Liberty County, Georgia Hurricane History
Since 1854, 79 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Liberty County, Georgia — about one every 2.2 years. Of those, 14 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Debby (2024), which passed 3 miles away on 6 August 2024.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentDebby (2024) — 3 mi away, 6 August 2024
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1893) — 100 kt (115 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1884) — 2.5 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)Unnamed Storm (1854) — 14.7 miles
- Passes within 25 miles37 of 79
- Peak monthSeptember — 24 storms (30% of all)
- Most active year1871 — 3 storms
- Most active decade1910s — 9 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi2
- Record span1854–2024
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 6 | 18 | 24 | 15 | 3 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 4 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 3 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debby (2024) | 6 Aug 2024 | 3.4 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Idalia (2023) | 30 Aug 2023 | 24.7 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Mindy (2021) | 9 Sep 2021 | 36.4 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Julia (2016) | 14 Sep 2016 | 27.0 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Hermine (2016) | 2 Sep 2016 | 24.1 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Colin (2016) | 7 Jun 2016 | 37.9 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Andrea (2013) | 7 Jun 2013 | 14.7 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Beryl (2012) | 30 May 2012 | 21.9 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Bonnie (2004) | 13 Aug 2004 | 11.3 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (2003) | 26 Jul 2003 | 5.2 mi | TS / TD | 23 kt |
| Kyle (2002) | 11 Oct 2002 | 44.5 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Gordon (2000) | 18 Sep 2000 | 18.6 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Allison (1995) | 6 Jun 1995 | 49.5 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Gordon (1994) | 21 Nov 1994 | 2.9 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Chris (1988) | 28 Aug 1988 | 35.3 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1987) | 17 Aug 1987 | 49.5 mi | TS / TD | 10 kt |
| Charley (1986) | 14 Aug 1986 | 35.9 mi | TS / TD | 14 kt |
| Kate (1985) | 22 Nov 1985 | 42.5 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Isabel (1985) | 11 Oct 1985 | 6.5 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1981) | 3 Jul 1981 | 41.8 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| David (1979) | 4 Sep 1979 | 17.2 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1976) | 14 Sep 1976 | 29.8 mi | TS / TD | 36 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1976) | 24 May 1976 | 38.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Dawn (1972) | 13 Sep 1972 | 27.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Alma (1970) | 25 May 1970 | 8.4 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Abby (1968) | 7 Jun 1968 | 27.0 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Alma (1966) | 10 Jun 1966 | 9.9 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Dora (1964) | 13 Sep 1964 | 41.6 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Cleo (1964) | 29 Aug 1964 | 5.4 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Brenda (1960) | 29 Jul 1960 | 6.3 mi | TS / TD | 56 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1957) | 9 Jun 1957 | 8.8 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1954) | 10 Jul 1954 | 26.9 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1953) | 1 Sep 1953 | 9.3 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Love (1950) | 22 Oct 1950 | 24.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 15 Oct 1947 | 3.2 mi | Cat 2 | 84 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1946) | 8 Oct 1946 | 23.7 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | 17 Sep 1945 | 27.7 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1944) | 20 Oct 1944 | 15.2 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1940) | 12 Aug 1940 | 28.7 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1932) | 15 Sep 1932 | 44.3 mi | TS / TD | 41 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | 18 Sep 1928 | 37.9 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1924) | 16 Sep 1924 | 12.2 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1923) | 27 Jun 1923 | 15.2 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1919) | 1 Oct 1919 | 39.1 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 4 Oct 1916 | 21.5 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 16 May 1916 | 30.5 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 2 Aug 1915 | 48.8 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | 6 Sep 1912 | 11.9 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | 15 Jul 1912 | 35.1 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1911) | 28 Aug 1911 | 32.6 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1911) | 5 Aug 1911 | 20.3 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1910) | 19 Oct 1910 | 29.9 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1909) | 3 Jul 1909 | 41.2 mi | TS / TD | 26 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1907) | 29 Sep 1907 | 10.1 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1907) | 29 Jun 1907 | 17.1 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1904) | 4 Nov 1904 | 47.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1898) | 31 Aug 1898 | 37.0 mi | Cat 1 | 66 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1896) | 29 Sep 1896 | 3.2 mi | Cat 2 | 88 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 9 Oct 1894 | 39.1 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 27 Sep 1894 | 40.9 mi | Cat 1 | 78 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 28 Aug 1893 | 22.3 mi | Cat 3 | 100 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 16 Jun 1893 | 7.8 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 9 Sep 1888 | 25.5 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1885) | 12 Oct 1885 | 38.7 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1885) | 31 Aug 1885 | 34.2 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1884) | 11 Sep 1884 | 2.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 11 Oct 1882 | 30.3 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1881) | 28 Aug 1881 | 2.5 mi | Cat 1 | 80 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1880) | 8 Sep 1880 | 44.1 mi | TS / TD | 57 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1878) | 11 Oct 1878 | 33.0 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1877) | 20 Sep 1877 | 43.9 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 28 Sep 1874 | 38.6 mi | Cat 1 | 72 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1873) | 19 Sep 1873 | 7.8 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 6 Oct 1871 | 13.3 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 28 Aug 1871 | 37.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 19 Aug 1871 | 27.6 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1868) | 5 Oct 1868 | 28.4 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1860) | 14 Aug 1860 | 7.7 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1854) | 8 Sep 1854 | 14.7 mi | Cat 2 | 85 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barry (2007) | Post-tropical | 3 Jun 2007 | 15.7 mi | 38 kt |
| Josephine (1996) | Post-tropical | 8 Oct 1996 | 17.4 mi | 45 kt |
| Florence (1953) | Post-tropical | 27 Sep 1953 | 16.7 mi | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | Post-tropical | 24 Sep 1947 | 3.0 mi | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1924) | Post-tropical | 30 Sep 1924 | 26.6 mi | 55 kt |
Storms that came back
2 named storms in this record passed Liberty County, Georgia more than once.
- Alma — 2 passes (1966, 1970)
- Gordon — 2 passes (1994, 2000)
How Liberty County, Georgia compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Liberty County, Georgia ranks #8 — more exposed than 99.6% of them. Within Georgia it ranks #6 of 159, against a state average of 39.8 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 3 Unnamed Storm (1893) passed 22 miles away on 28 August 1893 as a hurricane, reaching 100 kt (115 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 3 Unnamed Storm (1854) passed 15 miles away on 8 September 1854 as a hurricane, reaching 100 kt (115 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1947) passed 3 miles away on 15 October 1947 as a hurricane, reaching 90 kt (104 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1896) passed 3 miles away on 29 September 1896 as a hurricane, reaching 90 kt (104 mph) while within 50 miles.
69 of the 79 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 2.2 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 79 storms spread over the 172 years from 1854 to 2025. 12 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 8 years, between 1860 and 1868. It has been 1 year since the last one; 41 of the 64 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Liberty County, Georgia?
14 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Liberty County, Georgia at hurricane strength since 1854. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 79.
When was the last hurricane in Liberty County, Georgia?
Kate (1985), on 22 November 1985, passing 42 miles away — 41 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Debby (2024) in 2024.
What was the strongest storm to affect Liberty County, Georgia?
Unnamed Storm (1893), which reached 100 kt (115 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 22 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Liberty County, Georgia?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 2.2 years — 79 storms over the 172 years from 1854 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Liberty County, Georgia borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Long County, Georgia has 84 on record.