Clarke County, Georgia Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1859, 18 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Clarke County, Georgia — about one every 9.3 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Helene (2024), which passed 12 miles away on 27 September 2024.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentHelene (2024) — 12 mi away, 27 September 2024
- Strongest stormHelene (2024) — 55 kt (63 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1903) — 3.7 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles9 of 18
- Peak monthSeptember — 9 storms (50% of all)
- Most active year1959 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1990s — 3 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1859–2024
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helene (2024) | 27 Sep 2024 | 12.1 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Claudette (2021) | 20 Jun 2021 | 14.0 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Jeanne (2004) | 28 Sep 2004 | 38.7 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Danny (1997) | 23 Jul 1997 | 26.1 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Jerry (1995) | 27 Aug 1995 | 8.0 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Beryl (1994) | 17 Aug 1994 | 15.3 mi | TS / TD | 17 kt |
| Babe (1977) | 8 Sep 1977 | 47.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Irene (1959) | 9 Oct 1959 | 37.9 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Arlene (1959) | 2 Jun 1959 | 41.5 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 9 Oct 1947 | 34.9 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1913) | 4 Sep 1913 | 38.6 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1903) | 16 Sep 1903 | 3.7 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1900) | 15 Sep 1900 | 5.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1896) | 8 Jul 1896 | 10.2 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 3 Oct 1893 | 26.2 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1889) | 24 Sep 1889 | 45.0 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 11 Sep 1882 | 17.4 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1859) | 16 Sep 1859 | 6.8 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 7 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 | 39.2 mi | 30 kt |
| Fay (2020) | Remnant low | 7 Jul 2020 | 46.1 mi | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | Post-tropical | 14 Jun 1912 | 8.4 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1911) | Post-tropical | 30 Aug 1911 | 33.9 mi | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1907) | Post-tropical | 23 Sep 1907 | 33.0 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | Post-tropical | 11 Oct 1902 | 34.5 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | Post-tropical | 28 Sep 1901 | 10.6 mi | 35 kt |
How Clarke County, Georgia compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Clarke County, Georgia ranks #851 — more exposed than 61.5% of them. Within Georgia it ranks #137 of 159, against a state average of 39.8 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Helene (2024) passed 12 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 26 miles away on 3 October 1893 as a tropical storm, reaching 45 kt (52 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1889) passed 45 miles away on 24 September 1889 as a tropical storm, reaching 45 kt (52 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1882) passed 17 miles away on 11 September 1882 as a tropical storm, reaching 40 kt (46 mph) while within 50 miles.
17 of the 18 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 9.3 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 18 storms spread over the 167 years from 1859 to 2025. 1 separate year saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while decades have gone by with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 34 years, between 1913 and 1947. It has been 1 year since the last one; 15 of the 16 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit Clarke County, Georgia?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of Clarke County, Georgia while at hurricane strength. 18 tropical cyclones have passed within that distance since 1859, all of them as tropical storms or depressions. The strongest was Helene (2024).
When was the last tropical cyclone in Clarke County, Georgia?
Helene (2024), on 27 September 2024, passing 12 miles away — 2 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of Clarke County, Georgia at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect Clarke County, Georgia?
Helene (2024), which reached 55 kt (63 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 12 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach Clarke County, Georgia?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 9.3 years — 18 storms over the 167 years from 1859 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Clarke County, Georgia borders or sits close to 5 other counties with a published storm record. Oglethorpe County, Georgia has 24 on record.