NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Hortense, 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
99 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Hortense, Georgia since 1851, 18 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Debby in 2024. Since 1950, 61 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 1 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 18
- Tropical storms
- 81
- Tornadoes
- 61
- EF3 or stronger
- 1
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
no recorded deaths
What the records show for Hortense
The strongest storm to pass near Hortense was an unnamed storm in 1893, a Category 3 hurricane with 121 mph winds when its centre passed 72 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1896, whose centre came within 4 miles. The record near Hortense begins with an unnamed storm in 1852; the most recent system was Debby in 2024, a tropical storm 4 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1880s, with 12 systems, 3 of them at hurricane strength. Of the 99 systems, 14 have come since 2000. Hortense has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 94% of the 405 Georgia cities on this site. The strongest of the 61 tornadoes within 25 miles was an EF4 on May 11, 2008; its path came within 24 miles. Of the 61, one had a path within 5 miles of the city centre, and 36 have come since 2000. March and December have had the most tornadoes, 9 each. The most recent tornado was on March 16, 2025. Of the 405 Georgia cities, 77% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Hortense. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 20 times since 1997, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Of the 405 Georgia cities, 92% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Hortense.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Hortense
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | DebbyAug 6 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2023 | IdaliaAug 30 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2021 | ElsaJul 8 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2020 | EtaNov 12 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2016 | MatthewOct 8 | 74 mi | Category 2 (101 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2016 | JuliaSep 14 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2016 | HermineSep 2 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2016 | ColinJun 7 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2013 | AndreaJun 7 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2012 | BerylMay 28 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2007 | BarryJun 2 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2006 | AlbertoJun 14 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2005 | TammyOct 6 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2002 | KyleOct 11 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1996 | JosephineOct 8 | overhead | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1988 | ChrisAug 28 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1985 | KateNov 22 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1985 | IsabelOct 10 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1984 | IsidoreSep 29 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1982 | Unnamed 1982 stormJun 18 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1981 | DennisAug 19 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1979 | DavidSep 4 | 41 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1976 | Unnamed 1976 stormSep 14 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1976 | Unnamed 1976 stormMay 24 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1972 | AlphaMay 28 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1970 | AlmaMay 25 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1968 | AbbyJun 7 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1966 | AlmaJun 10 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1964 | HildaOct 5 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1964 | DoraSep 12 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1964 | CleoAug 29 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | BrendaJul 29 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1957 | Unnamed 1957 stormJun 9 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1956 | FlossySep 25 | 75 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1954 | Unnamed 1954 stormJul 10 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1953 | FlorenceSep 27 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 28 | 61 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormOct 15 | 28 mi | Category 1 (87 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormOct 7 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormSep 24 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1946 | Unnamed 1946 stormOct 8 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormSep 17 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormOct 20 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1940 | Unnamed 1940 stormAug 12 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1935 | Unnamed 1935 stormSep 5 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormSep 6 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormSep 15 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 1 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormSep 18 | 47 mi | Category 1 (85 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormJul 29 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 30 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 16 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1919 | Unnamed 1919 stormOct 1 | overhead | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormOct 4 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 16 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 2 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1914 | Unnamed 1914 stormSep 17 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormJul 15 | 1 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1911 | Unnamed 1911 stormAug 28 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1910 | Unnamed 1910 stormOct 19 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormSep 29 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormJun 29 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1906 | Unnamed 1906 stormOct 21 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 15 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1900 | Unnamed 1900 stormOct 12 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1898 | Unnamed 1898 stormOct 2 | 10 mi | Category 2 (100 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormSep 29 | 4 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormOct 9 | 56 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormSep 27 | 57 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 13 | 72 mi | Category 3 (121 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 28 | 51 mi | Category 3 (115 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormJun 16 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormJun 17 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormOct 11 | 62 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 9 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJul 1 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormOct 12 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormSep 21 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormAug 31 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormAug 25 | 68 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1884 | Unnamed 1884 stormSep 11 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormOct 11 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1881 | Unnamed 1881 stormAug 28 | 38 mi | Category 1 (87 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormSep 8 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormOct 11 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormSep 11 | 73 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormSep 20 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 28 | 38 mi | Category 1 (78 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1873 | Unnamed 1873 stormSep 19 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1873 | Unnamed 1873 stormJun 2 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormOct 6 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormSep 7 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 23 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1868 | Unnamed 1868 stormOct 5 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1867 | Unnamed 1867 stormOct 7 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormAug 13 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1854 | Unnamed 1854 stormSep 8 | 49 mi | Category 3 (115 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1853 | Unnamed 1853 stormOct 21 | 64 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormOct 10 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 2 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Hortense: 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 Hortense
By decade
- 2020s9
- 2010s7
- 2000s20(1 EF3+)
- 1990s11
- 1980s4
- 1970s2
- 1960s6
- 1950s2
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 11, 2008 | EF4 | 24 mi | 11 mi | 0 / 9 |
| Mar 9, 2024 | EF2 | 10 mi | 4.72 mi | 0 / 5 |
| Mar 22, 2005 | F2 | 15 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jan 13, 1963 | F2 | 4 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 30, 2023 | EF1 | 19 mi | 7.91 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jan 4, 2023 | EF1 | 23 mi | 3.16 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Dec 2, 2018 | EF1 | 22 mi | 0.59 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jan 22, 2017 | EF1 | 24 mi | 1.65 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jan 22, 2017 | EF1 | 23 mi | 16.64 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Dec 24, 2014 | EF1 | 22 mi | 5.69 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Dec 9, 2009 | EF1 | 18 mi | 1.6 mi | 0 / 1 |
| May 11, 2008 | EF1 | 25 mi | 5.22 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 61, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Hortense
The Storm Prediction Center has 20 hail reports within 10 miles of Hortense since 1997, made on 16 separate days. Of these, 9 were 1 inch across or larger, and none reached 2 inches. The largest size, 1.75 inches (golf ball size), was reported on 3 days, most recently April 23, 2020. The most recent report is from April 28, 2023. May has the most reports, 8.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Hortense
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Brunswick, GA, 24 miles southeast of Hortense at 13 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 90°F and low of 75°F; January is the coolest, at 61°F and 44°F. August is the wettest at 7.0 inches of precipitation on average and November the driest at 2.0 inches; the year adds up to 50.4 inches over 72 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 62% of the year's precipitation (31.2 of 50.4 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 99 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (30); a normal September there has highs of 84°F and 6.3 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 73 days a year, almost all from April to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 9 nights a year. That 50.4 inches is more than at 45 of the 108 Georgia stations used on this site (42%). Nahunta, 12 miles southwest, has its own station (Waycross 4 NE, GA): 50.4 inches a year, the same as here, and a July average high of 94°F against 90°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 61 | 44 | 3.5 | 5 |
| Feb | 64 | 47 | 3.1 | 5 |
| Mar | 70 | 53 | 3.8 | 6 |
| Apr | 76 | 59 | 3.1 | 5 |
| May | 83 | 67 | 3.0 | 4 |
| Jun | 88 | 73 | 6.4 | 9 |
| Jul | 90 | 75 | 4.9 | 7 |
| Aug | 89 | 75 | 7.0 | 10 |
| Sep | 84 | 72 | 6.3 | 8 |
| Oct | 78 | 63 | 4.6 | 5 |
| Nov | 69 | 53 | 2.0 | 3 |
| Dec | 63 | 47 | 2.7 | 5 |
| Year | 76 | 61 | 50.4 | 72 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Brunswick, GA (13 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 Hortense
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 70 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Hortense: 62 thunderstorm wind reports, 5 heavy rain events, 1 flash flood, 1 flood and 1 lightning strike. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $108,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 69 mph, on June 20, 2004.
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
Brantley County, which includes Hortense, has been named in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1977, 10 of them major disasters (by incident: 10 hurricanes, 3 fires, 3 tropical storms, 2 biological emergencies). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Helene, on September 30, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Brantley County a Very Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Moderate for hurricanes; Relatively Low for tornadoes, lightning and heat waves; Very Low for hail, inland flooding, coastal flooding and strong wind. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $7.0 million a year, the 97th highest of 159 Georgia counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $3.1 million (44%), 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 Hortense
- Nahunta, GA12 mi
- Waynesville, GA12 mi
- Patterson, GA15 mi
- Screven, GA18 mi
- Hoboken, GA19 mi
- Jesup, GA21 mi
- Brunswick, GA21 mi
- Waverly, GA22 mi
- Blackshear, GA24 mi
- Odum, GA27 mi
- Darien, GA28 mi
- Woodbine, GA30 mi
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