Today's Mosquito Risk in Alabama: Real-Time Forecast & Activity Map
Check your ZIP code for local mosquito activity, West Nile risk, and prevention insights.
Built from CDC and NOAA data
Mosquito Surveillance Insights
- Annual WNV Cases
- about 30 to 60 confirmed cases annually
- Based on CDC ArboNET surveillance data
- Risk Tier
- Tier 3: Moderate
- Gulf Coast humidity around Mobile Bay extends biting season weeks past the rest of the state.
- Per mosquito-risk-model regional tier
- Highest-Risk Areas
- Jefferson, Montgomery, Mobile, Madison (WNV); Mobile and Baldwin (EEE Mobile-Tensaw Delta)
Current Situation in Alabama
Alabama runs a moderate WNV burden of roughly 30 to 60 confirmed cases annually, split between the urban Birmingham and Montgomery metros and the Gulf Coast humidity around Mobile Bay. The southern half of the state, particularly Mobile and Baldwin counties, holds Aedes aegypti and a Florida-adjacent corner that runs at the very-high tier through the warmest months. Aedes albopictus is dominant statewide. Cx. quinquefasciatus drives most WNV transmission. EEE is documented in the freshwater swamps of southwest Alabama, where the Mobile-Tensaw Delta and adjoining Black Belt floodplains produce Culiseta bridge cycling. The Tennessee River bottomlands across the north and the Gulf Coast salt marsh round out the habitat mix. Biting season runs April through October.
Snapshot of the current mosquito situation in Alabama, drawn from CDC ArboNET surveillance and the regional risk model.
- Risk Level
- Moderate
- Peak Activity
- April through October
- Dominant Vector
- Southern House Mosquito (Culex quinquefasciatus); Asian Tiger Mosquito (Aedes albopictus) statewide
Where Mosquitoes Breed in Alabama
Alabama mosquito habitat is built on Mobile Bay salt marsh, the Mobile-Tensaw Delta, the Black Belt floodplains, and the Tennessee River bottomlands. The Mobile-Tensaw Delta is one of the largest river deltas in the country and produces enormous Aedes sollicitans, Aedes taeniorhynchus, and Culiseta melanura populations tied to EEE bridge cycling. The Black Belt prairie soils across central Alabama hold Cx. quinquefasciatus through the long humid summers. The Alabama and Cahaba River corridors sustain Aedes vexans. The Tennessee River bottomlands through Huntsville and Florence produce floodwater Aedes hatches. The Talladega National Forest hollows hold woodland Aedes. Storm drains and tire piles across Birmingham, Montgomery, and Mobile carry the urban Aedes albopictus.
Hotspot Counties & Areas
- Jefferson County (Birmingham metro)
- Montgomery County (Montgomery, Black Belt edge)
- Mobile County (Mobile, Mobile-Tensaw Delta)
- Baldwin County (Gulf Shores, salt marsh)
- Madison County (Huntsville, Tennessee River)
- Tuscaloosa County (Black Warrior River)
- Talladega National Forest hollows
- Cahaba River corridor
Seasonal Activity Pattern
Biting starts in early April on the Gulf Coast, peaks late July through September, and tapers through October with a long tail into November in Mobile and Baldwin counties. WNV cases concentrate in August across Birmingham, Montgomery, and Mobile. EEE risk in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta swamps peaks late August through October. Salt-marsh biting on the Gulf Coast spikes around full-moon high tides and after tropical rain. Aedes albopictus daytime biting runs heavy from May through October. Mobile and Baldwin counties see near year-round biting in mild winters.
Monthly Biting Intensity (Southeast)
Alabama Mosquito Risk Profile
- WNV burden level
- Moderate
- about 30 to 60 confirmed cases annually
- EEE risk
- Documented in southern swamps
- Peak biting season
- April through October
- Top urban risk areas
- Birmingham (Jefferson)
- Montgomery (Montgomery)
- Mobile (Mobile)
- Huntsville (Madison)
Signature habitat: Mobile Bay salt marsh, Black Belt floodplains, Tennessee River bottomlands.
Climate driver: Gulf Coast humidity around Mobile Bay extends biting season weeks past the rest of the state.
Check Your Local Mosquito Risk
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Common Mosquitoes in Alabama
Understanding which mosquitoes are active in Alabama helps you identify threats and take appropriate precautions. Click any card for details.
Asian Tiger Mosquito
Aedes albopictus
Risk: Eastern Equine Encephalitis, dengue, chikungunya, Zika, dog heartworm.
Key feature: A single bright white stripe down the center of the back.
Active: Spring through first hard frost. Eggs overwinter in cold climates and hatch when flooded by spring rain.
Southern House Mosquito
Culex quinquefasciatus
Risk: West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis, dog heartworm.
Key feature: Medium brown body with banded abdominal segments and no leg stripes.
Active: Year-round in the deep South; summer peak elsewhere. Most active from dusk through the first few hours after sunset.
Yellow Fever Mosquito
Aedes aegypti
Risk: Zika, dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya.
Key feature: Black body with white lyre-shaped markings on the thorax.
Active: Year-round in southern Florida and the Gulf; summer-only further north.
Eastern Equine Encephalitis
Vector: Asian Tiger Mosquito
Eastern Equine Encephalitis
Rare but devastating, with roughly 30% case fatality. Concentrated in Northeast swamp areas and the Gulf Coast.
What to watch for
- Onset typically 2 to 15 days after a bite
- Most cases mild or asymptomatic, small fraction severe
- Neurological signs (severe headache, neck stiffness, confusion) need ER care
Breaking the Cycle in Alabama
The mosquito lifecycle takes about a week. These habits cut local biting pressure faster than anything else, building multiple layers of protection.
Drain the Yard Weekly
Empty buckets, planter saucers, kiddie pools, tarps, and clogged gutters. A week of standing water is one full mosquito generation.
Repel Before Going Out
EPA-registered DEET (20-30%), picaridin (20%), IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Apply before going outside, especially at dusk and dawn.
Seal the House
Window and door screens with no tears. AC and porch fans both work. Mosquitoes struggle to fly upwind even at 1-2 mph air speed.
Treat Outdoor Clothing
Permethrin-treated long sleeves and pants for evening yard work, hiking, or fishing. Remains effective through 70+ wash cycles.
If You Develop Symptoms
Most mosquito bites are harmless. A small fraction can transmit illness, and knowing the timeline matters more than panicking at every itch.Five things to know.
Watch for fever
Fever, body aches, headache, or fatigue 2 to 15 days after a bite. West Nile often feels like flu, and most infections never get diagnosed.
Note where and when
A rough record of where and when you got bitten helps your doctor decide what to test for. Date, location, mosquito-heavy areas you visited.
Get help fast for neuro signs
Severe headache, neck stiffness, confusion, vision changes, or sudden muscle weakness can mean neuroinvasive WNV or EEE. Both are medical emergencies.
Pregnant exposure?
If pregnant and bitten in an area with documented Zika or local dengue transmission, mention to your OB. Same goes for travel exposure.
Children and seniors
Higher risk of severe disease from WNV, EEE, and dengue in adults over 60 and children under 5. Early call to the pediatrician or PCP if symptoms appear.
When does mosquito season end in Alabama?
Mosquito activity winds down after the first hard freeze, which in Alabama typically arrives around Nov 10. See the local first-frost window and city-by-city freeze dates.
Alabama first frost datesAlso worried about ticks in Alabama?
Lyme disease risk and tick activity track different seasonal patterns than mosquitoes. See your Alabama tick forecast.
View Alabama tick forecastStay Safe in Alabama
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