Butts County, Georgia Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1852, 26 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Butts County, Georgia — about one every 6.7 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Helene (2024), which passed 48 miles away on 27 September 2024.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentHelene (2024) — 48 mi away, 27 September 2024
- Strongest stormHelene (2024) — 55 kt (63 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordJerry (1995) — 2.8 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles11 of 26
- Peak monthSeptember — 11 storms (42% of all)
- Most active year1898 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1890s and 2000s — 4 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 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helene (2024) | 27 Sep 2024 | 48.2 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Nicole (2022) | 11 Nov 2022 | 35.0 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Claudette (2021) | 20 Jun 2021 | 24.9 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Jeanne (2004) | 27 Sep 2004 | 42.5 mi | TS / TD | 26 kt |
| Frances (2004) | 8 Sep 2004 | 42.9 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Allison (2001) | 12 Jun 2001 | 39.7 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Helene (2000) | 23 Sep 2000 | 37.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Jerry (1995) | 27 Aug 1995 | 2.8 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Beryl (1994) | 17 Aug 1994 | 3.4 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Alberto (1994) | 6 Jul 1994 | 26.6 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1965) | 15 Jun 1965 | 44.9 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Arlene (1959) | 2 Jun 1959 | 8.8 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Debbie (1957) | 9 Sep 1957 | 28.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1940) | 12 Aug 1940 | 15.0 mi | TS / TD | 31 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1911) | 30 Aug 1911 | 3.3 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1903) | 16 Sep 1903 | 27.2 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1900) | 15 Sep 1900 | 38.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1898) | 3 Oct 1898 | 39.5 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1898) | 1 Sep 1898 | 41.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1896) | 8 Jul 1896 | 21.1 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 3 Oct 1893 | 8.3 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1889) | 24 Sep 1889 | 30.5 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1887) | 28 Jul 1887 | 33.3 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 10 Sep 1882 | 8.2 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1859) | 16 Sep 1859 | 15.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1852) | 27 Aug 1852 | 22.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sally (2020) | Post-tropical | 17 Sep 2020 | 11.1 mi | 30 kt |
| Fay (2020) | Remnant low | 7 Jul 2020 | 33.2 mi | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | Post-tropical | 14 Jun 1912 | 26.1 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | Post-tropical | 28 Sep 1901 | 23.2 mi | 35 kt |
Storms that came back
1 named storm in this record passed Butts County, Georgia more than once.
- Helene — 2 passes (2000, 2024)
How Butts County, Georgia compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Butts County, Georgia ranks #603 — more exposed than 72.7% of them. Within Georgia it ranks #107 of 159, against a state average of 39.8 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Helene (2024) passed 48 miles away on 27 September 2024 as a tropical storm, reaching 55 kt (63 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1893) passed 8 miles away on 3 October 1893 as a tropical storm, reaching 47 kt (54 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1898) passed 39 miles away on 3 October 1898 as a tropical storm, reaching 45 kt (52 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1889) passed 30 miles away on 24 September 1889 as a tropical storm, reaching 45 kt (52 mph) while within 50 miles.
26 of the 26 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 6.7 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 26 storms spread over the 174 years from 1852 to 2025. 3 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while decades have gone by with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 29 years, between 1911 and 1940. It has been 1 year since the last one; 19 of the 22 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit Butts County, Georgia?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of Butts County, Georgia while at hurricane strength. 26 tropical cyclones have passed within that distance since 1852, all of them as tropical storms or depressions. The strongest was Helene (2024).
When was the last tropical cyclone in Butts County, Georgia?
Helene (2024), on 27 September 2024, passing 48 miles away — 2 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of Butts County, Georgia at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect Butts County, Georgia?
Helene (2024), which reached 55 kt (63 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 48 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach Butts County, Georgia?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 6.7 years — 26 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
Butts County, Georgia borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Monroe County, Georgia has 30 on record.