The Climate of Alabama

Alabama (AL) is a state in the southeastern United States of America. Alabama has an illustrious history of slavery and racism. Cotton farming has always been an important source of income in Alabama. Although slavery has long been abolished, racism is still a major problem in Alabama and some surrounding states today. Racial murder, discrimination and—although prohibited by federal law—segregation seem to be ineradicable elements of Alabama society.

Maritime climate

Alabama has a warm maritime climate, with mild winters and warm summers, which are among the hottest summers in the United States. The average maximum temperature in the hottest months (June, July and August) is around 32-33 degrees Celsius. Highs to 37, 38 or even 39 degrees Celsius are no exception in the summer months. The hot summers do not guarantee sunny weather. The sun shines on average for 8 to 9 hours, which is roughly a little less than two-thirds of the daylight period. Thanks to the relatively warm climate, Alabama has a vegetation period in the southern part of the state that extends to no less than three hundred days.

Extreme weather

Alabama faces a number of potential threats in the second half of the calendar year, including tropical storms and hurricanes. Although Alabama is not officially located within Tornado Alley and the number of tornadoes here is very low, there is a risk of major damage and also casualties from tornadoes. That’s because Alabama, along with Kansas, has the highest number of tornadoes. That’s because Alabama, along with Kansas, has the highest number of tornadoes of the heaviest category (EF5).

Climate figures

The figures below are based on long-term average climate statistics. The temperatures are displayed in degrees Celsius (°C).

The climate of Birmingham

Birmingham is a large city in the north-central part of Alabama. Birmingham is the largest city in the state and with three universities it is a real university city. The University of Alabama School of Medicine, University of Alabama School of Dentistry, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham are listed here. Just outside the city is the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge. Check top 10 cities in Alabama.

Birmingham has a warm maritime climate, with warm, pleasant summers and cool winters. Precipitation here is gradually distributed throughout the year. On average, more than 1500 millimeters of precipitation falls here per year. Birmingham is located on Tornado Alley and is located in an area that is regularly ravaged by a tornado. The temperatures in the summer months are around 30 degrees Celsius, which, together with the large amount of precipitation, can cause high humidity. In the winter months you have a chance of light frost here.

The climate of Dothan

Dothan is a medium-sized city in the extreme southeast of the US state of Alabama. Dothan is not far from the states of Georgia and Florida. The city has its own airport, Dothan Regional Airport. The city is home to the US Army Aviation Museum, which has one of the largest helicopter collections in the world. Dothan hosts the National Peanut Festival, the largest peanut festival in the world, every year.

Dothan has a warm maritime climate, which is characterized by mild temperatures and relatively high precipitation. The average annual precipitation figures are around 1500 millimeters. Precipitation is fairly gradually distributed throughout the year, but peaks during the summer months. Dothan is located on Tornado Alley and in the last months of the year you have a chance of tornadoes. Due to the city’s more southerly location, the chance of frost here is less than in the more northerly places of Alabama.

The climate of Huntsville

Huntsville is a large city in northern Alabama, not far from the Tennessee border. Huntsville is located on the Tennessee River. The city is known as “Rocket City”, partly because the Marshall Space Flight Center and the US Army Aviation and Missile Command are located here. At the Rocket Park of the US Space and Rocket Center it is possible to see some of these older models with your own eyes.

Huntsville has a warm maritime climate, with pleasant, warm summers and cool winters. There is quite a lot of precipitation here during the year, which is evenly distributed over the months. Winters can be here and frost is certainly no exception here. Huntsville is located on the so-called Tornado Alley, which runs through the central-eastern part of America. The city is located in a red zone, which means that the risk of tornadoes is greatest here.

The climate of Mobile

Mobile is a large city in the southwest of the US state of Alabama. The city is located on the Gulf of Mexico and on the Mobile River. In the port of Mobile is the Battleship Memorial Park, the warship USS Alabama from WWII can be viewed here. The city is one of the longest inhabited places in America and was founded in 1702. Many buildings from this period can still be found in Mobile. The cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception is one of the finest examples of this.

Mobile has a warm maritime climate, which, due to its location on the Gulf of Mexico, has slightly higher temperatures than the more inland places in Alabama. Frost or extreme cold will therefore not occur here quickly. However, the precipitation figures are somewhat higher and on average there is more than 1600 millimeters of precipitation per year. Tornadoes can occur in the second half of the year.

The climate of Montgomery

Montgomery is the capital of the US state of Alabama. This Alabama’s second-largest city in population is located on the Alabama River. Due to the presence of the Maxwell Air Force Base, the number of military personnel living in Montgomery is large.

Montgomery falls within the Köppen climate classification under the Cfa climate, which is better known as the warm maritime climate or warm maritime climate. Montgomery faces hot, wet summers and mild winters, which can occasionally cause nasty cool days. On an annual basis, more than thirteen hundred millimeters of precipitation falls. This almost always happens in the form of rain. In spring and autumn, large differences in temperature are possible within 24 hours. The tropical limit of thirty degrees Celsius is broken on almost a third of all days. This makes Montgomery one of the warmest capitals in North America in summer.

The climate of Muscle Shoals

Muscle Shoals is a small town in northwestern Alabama. However, the village has gained great fame through the Muscle Shoals Sound Studio. In the 1970s, many great artists came here for the typical sound that this studio produces. These artists included Bob Dylan, the Rolling Stones, Elton John, Cher, Eric Clapton and Paul Simon. This typical sound originated mainly from the The Muscle Shoals Sound Rhythm Section.

Muscle Shoals has a warm maritime climate, characterized by warm summer months and relatively mild winter months. Night frost can occur here regularly during these months. The annual precipitation is evenly distributed over the months of the year. During the year the precipitation figures are on the high side and on average more than 1300 millimeters of precipitation falls on an annual basis. Muscle Shoals is located on Tornado Alley in a red area, which means that on average the most tornadoes occur here.