Fulton County, Georgia Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1859, 24 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Fulton County, Georgia — about one every 7.0 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 stormEloise (1975) — 46 kt (53 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1900) — 2.8 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles11 of 24
- Peak monthSeptember — 8 storms (33% 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 | 3 | 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 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicole (2022) | 11 Nov 2022 | 12.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Fred (2021) | 17 Aug 2021 | 18.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Claudette (2021) | 20 Jun 2021 | 16.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Cindy (2005) | 7 Jul 2005 | 30.4 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Frances (2004) | 8 Sep 2004 | 4.5 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Danny (1997) | 23 Jul 1997 | 28.4 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Jerry (1995) | 27 Aug 1995 | 38.3 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Beryl (1994) | 17 Aug 1994 | 41.8 mi | TS / TD | 18 kt |
| Alberto (1994) | 5 Jul 1994 | 21.4 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Eloise (1975) | 23 Sep 1975 | 44.0 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Edith (1971) | 18 Sep 1971 | 19.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Irene (1959) | 9 Oct 1959 | 18.1 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Arlene (1959) | 2 Jun 1959 | 49.6 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Debbie (1957) | 9 Sep 1957 | 47.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1940) | 13 Aug 1940 | 14.3 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | 15 Aug 1928 | 30.7 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 5 Sep 1915 | 27.7 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1911) | 30 Aug 1911 | 28.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1903) | 16 Sep 1903 | 16.3 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1900) | 15 Sep 1900 | 2.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1898) | 3 Oct 1898 | 43.8 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 3 Oct 1893 | 39.1 mi | TS / TD | 46 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1887) | 28 Jul 1887 | 13.7 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1859) | 16 Sep 1859 | 32.0 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lee (2011) | Post-tropical | 6 Sep 2011 | 41.3 mi | 17 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | Post-tropical | 14 Jun 1912 | 20.1 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1907) | Post-tropical | 23 Sep 1907 | 11.4 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | Post-tropical | 11 Oct 1902 | 7.6 mi | 35 kt |
How Fulton County, Georgia compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Fulton County, Georgia ranks #649 — more exposed than 70.6% of them. Within Georgia it ranks #117 of 159, against a state average of 39.8 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Eloise (1975) passed 44 miles away on 23 September 1975 as a tropical storm, reaching 46 kt (53 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1893) passed 39 miles away on 3 October 1893 as a tropical storm, reaching 46 kt (53 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1898) passed 44 miles away on 3 October 1898 as a tropical storm, reaching 40 kt (46 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1859) passed 32 miles away on 16 September 1859 as a tropical storm, reaching 40 kt (46 mph) while within 50 miles.
22 of the 24 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 7.0 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 24 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 28 years, between 1859 and 1887. It has been 3 years since the last one; 13 of the 20 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit Fulton County, Georgia?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of Fulton County, Georgia while at hurricane strength. 24 tropical cyclones have passed within that distance since 1859, all of them as tropical storms or depressions. The strongest was Eloise (1975).
When was the last tropical cyclone in Fulton 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 Fulton County, Georgia at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect Fulton County, Georgia?
Eloise (1975), which reached 46 kt (53 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 44 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach Fulton County, Georgia?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 7.0 years — 24 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
Fulton County, Georgia borders or sits close to 10 other counties with a published storm record. Coweta County, Georgia has 30 on record.