Forsyth County, Georgia Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1859, 21 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Forsyth County, Georgia — about one every 8.0 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Nicole (2022), which passed 7 miles away on 11 November 2022.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentNicole (2022) — 7 mi away, 11 November 2022
- Strongest stormZeta (2020) — 50 kt (58 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordIrene (1959) — 1.7 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles7 of 21
- Peak monthSeptember — 9 storms (43% of all)
- Most active year2021 — 2 storms
- Most active decade2020s — 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 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 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 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicole (2022) | 11 Nov 2022 | 6.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Fred (2021) | 17 Aug 2021 | 23.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Claudette (2021) | 20 Jun 2021 | 41.0 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Zeta (2020) | 29 Oct 2020 | 46.0 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Cindy (2005) | 7 Jul 2005 | 20.9 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Frances (2004) | 8 Sep 2004 | 11.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Danny (1997) | 23 Jul 1997 | 2.3 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Jerry (1995) | 27 Aug 1995 | 42.1 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Beryl (1994) | 17 Aug 1994 | 32.7 mi | TS / TD | 16 kt |
| Babe (1977) | 8 Sep 1977 | 24.0 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Eloise (1975) | 23 Sep 1975 | 47.5 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Edith (1971) | 18 Sep 1971 | 36.3 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Irene (1959) | 9 Oct 1959 | 1.7 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1940) | 13 Aug 1940 | 37.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | 15 Aug 1928 | 34.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 5 Sep 1915 | 43.0 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1913) | 4 Sep 1913 | 40.5 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1903) | 16 Sep 1903 | 36.4 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1900) | 15 Sep 1900 | 26.9 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1887) | 28 Jul 1887 | 45.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1859) | 16 Sep 1859 | 45.4 mi | TS / TD | 40 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | Post-tropical | 14 Jun 1912 | 40.4 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1911) | Post-tropical | 30 Aug 1911 | 13.6 mi | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1907) | Post-tropical | 23 Sep 1907 | 8.7 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | Post-tropical | 11 Oct 1902 | 8.7 mi | 35 kt |
How Forsyth County, Georgia compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Forsyth County, Georgia ranks #747 — more exposed than 66.2% of them. Within Georgia it ranks #130 of 159, against a state average of 39.8 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Zeta (2020) passed 46 miles away on 29 October 2020 as a tropical storm, reaching 50 kt (58 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Eloise (1975) passed 48 miles away on 23 September 1975 as a tropical storm, reaching 42 kt (48 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1859) passed 45 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 43 miles away on 5 September 1915 as a tropical storm, reaching 33 kt (38 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 8.0 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 21 storms spread over the 167 years from 1859 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 28 years, between 1859 and 1887. It has been 3 years since the last one; 11 of the 19 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit Forsyth County, Georgia?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of Forsyth County, Georgia while at hurricane strength. 21 tropical cyclones have passed within that distance since 1859, all of them as tropical storms or depressions. The strongest was Zeta (2020).
When was the last tropical cyclone in Forsyth County, Georgia?
Nicole (2022), on 11 November 2022, passing 7 miles away — 4 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of Forsyth County, Georgia at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect Forsyth County, Georgia?
Zeta (2020), which reached 50 kt (58 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 46 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach Forsyth County, Georgia?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 8.0 years — 21 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
Forsyth County, Georgia borders or sits close to 5 other counties with a published storm record. Fulton County, Georgia has 24 on record.