Effingham County, Georgia Hurricane History
Since 1852, 72 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Effingham County, Georgia — about one every 2.4 years. Of those, 15 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Debby (2024), which passed 29 miles away on 6 August 2024.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentDebby (2024) — 29 mi away, 6 August 2024
- Strongest stormGracie (1959) — 115 kt (132 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1871) — 1.4 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)Unnamed Storm (1854) — 5.6 miles
- Passes within 25 miles35 of 72
- Peak monthSeptember — 22 storms (31% of all)
- Most active year1985 — 3 storms
- Most active decade1890s, 1940s, 1950s and 1980s — 6 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi3
- Record span1852–2024
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 15 | 22 | 11 | 3 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debby (2024) | 6 Aug 2024 | 28.8 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Idalia (2023) | 30 Aug 2023 | 6.8 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Colin (2022) | 1 Jul 2022 | 49.3 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Elsa (2021) | 8 Jul 2021 | 38.5 mi | TS / TD | 41 kt |
| Danny (2021) | 29 Jun 2021 | 37.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Hermine (2016) | 2 Sep 2016 | 8.8 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Andrea (2013) | 7 Jun 2013 | 21.9 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Beryl (2012) | 30 May 2012 | 9.4 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Alberto (2006) | 14 Jun 2006 | 43.2 mi | TS / TD | 31 kt |
| Bonnie (2004) | 13 Aug 2004 | 28.3 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (2003) | 26 Jul 2003 | 33.6 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Gordon (1994) | 21 Nov 1994 | 15.1 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Chris (1988) | 28 Aug 1988 | 21.6 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Charley (1986) | 14 Aug 1986 | 3.2 mi | TS / TD | 14 kt |
| Kate (1985) | 22 Nov 1985 | 13.2 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Isabel (1985) | 11 Oct 1985 | 42.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Bob (1985) | 25 Jul 1985 | 45.6 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1981) | 3 Jul 1981 | 45.0 mi | TS / TD | 26 kt |
| David (1979) | 4 Sep 1979 | 13.4 mi | Cat 1 | 68 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1976) | 15 Sep 1976 | 33.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Dawn (1972) | 13 Sep 1972 | 49.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1971) | 11 Sep 1971 | 22.2 mi | TD | — |
| Alma (1970) | 25 May 1970 | 2.0 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Abby (1968) | 7 Jun 1968 | 41.5 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Alma (1966) | 10 Jun 1966 | 22.8 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Dora (1964) | 13 Sep 1964 | 10.9 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Cleo (1964) | 29 Aug 1964 | 12.9 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Brenda (1960) | 29 Jul 1960 | 32.8 mi | TS / TD | 57 kt |
| Gracie (1959) | 29 Sep 1959 | 44.4 mi | Cat 4 | 115 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1957) | 9 Jun 1957 | 35.8 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1954) | 10 Jul 1954 | 43.7 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1953) | 1 Sep 1953 | 23.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Able (1952) | 31 Aug 1952 | 40.6 mi | Cat 1 | 78 kt |
| Love (1950) | 22 Oct 1950 | 8.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 15 Oct 1947 | 41.3 mi | Cat 2 | 90 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1946) | 8 Oct 1946 | 22.9 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | 17 Sep 1945 | 31.6 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1944) | 20 Oct 1944 | 19.6 mi | TS / TD | 51 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1941) | 8 Oct 1941 | 21.1 mi | TS / TD | 39 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1940) | 12 Aug 1940 | 11.5 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1935) | 5 Sep 1935 | 41.6 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | 18 Sep 1928 | 45.1 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1924) | 16 Sep 1924 | 15.9 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1923) | 27 Jun 1923 | 25.0 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 16 May 1916 | 43.6 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 3 Aug 1915 | 49.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | 6 Sep 1912 | 45.8 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1911) | 28 Aug 1911 | 6.6 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1910) | 19 Oct 1910 | 49.7 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1909) | 3 Jul 1909 | 3.0 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1907) | 29 Sep 1907 | 28.8 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1904) | 4 Nov 1904 | 15.4 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | 15 Jun 1902 | 42.0 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 18 Sep 1901 | 40.5 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1898) | 31 Aug 1898 | 4.0 mi | TS / TD | 63 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1896) | 29 Sep 1896 | 14.0 mi | Cat 2 | 85 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 9 Oct 1894 | 16.4 mi | TS / TD | 63 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 27 Sep 1894 | 37.8 mi | Cat 1 | 80 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 28 Aug 1893 | 9.7 mi | Cat 2 | 88 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 16 Jun 1893 | 27.5 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 10 Sep 1888 | 13.2 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 1 Jul 1886 | 29.7 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1885) | 12 Oct 1885 | 27.6 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1884) | 11 Sep 1884 | 13.7 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1881) | 28 Aug 1881 | 39.9 mi | Cat 1 | 80 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1873) | 19 Sep 1873 | 19.6 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 6 Oct 1871 | 21.4 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 28 Aug 1871 | 1.4 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1860) | 14 Aug 1860 | 29.9 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1856) | 1 Sep 1856 | 46.6 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1854) | 9 Sep 1854 | 5.6 mi | Cat 1 | 73 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1852) | 10 Oct 1852 | 25.0 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 10 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. Showing the 9 most recent.
| Storm | Status | Closest approach | Distance | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barry (2007) | Post-tropical | 3 Jun 2007 | 27.0 mi | 40 kt |
| Gordon (2000) | Post-tropical | 18 Sep 2000 | 10.1 mi | 25 kt |
| Earl (1998) | Post-tropical | 3 Sep 1998 | 30.9 mi | 40 kt |
| Josephine (1996) | Post-tropical | 8 Oct 1996 | 30.8 mi | 45 kt |
| Allison (1995) | Post-tropical | 6 Jun 1995 | 25.1 mi | 35 kt |
| Flossy (1956) | Post-tropical | 26 Sep 1956 | 28.4 mi | 41 kt |
| Florence (1953) | Post-tropical | 27 Sep 1953 | 18.3 mi | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | Post-tropical | 24 Sep 1947 | 8.8 mi | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1924) | Post-tropical | 30 Sep 1924 | 7.5 mi | 55 kt |
Storms that came back
1 named storm in this record passed Effingham County, Georgia more than once.
- Alma — 2 passes (1966, 1970)
How Effingham County, Georgia compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Effingham County, Georgia ranks #28 — more exposed than 98.7% of them. Within Georgia it ranks #11 of 159, against a state average of 39.8 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 4 Gracie (1959) passed 44 miles away on 29 September 1959 as a hurricane, reaching 115 kt (132 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 3 Unnamed Storm (1893) passed 10 miles away on 28 August 1893 as a hurricane, reaching 100 kt (115 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 3 Unnamed Storm (1854) passed 6 miles away on 9 September 1854 as a hurricane, reaching 100 kt (115 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1947) passed 41 miles away on 15 October 1947 as a hurricane, reaching 90 kt (104 mph) while within 50 miles.
63 of the 72 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 2.4 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 72 storms spread over the 174 years from 1852 to 2025. 6 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 11 years, between 1860 and 1871. It has been 1 year since the last one; 40 of the 64 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Effingham County, Georgia?
15 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Effingham County, Georgia at hurricane strength since 1852. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 72.
When was the last hurricane in Effingham County, Georgia?
Bob (1985), on 25 July 1985, passing 46 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 Effingham County, Georgia?
Gracie (1959), which reached 115 kt (132 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 44 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Effingham County, Georgia?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 2.4 years — 72 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
Effingham County, Georgia borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Chatham County, Georgia has 83 on record.