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NOAA/NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER REPORTS + U.S. CENSUS DATA

Hail, Wind & Tornado Reports in and near Cottonwood, AL

Public hail, wind, and tornado reports in and near Cottonwood, AL from February 7, 1971 through August 21, 2026, sourced from NOAA/NWS Local Storm Reports and SPC storm report data.

Example: 36320 — search hail, wind and tornado public reports for any U.S. ZIP code 
Hail Reports
10
Wind Reports
64
Tornado Reports
3
Max Hail Size
2.00″
Source  NOAA SPC · NWS Local Storm Reports Coverage  Cottonwood, AL · 1971–present Updated  Daily · last Aug 21, 2026

Latest NWS Hail Reports in and near Cottonwood, AL

10 reports
Free hail report for your home →
1.50″ hail
Apr 9, 2021
1:28 PM UTC
Hail report for Cottonwood, AL
Houston County · 35,016 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: REPORT OF 1.5 INCH HAIL NEAR COTTONWOOD.
NWS Hail Report Location: Cottonwood, AL
0.88″ hail
Jul 3, 2012
1:05 PM CST-6
Hail report for Cottonwood, AL
Houston County · 35,016 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: The public reported a hail size between dimes and quarters 5 miles north of Cottonwood. The report was obtained via facebook.
NWS Hail Report Location: 5 N Cottonwood, AL
0.75″ hail
Jun 1, 2004
10:45 AM EST
Hail report for Cottonwood, AL
Houston County · 35,016 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: Penny size hail reported by the Houston County EMA.
NWS Hail Report Location: 5 N Cottonwood, AL
0.75″ hail
Jul 20, 2002
5:20 PM EST
Hail report for Cottonwood, AL
Houston County · 35,016 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: Dime size hail reported by NWS Mobile.
NWS Hail Report Location: 6 E Cottonwood, AL
0.75″ hail
Jul 20, 2002
5:00 PM EST
Hail report for Cottonwood, AL
Houston County · 35,016 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: Dime size hail reported by NWS Mobile.
NWS Hail Report Location: Cottonwood, AL
0.75″ hail
Jun 4, 2002
2:57 PM EST
Hail report for Cottonwood, AL
Houston County · 35,016 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: Dime size hail reported by the Houston County EMA.
NWS Hail Report Location: 3 E Cottonwood, AL
0.75″ hail
Mar 11, 2000
2:30 PM EST
Hail report for Cottonwood, AL
Houston County · 35,016 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: Dime size hail on Highway 53. Reported by the Houston County EMA.
NWS Hail Report Location: Cottonwood, AL
1.75″ hail
Apr 8, 1998
9:10 AM EST
Hail report for Cottonwood, AL
Houston County · 35,016 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: Golfball sized hail reported by Houston County Fire Department.
NWS Hail Report Location: Cottonwood, AL
0.75″ hail
May 11, 1995
5:50 PM CST
Hail report for Cottonwood, AL
Houston County · 35,016 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: Hail up to three-quarters of an inch was reported across the southern portion of Houston County.
NWS Hail Report Location: Cottonwood, AL
2.00″ hail
Feb 7, 1971
2:15 AM CST
Hail report for Cottonwood, AL
Houston County · 35,016 Homes in County
Hail Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Hail Report Location: Not provided, AL
Showing 10 of 10
Hail Damage Risk for Your Home +

Hail reports describe hail by diameter, often comparing stone size to familiar objects like peas, quarters, golf balls, and softballs. Use this guide as a starting point for possible hail damage to your roof, siding, gutters, vents, windows, and exterior. Actual hail damage depends on hail hardness, density, wind speed, impact angle, roof age, shingle condition, roof pitch, roofing material, installation quality, and prior storm damage.

Pea
0.25″
Low

Usually too small to cause hail damage to most sound asphalt roofs, siding, or gutters.

Mothball
0.50″
Sub-Severe Watch

Below the NWS severe-hail threshold, but not always harmless. Repeated small hail can scuff surfaces, wear aging shingles, and loosen protective granules over time.

Penny
0.75″
Minor / Watch

Below the NWS severe-hail threshold, but roof hail damage is still possible on older, brittle, poorly installed, or previously damaged shingles. May also mark screens, vents, gutters, and soft metal.

Nickel
0.88″
Minor / Watch

Still below the severe-hail threshold, but large enough to leave visible marks on soft metal and add wear to older or hail-weakened roof shingles.

Quarter
1.00″
Watch

The NWS severe-hail threshold. Quarter-size hail can bruise shingles, dent soft metal, and create roof hail damage worth checking.

Half Dollar
1.25″
Watch

More likely to dent gutters, vents, flashing, and siding. Hail damage risk rises quickly on older roofs or hail-weakened shingles.

Ping Pong / Walnut
1.50″
Likely

Hail damage becomes more likely, including bruised shingles, granule loss, dented siding, and damaged roof vents.

Golf Ball
1.75″
Likely

Often causes roof hail damage, cracked shingles, dented gutters, damaged flashing, and siding impacts. A roof inspection is recommended.

Hen Egg
2.00″
Serious

Can crack or puncture shingles, expose mat, dent siding, and cause widespread hail damage across the roof and exterior.

Tennis Ball
2.50″
Serious

Can cause heavy roof hail damage, punctured siding, broken skylights, damaged vents, and widespread exterior damage.

Baseball
2.75″
Major

Major hail damage is likely, including severe roof impacts, damaged siding, broken windows, and possible major roof repairs.

Tea Cup / Large Apple
3.00″
Major

Can cause heavy hail damage across the roof, siding, gutters, windows, and exterior. Significant repairs are often needed.

Softball
4.00″
Extreme

Destructive hail damage. Can severely damage roofing materials, siding, windows, gutters, vents, vehicles, and exterior surfaces.

Grapefruit
4.50″
Extreme

Catastrophic hail damage risk for roofs, windows, vehicles, siding, gutters, and exterior surfaces.

Source: NOAA / National Weather Service hail size references are used for hail-size comparisons and the 1.00″ severe-hail threshold. Damage descriptions are general homeowner guidance, not official NOAA/NWS damage ratings. Sub-severe hail under 1.00″ is below the severe threshold, but that does not mean “no roof damage.” Penny- to nickel-size hail can still contribute to granule loss, cosmetic surface marks, and added wear, especially on older, brittle, poorly installed, or previously damaged roofs.

Latest NWS Wind Reports in and near Cottonwood, AL

30 reports
Free hail report + wind check →
UNK mph
Aug 21, 2026
11:09 PM UTC
Wind report for Cottonwood, AL
Houston County · 35,016 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: Tree down on the 1300 block of Waddell Road.
NWS Wind Report Location: 3 W Grangeburg, AL
UNK mph
Aug 21, 2026
11:07 PM UTC
Wind report for Cottonwood, AL
Houston County · 35,016 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: Tree resting on power line along County Road 4.
NWS Wind Report Location: 4 Wsw Crosby, AL
UNK mph
Aug 21, 2026
11:07 PM UTC
Wind report for Cottonwood, AL
Houston County · 35,016 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: Tree partially blocking Buntin Road and Otter Pond Road.
NWS Wind Report Location: 2 Wnw Sealy Springs, AL
UNK mph
Jul 12, 2026
6:10 PM UTC
Wind report for Cottonwood, AL
Houston County · 35,016 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: Downed power line across a fence and a tree.
NWS Wind Report Location: 2 ENE Keytons, AL
UNK mph
Jun 4, 2026
12:22 AM UTC
Wind report for Cottonwood, AL
Houston County · 35,016 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: Tree removed on Joe Cook Street.
NWS Wind Report Location: Sealy Springs, AL
UNK mph
Jun 4, 2026
12:22 AM UTC
Wind report for Cottonwood, AL
Houston County · 35,016 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: multiple trees and power lines down.
NWS Wind Report Location: Cottonwood, AL
UNK mph
Jun 4, 2026
12:15 AM UTC
Wind report for Cottonwood, AL
Houston County · 35,016 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: Carport lifted on Gene Terry Road.
NWS Wind Report Location: 2 SSW Lovetown, AL
UNK mph
Jan 3, 2026
7:45 PM UTC
Wind report for Cottonwood, AL
Houston County · 35,016 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: Tree knocked down powerline.
NWS Wind Report Location: 1 NNW Cottonwood, AL
UNK mph
Mar 31, 2025
5:47 PM UTC
Wind report for Cottonwood, AL
Houston County · 35,016 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: The public reported via social media that power poles were down along Gene Terry Road.
NWS Wind Report Location: 2 W Lovetown, AL
UNK mph
Aug 19, 2024
2:45 AM UTC
Wind report for Cottonwood, AL
Houston County · 35,016 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: Trees down in the Cottonwood area.
NWS Wind Report Location: Cottonwood, AL
UNK mph
Jul 8, 2023
10:45 PM UTC
Wind report for Cottonwood, AL
Houston County · 35,016 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: Trees down in the Cottonwood area.
NWS Wind Report Location: Cottonwood, AL
UNK mph
Jul 8, 2023
10:44 PM UTC
Wind report for Cottonwood, AL
Houston County · 35,016 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: Trees were blown down along Fletcher Smith Road at Metcalf Street near Cottonwood.
NWS Wind Report Location: 1 NW Cottonwood, AL
UNK mph
Jun 12, 2023
10:30 PM UTC
Wind report for Cottonwood, AL
Houston County · 35,016 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: Tree down on McCoy road near Cottonwood.
NWS Wind Report Location: 2 NNW Cottonwood, AL
UNK mph
Apr 3, 2023
4:45 PM UTC
Wind report for Cottonwood, AL
Houston County · 35,016 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: TREES ARE DOWN IN THE ROAD ON COUNTY RD 8 AND INTERSECTION AT ROCKY CREEK RD.
NWS Wind Report Location: 3 W Harmon, AL
UNK mph
Mar 26, 2023
10:30 PM UTC
Wind report for Cottonwood, AL
Houston County · 35,016 Homes in County
Wind Report Description: HOUSTON COUNTY 911 REPORTS SEVERAL TREES DOWN AROUND THE HODGESVILLE AREA.
NWS Wind Report Location: 2 ENE Hodgesville, AL
Showing 15 of 30
Wind Damage Risk for Your Home +

Storm reports list thunderstorm wind gusts in mph. The NWS marks storms as severe at 58+ mph, but wind damage to your home depends on roof age, shingle condition, installation, exposure, nearby trees, and prior hail or wind damage.

Below Severe
Under 58 mph
Minor

Usually little damage to a sound roof, but loose shingles, flashing, or debris may shift.

Severe
58–74 mph
Watch

Can loosen shingles, lift flashing, break limbs, and damage gutters, siding, fences, or trim.

Damaging
75–90 mph
Serious

Can peel shingles, damage vents, tear siding, rip gutters, and expose weak roof areas.

Extreme
90+ mph
Major

Can cause major roof covering loss, tree damage, broken windows, and structural damage.

Source: NOAA / National Weather Service storm reports. Gusts may be measured or estimated; actual wind damage varies by roof condition, exposure, and prior hail or wind damage.

Latest NWS Tornado Reports in and near Cottonwood, AL

3 reports
UNK category
Jan 9, 2024
2:12 PM UTC
Tornado report for Cottonwood, AL
Houston County · 35,016 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: TDS on KEOX radar east of Cottonwood.
NWS Tornado Report Location: 2 S Lovetown, AL
UNK category
Jan 9, 2024
2:10 PM UTC
Tornado report for Cottonwood, AL
Houston County · 35,016 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: *** 1 FATAL *** Extensive damage in Cottonwood... AL. Numerous brick and frame structures affected. One fatality confirmed. Additional search/rescue and damage assessment ongoing. Will update as more infomration is received.
NWS Tornado Report Location: Cottonwood, AL
F1 category
Oct 1, 1989
6:35 AM CST
Tornado report for Cottonwood, AL
Houston County · 35,016 Homes in County
Tornado Report Description: No National Weather Service description provided.
NWS Tornado Report Location: Not provided, AL
Showing 3 of 3
Tornado Damage Risk for Your Home +

After a tornado, the National Weather Service assigns an EF rating from EF0 to EF5 based on surveyed damage. The rating estimates wind speed from what the tornado damaged, so actual damage can vary by construction quality, roof age, garage doors, windows, trees, debris, and how close the home was to the tornado path.

EF0
65–85 mph
Light

Can peel shingles, damage gutters or siding, break tree limbs, and toss loose outdoor items.

EF1
86–110 mph
Moderate

Can strip roof covering, damage exterior doors, break windows, snap trees, and cause heavier siding or gutter damage.

EF2
111–135 mph
Serious

Can tear off large sections of roofing, break or uproot trees, destroy weaker structures, and cause major exterior damage.

EF3–EF5
136+ mph
Severe

Can remove roofs and walls, destroy large portions of homes, toss vehicles, and cause severe to total destruction near the path.

Source: NOAA / National Weather Service. EF ratings are assigned after a post-storm damage survey and are based on observed damage, not a direct measurement at every home.

NWS Hail, Wind and Tornado Reports in and near Cottonwood, AL on the Interactive Map

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Browse ZIP Codes with NWS Storm Reports in Cottonwood

36320 78
Cottonwood, AL Hail, wind & tornado reports
36343 25
Gordon, AL Hail, wind & tornado reports

NWS Storm Reports & Census Data

U.S. Census Data · City

Cottonwood, AL area census snapshot

People & households
Population1,091
Households513
Housing units611
Income
Median household income$35,417
$100k+ households11.7%
$150k+ households1.4%
Housing stock
Single-family detached397
Attached single-family0
Small multifamily71
Large multifamily0
Mobile homes143
Housing mix
Single-family share65.0%
Attached-home share--
Multifamily share11.6%
Mobile-home share23.4%
Ownership & occupancy
Owner-occupied336
Renter-occupied177
Vacant units98
Home value & age
Median home value$110,300
Owner homes $300k+0.9%
Owner homes $500k+--
Owner homes $750k+--
Median year built1972
Older-home share70.7%
Vehicle context
Households with cars471
Free hail maps

This snapshot is for local area context only and describes the selected state, county, city, or ZIP area — not a specific home or property. For ZIP-level estimated hail impact, use Free Hail Maps to generate a hail report with key impact details for that ZIP.

Frequently asked questions

for homeowners, buyers & sellers
How many hail, wind, and tornado reports does Cottonwood have on record?

Our records show 10 hail, 64 wind, and 3 tornado reports in and near Cottonwood, AL, compiled from NOAA SPC and NWS Local Storm Reports. The most recent was reported on August 21, 2026.

What is the largest hail ever reported in Cottonwood?

The largest hail size in these storm-report records in and near Cottonwood, AL is 2.00″. It was reported near Cottonwood, AL on February 7, 1971.

A storm report showed up near my home in Cottonwood — does that mean my roof is damaged?

Not necessarily. A storm report only means hail, wind, or a tornado was observed nearby; it does not confirm damage at any specific address, and conditions change from block to block. Check an address-level hail report first, and if it looks significant, find a local pro that serves Cottonwood and ask about a Remote Hail Inspection before anyone climbs on the roof.

I am buying a home in Cottonwood — why should I look at its storm history?

Recent hail or wind can leave a roof or exterior with damage that is easy to miss during a walkthrough, and a recent roof replacement is sometimes an insurance job after a storm. Reviewing the storm history for a Cottonwood address before closing helps you ask informed questions about roof age, past repairs, and any prior claims.

I am selling a home in Cottonwood — how does this help me?

Knowing the storm history for your address lets you answer buyer questions with confidence, document repairs you have already made, and decide whether a pre-listing roof check is worthwhile. A clear hail history removes a common sticking point during negotiations.

How do I check hail history for a specific Cottonwood address?

Use the address search to pull a free address-level hail report for any property in Cottonwood — no phone number or email required. It shows recent hail activity for that address so you know whether a closer roof or exterior review makes sense.

Where does this storm report data come from, and what are its limits?

Storm reports on this page are public reports from storm events across Cottonwood, AL, sourced from NOAA SPC and NWS Local Storm Reports. They show where hail, wind, or tornado activity was reported in Cottonwood, but they do not confirm damage at any specific property. Report locations, sizes, and times may be approximate and can vary from what an individual home experienced. For property-specific hail history, use an address-level hail report or contact a participating local professional for a remote hail inspection. Pros inclusion is not an endorsement, and contacting a professional does not confirm damage at any property.

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