Fannin County, Georgia Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1906, 17 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Fannin County, Georgia — about one every 7.1 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Helene (2024), which passed 39 miles away on 27 September 2024.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentHelene (2024) — 39 mi away, 27 September 2024
- Strongest stormZeta (2020) — 50 kt (58 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordZeta (2020) — 4.0 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles8 of 17
- Peak monthSeptember — 7 storms (41% of all)
- Most active year2004 — 2 storms
- Most active decade2020s — 4 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1906–2024
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helene (2024) | 27 Sep 2024 | 38.8 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Nicole (2022) | 11 Nov 2022 | 19.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Fred (2021) | 17 Aug 2021 | 11.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Zeta (2020) | 29 Oct 2020 | 4.0 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Ivan (2004) | 17 Sep 2004 | 25.1 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Frances (2004) | 8 Sep 2004 | 21.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Bill (2003) | 2 Jul 2003 | 13.9 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Danny (1997) | 23 Jul 1997 | 44.0 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Andrew (1992) | 28 Aug 1992 | 26.4 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Danny (1985) | 17 Aug 1985 | 36.2 mi | TS / TD | 29 kt |
| Babe (1977) | 8 Sep 1977 | 21.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Eloise (1975) | 23 Sep 1975 | 19.3 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Irene (1959) | 9 Oct 1959 | 45.4 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1940) | 13 Aug 1940 | 27.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | 16 Aug 1928 | 5.2 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 5 Sep 1915 | 26.2 mi | TS / TD | 31 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1906) | 18 Sep 1906 | 36.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cindy (2005) | Post-tropical | 7 Jul 2005 | 22.2 mi | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1932) | Post-tropical | 17 Oct 1932 | 35.2 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1911) | Post-tropical | 30 Aug 1911 | 43.5 mi | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1905) | Post-tropical | 10 Oct 1905 | 44.9 mi | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | Post-tropical | 11 Oct 1902 | 49.0 mi | 35 kt |
Storms that came back
1 named storm in this record passed Fannin County, Georgia more than once.
- Danny — 2 passes (1985, 1997)
How Fannin County, Georgia compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Fannin County, Georgia ranks #896 — more exposed than 59.4% of them. Within Georgia it ranks #142 of 159, against a state average of 39.8 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Zeta (2020) passed 4 miles away on 29 October 2020 as a tropical storm, reaching 50 kt (58 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Helene (2024) passed 39 miles away on 27 September 2024 as a tropical storm, reaching 44 kt (51 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Eloise (1975) passed 19 miles away on 23 September 1975 as a tropical storm, reaching 38 kt (44 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1915) passed 26 miles away on 5 September 1915 as a tropical storm, reaching 32 kt (37 mph) while within 50 miles.
15 of the 17 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 7.1 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 17 storms spread over the 120 years from 1906 to 2025. 1 separate year 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 19 years, between 1940 and 1959. It has been 1 year since the last one; 12 of the 15 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit Fannin County, Georgia?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of Fannin County, Georgia while at hurricane strength. 17 tropical cyclones have passed within that distance since 1906, all of them as tropical storms or depressions. The strongest was Zeta (2020).
When was the last tropical cyclone in Fannin County, Georgia?
Helene (2024), on 27 September 2024, passing 39 miles away — 2 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of Fannin County, Georgia at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect Fannin County, Georgia?
Zeta (2020), which reached 50 kt (58 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 4 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach Fannin County, Georgia?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 7.1 years — 17 storms over the 120 years from 1906 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Fannin County, Georgia borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Union County, Georgia has 20 on record.