Marion County, Georgia Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1852, 38 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Marion County, Georgia — about one every 4.6 years. Of those, 1 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Nicole (2022), which passed 12 miles away on 11 November 2022.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentNicole (2022) — 12 mi away, 11 November 2022
- Strongest stormMichael (2018) — 75 kt (86 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordBeryl (1994) — 4.4 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles14 of 38
- Peak monthSeptember — 13 storms (34% of all)
- Most active year1901 — 3 storms
- Most active decade1880s and 2000s — 5 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1852–2022
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 13 | 6 | 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 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicole (2022) | 11 Nov 2022 | 11.8 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Fred (2021) | 17 Aug 2021 | 43.4 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Michael (2018) | 11 Oct 2018 | 40.0 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Irma (2017) | 12 Sep 2017 | 18.1 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Tammy (2005) | 6 Oct 2005 | 38.9 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Frances (2004) | 7 Sep 2004 | 34.5 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Hanna (2002) | 15 Sep 2002 | 49.5 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Allison (2001) | 12 Jun 2001 | 7.5 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Helene (2000) | 22 Sep 2000 | 8.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Jerry (1995) | 26 Aug 1995 | 31.0 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Beryl (1994) | 16 Aug 1994 | 4.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Alberto (1994) | 4 Jul 1994 | 45.6 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Agnes (1972) | 20 Jun 1972 | 38.7 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1965) | 15 Jun 1965 | 19.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Arlene (1959) | 2 Jun 1959 | 44.6 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Debbie (1957) | 9 Sep 1957 | 12.9 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| King (1950) | 19 Oct 1950 | 38.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Easy (1950) | 7 Sep 1950 | 29.2 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | 10 Aug 1928 | 43.7 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1926) | 29 Jul 1926 | 21.8 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1923) | 26 Jun 1923 | 35.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1917) | 29 Sep 1917 | 32.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 4 Sep 1915 | 39.2 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1911) | 30 Aug 1911 | 45.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 28 Sep 1901 | 28.7 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 18 Sep 1901 | 23.8 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 14 Jun 1901 | 25.6 mi | TS / TD | 26 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1898) | 3 Oct 1898 | 30.3 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1898) | 1 Sep 1898 | 25.9 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1896) | 8 Jul 1896 | 7.4 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 3 Oct 1893 | 47.1 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1889) | 23 Sep 1889 | 9.0 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1887) | 20 Oct 1887 | 19.9 mi | TS / TD | 31 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1887) | 28 Jul 1887 | 39.9 mi | TS / TD | 36 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 10 Sep 1882 | 7.5 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1881) | 28 Aug 1881 | 22.0 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 27 Aug 1871 | 39.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1852) | 27 Aug 1852 | 34.3 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 3 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 | 32.7 mi | 30 kt |
| Fay (2020) | Remnant low | 7 Jul 2020 | 22.1 mi | 20 kt |
| Five (2010) | Remnant low | 15 Aug 2010 | 23.0 mi | 15 kt |
How Marion County, Georgia compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Marion County, Georgia ranks #361 — more exposed than 83.6% of them. Within Georgia it ranks #72 of 159, against a state average of 39.8 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Michael (2018) passed 40 miles away on 11 October 2018 as a hurricane, reaching 75 kt (86 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1882) passed 8 miles away on 10 September 1882 as a tropical storm, reaching 60 kt (69 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1896) passed 7 miles away on 8 July 1896 as a tropical storm, reaching 55 kt (63 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1898) passed 30 miles away on 3 October 1898 as a tropical storm, reaching 51 kt (59 mph) while within 50 miles.
37 of the 38 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 4.6 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 38 storms spread over the 174 years from 1852 to 2025. 5 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while decades have gone by with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 22 years, between 1928 and 1950. It has been 3 years since the last one; 14 of the 31 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Marion County, Georgia?
1 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Marion County, Georgia at hurricane strength since 1852. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 38.
When was the last hurricane in Marion County, Georgia?
Michael (2018), on 11 October 2018, passing 40 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 Marion County, Georgia?
Michael (2018), which reached 75 kt (86 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 40 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Marion County, Georgia?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 4.6 years — 38 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
Marion County, Georgia borders or sits close to 7 other counties with a published storm record. Sumter County, Georgia has 44 on record.