Climate of Alabama facts for kids

The state of Alabama has a climate called humid subtropical. This means it has hot, humid summers and mild winters. It also gets a lot of rain all year round. The average temperature in Alabama is about 64°F (18°C). Areas closer to the Gulf of Mexico in the south are usually warmer. The northern parts, especially near the Appalachian Mountains, are a bit cooler. Alabama gets about 56 inches (1,422 mm) of rain each year. Plants can grow for a long time here, sometimes up to 300 days in the south! While hailstorms happen, they usually don't cause much damage. Heavy fog is rare and mostly seen near the coast. Thunderstorms happen all year, but they are most common in summer. The strongest storms, with damaging winds and tornadoes, usually hit in spring (March to May) and late autumn (November). Central and northern Alabama are in a special area called Dixie Alley. This is a place in the U.S. where tornadoes happen often. Alabama is actually second in the U.S. for the deadliest tornadoes. Hurricanes are also common, especially in southern Alabama. Big hurricanes like Hurricane Frederic (1979) and Hurricane Ivan (2004) have caused a lot of damage in the Mobile area.

How Hot or Cold Does Alabama Get?

Though winters in the state are usually mild, nightly freezing occurs frequently in the North Alabama region. This is shown in this picture taken at the Old State Bank in Decatur during early January.

Summers in Alabama are some of the hottest in the United States. High temperatures often go above 90°F (32°C) in many places. Near the Gulf of Mexico, summer heat is a little less intense because of ocean breezes. Higher areas in northern Alabama also feel a bit cooler in summer.

Cities like Montgomery and Tuscaloosa often have afternoon highs around 92°F (33°C) in July and August. Mobile, near the coast, has slightly cooler afternoons. However, its nights are warmer because it's close to the Gulf. This makes Mobile's average yearly temperature the highest in the state.

In the northeast highlands, cool mornings help keep temperatures more moderate. For example, Mobile's average yearly temperature is 67°F (19°C). Its summer average is 81°F (27°C), and winter is 52°F (11°C). In contrast, Valley Head in the northeast has an annual average of 59°F (15°C). Its summer average is 75°F (24°C), and winter is 41°F (5°C).

Winters in Alabama are usually mild, like in most of the southeastern U.S. Average January low temperatures are around 40°F (4°C) in Mobile, 31°F (-1°C) in Huntsville, 35°F (2°C) in Montgomery, and 33°F (1°C) in Birmingham. On average, the temperature drops below freezing (32°F or 0°C) about 35 days a year across the state. It's very rare for temperatures to fall below 0°F (-18°C). The coldest ever recorded was -17°F (-27°C) in Valley Head in 1899. The hottest temperature ever recorded was 112°F (44°C) in Centreville on September 6, 1925.

Extreme Temperatures in Alabama

How Much Rain and Snow Does Alabama Get?

The coast of Alabama gets the most rain, about 62 inches (1,574 mm) per year. The rest of the state gets about 52 inches (1,320 mm). Most of this rain comes from thunderstorms. Sometimes, hurricanes and other tropical storms also bring a lot of rain.

In central and northern Alabama, the rainiest months are usually from November to April. December or March often see the most rain. August to October are typically the driest months. Along the coast, summer thunderstorms are very common. Tropical weather systems are also a threat from July to October. Mobile, for example, is one of the wettest cities in the eastern U.S. Its rainiest months are July and August, but it gets a lot of rain all year.

Snow is rare in most of Alabama. Areas north of Montgomery might see a light dusting of snow a few times each winter. A heavier snowfall might happen every few years. For example, the Birmingham area gets about 2 inches (51 mm) of snow per year on average. Along the southern Gulf coast, snow is even less common. Sometimes, several years can pass without any snowfall at all.

El Niño and La Niña: How They Affect Alabama's Weather

El Niño and La Niña are natural weather patterns that affect climates around the world, including Alabama.

• During an El Niño year, Alabama usually has colder than average winter temperatures. The southern parts of the state get more rain than usual, while the northern parts tend to be drier.
• During a La Niña year, Alabama typically experiences warmer than average temperatures. The southern parts of the state are drier because storm systems tend to track further north.

Weather Dangers in Alabama

Hurricane Frederic, a major hurricane which struck Alabama in September 1979

Alabama faces several weather dangers. These include tropical storms, hurricanes, thunderstorms, and tornadoes.

Tropical Storms and Hurricanes

Alabama is often hit by tropical storms and even hurricanes. Even areas far from the Gulf of Mexico can be affected. These storms often bring huge amounts of rain as they move inland and lose strength.

Thunderstorms

Thunderstorms are very common in Alabama, especially during the summer. They can happen at other times of the year too, even in winter. The Gulf Coast, around Mobile Bay, experiences thunder about 100 to 110 days a year. Eastern and northwest Alabama have 70 to 80 thunderstorm days per year. Sometimes, thunderstorms can be very strong. They can have a lot of lightning and large hail. Central and northern Alabama are most at risk for these severe storms. Alabama ranks seventh in the U.S. for deaths from lightning.

Tornadoes

Tornadoes happen often in Alabama, especially in the spring and fall. These tornadoes can be very destructive and even deadly. Alabama, along with Kansas, has had more of the strongest tornadoes (called F5 or EF5 tornadoes) than any other state. These are the most powerful types of tornadoes. Because of several very long and strong tornadoes, Alabama has had more tornado deaths than almost any other state.

The "Super Outbreaks" of April 1974 and April 2011 both caused a lot of damage in Alabama. The northern part of the state, along the Tennessee Valley, is one of the areas in the U.S. most likely to experience powerful tornadoes. This area of Alabama and Mississippi is sometimes called Dixie Alley. This is different from the traditional "Tornado Alley" in the Southern Plains. Alabama is one of the few places in the world that has a second tornado season, which happens in November and December, in addition to the main spring season.