Appling County, Georgia Hurricane History
Since 1852, 71 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Appling County, Georgia — about one every 2.5 years. Of those, 9 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Debby (2024), which passed 41 miles away on 6 August 2024.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentDebby (2024) — 41 mi away, 6 August 2024
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1896) — 90 kt (104 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordHermine (2016) — 1.4 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles37 of 71
- Peak monthOctober — 17 storms (24% of all)
- Most active year1871 — 3 storms
- Most active decade1870s — 8 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1852–2024
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 7 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 3 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debby (2024) | 6 Aug 2024 | 41.0 mi | TS / TD | 44 kt |
| Idalia (2023) | 30 Aug 2023 | 4.3 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Mindy (2021) | 9 Sep 2021 | 46.1 mi | TS / TD | 31 kt |
| Elsa (2021) | 8 Jul 2021 | 14.8 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Hermine (2016) | 2 Sep 2016 | 1.4 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Andrea (2013) | 7 Jun 2013 | 47.7 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Beryl (2012) | 29 May 2012 | 7.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Alberto (2006) | 14 Jun 2006 | 13.0 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Tammy (2005) | 6 Oct 2005 | 42.7 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Bonnie (2004) | 12 Aug 2004 | 28.6 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (2003) | 26 Jul 2003 | 36.8 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Gordon (2000) | 18 Sep 2000 | 23.8 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Earl (1998) | 3 Sep 1998 | 39.7 mi | TS / TD | 41 kt |
| Allison (1995) | 6 Jun 1995 | 22.5 mi | TS / TD | 31 kt |
| Gordon (1994) | 21 Nov 1994 | 41.9 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Marco (1990) | 12 Oct 1990 | 41.8 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1987) | 17 Aug 1987 | 4.2 mi | TS / TD | 10 kt |
| Charley (1986) | 14 Aug 1986 | 46.2 mi | TS / TD | 10 kt |
| Kate (1985) | 22 Nov 1985 | 21.8 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Isabel (1985) | 11 Oct 1985 | 38.5 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Alma (1970) | 25 May 1970 | 34.5 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Abby (1968) | 7 Jun 1968 | 21.4 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1966) | 2 Jul 1966 | 7.7 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Alma (1966) | 10 Jun 1966 | 12.1 mi | TS / TD | 41 kt |
| Dora (1964) | 12 Sep 1964 | 22.2 mi | TS / TD | 59 kt |
| Brenda (1960) | 29 Jul 1960 | 33.2 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1957) | 9 Jun 1957 | 9.7 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1953) | 1 Sep 1953 | 40.9 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Love (1950) | 22 Oct 1950 | 14.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 28 Aug 1949 | 36.1 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 15 Oct 1947 | 9.8 mi | Cat 1 | 67 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1946) | 8 Oct 1946 | 23.8 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1941) | 8 Oct 1941 | 44.9 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1940) | 12 Aug 1940 | 43.5 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1935) | 5 Sep 1935 | 19.0 mi | TS / TD | 57 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1933) | 6 Sep 1933 | 12.5 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1924) | 16 Sep 1924 | 19.4 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1923) | 27 Jun 1923 | 17.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1919) | 1 Oct 1919 | 23.5 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 4 Oct 1916 | 23.6 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 3 Aug 1915 | 4.2 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | 6 Sep 1912 | 14.1 mi | TS / TD | 26 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | 15 Jul 1912 | 30.4 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1911) | 29 Aug 1911 | 40.3 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1911) | 5 Aug 1911 | 26.0 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1909) | 2 Jul 1909 | 37.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1907) | 29 Sep 1907 | 6.2 mi | TS / TD | 36 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1907) | 29 Jun 1907 | 31.5 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1904) | 4 Nov 1904 | 34.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | 15 Jun 1902 | 20.2 mi | TS / TD | 36 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1898) | 2 Oct 1898 | 19.1 mi | Cat 1 | 78 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1896) | 29 Sep 1896 | 41.7 mi | Cat 2 | 90 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 9 Oct 1894 | 19.6 mi | Cat 1 | 68 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 16 Jun 1893 | 35.0 mi | TS / TD | 46 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 9 Sep 1888 | 16.8 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 1 Jul 1886 | 20.8 mi | TS / TD | 54 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1885) | 12 Oct 1885 | 5.6 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1885) | 31 Aug 1885 | 42.9 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1884) | 11 Sep 1884 | 47.7 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1881) | 28 Aug 1881 | 13.4 mi | TS / TD | 63 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1878) | 11 Oct 1878 | 47.2 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1877) | 3 Oct 1877 | 42.3 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1877) | 20 Sep 1877 | 43.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1873) | 19 Sep 1873 | 19.6 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1873) | 2 Jun 1873 | 36.5 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 6 Oct 1871 | 6.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 28 Aug 1871 | 34.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 23 Aug 1871 | 31.1 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1868) | 5 Oct 1868 | 45.4 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1860) | 13 Aug 1860 | 6.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1852) | 10 Oct 1852 | 22.4 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 8 systems passed within 50 miles after losing tropical characteristics. These are excluded from the counts above because they were no longer tropical cyclones at their closest approach — but several were highly damaging, so they are listed here.
| Storm | Status | Closest approach | Distance | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nestor (2019) | Post-tropical | 20 Oct 2019 | 48.0 mi | 38 kt |
| Josephine (1996) | Post-tropical | 8 Oct 1996 | 38.9 mi | 45 kt |
| Flossy (1956) | Post-tropical | 25 Sep 1956 | 37.3 mi | 38 kt |
| Florence (1953) | Post-tropical | 27 Sep 1953 | 9.3 mi | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | Post-tropical | 24 Sep 1947 | 39.9 mi | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1929) | Post-tropical | 1 Oct 1929 | 30.0 mi | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1924) | Post-tropical | 30 Sep 1924 | 6.0 mi | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1917) | Post-tropical | 30 Sep 1917 | 21.8 mi | 30 kt |
Storms that came back
2 named storms in this record passed Appling County, Georgia more than once.
- Alma — 2 passes (1966, 1970)
- Gordon — 2 passes (1994, 2000)
How Appling County, Georgia compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Appling County, Georgia ranks #30 — more exposed than 98.6% of them. Within Georgia it ranks #12 of 159, against a state average of 39.8 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1896) passed 42 miles away on 29 September 1896 as a hurricane, reaching 90 kt (104 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1898) passed 19 miles away on 2 October 1898 as a hurricane, reaching 85 kt (98 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1881) passed 13 miles away on 28 August 1881 as a hurricane, reaching 80 kt (92 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1947) passed 10 miles away on 15 October 1947 as a hurricane, reaching 78 kt (90 mph) while within 50 miles.
66 of the 71 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 2.5 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 71 storms spread over the 174 years from 1852 to 2025. 10 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while stretches of a decade or more have passed with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 15 years, between 1970 and 1985. It has been 1 year since the last one; 41 of the 59 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Appling County, Georgia?
9 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Appling County, Georgia at hurricane strength since 1852. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 71.
When was the last hurricane in Appling County, Georgia?
Kate (1985), on 22 November 1985, passing 22 miles away — 41 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Debby (2024) in 2024.
What was the strongest storm to affect Appling County, Georgia?
Unnamed Storm (1896), which reached 90 kt (104 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 42 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Appling County, Georgia?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 2.5 years — 71 storms over the 174 years from 1852 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Appling County, Georgia borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Wayne County, Georgia has 78 on record.