McDuffie County, Georgia Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1851, 30 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of McDuffie County, Georgia — about one every 5.8 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Helene (2024), which passed 38 miles away on 27 September 2024.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentHelene (2024) — 38 mi away, 27 September 2024
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1949) — 56 kt (64 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1965) — 2.0 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles17 of 30
- Peak monthSeptember — 9 storms (30% of all)
- Most active year2018 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1880s and 2000s — 4 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 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 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 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helene (2024) | 27 Sep 2024 | 38.1 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Claudette (2021) | 20 Jun 2021 | 31.3 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Michael (2018) | 11 Oct 2018 | 2.7 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Florence (2018) | 16 Sep 2018 | 45.7 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Jeanne (2004) | 28 Sep 2004 | 21.9 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (2003) | 26 Jul 2003 | 43.9 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| Allison (2001) | 13 Jun 2001 | 23.0 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Helene (2000) | 23 Sep 2000 | 13.0 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Jerry (1995) | 28 Aug 1995 | 22.5 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Agnes (1972) | 20 Jun 1972 | 23.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Abby (1968) | 8 Jun 1968 | 16.2 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1965) | 15 Jun 1965 | 2.0 mi | TS / TD | 36 kt |
| Cleo (1964) | 30 Aug 1964 | 22.6 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Arlene (1959) | 2 Jun 1959 | 12.8 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 28 Aug 1949 | 8.2 mi | TS / TD | 54 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 9 Oct 1947 | 25.7 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1933) | 7 Sep 1933 | 5.7 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | 11 Aug 1928 | 11.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 3 Aug 1915 | 34.8 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1903) | 16 Sep 1903 | 30.3 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1896) | 8 Jul 1896 | 49.6 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 3 Oct 1893 | 22.1 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1889) | 24 Sep 1889 | 16.3 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1887) | 20 Oct 1887 | 29.3 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 22 Jun 1886 | 8.1 mi | TS / TD | 41 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 11 Sep 1882 | 41.4 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1877) | 4 Oct 1877 | 48.7 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1859) | 16 Sep 1859 | 48.7 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1852) | 27 Aug 1852 | 16.3 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1851) | 24 Aug 1851 | 40.1 mi | TS / TD | 55 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sally (2020) | Post-tropical | 17 Sep 2020 | 10.2 mi | 30 kt |
| Fay (2020) | Remnant low | 7 Jul 2020 | 12.5 mi | 20 kt |
| Marco (1990) | Post-tropical | 12 Oct 1990 | 10.2 mi | 15 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | Post-tropical | 14 Jun 1912 | 39.1 mi | 35 kt |
Storms that came back
1 named storm in this record passed McDuffie County, Georgia more than once.
- Helene — 2 passes (2000, 2024)
How McDuffie County, Georgia compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, McDuffie County, Georgia ranks #520 — more exposed than 76.4% of them. Within Georgia it ranks #91 of 159, against a state average of 39.8 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1949) passed 8 miles away on 28 August 1949 as a tropical storm, reaching 56 kt (64 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1851) passed 40 miles away on 24 August 1851 as a tropical storm, reaching 56 kt (64 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Helene (2024) passed 38 miles away on 27 September 2024 as a tropical storm, reaching 55 kt (63 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Michael (2018) passed 3 miles away on 11 October 2018 as a tropical storm, reaching 49 kt (56 mph) while within 50 miles.
29 of the 30 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 5.8 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 30 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 23 years, between 1972 and 1995. It has been 1 year since the last one; 23 of the 28 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit McDuffie County, Georgia?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of McDuffie County, Georgia while at hurricane strength. 30 tropical cyclones have passed within that distance since 1851, all of them as tropical storms or depressions. The strongest was Unnamed Storm (1949).
When was the last tropical cyclone in McDuffie County, Georgia?
Helene (2024), on 27 September 2024, passing 38 miles away — 2 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of McDuffie County, Georgia at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect McDuffie County, Georgia?
Unnamed Storm (1949), which reached 56 kt (64 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 8 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach McDuffie County, Georgia?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 5.8 years — 30 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
McDuffie County, Georgia borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Jefferson County, Georgia has 37 on record.