NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Hartwell, 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
15 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Hartwell, Georgia since 1851, 0 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Helene in 2024. Since 1950, 91 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 2 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 0
- Tropical storms
- 15
- Tornadoes
- 91
- EF3 or stronger
- 2
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
2 deaths in all
What the records show for Hartwell
None of the 15 tropical systems was at hurricane strength as it passed Hartwell; the strongest was an unnamed storm in 1949, a tropical storm with 60 mph winds when its centre passed 33 miles away. The record near Hartwell begins with an unnamed storm in 1859; the most recent system was Helene in 2024, a tropical storm 16 miles away. The 1880s and the 1900s were the busiest decades, with 3 systems each. Of the 15 systems, 3 have come since 2000. Of the 405 Georgia cities on this site, 73% have more tropical storms and hurricanes within 75 miles than Hartwell. The highest rating among the 91 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3 or EF3, reached 2 times; the most recent, on April 13, 2020, came within 20 miles. Of the 91, 4 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 50 have come since 2000. April has had the most tornadoes, 21. The most recent tornado was on August 3, 2023. Hartwell has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 60% of the 405 Georgia cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 38 times since 1955, with stones up to 2 inches (hen egg size). Of the 405 Georgia cities, 66% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Hartwell.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Hartwell
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | HeleneSep 27 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2020 | ZetaOct 29 | 75 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2018 | MichaelOct 11 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1965 | Unnamed 1965 stormJun 15 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 28 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormJul 15 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormJun 14 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormSep 23 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormOct 11 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormSep 28 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 3 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 24 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJun 22 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 11 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormSep 16 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Hartwell: 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 Hartwell
By decade
- 2020s10(1 EF3+)
- 2010s5
- 2000s35
- 1990s18
- 1980s6
- 1970s10(1 EF3+)
- 1960s2
- 1950s5
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF3 | 20 mi | 16.71 mi | 1 / 5 |
| Apr 8, 1974 | F3 | 10 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 16, 2004 | F2 | 20 mi | 5.5 mi | 1 / 1 |
| May 3, 2021 | EF2 | 18 mi | 29.35 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Apr 10, 2009 | EF2 | 13 mi | 9.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 26, 2008 | EF2 | 16 mi | 5.48 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 16, 2004 | F2 | 14 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 6, 2003 | F2 | 13 mi | 7 mi | 0 / 12 |
| Sep 16, 1996 | F2 | 19 mi | 6 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Apr 4, 1989 | F2 | 21 mi | 6 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 13, 1980 | F2 | 10 mi | 33.4 mi | 0 / 5 |
| Nov 21, 1973 | F2 | 17 mi | 0.3 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 91, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Hartwell
The Storm Prediction Center has 38 hail reports within 10 miles of Hartwell since 1955, made on 34 separate days. Of these, 19 were 1 inch across or larger, and one reached 2 inches. The largest, 2 inches (hen egg size), fell on June 23, 1955. The most recent report is from July 11, 2025.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Hartwell
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Hartwell, GA, 1 mile southwest of Hartwell at 805 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 89°F and low of 70°F; January is the coolest, at 52°F and 33°F. March and December are the wettest at 4.9 inches of precipitation on average and April the driest at 3.5 inches; the year adds up to 51.9 inches over 76 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 50% of the year's precipitation (25.7 of 51.9 inches). September has brought the most of the 15 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (6); a normal September there has highs of 82°F and 4.3 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 36 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 49 nights a year. Snowfall averages 0.9 inches a year, most of it in January. That 51.9 inches is more than at 67 of the 108 Georgia stations used on this site (62%). Dewy Rose, 11 miles south, has its own station (Elberton 2 N, GA): 49.5 inches a year, 2.4 less than here, and the same July average high, 89°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 52 | 33 | 4.5 | 7 | 0.4 |
| Feb | 56 | 35 | 4.6 | 7 | 0.2 |
| Mar | 64 | 42 | 4.9 | 7 | 0.2 |
| Apr | 72 | 49 | 3.5 | 6 | 0.0 |
| May | 79 | 59 | 3.8 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 86 | 66 | 4.7 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 89 | 70 | 4.4 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 87 | 69 | 4.4 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 82 | 64 | 4.3 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 72 | 52 | 3.8 | 4 | 0.0 |
| Nov | 62 | 41 | 4.1 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Dec | 55 | 36 | 4.9 | 7 | 0.1 |
| Year | 71 | 51 | 51.9 | 76 | 0.9 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Hartwell, GA (805 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 Hartwell
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 106 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Hartwell: 101 thunderstorm wind reports, 4 flash floods and 1 flood. They killed 1 person and injured 7, and the NWS estimated $763,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 75 mph, on November 11, 2002.
July 15, 2017: thunderstorm wind 6 miles from the centre of Hartwell — 1 killed.
NWS: “Department of Natural Resources reported a man and woman were thrown from their boat by a strong thunderstorm wind gust on Lake Hartwell near the Singing Pines recreation area. While the woman was quickly rescued by other boaters, the 54-year-old man was presumed drowned, as his body was never recovered.”
August 12, 2011: thunderstorm wind 6 miles from the centre of Hartwell — 7 injured.
NWS: “A camping trailer was overturned on Campers Way, with minor injuries to seven occupants. Another trailer at this site was knocked off its supporting jack.”
March 26, 2021: thunderstorm wind 7 miles from the centre of Hartwell — $200,000 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
Hart County, which includes Hartwell, 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 Hart County a Very Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Low for hurricanes, tornadoes, hail, inland flooding, strong wind, lightning and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $9.3 million a year, the 78th highest of 159 Georgia counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $4.4 million (48%), 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 Hartwell
- Canon, GA10 mi
- Fair Play, SC10 mi
- Dewy Rose, GA11 mi
- Townville, SC11 mi
- Lavonia, GA11 mi
- Starr, SC12 mi
- Bowman, GA14 mi
- Royston, GA14 mi
- Iva, SC17 mi
- Martin, GA17 mi
- Anderson, SC17 mi
- Elberton, GA18 mi
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