NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Butler, 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
31 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Butler, Georgia since 1851, 2 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Helene in 2024. Since 1950, 92 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 7 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 2
- Tropical storms
- 29
- Tornadoes
- 92
- EF3 or stronger
- 7
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
38 deaths in all
What the records show for Butler
The strongest storm to pass near Butler was an unnamed storm in 1851, a Category 1 hurricane with 75 mph winds when its centre passed 54 miles away. The record near Butler begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Helene in 2024, a Category 1 hurricane 64 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1880s, with 5 systems. Of the 31 systems, 4 have come since 2000. Butler has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 60% of the 405 Georgia cities on this site. The strongest of the 92 tornadoes within 25 miles was an EF4 on March 3, 2019; its path came within 14 miles, and it killed 23 people. Of the 92, 9 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 48 have come since 2000. April has had the most tornadoes, 22. The most recent tornado was on May 3, 2025. Butler has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 60% of the 405 Georgia cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 31 times since 1962, with stones up to 2 inches (hen egg size). Of the 405 Georgia cities, 79% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Butler.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Butler
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | HeleneSep 27 | 64 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2019 | NestorOct 20 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2018 | MichaelOct 11 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2017 | IrmaSep 12 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1965 | Unnamed 1965 stormJun 15 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1956 | FlossySep 25 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1950 | KingOct 19 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1941 | Unnamed 1941 stormOct 7 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1940 | Unnamed 1940 stormAug 12 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormJul 29 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1917 | Unnamed 1917 stormSep 29 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormSep 4 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormJun 14 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1903 | Unnamed 1903 stormSep 15 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormOct 11 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormSep 28 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormSep 18 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1898 | Unnamed 1898 stormOct 3 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1898 | Unnamed 1898 stormSep 1 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormJul 8 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 3 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 23 | overhead | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormJul 28 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJun 21 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 10 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1881 | Unnamed 1881 stormAug 28 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormAug 13 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormSep 16 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1856 | Unnamed 1856 stormAug 31 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormAug 27 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1851 | Unnamed 1851 stormAug 24 | 54 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 3 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Butler: 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 Butler
By decade
- 2020s10(1 EF3+)
- 2010s25(1 EF3+)
- 2000s13(2 EF3+)
- 1990s5
- 1980s6
- 1970s11(1 EF3+)
- 1960s9(1 EF3+)
- 1950s13(1 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 3, 2019 | EF4 | 14 mi | 68.04 mi | 23 / 90 |
| Mar 13, 1954 | F3 | 1 mi | 49.5 mi | 5 / 75 |
| Feb 18, 1975 | F3 | 18 mi | 9.7 mi | 2 / 50 |
| Dec 25, 1964 | F3 | 18 mi | 0.1 mi | 2 / 16 |
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF3 | 20 mi | 16.63 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 1, 2007 | EF3 | 24 mi | 3.06 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 1, 2007 | EF3 | 21 mi | 9.72 mi | 0 / 9 |
| Apr 5, 1957 | F2 | 17 mi | 75 mi | 2 / 5 |
| Mar 1, 2007 | EF2 | 7 mi | 7.69 mi | 1 / 4 |
| Apr 23, 1971 | F2 | 12 mi | 3.8 mi | 1 / 10 |
| Dec 5, 1954 | F2 | 22 mi | 71.5 mi | 1 / 35 |
| Mar 3, 2019 | EF2 | 17 mi | 6.66 mi | 0 / 1 |
The strongest 12 of 92, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Butler
The Storm Prediction Center has 31 hail reports within 10 miles of Butler since 1962, made on 23 separate days. Of these, 16 were 1 inch across or larger, and one reached 2 inches. The largest, 2 inches (hen egg size), fell on April 24, 2025, the most recent report. April has the most reports, 10.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Butler
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Talbotton, GA, 18 miles northwest of Butler at 620 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 89°F and low of 68°F; January is the coolest, at 56°F and 32°F. December is the wettest at 5.2 inches of precipitation on average and October the driest at 2.9 inches; the year adds up to 51.2 inches over 72 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 47% of the year's precipitation (24.1 of 51.2 inches); the other six months are wetter. September has brought the most of the 31 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (12); a normal September there has highs of 83°F and 3.6 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 47 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 54 nights a year. That 51.2 inches is more than at 56 of the 108 Georgia stations used on this site (52%). Reynolds, 9 miles east, has its own station (Thomaston 4SE, GA): 50.4 inches a year, 0.8 less than here, and a July average high of 91°F against 89°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56 | 32 | 4.4 | 7 |
| Feb | 60 | 35 | 4.9 | 6 |
| Mar | 67 | 41 | 5.1 | 6 |
| Apr | 74 | 48 | 4.1 | 5 |
| May | 81 | 56 | 3.4 | 5 |
| Jun | 86 | 65 | 4.9 | 7 |
| Jul | 89 | 68 | 4.6 | 7 |
| Aug | 88 | 67 | 4.3 | 7 |
| Sep | 83 | 62 | 3.6 | 5 |
| Oct | 74 | 50 | 2.9 | 4 |
| Nov | 65 | 40 | 3.8 | 5 |
| Dec | 57 | 34 | 5.2 | 7 |
| Year | 73 | 50 | 51.2 | 72 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Talbotton, GA (620 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 Butler
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 66 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Butler: 57 thunderstorm wind reports, 6 flash floods, 2 floods and 1 lightning strike. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $734,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 70 mph, on April 1, 2016. March has had the most flash floods, 3 of 6. Of the 392 Georgia cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 109 have had fewer than Butler.
September 17, 2009: flash flood 9 miles from the centre of Butler — $125,000 damage.
NWS: “The Taylor County Emergency Management Director reported extensive flash flooding across western Taylor county. At least 11 dirt roads and several bridges were washed out in the area between Mauk and Howard where over eight inches of rain fell in a 6-hour period.”
September 18, 2009: flood 9 miles from the centre of Butler — $125,000 damage.
NWS: “The Taylor County Emergency Management reported that flooding continued for several hours after the flash flooding subsided. Several roads remained under water throughout the night.”
March 6, 1996: thunderstorm wind 9 miles from the centre of Butler — $100,000 damage.
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
Taylor County, which includes Butler, has been named in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1966, 8 of them major disasters (by incident: 5 hurricanes, 3 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 Taylor County a Very Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Low for hurricanes, tornadoes, strong wind, lightning and heat waves; Very Low for hail and inland flooding. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $2.9 million a year, the 141st highest of 159 Georgia counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $1.2 million (41%), 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 Butler
- Reynolds, GA9 mi
- Roberta, GA15 mi
- Oglethorpe, GA19 mi
- Box Springs, GA21 mi
- Fort Valley, GA21 mi
- Ellaville, GA22 mi
- Thomaston, GA23 mi
- Buena Vista, GA24 mi
- Montezuma, GA24 mi
- Waverly Hall, GA29 mi
- Byron, GA29 mi
- Manchester, GA30 mi
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