NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Blakely, 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
52 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Blakely, Georgia since 1851, 10 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Fred in 2021. Since 1950, 115 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 2 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 10
- Tropical storms
- 42
- Tornadoes
- 115
- EF3 or stronger
- 2
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
8 deaths in all
What the records show for Blakely
The strongest storm to pass near Blakely was Michael in 2018, a Category 2 hurricane with 106 mph winds when its centre passed 16 miles away. The record near Blakely begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Fred in 2021, a tropical storm 27 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1880s, with 8 systems, 3 of them at hurricane strength. Of the 52 systems, 6 have come since 2000. Blakely has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 81% of the 405 Georgia cities on this site. The highest rating among the 115 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3, reached 2 times; the most recent, on March 22, 2005, came within 18 miles. The deadliest, an F1 on January 13, 2005, killed 2 people. Of the 115, 18 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 67 have come since 2000. January and April have had the most tornadoes, 23 each. The most recent tornado was on April 7, 2025. Blakely has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 86% of the 405 Georgia cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 17 times since 1984, with stones up to 2.75 inches (baseball size). Of the 405 Georgia cities, 95% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Blakely.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Blakely
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | FredAug 17 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2019 | NestorOct 19 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2018 | MichaelOct 10 | 16 mi | Category 2 (106 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2017 | IrmaSep 11 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2004 | JeanneSep 27 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2004 | FrancesSep 7 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1998 | EarlSep 3 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1994 | BerylAug 16 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1985 | KateNov 22 | 50 mi | Category 1 (84 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1975 | EloiseSep 23 | 66 mi | Category 2 (102 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1972 | AgnesJun 20 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1965 | Unnamed 1965 stormJun 15 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1964 | HildaOct 5 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1964 | DoraSep 12 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1956 | FlossySep 25 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1953 | FlorenceSep 27 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1950 | KingOct 19 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormOct 16 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1941 | Unnamed 1941 stormOct 7 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1937 | Unnamed 1937 stormAug 31 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 1 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormAug 14 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormAug 10 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormJul 29 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1917 | Unnamed 1917 stormSep 29 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormSep 4 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1914 | Unnamed 1914 stormSep 17 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormJul 16 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormSep 28 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormJun 29 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1906 | Unnamed 1906 stormJun 13 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1903 | Unnamed 1903 stormSep 14 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormSep 28 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormSep 18 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormAug 2 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormJul 8 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormOct 9 | 44 mi | Category 2 (96 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 23 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormOct 20 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormJul 28 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJul 1 | 68 mi | Category 1 (78 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJun 21 | 67 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormAug 31 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 10 | 35 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1881 | Unnamed 1881 stormAug 28 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 3 | 49 mi | Category 1 (78 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormSep 20 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1875 | Unnamed 1875 stormSep 27 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 26 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormAug 13 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1856 | Unnamed 1856 stormAug 31 | 17 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1851 | Unnamed 1851 stormAug 24 | 23 mi | Category 1 (93 mph) | Category 3 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Blakely: 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 Blakely
By decade
- 2020s22
- 2010s25
- 2000s20(1 EF3+)
- 1990s10
- 1980s7
- 1970s15(1 EF3+)
- 1960s6
- 1950s10
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 22, 2005 | F3 | 18 mi | 18 mi | 1 / 18 |
| Dec 29, 1973 | F3 | 18 mi | 15 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Jan 9, 2024 | EF2 | 15 mi | 34.76 mi | 1 / 10 |
| Apr 19, 2020 | EF2 | 17 mi | 5.18 mi | 1 / 0 |
| Nov 5, 2002 | F2 | 25 mi | 6 mi | 1 / 20 |
| Jan 9, 2024 | EF2 | 13 mi | 21.73 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 14, 2023 | EF2 | 2 mi | 18.88 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 15, 2021 | EF2 | 13 mi | 1.81 mi | 0 / 5 |
| Jan 22, 2017 | EF2 | 17 mi | 12.03 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Jan 2, 2017 | EF2 | 13 mi | 4.43 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jan 2, 2017 | EF2 | 6 mi | 10.87 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jan 2, 2017 | EF2 | 2 mi | 4.34 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 115, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Blakely
The Storm Prediction Center has 17 hail reports within 10 miles of Blakely since 1984, made on 14 separate days. Of these, 12 were 1 inch across or larger, and 3 reached 2 inches. The largest, 2.75 inches (baseball size), fell on April 8, 1998. The most recent report is from June 14, 2023. April and June have the most reports, 5 each.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Blakely
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Headland, AL, 24 miles west of Blakely at 370 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 93°F and low of 72°F; January is the coolest, at 61°F and 38°F. July is the wettest at 6.7 inches of precipitation on average and October the driest at 3.2 inches; the year adds up to 56.9 inches over 77 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 50% of the year's precipitation (28.7 of 56.9 inches). September has brought the most of the 52 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (19); a normal September there has highs of 89°F and 4.6 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 90 days a year, almost all from May to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 33 nights a year. That 56.9 inches is more than at 92 of the 108 Georgia stations used on this site (85%). Colquitt, 20 miles southeast, has its own station (Newton 11 SW, GA): 49.7 inches a year, 7.2 less than here, and a July average high of 91°F against 93°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 61 | 38 | 4.8 | 7 |
| Feb | 65 | 41 | 5.2 | 6 |
| Mar | 72 | 47 | 4.8 | 7 |
| Apr | 79 | 54 | 4.6 | 5 |
| May | 87 | 63 | 3.7 | 6 |
| Jun | 91 | 69 | 5.2 | 8 |
| Jul | 93 | 72 | 6.7 | 10 |
| Aug | 92 | 71 | 5.1 | 8 |
| Sep | 89 | 66 | 4.6 | 5 |
| Oct | 80 | 56 | 3.2 | 4 |
| Nov | 70 | 47 | 3.9 | 5 |
| Dec | 63 | 41 | 5.1 | 6 |
| Year | 78 | 55 | 56.9 | 77 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Headland, AL (370 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 Blakely
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 87 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Blakely: 81 thunderstorm wind reports, 5 flash floods and 1 flood. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $1.2 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 86 mph, on January 9, 2024. Of the 392 Georgia cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 86 have had fewer than Blakely.
December 24, 2015: flood 9 miles from the centre of Blakely — $891,000 damage.
June 19, 2001: thunderstorm wind 5 miles from the centre of Blakely — $250,000 damage.
NWS: “Several planes and buildings damaged at the airport. Reported by the Early County EMA.”
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
Early County, which includes Blakely, has been named in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1977, 9 of them major disasters (by incident: 6 hurricanes, 4 severe storms, 2 biological emergencies, 2 tropical storms). The latest major disaster declaration was Covid-19 Pandemic, on March 29, 2020. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Early County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Moderate for hurricanes; Relatively Low for tornadoes, strong wind and lightning; Very Low for hail, inland flooding and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $8.5 million a year, the 87th highest of 159 Georgia counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $3.2 million (38%), is from hurricanes.
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 Blakely
- Columbia, AL12 mi
- Colquitt, GA20 mi
- Donalsonville, GA20 mi
- Ashford, AL21 mi
- Headland, AL22 mi
- Cowarts, AL23 mi
- Morgan, GA24 mi
- Abbeville, AL24 mi
- Malone, FL29 mi
- Cottonwood, AL29 mi
- Dothan, AL29 mi
- Brinson, GA30 mi
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