Sign In Register

Altoona, AL

Full City Profile · Alabama · Etowah County County

2.5 /5.0
C+ Fair
1,211 Population 263/sq mi density
$36,694 Median Income $24,245 per capita
$137,500 Home Value $194,973 Zillow
$389 Median Rent 21.0% income on rent
62°F Avg Temperature 301 sunny days/yr
354 Violent Crime/100K 4,486 property/100K
C+
Overall
2.5 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
C+
Economy
2.5 / 5.0
$36,694 median income, 3.8% unemployment
A+
Affordability
4.6 / 5.0
$137,500 home value, $389/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
354 violent crimes/100K
D
Education
1.8 / 5.0
9.8% bachelor's degree or higher
Altoona enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 62°F (17°C). Winters average 42°F in January while summers reach 80°F in July. The area gets 301 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 56.8 inches. The area receives 0.7 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41.

Temperature

42°F Jan (5°C) 80°F Jul (27°C)
Annual Average61.9°F
15% above US avg
January Average42°F (5°C)
July Average80°F (27°C)
Sunny Days301 days/yr

Geography

Elevation978 ft (298 m)
Area4.3 sq mi (11.2 km²)
Population Density263/sq mi
Coordinates34.0400°N, 86.3052°W
TimezoneAmerica/Chicago
CountyEtowah County County
Nearest AirportNortheast Alabama Regional (GAD)
13 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 56.8"
49% above US avg
Snowfall 0.7"
Wettest Month (Mar) 6.50"
Driest Month (Oct) 2.95"

Air Quality

AQI Median41.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0448 ppm
PM2.5 (Fine Particles)9.8 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Moderate
Risk Score87.3 / 100
Social Vulnerability78.0 / 100
Community Resilience57.6 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively High
Hurricane Relatively Low
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Relatively Low
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Relatively Low
Strong Wind Relatively High
Heat Wave Relatively Low
Winter Weather Relatively Low
Lightning Relatively Moderate
Ice Storm Relatively Low
Drought Relatively Low
Cold Wave Relatively Moderate
Landslide Relatively Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

91 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M4.6. Most recent: M2.6 on Feb 25, 2025.

Apr 29, 2003 8 km S of Valley Head, Alabama M4.6 80 km
Dec 8, 2001 5 km SW of Pleasant Groves, Alabama M3.9 75 km
Aug 19, 2004 8 km W of Brantleyville, Alabama M3.6 112 km
Jul 15, 1995 21 km SSW of Berry, Alabama M3.3 140 km
May 9, 2004 8 km WNW of Brantleyville, Alabama M3.3 109 km
May 6, 2010 11 km ENE of Whitesboro, Alabama M3.2 37 km
Apr 5, 1994 10 km N of Trenton, Georgia M3.2 127 km
Mar 21, 2001 7 km ESE of Trenton, Georgia M3.2 120 km
May 10, 2020 7 km SSE of Sewanee, Tennessee M3.1 128 km
Apr 29, 2003 7 km E of Fort Payne, Alabama M3.1 76 km
Jun 28, 2008 7 km WNW of Brookwood, Alabama M3.1 132 km
May 2, 2003 8 km S of Valley Head, Alabama M3.1 82 km
Sep 11, 1992 5 km SSE of Riverview, Alabama M3.0 147 km
May 4, 2007 4 km SSW of Jasper, Alabama M3.0 96 km
May 28, 2000 13 km S of Winfield, Alabama M3.0 142 km
May 4, 1994 2 km NNW of Addison, Alabama M3.0 84 km
Mar 20, 2004 11 km NW of Wilton, Alabama M3.0 118 km
Sep 13, 2011 1 km NNW of Leeds, Alabama M3.0 58 km
May 4, 1994 12 km NNW of Addison, Alabama M3.0 91 km
May 28, 2000 3 km NE of Fayette, Alabama M3.0 144 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Hurricane History

1 hurricane (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 1. Most recent: Opal (1995, Cat 1).

Year Name Category Closest
1995 Opal Category 1 217 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980–2026)

Tornado History

737 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF5. Total: 259 fatalities, 2,976 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Apr 27, 2011 EF5 49 km 25
Apr 4, 1977 EF5 82 km 22
Apr 27, 2011 EF4 71 km 14
Apr 27, 2011 EF4 47 km 22
Apr 27, 2011 EF4 65 km 6
Apr 27, 2011 EF4 92 km 1
Apr 24, 2010 EF4 64 km 0
Feb 6, 2008 EF4 82 km 1
Feb 6, 2008 EF4 99 km 4
Nov 24, 2001 EF4 18 km 0
Mar 27, 1994 EF4 38 km 22
Nov 15, 1989 EF4 75 km 21
May 19, 1973 EF4 70 km 0
Mar 6, 1967 EF4 88 km 2
Jan 24, 1964 EF4 81 km 10
Mar 11, 1963 EF4 57 km 2
Mar 5, 1963 EF4 97 km 0
Nov 18, 1957 EF4 21 km 3
Nov 17, 1957 EF4 82 km 4
Apr 15, 1956 EF4 86 km 25
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: UNNAMED (7,740 ac, 2014).

Year Name Acres Distance
2014 UNNAMED 7,740 72 km
2013 UNNAMED 6,320 78 km
2016 UNNAMED 5,844 76 km
2017 UNNAMED 5,157 93 km
2008 UNNAMED 4,199 79 km
2014 HOUCK CREEK 3,857 76 km
2022 SC 540C/CHOCCOLOCCO 3,750 74 km
2020 SC WEST END C AND D 3,538 70 km
2010 UPPER SHOAL 3,512 77 km
2010 WIREGRASS 3,467 97 km
2008 UNNAMED 3,410 73 km
1998 CHEAHA WILDERNESS 3,299 81 km
2018 HOUCK CREEK 3,188 74 km
2021 TL TYLER WEST 3,148 80 km
2007 PENTECOST 3,095 58 km
2010 BANKHEAD I 3,027 74 km
2017 UNNAMED 2,871 81 km
2020 BK OWL CREEK 2,838 94 km
2024 AL-MLR UNITS 2/3 RX 2,836 62 km
2014 UNNAMED 2,822 93 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 42°F (5°C) 5.3 in Coldest
February 44°F (7°C) 5.0 in
March 52°F (11°C) 6.5 in Wettest
April 59°F (15°C) 5.4 in
May 67°F (19°C) 4.8 in
June 74°F (23°C) 3.8 in
July 80°F (27°C) 5.1 in Warmest
August 77°F (25°C) 3.4 in
September 71°F (22°C) 4.4 in
October 60°F (16°C) 3.0 in Driest
November 51°F (10°C) 4.3 in
December 43°F (6°C) 5.3 in

Altoona has a seasonal temperature swing of 39°F / from 42°F in January to 80°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 56.3 inches, with March being the wettest month (6.5") and October the driest (3.0").

View full weather details →