Mitchell County, Georgia Hurricane History
Since 1851, 52 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Mitchell County, Georgia — about one every 3.4 years. Of those, 11 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Nicole (2022), which passed 23 miles away on 11 November 2022.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentNicole (2022) — 23 mi away, 11 November 2022
- Strongest stormMichael (2018) — 98 kt (113 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1941) — 1.0 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)Michael (2018) — 26.1 miles
- Passes within 25 miles31 of 52
- Peak monthSeptember — 16 storms (31% of all)
- Most active year1871 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1870s — 7 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi1
- 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 | 11 | 16 | 11 | 3 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicole (2022) | 11 Nov 2022 | 23.4 mi | TS / TD | 31 kt |
| Michael (2018) | 11 Oct 2018 | 26.1 mi | Cat 1 | 80 kt |
| Irma (2017) | 11 Sep 2017 | 18.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Hermine (2016) | 2 Sep 2016 | 48.2 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Tammy (2005) | 6 Oct 2005 | 30.1 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Jeanne (2004) | 27 Sep 2004 | 19.4 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Frances (2004) | 7 Sep 2004 | 28.9 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Georges (1998) | 30 Sep 1998 | 43.5 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Earl (1998) | 3 Sep 1998 | 10.4 mi | TS / TD | 49 kt |
| Jerry (1995) | 26 Aug 1995 | 29.1 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Allison (1995) | 5 Jun 1995 | 40.8 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Beryl (1994) | 16 Aug 1994 | 45.8 mi | TS / TD | 29 kt |
| Charley (1986) | 13 Aug 1986 | 24.8 mi | TS / TD | 10 kt |
| Kate (1985) | 22 Nov 1985 | 14.6 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Agnes (1972) | 20 Jun 1972 | 29.8 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Dora (1964) | 12 Sep 1964 | 11.5 mi | TS / TD | 44 kt |
| Flossy (1956) | 25 Sep 1956 | 6.1 mi | TS / TD | 39 kt |
| King (1950) | 19 Oct 1950 | 16.4 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Easy (1950) | 7 Sep 1950 | 30.9 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 16 Oct 1947 | 2.1 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 7 Oct 1947 | 38.9 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1941) | 7 Oct 1941 | 1.0 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | 10 Aug 1928 | 9.7 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1926) | 29 Jul 1926 | 29.8 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1923) | 26 Jun 1923 | 44.8 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1919) | 1 Oct 1919 | 19.5 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1917) | 29 Sep 1917 | 46.3 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1914) | 17 Sep 1914 | 4.0 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | 6 Sep 1912 | 7.4 mi | TS / TD | 21 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | 16 Jul 1912 | 7.3 mi | TS / TD | 36 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1911) | 4 Aug 1911 | 6.4 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1909) | 1 Jul 1909 | 21.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1907) | 29 Sep 1907 | 21.2 mi | TS / TD | 39 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1907) | 29 Jun 1907 | 39.8 mi | TS / TD | 46 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1904) | 3 Nov 1904 | 20.8 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 28 Sep 1901 | 8.3 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 14 Jun 1901 | 34.2 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 9 Oct 1894 | 14.0 mi | Cat 1 | 80 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 1 Jul 1886 | 32.8 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 21 Jun 1886 | 22.2 mi | Cat 1 | 68 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1885) | 31 Aug 1885 | 44.1 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1878) | 11 Oct 1878 | 49.3 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1877) | 3 Oct 1877 | 14.6 mi | TS / TD | 63 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1877) | 20 Sep 1877 | 23.4 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1875) | 28 Sep 1875 | 19.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1873) | 2 Jun 1873 | 39.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 26 Aug 1871 | 18.2 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 23 Aug 1871 | 11.9 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1860) | 13 Aug 1860 | 23.7 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1856) | 31 Aug 1856 | 17.6 mi | Cat 1 | 67 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1852) | 10 Oct 1852 | 44.0 mi | Cat 1 | 73 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1851) | 24 Aug 1851 | 15.1 mi | Cat 1 | 77 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fay (2020) | Remnant low | 6 Jul 2020 | 30.0 mi | 20 kt |
| Nestor (2019) | Post-tropical | 20 Oct 2019 | 2.1 mi | 35 kt |
| Hilda (1964) | Post-tropical | 5 Oct 1964 | 28.1 mi | 45 kt |
| Florence (1953) | Post-tropical | 27 Sep 1953 | 7.4 mi | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1929) | Post-tropical | 1 Oct 1929 | 14.9 mi | 54 kt |
How Mitchell County, Georgia compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Mitchell County, Georgia ranks #180 — more exposed than 91.8% of them. Within Georgia it ranks #48 of 159, against a state average of 39.8 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 3 Michael (2018) passed 26 miles away on 11 October 2018 as a hurricane, reaching 98 kt (113 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1894) passed 14 miles away on 9 October 1894 as a hurricane, reaching 85 kt (98 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1851) passed 15 miles away on 24 August 1851 as a hurricane, reaching 83 kt (96 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1852) passed 44 miles away on 10 October 1852 as a hurricane, reaching 76 kt (87 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. 11 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; 17 of the 40 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Mitchell County, Georgia?
11 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Mitchell 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 Mitchell County, Georgia?
Michael (2018), on 11 October 2018, passing 26 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 Mitchell County, Georgia?
Michael (2018), which reached 98 kt (113 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 26 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Mitchell 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
Mitchell County, Georgia borders or sits close to 5 other counties with a published storm record. Colquitt County, Georgia has 67 on record.