DeKalb County, Georgia Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1859, 23 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of DeKalb County, Georgia — about one every 7.3 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Nicole (2022), which passed 13 miles away on 11 November 2022.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentNicole (2022) — 13 mi away, 11 November 2022
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1893) — 46 kt (53 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1900) — 2.1 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles10 of 23
- Peak monthSeptember — 8 storms (35% of all)
- Most active year1959 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1990s — 4 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1859–2022
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 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 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicole (2022) | 11 Nov 2022 | 12.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Fred (2021) | 17 Aug 2021 | 31.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Claudette (2021) | 20 Jun 2021 | 11.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Cindy (2005) | 7 Jul 2005 | 41.3 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Frances (2004) | 8 Sep 2004 | 16.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Danny (1997) | 23 Jul 1997 | 31.9 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Jerry (1995) | 27 Aug 1995 | 26.5 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Beryl (1994) | 17 Aug 1994 | 28.1 mi | TS / TD | 18 kt |
| Alberto (1994) | 5 Jul 1994 | 27.1 mi | TS / TD | 17 kt |
| Edith (1971) | 18 Sep 1971 | 31.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Irene (1959) | 9 Oct 1959 | 24.8 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Arlene (1959) | 2 Jun 1959 | 45.0 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Debbie (1957) | 9 Sep 1957 | 47.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1940) | 12 Aug 1940 | 24.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | 15 Aug 1928 | 43.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 5 Sep 1915 | 41.6 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1911) | 30 Aug 1911 | 14.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1903) | 16 Sep 1903 | 9.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1900) | 15 Sep 1900 | 2.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 3 Oct 1893 | 31.8 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1887) | 28 Jul 1887 | 15.4 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 10 Sep 1882 | 42.0 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1859) | 16 Sep 1859 | 21.8 mi | TS / TD | 40 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 | 17 Sep 2020 | 46.5 mi | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | Post-tropical | 14 Jun 1912 | 19.2 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1907) | Post-tropical | 23 Sep 1907 | 16.5 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | Post-tropical | 11 Oct 1902 | 16.4 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | Post-tropical | 28 Sep 1901 | 47.1 mi | 35 kt |
How DeKalb County, Georgia compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, DeKalb County, Georgia ranks #671 — more exposed than 69.6% of them. Within Georgia it ranks #121 of 159, against a state average of 39.8 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1893) passed 32 miles away on 3 October 1893 as a tropical storm, reaching 46 kt (53 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1882) passed 42 miles away on 10 September 1882 as a tropical storm, reaching 40 kt (46 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1859) passed 22 miles away on 16 September 1859 as a tropical storm, reaching 40 kt (46 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1915) passed 42 miles away on 5 September 1915 as a tropical storm, reaching 35 kt (40 mph) while within 50 miles.
22 of the 23 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 7.3 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 23 storms spread over the 167 years from 1859 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 23 years, between 1859 and 1882. It has been 3 years since the last one; 13 of the 19 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit DeKalb County, Georgia?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of DeKalb County, Georgia while at hurricane strength. 23 tropical cyclones have passed within that distance since 1859, all of them as tropical storms or depressions. The strongest was Unnamed Storm (1893).
When was the last tropical cyclone in DeKalb County, Georgia?
Nicole (2022), on 11 November 2022, passing 13 miles away — 4 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of DeKalb County, Georgia at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect DeKalb County, Georgia?
Unnamed Storm (1893), which reached 46 kt (53 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 32 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach DeKalb County, Georgia?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 7.3 years — 23 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
DeKalb County, Georgia borders or sits close to 5 other counties with a published storm record. Clayton County, Georgia has 25 on record.