Hurricane Season in Gulf Shores: Storm Odds by Month
Quick answer: Gulf Shores’ hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, with September the busiest month: in the last 50 seasons a tropical storm or hurricane passed within 100 miles in 8 of 50 seasons in September, and in 16 of 50 seasons over the year. A hurricane came within 50 miles in 7 of 50 seasons, most recently Sally (2020).
Pick where you are going and when. See in how many of the last 50 hurricane seasons a tropical storm or hurricane came within 100 miles on those dates, and which nearby weeks were calmer.
Key West · Sep 10–16
2 of 50 seasonsA tropical storm or hurricane passed within 100 miles of Key West on these dates in 2 of the 50 seasons 1976–2025: 4%.
- Within 50 miles
- 1 of 50
- A hurricane within 50 miles
- 1 of 50
- A hurricane within 100 miles
- 1 of 50
- Safest dates within 4 weeks: Oct 1–7 (0 of 50 seasons), 3 weeks later.
- Storms on these dates: Sally 2020, Irma 2017.
- In 1976–2025, storms came within 100 miles of Key West between Jul 6 and Nov 19.
Historical frequency from NOAA’s best tracks for 1976–2025, not a forecast. For storms this season, see the National Hurricane Center.
The tool above opens on Gulf Shores for September 10–16: change the dates to yours. Below, Gulf Shores’s whole record, 1976–2025.
Hurricane season in Gulf Shores, month by month
In how many of the 50 seasons a tropical storm or hurricane passed within 100 miles at some point in that month.
| Month | Storm within 100 mi | Within 50 mi | Hurricane within 50 mi |
|---|---|---|---|
| June | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| July | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| August | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| September | 8 | 7 | 4 |
| October | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| November | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Frederic (1979), Ivan (2004) and Sally (2020) all passed within 50 miles as hurricanes in September.
The busiest week
Gulf Shores: Sep 10–16, when a storm came within 100 miles in 4 of 50 seasons. The chart in the tool shows all 52 weeks.
Every storm within 100 miles since 1976 (23)
| Storm | Within 100 miles | Closest |
|---|---|---|
| Sally (2020) | Sep 15–16 | a hurricane within 50 miles |
| Zeta (2020) | Oct 29 | a hurricane within 100 miles |
| Gordon (2018) | Sep 4–5 | a tropical storm within 50 miles |
| Nate (2017) | Oct 8 | a hurricane within 100 miles |
| Claudette (2009) | Aug 17 | a tropical storm within 100 miles |
| Ida (2009) | Nov 10 | a tropical storm within 100 miles |
| Fay (2008) | Aug 23 | a tropical storm within 100 miles |
| Arlene (2005) | Jun 11 | a tropical storm within 50 miles |
| Cindy (2005) | Jul 6 | a tropical storm within 100 miles |
| Dennis (2005) | Jul 10–11 | a hurricane within 50 miles |
| Ivan (2004) | Sep 16 | a hurricane within 50 miles |
| Hanna (2002) | Sep 14 | a tropical storm within 50 miles |
| Barry (2001) | Aug 6 | a tropical storm within 100 miles |
| Helene (2000) | Sep 22 | a tropical storm within 100 miles |
| Earl (1998) | Sep 2–3 | a hurricane within 100 miles |
| Georges (1998) | Sep 27–29 | a hurricane within 100 miles |
| Danny (1997) | Jul 18–20 | a hurricane within 50 miles |
| Erin (1995) | Aug 3–4 | a hurricane within 50 miles |
| Opal (1995) | Oct 4–5 | a hurricane within 50 miles |
| Alberto (1994) | Jul 3 | a tropical storm within 100 miles |
| Elena (1985) | Sep 2 | a hurricane within 50 miles |
| Juan (1985) | Oct 31 | a tropical storm within 50 miles |
| Frederic (1979) | Sep 12–13 | a hurricane within 50 miles |
When the season runs
Gulf Shores is in the Atlantic basin, whose hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30 (source). The season is when storms are likely, not the only time they can form: the table above counts every storm, whenever it came.
Plan it
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FAQ
When is hurricane season in Gulf Shores?
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, peaking around September 10. In 50 seasons (1976–2025), the storms that came within 100 miles of Gulf Shores did so between June 11 and November 10, most often in September.
Does Gulf Shores get hurricanes?
Yes. In 50 seasons, a tropical storm or hurricane passed within 100 miles of Gulf Shores in 16, and a hurricane came within 50 miles in 7: Sally (2020), Dennis (2005), Ivan (2004), Danny (1997) and 4 more.
What is the worst month for hurricanes in Gulf Shores?
September: a storm came within 100 miles in 8 of the 50 seasons, then August with 4.
What is the safest time to visit Gulf Shores in hurricane season?
Within the season, June and November: a storm came within 100 miles in 1 of the 50 seasons in each. Outside June 1 to November 30, no storm came near at all.
How these numbers are made
From NOAA’s best tracks (HURDAT2), every storm’s centre is followed hour by hour and measured against each place; a season counts once it had a tropical storm or hurricane within 100 miles (or 50) on at least one day. It is history, not a forecast: for a storm that exists today, read the National Hurricane Center.