Wilcox County, Georgia Hurricane History
Since 1851, 52 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Wilcox County, Georgia — about one every 3.4 years. Of those, 12 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Helene (2024), which passed 15 miles away on 27 September 2024.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentHelene (2024) — 15 mi away, 27 September 2024
- Strongest stormHelene (2024) — 80 kt (92 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1941) — 2.0 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles21 of 52
- Peak monthSeptember — 14 storms (27% of all)
- Most active year1871 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1900s and 1910s — 6 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 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 2 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helene (2024) | 27 Sep 2024 | 15.0 mi | Cat 1 | 73 kt |
| Michael (2018) | 11 Oct 2018 | 27.4 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Irma (2017) | 11 Sep 2017 | 47.5 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Beryl (2012) | 29 May 2012 | 46.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Tammy (2005) | 6 Oct 2005 | 32.4 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Jeanne (2004) | 27 Sep 2004 | 16.1 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Earl (1998) | 3 Sep 1998 | 16.0 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Jerry (1995) | 26 Aug 1995 | 28.4 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Allison (1995) | 5 Jun 1995 | 36.6 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Charley (1986) | 14 Aug 1986 | 15.1 mi | TS / TD | 10 kt |
| Kate (1985) | 22 Nov 1985 | 25.9 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Agnes (1972) | 20 Jun 1972 | 26.8 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1965) | 15 Jun 1965 | 46.2 mi | TS / TD | 39 kt |
| Dora (1964) | 12 Sep 1964 | 23.3 mi | TS / TD | 56 kt |
| Flossy (1956) | 25 Sep 1956 | 12.6 mi | TS / TD | 36 kt |
| Easy (1950) | 7 Sep 1950 | 35.6 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 28 Aug 1949 | 33.5 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 15 Oct 1947 | 30.9 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 8 Oct 1947 | 11.2 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1941) | 7 Oct 1941 | 2.0 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1940) | 12 Aug 1940 | 42.3 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1935) | 5 Sep 1935 | 49.0 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | 10 Aug 1928 | 25.4 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1926) | 29 Jul 1926 | 37.7 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1923) | 27 Jun 1923 | 6.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1919) | 1 Oct 1919 | 32.2 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1917) | 29 Sep 1917 | 2.7 mi | TS / TD | 36 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 5 Oct 1916 | 46.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | 6 Sep 1912 | 39.0 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | 16 Jul 1912 | 45.9 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1911) | 29 Aug 1911 | 3.4 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1909) | 2 Jul 1909 | 4.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1907) | 29 Sep 1907 | 46.8 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1904) | 3 Nov 1904 | 9.2 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | 15 Jun 1902 | 46.2 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 28 Sep 1901 | 40.7 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 18 Sep 1901 | 31.3 mi | TS / TD | 36 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1898) | 3 Oct 1898 | 10.3 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1898) | 1 Sep 1898 | 46.3 mi | TS / TD | 44 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 9 Oct 1894 | 31.0 mi | Cat 1 | 72 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1887) | 20 Oct 1887 | 34.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 1 Jul 1886 | 38.2 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 21 Jun 1886 | 2.3 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1881) | 28 Aug 1881 | 3.1 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1877) | 3 Oct 1877 | 19.9 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1873) | 2 Jun 1873 | 26.3 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 27 Aug 1871 | 10.2 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 23 Aug 1871 | 39.0 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1860) | 13 Aug 1860 | 17.0 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1856) | 31 Aug 1856 | 7.5 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1852) | 10 Oct 1852 | 37.4 mi | TS / TD | 63 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1851) | 24 Aug 1851 | 8.9 mi | Cat 1 | 65 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 | 7 Jul 2020 | 46.0 mi | 20 kt |
| Nestor (2019) | Post-tropical | 20 Oct 2019 | 9.9 mi | 37 kt |
| Marco (1990) | Post-tropical | 12 Oct 1990 | 25.8 mi | 20 kt |
| Florence (1953) | Post-tropical | 27 Sep 1953 | 30.0 mi | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1929) | Post-tropical | 1 Oct 1929 | 24.8 mi | 52 kt |
How Wilcox County, Georgia compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Wilcox County, Georgia ranks #181 — more exposed than 91.8% of them. Within Georgia it ranks #49 of 159, against a state average of 39.8 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Helene (2024) passed 15 miles away on 27 September 2024 as a hurricane, reaching 80 kt (92 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1894) passed 31 miles away on 9 October 1894 as a hurricane, reaching 75 kt (86 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Michael (2018) passed 27 miles away on 11 October 2018 as a hurricane, reaching 70 kt (81 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1851) passed 9 miles away on 24 August 1851 as a hurricane, reaching 70 kt (81 mph) while within 50 miles.
50 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. 7 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 1972 and 1985. It has been 1 year since the last one; 33 of the 44 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Wilcox County, Georgia?
12 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Wilcox 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 Wilcox County, Georgia?
Helene (2024), on 27 September 2024, passing 15 miles away — 2 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Helene (2024) in 2024.
What was the strongest storm to affect Wilcox County, Georgia?
Helene (2024), which reached 80 kt (92 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 15 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Wilcox 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
Wilcox County, Georgia borders or sits close to 7 other counties with a published storm record. Ben Hill County, Georgia has 61 on record.