Pickens County, Georgia Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1900, 17 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Pickens County, Georgia — about one every 7.4 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Nicole (2022), which passed 20 miles away on 11 November 2022.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentNicole (2022) — 20 mi away, 11 November 2022
- Strongest stormZeta (2020) — 50 kt (58 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordBabe (1977) — 5.3 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles11 of 17
- Peak monthSeptember — 7 storms (41% of all)
- Most active year2004 — 2 storms
- Most active decade2000s — 4 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1900–2022
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicole (2022) | 11 Nov 2022 | 19.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Fred (2021) | 17 Aug 2021 | 9.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Zeta (2020) | 29 Oct 2020 | 23.4 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Cindy (2005) | 7 Jul 2005 | 6.6 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Ivan (2004) | 17 Sep 2004 | 45.8 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Frances (2004) | 8 Sep 2004 | 15.3 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Bill (2003) | 2 Jul 2003 | 30.9 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Danny (1997) | 23 Jul 1997 | 17.8 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Andrew (1992) | 28 Aug 1992 | 48.1 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Babe (1977) | 8 Sep 1977 | 5.3 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Eloise (1975) | 23 Sep 1975 | 21.4 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Edith (1971) | 18 Sep 1971 | 33.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Irene (1959) | 9 Oct 1959 | 25.2 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1940) | 13 Aug 1940 | 17.9 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | 15 Aug 1928 | 9.3 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 5 Sep 1915 | 20.9 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1900) | 15 Sep 1900 | 47.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lee (2011) | Post-tropical | 6 Sep 2011 | 37.9 mi | 15 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1932) | Post-tropical | 17 Oct 1932 | 47.7 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1911) | Post-tropical | 30 Aug 1911 | 39.6 mi | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1907) | Post-tropical | 23 Sep 1907 | 32.0 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | Post-tropical | 11 Oct 1902 | 32.0 mi | 35 kt |
How Pickens County, Georgia compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Pickens County, Georgia ranks #899 — more exposed than 59.3% of them. Within Georgia it ranks #145 of 159, against a state average of 39.8 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Zeta (2020) passed 23 miles away on 29 October 2020 as a tropical storm, reaching 50 kt (58 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Eloise (1975) passed 21 miles away on 23 September 1975 as a tropical storm, reaching 42 kt (48 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1915) passed 21 miles away on 5 September 1915 as a tropical storm, reaching 33 kt (38 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1940) passed 18 miles away on 13 August 1940 as a tropical depression, reaching 30 kt (35 mph) while within 50 miles.
14 of the 17 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 7.4 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 17 storms spread over the 126 years from 1900 to 2025. 1 separate year 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 19 years, between 1940 and 1959. It has been 3 years since the last one; 10 of the 15 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit Pickens County, Georgia?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of Pickens County, Georgia while at hurricane strength. 17 tropical cyclones have passed within that distance since 1900, all of them as tropical storms or depressions. The strongest was Zeta (2020).
When was the last tropical cyclone in Pickens County, Georgia?
Nicole (2022), on 11 November 2022, passing 20 miles away — 4 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of Pickens County, Georgia at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect Pickens County, Georgia?
Zeta (2020), which reached 50 kt (58 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 23 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach Pickens County, Georgia?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 7.4 years — 17 storms over the 126 years from 1900 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Pickens County, Georgia borders or sits close to 5 other counties with a published storm record. Cherokee County, Georgia has 18 on record.