Columbia County, Georgia Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1851, 31 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Columbia County, Georgia — about one every 5.6 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Claudette (2021), which passed 29 miles away on 20 June 2021.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentClaudette (2021) — 29 mi away, 20 June 2021
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1854) — 60 kt (69 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordAbby (1968) — 3.8 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles19 of 31
- Peak monthJune and September — 9 storms (29% of all)
- Most active year2018 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1880s and 2000s — 4 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1851–2021
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claudette (2021) | 20 Jun 2021 | 29.1 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Michael (2018) | 11 Oct 2018 | 8.4 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Florence (2018) | 16 Sep 2018 | 33.0 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Alberto (2006) | 14 Jun 2006 | 46.6 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Jeanne (2004) | 28 Sep 2004 | 29.5 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Allison (2001) | 13 Jun 2001 | 22.6 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Helene (2000) | 23 Sep 2000 | 13.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Jerry (1995) | 28 Aug 1995 | 19.2 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Agnes (1972) | 20 Jun 1972 | 20.4 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Abby (1968) | 8 Jun 1968 | 3.8 mi | TS / TD | 29 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1965) | 15 Jun 1965 | 13.0 mi | TS / TD | 36 kt |
| Cleo (1964) | 30 Aug 1964 | 10.2 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Arlene (1959) | 2 Jun 1959 | 6.8 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 28 Aug 1949 | 19.3 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 9 Oct 1947 | 33.9 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1946) | 9 Oct 1946 | 37.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1935) | 5 Sep 1935 | 49.6 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1933) | 7 Sep 1933 | 17.9 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | 11 Aug 1928 | 17.3 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 3 Aug 1915 | 24.1 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1903) | 16 Sep 1903 | 24.2 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | 15 Jun 1902 | 49.2 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 3 Oct 1893 | 22.4 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1889) | 24 Sep 1889 | 18.4 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1887) | 20 Oct 1887 | 24.4 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 22 Jun 1886 | 6.7 mi | TS / TD | 41 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 11 Sep 1882 | 45.8 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1877) | 4 Oct 1877 | 42.9 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1854) | 9 Sep 1854 | 49.6 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1852) | 27 Aug 1852 | 21.4 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1851) | 24 Aug 1851 | 36.2 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 5 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 | 18 Sep 2020 | 10.6 mi | 30 kt |
| Fay (2020) | Remnant low | 7 Jul 2020 | 17.6 mi | 20 kt |
| Nestor (2019) | Post-tropical | 20 Oct 2019 | 44.5 mi | 40 kt |
| Marco (1990) | Post-tropical | 12 Oct 1990 | 6.8 mi | 15 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | Post-tropical | 14 Jun 1912 | 42.2 mi | 35 kt |
How Columbia County, Georgia compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Columbia County, Georgia ranks #497 — more exposed than 77.5% of them. Within Georgia it ranks #86 of 159, against a state average of 39.8 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1854) passed 50 miles away on 9 September 1854 as a tropical storm, reaching 60 kt (69 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1949) passed 19 miles away on 28 August 1949 as a tropical storm, reaching 56 kt (64 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1851) passed 36 miles away on 24 August 1851 as a tropical storm, reaching 55 kt (63 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1935) passed 50 miles away on 5 September 1935 as a tropical storm, reaching 50 kt (58 mph) while within 50 miles.
30 of the 31 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 5.6 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 31 storms spread over the 175 years from 1851 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 23 years, between 1854 and 1877. It has been 4 years since the last one; 12 of the 29 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit Columbia County, Georgia?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of Columbia County, Georgia while at hurricane strength. 31 tropical cyclones have passed within that distance since 1851, all of them as tropical storms or depressions. The strongest was Unnamed Storm (1854).
When was the last tropical cyclone in Columbia County, Georgia?
Claudette (2021), on 20 June 2021, passing 29 miles away — 5 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of Columbia County, Georgia at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect Columbia County, Georgia?
Unnamed Storm (1854), which reached 60 kt (69 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 50 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach Columbia County, Georgia?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 5.6 years — 31 storms over the 175 years from 1851 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Columbia County, Georgia borders or sits close to 5 other counties with a published storm record. Richmond County, Georgia has 36 on record.