective clothing — including gloves and face coverings — while you clean up mold or other debris from your home.

  • Document any property damage with videos and photographs. And don’t throw anything away until your home insurance adjuster has inspected your home.

  • Lean on your insurance company for repairs. File a claim with your home or flood insurance provider for wind or water damage to your home.

  • Save all of your receipts. If you have to make temporary repairs or stay elsewhere while your home is being rebuilt, save all of your receipts to ensure your home insurance company reimburses you for the costs.

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Frequently asked questions

How often do hurricanes hit Alabama?

Alabama ranks no. 6 on our list of U.S. states that have been hit with the most hurricanes from 1851 to 2021. The Heart of Dixie has been directly hit by 23 hurricanes since 1851, five of which have been Category 3 or higher.

What is hurricane season in Gulf Shores Alabama?

Hurricane season in Gulf Shores Alabama runs from June 1 through November 30 each year.

What month does Alabama get hurricanes?

Alabama residents typically experience hurricanes in July, August, September, and October — although the Atlantic hurricane season technically runs from June through November each year.

Which city in Alabama experiences the most hurricanes?

Mobile and other cities along the Gulf Coast of Alabama experience the most hurricanes.

References

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Policygenius uses external sources, including government data, industry studies, and reputable news organizations to supplement proprietary marketplace data and internal expertise. Learn more about how we use and vet external sources as part of oureditorial standards.

  1. Tropical Storm Risk

    . "

    Extended Range Forecast for North Atlantic Hurricane Activity in 2024

    ." Accessed January 05, 2024.

  2. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    . "

    Continental United States Hurricane Impacts/Landfalls 1851-2021

    ." Accessed July 11, 2022.

  3. FEMA/Ready.gov

    . "

    How to build an emergency kit

    ." Accessed July 11, 2022.

  4. FEMA/Ready.gov

    . "

    Hurricanes

    ." Accessed July 11, 2022.

Author

Jennifer Gimbel is a senior managing editor at Policygenius, where she oversees all of our insurance coverage. Previously, she was the managing editor at Finder.com and a content strategist at Babble.com.

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