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Weather & Climate in Gulf Shores, AL
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Gulf Shores enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 67°F (19°C). Winters average 50°F in January while summers reach 81°F in July. The area gets 313 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Annual precipitation totals 69.0 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41. The city sits at an elevation of 6 feet.
Temperature
50°F Jan (10°C)
81°F Jul (27°C)
| Annual Average | 66.5°F |
| 23% above US avg | |
| January Average | 50°F (10°C) |
| July Average | 81°F (27°C) |
| Sunny Days | 313 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 6 ft (2 m) |
| Area | 28.0 sq mi (72.5 km²) |
| Population Density | 550/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 30.2758°N, 87.7013°W |
| Timezone | America/Chicago |
| County | Baldwin County County |
| Nearest Airport | Gulf Shores International/Jack Edwards Field (GUF) 2 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 41.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively High |
| Risk Score | 96.7 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 44.2 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 93.0 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively High |
| Hurricane | Very High |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low |
| Wildfire | Relatively Moderate |
| Flood | Relatively Moderate |
| Hail | Relatively Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | Very High |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate |
| Landslide | Relatively Low |
| Coastal Flood | Relatively High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
17 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M4.8.
| Oct 24, 1997 | 15 km NNW of Flomaton, Alabama | M4.8 | 100 km | 10 km |
| Oct 26, 1997 | 11 km NNW of Flomaton, Alabama | M3.7 | 99 km | 10 km |
| Feb 18, 2011 | 22 km SSE of Dauphin Island, Alabama | M3.5 | 36 km | 5 km |
| Sep 30, 2003 | 10 km NNW of Atmore, Alabama | M3.3 | 95 km | 5 km |
| May 23, 2025 | 105 km S of Gulf Shores, Alabama | M3.1 | 110 km | 5 km |
| May 4, 1997 | 9 km ESE of Atmore, Alabama | M3.1 | 86 km | 5 km |
| Apr 11, 2019 | 6 km NNW of Pollard, Alabama | M3.1 | 102 km | 10 km |
| Mar 11, 2019 | 4 km N of Flomaton, Alabama | M3.1 | 95 km | 5 km |
| Oct 28, 1997 | 11 km NNW of Flomaton, Alabama | M3.0 | 99 km | 10 km |
| Oct 18, 1997 | 69 km SSW of Dauphin Island, Alabama | M2.9 | 93 km | 1 km |
| Sep 25, 2003 | 14 km N of Atmore, Alabama | M2.9 | 99 km | 0 km |
| Mar 7, 2019 | 2 km NW of Jay, Florida | M2.8 | 93 km | 5 km |
| Mar 24, 2019 | 2 km ESE of Century, Florida | M2.7 | 88 km | 5 km |
| Apr 12, 2019 | 13 km NW of Flomaton, Alabama | M2.6 | 98 km | 5 km |
| Nov 10, 2012 | 16 km S of Dauphin Island, Alabama | M2.6 | 42 km | 11 km |
| Sep 5, 2000 | 1 km ENE of Monroeville, Alabama | M2.5 | 145 km | 3 km |
| Apr 11, 2019 | 8 km NW of Pollard, Alabama | M2.5 | 101 km | 8 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
20 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980. Strongest on record: Category 5.
| Year | Name | Category | Max Wind | Closest |
| 2021 | Ida | Category 4 | 150 mph | 262 km |
| 2020 | Zeta | Category 3 | 115 mph | 170 km |
| 2020 | Sally | Category 2 | 109 mph | 3 km |
| 2018 | Michael | Category 5 | 161 mph | 196 km |
| 2017 | Nate | Category 1 | 92 mph | 125 km |
| 2012 | Isaac | Category 1 | 81 mph | 213 km |
| 2009 | Ida | Category 1 | 86 mph | 220 km |
| 2008 | Gustav | Category 2 | 109 mph | 285 km |
| 2005 | Dennis | Category 4 | 138 mph | 59 km |
| 2005 | Katrina | Category 4 | 144 mph | 182 km |
| 2005 | Cindy | Category 1 | 75 mph | 261 km |
| 2004 | Ivan | Category 4 | 132 mph | 21 km |
| 1998 | Georges | Category 2 | 109 mph | 106 km |
| 1998 | Earl | Category 2 | 98 mph | 131 km |
| 1997 | Danny | Category 1 | 81 mph | 24 km |
| 1995 | Opal | Category 4 | 127 mph | 49 km |
| 1995 | Erin | Category 2 | 98 mph | 41 km |
| 1988 | Florence | Category 1 | 81 mph | 197 km |
| 1985 | Elena | Category 3 | 127 mph | 56 km |
| 1985 | Kate | Category 3 | 109 mph | 196 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
481 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 20 fatalities, 488 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Feb 23, 2016 | EF3 | 53 km | 3.0 mi | 0 |
| Feb 15, 2016 | EF3 | 73 km | 16.5 mi | 0 |
| Oct 13, 2001 | EF3 | 16 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Nov 21, 1997 | EF3 | 70 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Apr 25, 1982 | EF3 | 41 km | 1.5 mi | 0 |
| Feb 7, 1971 | EF3 | 52 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Nov 3, 1968 | EF3 | 68 km | 70.4 mi | 0 |
| Oct 30, 1967 | EF3 | 45 km | 0.1 mi | 0 |
| Mar 31, 1962 | EF3 | 69 km | 6.9 mi | 17 |
| May 5, 1956 | EF3 | 48 km | 1.0 mi | 0 |
| Apr 18, 1950 | EF3 | 65 km | 14.0 mi | 0 |
| May 10, 2024 | EF2 | 92 km | 24.0 mi | 0 |
| Jun 19, 2023 | EF2 | 85 km | 2.4 mi | 0 |
| Jun 15, 2023 | EF2 | 44 km | 8.6 mi | 0 |
| Jan 12, 2023 | EF2 | 96 km | 11.7 mi | 0 |
| Dec 25, 2012 | EF2 | 58 km | 5.2 mi | 0 |
| Aug 30, 2012 | EF2 | 82 km | 0.8 mi | 0 |
| Mar 9, 2011 | EF2 | 59 km | 0.9 mi | 0 |
| Mar 9, 2011 | EF2 | 29 km | 2.1 mi | 0 |
| Nov 27, 2004 | EF2 | 23 km | 4.5 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: UNNAMED (10,557 acres, 2006).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2006 | UNNAMED | 10,557 | 88 km |
| 2005 | UNNAMED | 7,388 | 74 km |
| 2005 | UNNAMED | 7,334 | 87 km |
| 1993 | UNNAMED | 6,744 | 77 km |
| 2013 | LOW KEY | 5,554 | 88 km |
| 2011 | UNNAMED | 4,486 | 97 km |
| 2010 | UNNAMED | 4,119 | 98 km |
| 1998 | UNNAMED | 4,106 | 87 km |
| 2016 | GRAND BATURE | 3,898 | 69 km |
| 2022 | PANTHER WF | 3,821 | 89 km |
| 2009 | UNNAMED | 3,794 | 58 km |
| 2019 | NAME | 3,458 | 92 km |
| 2000 | UNNAMED | 3,431 | 89 km |
| 2009 | UNNAMED | 3,334 | 88 km |
| 2010 | UNNAMED | 3,283 | 99 km |
| 2009 | UNNAMED | 3,146 | 97 km |
| 2007 | BAYOU LB | 3,066 | 58 km |
| 2000 | UNNAMED | 2,997 | 89 km |
| 2009 | UNNAMED | 2,963 | 87 km |
| 2005 | BAY FIRE | 2,914 | 60 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 50°F (10°C) | 5.2 in | Coldest |
| February | 55°F (13°C) | 5.1 in | |
| March | 61°F (16°C) | 5.9 in | |
| April | 67°F (19°C) | 4.0 in | |
| May | 74°F (23°C) | 4.7 in | |
| June | 80°F (27°C) | 5.8 in | |
| July | 81°F (27°C) | 7.2 in | Wettest |
| August | 82°F (28°C) | 7.1 in | Warmest |
| September | 78°F (26°C) | 5.9 in | |
| October | 69°F (21°C) | 3.9 in | Driest |
| November | 61°F (16°C) | 4.5 in | |
| December | 55°F (13°C) | 4.2 in |
Gulf Shores has a seasonal temperature swing of 32°F / from 50°F in January to 82°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 63.5 inches, with July being the wettest month (7.2") and October the driest (3.9").