Lee County, Georgia Hurricane History
Since 1851, 52 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Lee County, Georgia — about one every 3.4 years. Of those, 8 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Nicole (2022), which passed 27 miles away on 11 November 2022.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentNicole (2022) — 27 mi away, 11 November 2022
- Strongest stormMichael (2018) — 89 kt (102 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1901) — 3.5 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles25 of 52
- Peak monthSeptember — 15 storms (29% of all)
- Most active year1901 — 3 storms
- Most active decade1910s — 7 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1851–2022
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 12 | 15 | 11 | 3 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicole (2022) | 11 Nov 2022 | 26.8 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Michael (2018) | 11 Oct 2018 | 9.2 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Irma (2017) | 11 Sep 2017 | 8.4 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Tammy (2005) | 6 Oct 2005 | 11.4 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Jeanne (2004) | 27 Sep 2004 | 23.3 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Allison (2001) | 12 Jun 2001 | 49.8 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Helene (2000) | 22 Sep 2000 | 34.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Earl (1998) | 3 Sep 1998 | 33.6 mi | TS / TD | 44 kt |
| Jerry (1995) | 26 Aug 1995 | 14.5 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Beryl (1994) | 16 Aug 1994 | 32.2 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Charley (1986) | 14 Aug 1986 | 43.1 mi | TS / TD | 10 kt |
| Kate (1985) | 22 Nov 1985 | 43.2 mi | Cat 1 | 68 kt |
| Agnes (1972) | 20 Jun 1972 | 6.2 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1965) | 15 Jun 1965 | 29.6 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Dora (1964) | 12 Sep 1964 | 27.0 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Debbie (1957) | 9 Sep 1957 | 46.5 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Flossy (1956) | 25 Sep 1956 | 27.6 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| King (1950) | 19 Oct 1950 | 18.7 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Easy (1950) | 7 Sep 1950 | 6.7 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 16 Oct 1947 | 38.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 8 Oct 1947 | 49.5 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1941) | 7 Oct 1941 | 23.4 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | 10 Aug 1928 | 6.0 mi | TS / TD | 31 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1926) | 29 Jul 1926 | 3.8 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1923) | 27 Jun 1923 | 10.3 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1919) | 1 Oct 1919 | 22.2 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1917) | 29 Sep 1917 | 7.5 mi | TS / TD | 39 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1914) | 17 Sep 1914 | 43.9 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | 6 Sep 1912 | 33.5 mi | TS / TD | 21 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | 16 Jul 1912 | 35.9 mi | TS / TD | 36 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1911) | 30 Aug 1911 | 37.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1911) | 4 Aug 1911 | 45.3 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1909) | 2 Jul 1909 | 7.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1904) | 3 Nov 1904 | 17.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 28 Sep 1901 | 3.5 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 18 Sep 1901 | 19.9 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 14 Jun 1901 | 41.7 mi | TS / TD | 29 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1898) | 3 Oct 1898 | 44.2 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1896) | 8 Jul 1896 | 35.9 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 9 Oct 1894 | 46.2 mi | Cat 1 | 78 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1889) | 23 Sep 1889 | 45.1 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1887) | 20 Oct 1887 | 24.9 mi | TS / TD | 31 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 21 Jun 1886 | 34.6 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 10 Sep 1882 | 47.7 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1881) | 28 Aug 1881 | 12.6 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1877) | 3 Oct 1877 | 40.8 mi | TS / TD | 57 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1873) | 2 Jun 1873 | 21.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 27 Aug 1871 | 3.8 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 23 Aug 1871 | 28.9 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1860) | 13 Aug 1860 | 15.3 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1856) | 31 Aug 1856 | 12.9 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1851) | 24 Aug 1851 | 14.3 mi | Cat 1 | 68 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fay (2020) | Remnant low | 6 Jul 2020 | 15.0 mi | 20 kt |
| Nestor (2019) | Post-tropical | 20 Oct 2019 | 29.9 mi | 36 kt |
| Florence (1953) | Post-tropical | 27 Sep 1953 | 32.4 mi | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1929) | Post-tropical | 1 Oct 1929 | 42.6 mi | 53 kt |
How Lee County, Georgia compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Lee County, Georgia ranks #178 — more exposed than 91.9% of them. Within Georgia it ranks #46 of 159, against a state average of 39.8 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 2 Michael (2018) passed 9 miles away on 11 October 2018 as a hurricane, reaching 89 kt (102 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1894) passed 46 miles away on 9 October 1894 as a hurricane, reaching 77 kt (89 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1851) passed 14 miles away on 24 August 1851 as a hurricane, reaching 76 kt (87 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1856) passed 13 miles away on 31 August 1856 as a hurricane, reaching 68 kt (78 mph) while within 50 miles.
49 of the 52 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 3.4 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 52 storms spread over the 175 years from 1851 to 2025. 6 separate years 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 13 years, between 1928 and 1941. It has been 3 years since the last one; 18 of the 44 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Lee County, Georgia?
8 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Lee County, Georgia at hurricane strength since 1851. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 52.
When was the last hurricane in Lee County, Georgia?
Michael (2018), on 11 October 2018, passing 9 miles away — 8 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Nicole (2022) in 2022.
What was the strongest storm to affect Lee County, Georgia?
Michael (2018), which reached 89 kt (102 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 9 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Lee County, Georgia?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 3.4 years — 52 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
Lee County, Georgia borders or sits close to 5 other counties with a published storm record. Worth County, Georgia has 50 on record.