NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Macon, 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
28 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Macon, Georgia since 1851, 0 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Helene in 2024. Since 1950, 95 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 9 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 0
- Tropical storms
- 28
- Tornadoes
- 95
- EF3 or stronger
- 9
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
32 deaths in all
What the records show for Macon
None of the 28 tropical systems was at hurricane strength as it passed Macon; the strongest was Helene in 2024, a tropical storm with 70 mph winds when its centre passed 33 miles away. The record near Macon begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Helene in 2024. Of the 28 systems, 3 have come since 2000. Macon has more tropical storms and hurricanes within 75 miles than 56% of the 405 Georgia cities on this site. The strongest of the 95 tornadoes within 25 miles was an F4 on April 30, 1953; its path came within 17 miles, and it killed 18 people. Of the 95, 12 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 53 have come since 2000. April has had the most tornadoes, 33. The most recent tornado was on May 3, 2025. Macon has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 66% of the 405 Georgia cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 120 times since 1960, with stones up to 2.75 inches (baseball size). Macon has more hail reports within 10 miles than 85% of the 405 Georgia cities.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Macon
Of the 28 tracks on the map, 17 were moving northeast as they passed Macon, 3 north and 3 east. Helene (2024), the strongest pass, was heading north; its centre passed 33 miles east of Macon. None made landfall within 75 miles of Macon; 24 of the 28 were hurricanes at their peak, none at their closest to the city. In the last 30 seasons (1996–2025), 4 came near Macon: 1.3 a decade, against 1.7 a decade from 1851 to 1995.
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | HeleneSep 27 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2019 | NestorOct 20 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2018 | MichaelOct 11 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1998 | EarlSep 3 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1965 | Unnamed 1965 stormJun 15 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1956 | FlossySep 25 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 28 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1941 | Unnamed 1941 stormOct 8 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1940 | Unnamed 1940 stormAug 12 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormSep 7 | 75 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1917 | Unnamed 1917 stormSep 29 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormJun 14 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1911 | Unnamed 1911 stormAug 29 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormSep 28 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormSep 18 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1898 | Unnamed 1898 stormOct 3 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1898 | Unnamed 1898 stormSep 1 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormJul 8 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 3 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 24 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJun 22 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 10 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1881 | Unnamed 1881 stormAug 28 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 3 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormSep 16 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1856 | Unnamed 1856 stormAug 31 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormAug 27 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1851 | Unnamed 1851 stormAug 24 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 3 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Macon: a hurricane's worst winds sit within a few dozen miles of its centre, and inland cities are usually past that.
Check hail and hurricane history for any address
Tornadoes within 25 miles of Macon
By decade
- 2020s17(2 EF3+)
- 2010s20
- 2000s16(1 EF3+)
- 1990s3
- 1980s3
- 1970s9(1 EF3+)
- 1960s10(1 EF3+)
- 1950s17(4 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 30, 1953 | F4 | 17 mi | 1 mi | 18 / 300 |
| Mar 13, 1954 | F3 | in town | 49.5 mi | 5 / 75 |
| Feb 18, 1975 | F3 | 21 mi | 9.7 mi | 2 / 50 |
| Dec 25, 1964 | F3 | 3 mi | 0.1 mi | 2 / 16 |
| Apr 30, 1953 | F3 | 21 mi | 2 mi | 1 / 2 |
| Apr 5, 2022 | EF3 | 20 mi | 3.89 mi | 0 / 3 |
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF3 | 23 mi | 5.3 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Mar 1, 2007 | EF3 | 8 mi | 9.72 mi | 0 / 9 |
| Mar 3, 1952 | F3 | 3 mi | 4.3 mi | 0 / 4 |
| Apr 5, 1957 | F2 | 12 mi | 75 mi | 2 / 5 |
| Apr 30, 1953 | F2 | 11 mi | 0.5 mi | 1 / 3 |
| Mar 3, 2019 | EF2 | 18 mi | 6.66 mi | 0 / 1 |
The strongest 12 of 95, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Macon
The Storm Prediction Center has 120 hail reports within 10 miles of Macon since 1960, made on 93 separate days. Of these, 62 were 1 inch across or larger, and 5 reached 2 inches. The largest size, 2.75 inches (baseball size), was reported on 2 days, most recently January 2, 2006. The most recent report is from September 7, 2023. April has the most reports, 26.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Macon
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Macon Middle Ga Regional Airport, GA, 11 miles south of Macon at 343 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 94°F and low of 72°F; January is the coolest, at 59°F and 36°F. July is the wettest at 4.8 inches of precipitation on average and October the driest at 2.6 inches; the year adds up to 47.0 inches over 69 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 50% of the year's precipitation (23.3 of 47.0 inches). September has brought the most of the 28 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (11); a normal September there has highs of 88°F and 3.7 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 85 days a year, almost all from May to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 44 nights a year. That 47.0 inches is more than at 13 of the 108 Georgia stations used on this site (12%). Gray, 13 miles northeast, has its own station (Milledgeville, GA): 48.3 inches a year, 1.3 more than here, and a July average high of 93°F against 94°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 59 | 36 | 4.3 | 7 |
| Feb | 63 | 39 | 4.2 | 6 |
| Mar | 71 | 45 | 4.3 | 6 |
| Apr | 78 | 51 | 3.6 | 6 |
| May | 86 | 60 | 2.7 | 5 |
| Jun | 91 | 68 | 4.4 | 7 |
| Jul | 94 | 72 | 4.8 | 7 |
| Aug | 92 | 71 | 4.4 | 7 |
| Sep | 88 | 65 | 3.7 | 4 |
| Oct | 79 | 53 | 2.6 | 4 |
| Nov | 69 | 43 | 3.4 | 5 |
| Dec | 61 | 38 | 4.6 | 6 |
| Year | 78 | 53 | 47.0 | 69 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Macon Middle Ga Regional Airport, GA (343 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 Macon
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 177 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Macon: 159 thunderstorm wind reports, 8 flash floods, 4 floods, 4 lightning strikes and 2 heavy rain events. They killed 0 people and injured 1, and the NWS estimated $3.5 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 72 mph, on April 20, 1996. March has had the most flash floods, 3 of 8. Of the 392 Georgia cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 150 have had fewer than Macon.
August 14, 2010: lightning strike 4 miles from the centre of Macon — 1 injured.
NWS: “S. Postal Service mail carrier while placing mail in a mailbox on Rocky Creek Road in Macon.”
July 30, 2005: flash flood 2 miles from the centre of Macon — $500,000 damage.
NWS: “The Macon Telegraph reported that slow moving and persistent thunderstorms dumped up to three inches of rain on saturated ground across Macon and much of Bibb county during the mid to late afternoon. The heavy rain resulted in considerable flooding.”
March 18, 2013: thunderstorm wind 4 miles from the centre of Macon — $450,000 damage.
NWS: “Ham radio operators and the Macon Fire Department reported wind damage across the Macon area. Numerous trees and power lines were down across the city.”
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
Flood insurance policyholders in Macon's 8 ZIP codes have filed 171 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1979, and were paid $5.1 million for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Tropical Storm Alberto in 1994: 40 claims (23% of all) and $2.5 million, then Flooding in 1998 with 12. 40% of the claims carry the name of a storm or flood event; the rest have no event name. Of the 154 Georgia cities on this site with 10 or more claims, 136 have fewer than Macon.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical Storm Alberto1994 | 40 | $2.5 million |
| Flooding1998 | 12 | $159,000 |
Bibb County, which includes Macon, has been named in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1977, 7 of them major disasters (by incident: 5 hurricanes, 3 severe storms, 2 biological emergencies, 1 drought). The latest major disaster declaration was Covid-19 Pandemic, on March 29, 2020. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Bibb County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for lightning; Relatively Moderate for hurricanes, tornadoes, hail, inland flooding, strong wind and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $33.3 million a year, the 21st highest of 159 Georgia counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $17.0 million (51%), 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 Macon
- Lizella, GA8 mi
- Gray, GA13 mi
- Byron, GA14 mi
- Centerville, GA14 mi
- Warner Robins, GA16 mi
- Robins Afb, GA16 mi
- Juliette, GA16 mi
- Bonaire, GA20 mi
- Haddock, GA20 mi
- Forsyth, GA20 mi
- Gordon, GA20 mi
- Jeffersonville, GA23 mi
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