Long County, Georgia Hurricane History

No active tropical cyclones are within 500 miles of Long County, Georgia as of Thursday, 10 September 2026. Official forecasts at nhc.noaa.gov.

Since 1852, 84 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Long County, Georgia — about one every 2.1 years. Of those, 11 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Debby (2024), which passed 15 miles away on 6 August 2024.

Storms within 50 mi

At hurricane strength

2.1

Avg. years between

Years since the last

Storm tracks within 50 miles

TS / TDCat 1Cat 2Cat 3Cat 4Cat 5

Each line is one storm track, coloured by the strongest category it reached while within 50 miles. The dashed ring marks that 50-mile radius; hairlines are one-degree graticule. Source: NOAA NHC HURDAT2.

How strong they get

Cat 3 · 2Cat 2 · 4Cat 1 · 4TS / TD · 74

The 84 storms by the strongest category each reached while within 50 miles. 2 of them reached Cat 3.

Key facts

Most recentDebby (2024) — 15 mi away, 6 August 2024
Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1893) — 100 kt (115 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1947) — 1.8 miles
Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)Unnamed Storm (1854) — 31.2 miles
Passes within 25 miles36 of 84
Peak monthSeptember — 24 storms (29% of all)
Most active year1871 — 3 storms
Most active decade1910s — 9 storms
Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi2
Record span1852–2024

When storms arrive

JFMAMJJASOND

Storms by month of closest approach; the peak is highlighted and labelled. In Long County, Georgia, September is the most active month, with 24 of the 84 recorded storms (29%). The primary season runs August to October, accounting for 68% of all activity. The 1910s was the most active decade on record, with 9 storms. 2 of the 84 storms were major hurricanes (Category 3 or stronger) while within 50 miles.

J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
0	0	0	0	4	12	8	17	24	16	3	0

Activity by decade

19002000

Tropical cyclones passing within 50 miles, by decade, 1850s to 2020s. Decades with no storms are shown as empty columns. Comparing two equal 38-year windows inside the aircraft-reconnaissance era: 19 storms in 1950–1987 against 15 in 1988–2025.

1850s	1860s	1870s	1880s	1890s	1900s	1910s	1920s	1930s	1940s	1950s	1960s	1970s	1980s	1990s	2000s	2010s	2020s
2	2	8	8	6	5	9	2	3	5	4	6	5	4	2	4	5	4

Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles

Storm	Closest approach	Distance	Status	Wind
Debby (2024)	6 Aug 2024	14.7 mi	TS / TD	42 kt
Idalia (2023)	30 Aug 2023	16.8 mi	TS / TD	57 kt
Mindy (2021)	9 Sep 2021	38.0 mi	TS / TD	30 kt
Elsa (2021)	8 Jul 2021	40.6 mi	TS / TD	43 kt
Julia (2016)	14 Sep 2016	33.6 mi	TS / TD	40 kt
Hermine (2016)	2 Sep 2016	18.3 mi	TS / TD	50 kt
Colin (2016)	7 Jun 2016	46.0 mi	TS / TD	45 kt
Andrea (2013)	7 Jun 2013	22.7 mi	TS / TD	40 kt
Beryl (2012)	30 May 2012	17.6 mi	TS / TD	25 kt
Alberto (2006)	14 Jun 2006	41.2 mi	TS / TD	32 kt
Bonnie (2004)	12 Aug 2004	9.2 mi	TS / TD	26 kt
Unnamed Storm (2003)	26 Jul 2003	11.7 mi	TS / TD	22 kt
Gordon (2000)	18 Sep 2000	8.2 mi	TS / TD	27 kt
Allison (1995)	6 Jun 1995	42.0 mi	TS / TD	32 kt
Gordon (1994)	21 Nov 1994	16.3 mi	TS / TD	20 kt
Unnamed Storm (1987)	17 Aug 1987	32.9 mi	TS / TD	10 kt
Charley (1986)	14 Aug 1986	42.3 mi	TS / TD	12 kt
Kate (1985)	22 Nov 1985	38.0 mi	TS / TD	55 kt
Isabel (1985)	11 Oct 1985	9.1 mi	TS / TD	25 kt
David (1979)	4 Sep 1979	33.4 mi	Cat 1	78 kt
Unnamed Storm (1976)	14 Sep 1976	44.9 mi	TS / TD	35 kt
Unnamed Storm (1976)	24 May 1976	41.2 mi	TS / TD	40 kt
Dawn (1972)	13 Sep 1972	43.8 mi	TS / TD	30 kt
Alma (1970)	25 May 1970	8.4 mi	TS / TD	34 kt
Abby (1968)	7 Jun 1968	9.8 mi	TS / TD	38 kt
Unnamed Storm (1966)	2 Jul 1966	38.8 mi	TS / TD	20 kt
Alma (1966)	10 Jun 1966	4.9 mi	TS / TD	40 kt
Dora (1964)	13 Sep 1964	37.0 mi	TS / TD	60 kt
Cleo (1964)	29 Aug 1964	22.4 mi	TS / TD	47 kt
Brenda (1960)	29 Jul 1960	17.4 mi	TS / TD	56 kt
Unnamed Storm (1957)	9 Jun 1957	8.5 mi	TS / TD	35 kt
Unnamed Storm (1954)	10 Jul 1954	43.8 mi	TS / TD	35 kt
Unnamed Storm (1953)	1 Sep 1953	23.8 mi	TS / TD	30 kt
Love (1950)	22 Oct 1950	12.6 mi	TS / TD	30 kt
Unnamed Storm (1947)	15 Oct 1947	1.8 mi	Cat 1	78 kt
Unnamed Storm (1946)	8 Oct 1946	11.5 mi	TS / TD	52 kt
Unnamed Storm (1945)	17 Sep 1945	42.9 mi	TS / TD	60 kt
Unnamed Storm (1944)	20 Oct 1944	29.9 mi	TS / TD	53 kt
Unnamed Storm (1940)	12 Aug 1940	36.0 mi	TS / TD	60 kt
Unnamed Storm (1935)	5 Sep 1935	46.5 mi	TS / TD	54 kt
Unnamed Storm (1933)	6 Sep 1933	44.5 mi	TS / TD	48 kt
Unnamed Storm (1932)	15 Sep 1932	49.0 mi	TS / TD	41 kt
Unnamed Storm (1924)	16 Sep 1924	4.3 mi	TS / TD	35 kt
Unnamed Storm (1923)	27 Jun 1923	17.9 mi	TS / TD	32 kt
Unnamed Storm (1919)	1 Oct 1919	31.1 mi	TS / TD	37 kt
Unnamed Storm (1916)	4 Oct 1916	22.5 mi	TS / TD	43 kt
Unnamed Storm (1916)	16 May 1916	43.2 mi	TS / TD	35 kt
Unnamed Storm (1915)	2 Aug 1915	31.6 mi	TS / TD	40 kt
Unnamed Storm (1912)	6 Sep 1912	10.9 mi	TS / TD	28 kt
Unnamed Storm (1912)	15 Jul 1912	31.2 mi	TS / TD	42 kt
Unnamed Storm (1911)	28 Aug 1911	40.3 mi	TS / TD	49 kt
Unnamed Storm (1911)	5 Aug 1911	19.9 mi	TS / TD	24 kt
Unnamed Storm (1910)	19 Oct 1910	40.2 mi	TS / TD	53 kt
Unnamed Storm (1909)	2 Jul 1909	43.4 mi	TS / TD	25 kt
Unnamed Storm (1907)	29 Sep 1907	9.9 mi	TS / TD	35 kt
Unnamed Storm (1907)	29 Jun 1907	19.7 mi	TS / TD	52 kt
Unnamed Storm (1904)	4 Nov 1904	44.1 mi	TS / TD	30 kt
Unnamed Storm (1902)	15 Jun 1902	46.6 mi	TS / TD	35 kt
Unnamed Storm (1898)	2 Oct 1898	39.1 mi	Cat 2	86 kt
Unnamed Storm (1898)	31 Aug 1898	48.8 mi	TS / TD	58 kt
Unnamed Storm (1896)	29 Sep 1896	15.3 mi	Cat 2	88 kt
Unnamed Storm (1894)	9 Oct 1894	33.8 mi	Cat 1	67 kt
Unnamed Storm (1893)	28 Aug 1893	37.9 mi	Cat 3	100 kt
Unnamed Storm (1893)	16 Jun 1893	14.7 mi	TS / TD	45 kt
Unnamed Storm (1888)	9 Sep 1888	11.6 mi	TS / TD	38 kt
Unnamed Storm (1886)	1 Jul 1886	42.4 mi	TS / TD	53 kt
Unnamed Storm (1885)	12 Oct 1885	24.5 mi	TS / TD	47 kt
Unnamed Storm (1885)	31 Aug 1885	34.2 mi	TS / TD	40 kt
Unnamed Storm (1884)	11 Sep 1884	17.6 mi	TS / TD	40 kt
Unnamed Storm (1882)	11 Oct 1882	38.2 mi	TS / TD	52 kt
Unnamed Storm (1881)	28 Aug 1881	7.4 mi	Cat 1	75 kt
Unnamed Storm (1880)	8 Sep 1880	48.0 mi	TS / TD	53 kt
Unnamed Storm (1878)	11 Oct 1878	38.0 mi	TS / TD	40 kt
Unnamed Storm (1877)	20 Sep 1877	41.4 mi	TS / TD	40 kt
Unnamed Storm (1874)	28 Sep 1874	50.0 mi	Cat 1	70 kt
Unnamed Storm (1873)	19 Sep 1873	16.1 mi	TS / TD	53 kt
Unnamed Storm (1873)	2 Jun 1873	49.4 mi	TS / TD	38 kt
Unnamed Storm (1871)	6 Oct 1871	11.6 mi	TS / TD	40 kt
Unnamed Storm (1871)	28 Aug 1871	40.3 mi	TS / TD	30 kt
Unnamed Storm (1871)	23 Aug 1871	35.7 mi	TS / TD	57 kt
Unnamed Storm (1868)	5 Oct 1868	31.5 mi	TS / TD	40 kt
Unnamed Storm (1860)	13 Aug 1860	9.3 mi	TS / TD	40 kt
Unnamed Storm (1854)	9 Sep 1854	31.2 mi	Cat 1	80 kt
Unnamed Storm (1852)	10 Oct 1852	42.4 mi	TS / TD	57 kt

Post-tropical and extratropical passes

A further 6 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	29.0 mi	36 kt
Josephine (1996)	Post-tropical	8 Oct 1996	23.0 mi	45 kt
Florence (1953)	Post-tropical	27 Sep 1953	15.7 mi	40 kt
Unnamed Storm (1947)	Post-tropical	24 Sep 1947	14.8 mi	42 kt
Unnamed Storm (1924)	Post-tropical	30 Sep 1924	18.4 mi	55 kt
Unnamed Storm (1917)	Post-tropical	30 Sep 1917	47.7 mi	30 kt

About this data. Computed from NOAA's HURDAT2 Atlantic and Northeast Pacific hurricane databases (hurdat2-1851-2025-02272026.txt), covering 1852–2025. Tracks are recorded every six hours and are interpolated to one-hour steps before distances are measured, so closest-approach figures are not distorted by the sampling interval. Distances are measured to the county's Census internal point, not to its nearest boundary, so a storm listed at 55 miles may still have crossed the coastline — see Methodology. Records before about 1900 are sparser and less precise than modern ones, and storms that stayed at sea were less likely to be recorded at all.

Storms that came back

2 named storms in this record passed Long County, Georgia more than once.

Alma — 2 passes (1966, 1970)
Gordon — 2 passes (1994, 2000)

How Long County, Georgia compares

Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Long County, Georgia ranks #2 — more exposed than 99.9% of them. Within Georgia it ranks #1 of 159, against a state average of 39.8 storms per county.

Notable storms

Cat 3 Unnamed Storm (1893) passed 38 miles away on 28 August 1893 as a hurricane, reaching 100 kt (115 mph) while within 50 miles.
Cat 3 Unnamed Storm (1854) passed 31 miles away on 9 September 1854 as a hurricane, reaching 100 kt (115 mph) while within 50 miles.
Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1947) passed 2 miles away on 15 October 1947 as a hurricane, reaching 90 kt (104 mph) while within 50 miles.
Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1898) passed 39 miles away on 2 October 1898 as a hurricane, reaching 90 kt (104 mph) while within 50 miles.

75 of the 84 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.

How often to expect a storm

A return interval of 2.1 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 84 storms spread over the 174 years from 1852 to 2025. 15 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; 43 of the 66 gaps in this record were longer than that.

Common questions

How many hurricanes have hit Long County, Georgia?

11 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Long County, Georgia at hurricane strength since 1852. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 84.

When was the last hurricane in Long County, Georgia?

Kate (1985), on 22 November 1985, passing 38 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 Long County, Georgia?

Unnamed Storm (1893), which reached 100 kt (115 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 38 miles.

How often do hurricanes hit Long County, Georgia?

On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 2.1 years — 84 storms over the 174 years from 1852 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.

Nearby counties

Long County, Georgia borders or sits close to 4 other counties with a published storm record. McIntosh County, Georgia has 81 on record.

McIntosh County, Georgia81 storms within 50 mi Liberty County, Georgia79 storms within 50 mi Wayne County, Georgia78 storms within 50 mi Tattnall County, Georgia64 storms within 50 mi