NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Cairo, 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
71 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Cairo, Georgia since 1851, 13 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Helene in 2024. Since 1950, 87 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 4 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 13
- Tropical storms
- 58
- Tornadoes
- 87
- EF3 or stronger
- 4
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
28 deaths in all
What the records show for Cairo
The strongest storm to pass near Cairo was Helene in 2024, a Category 3 hurricane with 110 mph winds when its centre passed 42 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was Kate in 1985, whose centre came within 2 miles. The record near Cairo begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Helene in 2024. The busiest decade was the 1870s, with 8 systems, one of them at hurricane strength. Of the 71 systems, 13 have come since 2000. Cairo has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 88% of the 405 Georgia cities on this site. The highest rating among the 87 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3 or EF3, reached 4 times; the most recent, on February 19, 2009, came within 24 miles. The deadliest, an F3 on February 13, 2000, killed 11 people. Of the 87, 10 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 42 have come since 2000. April has had the most tornadoes, 24. The most recent tornado was on April 7, 2025. Cairo has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 53% of the 405 Georgia cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 20 times since 1980, with stones up to 2.5 inches (tennis ball size). Of the 405 Georgia cities, 92% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Cairo.
Compare Cairo's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Cairo
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | HeleneSep 27 | 42 mi | Category 3 (110 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2023 | IdaliaAug 30 | 67 mi | Category 2 (102 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2022 | NicoleNov 11 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2021 | MindySep 9 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2021 | FredAug 17 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2021 | ElsaJul 7 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2019 | NestorOct 19 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2018 | MichaelOct 10 | 37 mi | Category 2 (108 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2017 | IrmaSep 11 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2016 | HermineSep 2 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2006 | AlbertoJun 13 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2004 | JeanneSep 27 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2004 | FrancesSep 6 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1998 | EarlSep 3 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1996 | JosephineOct 8 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1995 | AllisonJun 5 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1994 | BerylAug 16 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1985 | KateNov 22 | 2 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1976 | Unnamed 1976 stormMay 23 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1972 | AgnesJun 20 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1966 | AlmaJun 10 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1964 | HildaOct 5 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1964 | DoraSep 11 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1957 | Unnamed 1957 stormJun 9 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1956 | FlossySep 25 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1953 | FlorenceSep 27 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1950 | KingOct 19 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormOct 16 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormOct 7 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1941 | Unnamed 1941 stormOct 7 | 7 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1937 | Unnamed 1937 stormAug 31 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1935 | Unnamed 1935 stormSep 5 | 63 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormSep 5 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormSep 15 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 1 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormAug 14 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormAug 10 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormJul 29 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 29 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 16 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1917 | Unnamed 1917 stormSep 29 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormSep 4 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1914 | Unnamed 1914 stormSep 17 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormJul 16 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1909 | Unnamed 1909 stormJun 30 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormSep 29 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormJun 29 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 15 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormSep 28 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormSep 18 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormJun 13 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormAug 2 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormOct 9 | 6 mi | Category 1 (93 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormJun 16 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJul 1 | 16 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJun 21 | 19 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormSep 21 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormAug 31 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormOct 10 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 3 | 3 mi | Category 1 (76 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormSep 20 | overhead | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1875 | Unnamed 1875 stormSep 27 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1873 | Unnamed 1873 stormSep 19 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormOct 5 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 26 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 23 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1868 | Unnamed 1868 stormOct 4 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormAug 13 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1856 | Unnamed 1856 stormAug 31 | 34 mi | Category 1 (78 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormOct 10 | 30 mi | Category 1 (90 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1851 | Unnamed 1851 stormAug 24 | 29 mi | Category 1 (91 mph) | Category 3 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Cairo: 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 Cairo
By decade
- 2020s15
- 2010s8
- 2000s19(4 EF3+)
- 1990s9
- 1980s7
- 1970s16
- 1960s10
- 1950s3
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 13, 2000 | F3 | 20 mi | 9.2 mi | 11 / 175 |
| Feb 13, 2000 | F3 | 9 mi | 15 mi | 7 / 15 |
| Mar 20, 2003 | F3 | 20 mi | 25 mi | 6 / 200 |
| Feb 19, 2009 | EF3 | 24 mi | 1.45 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 1, 1989 | F2 | 20 mi | 10 mi | 2 / 12 |
| Jan 12, 1975 | F2 | 17 mi | 168.5 mi | 1 / 33 |
| Jan 30, 1974 | F2 | 20 mi | 3.3 mi | 1 / 4 |
| Mar 3, 2019 | EF2 | in town | 2.68 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Jan 22, 2017 | EF2 | 13 mi | 18.67 mi | 0 / 3 |
| Feb 18, 2009 | EF2 | 9 mi | 10.44 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 18, 2009 | EF2 | 6 mi | 5.94 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 15, 2001 | F2 | 6 mi | 6 mi | 0 / 13 |
The strongest 12 of 87, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Cairo
The Storm Prediction Center has 20 hail reports within 10 miles of Cairo since 1980, made on 17 separate days. Of these, 14 were 1 inch across or larger, and 3 reached 2 inches. The largest, 2.5 inches (tennis ball size), fell on April 3, 1980. The most recent report is from November 9, 2025. March has the most reports, 7.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Cairo
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Cairo 1SW, GA, 2 miles southwest of Cairo at 201 feet. August is the warmest, with an average high of 90°F and low of 71°F; January is the coolest, at 62°F and 38°F. June is the wettest at 7.1 inches of precipitation on average and May the driest at 2.6 inches; the year adds up to 51.0 inches over 72 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 54% of the year's precipitation (27.5 of 51.0 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 71 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (25); a normal September there has highs of 87°F and 4.2 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 78 days a year, almost all from May to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 30 nights a year. That 51.0 inches is more than at 54 of the 108 Georgia stations used on this site (50%). Meigs, 16 miles northeast, has its own station (Camilla 3 SE, GA): 51.7 inches a year, 0.7 more than here, and the same August average high, 90°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 62 | 38 | 4.6 | 6 |
| Feb | 66 | 42 | 4.0 | 5 |
| Mar | 72 | 47 | 5.2 | 6 |
| Apr | 78 | 53 | 3.2 | 5 |
| May | 85 | 62 | 2.6 | 5 |
| Jun | 90 | 68 | 7.1 | 9 |
| Jul | 90 | 71 | 5.3 | 9 |
| Aug | 90 | 71 | 4.6 | 8 |
| Sep | 87 | 67 | 4.2 | 6 |
| Oct | 80 | 57 | 3.1 | 4 |
| Nov | 71 | 46 | 3.2 | 4 |
| Dec | 64 | 41 | 3.9 | 6 |
| Year | 78 | 55 | 51.0 | 72 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Cairo 1SW, GA (201 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 Cairo
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 134 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Cairo: 118 thunderstorm wind reports, 7 heavy rain events, 6 flash floods, 2 lightning strikes and 1 flood. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $711,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 102 mph, on March 3, 2019. July has had the most flash floods, 2 of 6. Of the 392 Georgia cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 109 have had fewer than Cairo.
January 30, 2006: thunderstorm wind 2 miles from the centre of Cairo — $150,000 damage.
NWS: “Straight-line winds whipped through the Cairo Country Club area, uprooting and snapping off pine trees, and downing power lines. In the new neighborhood of Hawthorne Trails, the winds destroyed 60 percent of the wood trusses of a frame house.”
September 7, 2023: thunderstorm wind 2 miles from the centre of Cairo — $100,000 damage.
NWS: “Numerous trees and power lines were blown down in Cairo with trees down on several houses.”
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
Grady County, which includes Cairo, has been named in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1977, 9 of them major disasters (by incident: 7 hurricanes, 4 severe storms, 3 tropical storms, 2 biological emergencies). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Helene, on September 30, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Grady County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Moderate for hurricanes, tornadoes and lightning; Relatively Low for inland flooding, strong wind and heat waves; Very Low for hail. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $13.3 million a year, the 58th highest of 159 Georgia counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $4.2 million (31%), 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 Cairo
- Whigham, GA7 mi
- Ochlocknee, GA10 mi
- Climax, GA14 mi
- Thomasville, GA15 mi
- Meigs, GA16 mi
- Pelham, GA16 mi
- Bainbridge, GA20 mi
- Coolidge, GA21 mi
- Camilla, GA22 mi
- Havana, FL23 mi
- Boston, GA26 mi
- Pavo, GA29 mi
All Georgia cities →All hurricanes since 1851 →Compare Cairo with another place →