Jefferson County, Georgia Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1851, 37 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Jefferson County, Georgia — about one every 4.7 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Helene (2024), which passed 41 miles away on 27 September 2024.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentHelene (2024) — 41 mi away, 27 September 2024
- Strongest stormHelene (2024) — 60 kt (69 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordAgnes (1972) — 3.0 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles14 of 37
- Peak monthAugust — 11 storms (30% of all)
- Most active year1886 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1880s, 1940s and 2000s — 5 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1851–2024
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helene (2024) | 27 Sep 2024 | 40.9 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Elsa (2021) | 8 Jul 2021 | 40.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Michael (2018) | 11 Oct 2018 | 20.2 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Alberto (2006) | 14 Jun 2006 | 35.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Jeanne (2004) | 28 Sep 2004 | 42.5 mi | TS / TD | 24 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (2003) | 26 Jul 2003 | 20.7 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| Allison (2001) | 13 Jun 2001 | 6.4 mi | TS / TD | 21 kt |
| Helene (2000) | 23 Sep 2000 | 16.9 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Charley (1986) | 14 Aug 1986 | 38.9 mi | TS / TD | 10 kt |
| Agnes (1972) | 20 Jun 1972 | 3.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Abby (1968) | 8 Jun 1968 | 12.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1965) | 15 Jun 1965 | 25.1 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Cleo (1964) | 30 Aug 1964 | 25.1 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Arlene (1959) | 2 Jun 1959 | 34.5 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1953) | 1 Sep 1953 | 43.5 mi | TS / TD | 26 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 28 Aug 1949 | 18.9 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 8 Oct 1947 | 38.2 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1946) | 8 Oct 1946 | 44.8 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1941) | 8 Oct 1941 | 44.9 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1940) | 12 Aug 1940 | 44.2 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1935) | 5 Sep 1935 | 38.4 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1933) | 7 Sep 1933 | 4.7 mi | TS / TD | 24 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | 11 Aug 1928 | 29.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 3 Aug 1915 | 21.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1911) | 29 Aug 1911 | 49.9 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | 15 Jun 1902 | 37.4 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 18 Sep 1901 | 22.4 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1898) | 31 Aug 1898 | 31.9 mi | TS / TD | 49 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1889) | 24 Sep 1889 | 39.0 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1887) | 20 Oct 1887 | 6.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 1 Jul 1886 | 49.4 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 22 Jun 1886 | 16.2 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1885) | 12 Oct 1885 | 50.0 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1877) | 4 Oct 1877 | 25.7 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1856) | 31 Aug 1856 | 26.8 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1852) | 27 Aug 1852 | 13.3 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1851) | 24 Aug 1851 | 14.8 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sally (2020) | Post-tropical | 17 Sep 2020 | 39.3 mi | 30 kt |
| Fay (2020) | Remnant low | 7 Jul 2020 | 17.2 mi | 20 kt |
| Nestor (2019) | Post-tropical | 20 Oct 2019 | 25.9 mi | 39 kt |
| Earl (1998) | Post-tropical | 3 Sep 1998 | 41.2 mi | 40 kt |
| Marco (1990) | Post-tropical | 12 Oct 1990 | 14.3 mi | 15 kt |
| Flossy (1956) | Post-tropical | 25 Sep 1956 | 45.6 mi | 39 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1929) | Post-tropical | 1 Oct 1929 | 36.9 mi | 50 kt |
Storms that came back
1 named storm in this record passed Jefferson County, Georgia more than once.
- Helene — 2 passes (2000, 2024)
How Jefferson County, Georgia compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Jefferson County, Georgia ranks #381 — more exposed than 82.7% of them. Within Georgia it ranks #74 of 159, against a state average of 39.8 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Helene (2024) passed 41 miles away on 27 September 2024 as a tropical storm, reaching 60 kt (69 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1949) passed 19 miles away on 28 August 1949 as a tropical storm, reaching 60 kt (69 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1851) passed 15 miles away on 24 August 1851 as a tropical storm, reaching 58 kt (67 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1856) passed 27 miles away on 31 August 1856 as a tropical storm, reaching 56 kt (64 mph) while within 50 miles.
35 of the 37 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 4.7 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 37 storms spread over the 175 years from 1851 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 21 years, between 1856 and 1877. It has been 1 year since the last one; 26 of the 35 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit Jefferson County, Georgia?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of Jefferson County, Georgia while at hurricane strength. 37 tropical cyclones have passed within that distance since 1851, all of them as tropical storms or depressions. The strongest was Helene (2024).
When was the last tropical cyclone in Jefferson County, Georgia?
Helene (2024), on 27 September 2024, passing 41 miles away — 2 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of Jefferson County, Georgia at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect Jefferson County, Georgia?
Helene (2024), which reached 60 kt (69 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 41 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach Jefferson County, Georgia?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 4.7 years — 37 storms over the 175 years from 1851 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Jefferson County, Georgia borders or sits close to 8 other counties with a published storm record. Emanuel County, Georgia has 47 on record.