Floyd County, Georgia Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1898, 21 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Floyd County, Georgia — about one every 6.1 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Fred (2021), which passed 35 miles away on 17 August 2021.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentFred (2021) — 35 mi away, 17 August 2021
- Strongest stormZeta (2020) — 52 kt (60 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordBabe (1977) — 10.6 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles8 of 21
- Peak monthSeptember — 7 storms (33% of all)
- Most active year2004 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1970s and 2000s — 4 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1898–2021
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fred (2021) | 17 Aug 2021 | 34.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Zeta (2020) | 29 Oct 2020 | 22.7 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Cindy (2005) | 7 Jul 2005 | 25.3 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Ivan (2004) | 17 Sep 2004 | 39.9 mi | TS / TD | 24 kt |
| Frances (2004) | 8 Sep 2004 | 48.2 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Bill (2003) | 2 Jul 2003 | 18.9 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Danny (1997) | 23 Jul 1997 | 11.3 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Opal (1995) | 5 Oct 1995 | 42.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Andrew (1992) | 28 Aug 1992 | 44.6 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Babe (1977) | 7 Sep 1977 | 10.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Eloise (1975) | 23 Sep 1975 | 12.2 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Edith (1971) | 18 Sep 1971 | 26.5 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Becky (1970) | 23 Jul 1970 | 34.4 mi | TS / TD | 23 kt |
| Irene (1959) | 9 Oct 1959 | 32.1 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1940) | 13 Aug 1940 | 23.8 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | 15 Aug 1928 | 22.7 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 9 Jul 1916 | 38.4 mi | TS / TD | 23 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 5 Sep 1915 | 21.2 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 14 Jun 1901 | 26.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1900) | 15 Sep 1900 | 48.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1898) | 3 Oct 1898 | 35.4 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lee (2011) | Post-tropical | 6 Sep 2011 | 5.9 mi | 15 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1932) | Post-tropical | 17 Oct 1932 | 26.7 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1907) | Post-tropical | 23 Sep 1907 | 43.5 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | Post-tropical | 11 Oct 1902 | 45.6 mi | 35 kt |
How Floyd County, Georgia compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Floyd County, Georgia ranks #746 — more exposed than 66.2% of them. Within Georgia it ranks #129 of 159, against a state average of 39.8 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Zeta (2020) passed 23 miles away on 29 October 2020 as a tropical storm, reaching 52 kt (60 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Eloise (1975) passed 12 miles away on 23 September 1975 as a tropical storm, reaching 46 kt (53 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Opal (1995) passed 42 miles away on 5 October 1995 as a tropical storm, reaching 40 kt (46 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1915) passed 21 miles away on 5 September 1915 as a tropical storm, reaching 34 kt (39 mph) while within 50 miles.
18 of the 21 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 6.1 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 21 storms spread over the 128 years from 1898 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 4 years since the last one; 8 of the 19 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit Floyd County, Georgia?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of Floyd County, Georgia while at hurricane strength. 21 tropical cyclones have passed within that distance since 1898, all of them as tropical storms or depressions. The strongest was Zeta (2020).
When was the last tropical cyclone in Floyd County, Georgia?
Fred (2021), on 17 August 2021, passing 35 miles away — 5 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of Floyd County, Georgia at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect Floyd County, Georgia?
Zeta (2020), which reached 52 kt (60 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 23 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach Floyd County, Georgia?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 6.1 years — 21 storms over the 128 years from 1898 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Floyd County, Georgia borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Polk County, Georgia has 24 on record.