NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Appling, GA
Every tropical system within 75 miles since 1851 and every tornado within 25 miles since 1950.
Data: NOAA NHC HURDAT2 and NOAA SPC tornado and hail reports, through 2025 · Updated
35 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Appling, Georgia since 1851, 1 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Helene in 2024. Since 1950, 53 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 5 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 1
- Tropical storms
- 34
- Tornadoes
- 53
- EF3 or stronger
- 5
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
5 deaths in all
What the records show for Appling
The strongest storm to pass near Appling was an unnamed storm in 1893, a Category 1 hurricane with 90 mph winds when its centre passed 68 miles away. The record near Appling begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Helene in 2024, a tropical storm 48 miles away. The 1850s and the 1880s were the busiest decades, with 5 systems each. Of the 35 systems, 5 have come since 2000. Appling has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 56% of the 405 Georgia cities on this site. The highest rating among the 53 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3 or EF3, reached 5 times; the most recent, on April 10, 2009, came within 11 miles. The deadliest, an F0 on May 24, 1955, killed 3 people. Of the 53, 2 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 31 have come since 2000. May has had the most tornadoes, 13. The most recent tornado was on January 12, 2023. Of the 405 Georgia cities, 86% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Appling. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 52 times since 1967, with stones up to 2 inches (hen egg size). Of the 405 Georgia cities, 51% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Appling.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Appling
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | HeleneSep 27 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2021 | ElsaJul 8 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2019 | NestorOct 20 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2018 | MichaelOct 11 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2018 | FlorenceSep 16 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1998 | EarlSep 3 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1965 | Unnamed 1965 stormJun 15 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1964 | CleoAug 30 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1956 | FlossySep 26 | 75 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 28 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1946 | Unnamed 1946 stormOct 9 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1935 | Unnamed 1935 stormSep 5 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 1 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormJul 15 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 3 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormJun 14 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1906 | Unnamed 1906 stormSep 18 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 15 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormSep 28 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormSep 18 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1898 | Unnamed 1898 stormAug 31 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormJul 8 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 3 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 28 | 68 mi | Category 1 (90 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 24 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJul 1 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJun 22 | overhead | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormOct 12 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 11 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 4 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormSep 16 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1856 | Unnamed 1856 stormAug 31 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1854 | Unnamed 1854 stormSep 9 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormAug 27 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1851 | Unnamed 1851 stormAug 24 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 3 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Appling: a hurricane's worst winds sit within a few dozen miles of its centre, and inland cities are usually past that.
Tornadoes within 25 miles of Appling
By decade
- 2020s2
- 2010s7
- 2000s22(2 EF3+)
- 1990s14(3 EF3+)
- 1970s4
- 1960s1
- 1950s3
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 7, 1998 | F3 | 14 mi | 12 mi | 1 / 9 |
| Nov 22, 1992 | F3 | 9 mi | 67 mi | 1 / 9 |
| Apr 10, 2009 | EF3 | 11 mi | 17.68 mi | 0 / 12 |
| Feb 18, 2009 | EF3 | 13 mi | 19.74 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 7, 1998 | F3 | 24 mi | 5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 3, 2019 | EF2 | 15 mi | 5.05 mi | 0 / 7 |
| Mar 3, 2019 | EF2 | 8 mi | 1.52 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 28, 2010 | EF2 | 15 mi | 2.39 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 15, 2008 | EF2 | 25 mi | 25.51 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 15, 2008 | EF2 | 24 mi | 32.67 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 1, 2007 | EF2 | 12 mi | 11.74 mi | 0 / 3 |
| Feb 22, 2003 | F2 | 6 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 53, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Appling
The Storm Prediction Center has 52 hail reports within 10 miles of Appling since 1967, made on 40 separate days. Of these, 17 were 1 inch across or larger, and one reached 2 inches. The largest, 2 inches (hen egg size), fell on April 24, 1967. The most recent report is from June 6, 2023. May has the most reports, 19.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Appling
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Clarks Hill 1 W, SC, 7 miles northeast of Appling at 400 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 92°F and low of 72°F; January is the coolest, at 55°F and 36°F. June and July are the wettest at 4.7 inches of precipitation on average and October the driest at 3.0 inches; the year adds up to 46.8 inches. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 51% of the year's precipitation (23.9 of 46.8 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 35 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (12); a normal September there has highs of 86°F and 3.7 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 82 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 57 nights a year. That 46.8 inches is more than at 10 of the 108 Georgia stations used on this site (9%). Evans, 11 miles southeast, has its own station (Augusta Daniel Field Airport, GA): 44.8 inches a year, 2.0 less than here, and a July average high of 94°F against 92°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 55 | 36 | 4.0 |
| Feb | 59 | 38 | 3.9 |
| Mar | 67 | 44 | 4.3 |
| Apr | 76 | 51 | 3.1 |
| May | 83 | 60 | 3.4 |
| Jun | 89 | 68 | 4.7 |
| Jul | 92 | 72 | 4.7 |
| Aug | 91 | 71 | 4.5 |
| Sep | 86 | 65 | 3.7 |
| Oct | 76 | 55 | 3.0 |
| Nov | 66 | 44 | 3.3 |
| Dec | 58 | 38 | 4.2 |
| Year | 75 | 53 | 46.8 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Clarks Hill 1 W, SC (400 ft), from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Normals describe the station; the farther a place is from it, and the bigger the difference in height, the more its weather can differ.
Floods, thunderstorm wind and lightning near Appling
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 143 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Appling: 131 thunderstorm wind reports, 7 flash floods, 2 floods, 2 heavy rain events and 1 lightning strike. They killed 0 people and injured 5, and the NWS estimated $856,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 105 mph, on June 17, 2016. July has had the most flash floods, 3 of 7. Of the 392 Georgia cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 129 have had fewer than Appling.
May 6, 1999: thunderstorm wind 5 miles from the centre of Appling — 2 injured, $150,000 damage.
NWS: “EOC and damage survey found trees down all across northern Columbia county. A downburst 8 miles wide with a 4 mile focus took down many trees and damaged a few homes.”
April 3, 2017: thunderstorm wind 5 miles from the centre of Appling — 2 injured.
NWS: “Significant damage was done to a dock, 20 boats were destroyed, and another|20 to 30 boats suffered extensive damage, at Pointes West Army Resort in the Fort Gordon Recreational Area on Clarks Hill Lake. Several pine trees were also snapped, all facing easterly.”
June 17, 2016: thunderstorm wind 5 miles from the centre of Appling — 1 injured.
NWS: “Downburst winds from a thunderstorm produced an area of significant damage to trees and property. The event occurred at Mistletoe State Park in northern Columbia County, GA.”
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, events whose starting point is on record, 1996 to June 30, 2026. Damage is the NWS estimate in the dollars of the year, not insured losses, and NWS notes that some reports are unverified.
Flood insurance claims, disaster declarations and FEMA risk ratings
Columbia County, which includes Appling, has been named in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1977, 6 of them major disasters (by incident: 5 hurricanes, 2 biological emergencies, 2 ice storms, 1 drought). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Helene, on September 30, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Columbia County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Moderate for tornadoes, inland flooding, strong wind and lightning; Relatively Low for hurricanes, hail and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $51.5 million a year, the 13th highest of 159 Georgia counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $30.9 million (60%), is from inland flooding.
Claims: FEMA, OpenFEMA Dataset FIMA NFIP Redacted Claims – v3, summed over ZIP codes; payments in the dollars of each year, not adjusted for inflation. Declarations: Disaster Declarations Summaries – v2, by county. Retrieved October 25, 2026. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
Risk ratings: FEMA, National Risk Index county table, December 2025 (v1.20), retrieved October 26, 2026; ratings compare counties nationwide, are meant for planning and are no substitute for a local risk assessment. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
What counts as a pass, the distances and the sources: how this storm history is built.
Cities near Appling
- Evans, GA11 mi
- Lincolnton, GA13 mi
- Grovetown, GA13 mi
- Harlem, GA14 mi
- Martinez, GA14 mi
- Thomson, GA15 mi
- Dearing, GA16 mi
- Fort Gordon, GA17 mi
- Mc Cormick, SC20 mi
- Augusta, GA21 mi
- North Augusta, SC21 mi
- Blythe, GA23 mi
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