NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Mc Rae, 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
61 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Mc Rae, Georgia since 1851, 3 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Helene in 2024. Since 1950, 54 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 1 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 3
- Tropical storms
- 58
- Tornadoes
- 54
- EF3 or stronger
- 1
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
3 deaths in all
What the records show for Mc Rae
The strongest storm to pass near Mc Rae was Helene in 2024, a Category 1 hurricane with 81 mph winds when its centre passed 18 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1898, whose centre came within 15 miles. The record near Mc Rae begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Helene in 2024. Of the 61 systems, 8 have come since 2000. Mc Rae has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 66% of the 405 Georgia cities on this site. The strongest of the 54 tornadoes within 25 miles was an F3 on April 8, 1957; its path came within 14 miles, and it killed 1 person. The deadliest, an EF1 on September 26, 2024, killed 2 people. Of the 54, 2 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 30 have come since 2000. April has had the most tornadoes, 10. The most recent tornado was on September 26, 2024. Of the 405 Georgia cities, 84% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Mc Rae. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 23 times since 1981, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Of the 405 Georgia cities, 89% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Mc Rae.
Compare Mc Rae's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Mc Rae
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | HeleneSep 27 | 18 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2023 | IdaliaAug 30 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2021 | ElsaJul 8 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2019 | NestorOct 20 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2018 | MichaelOct 11 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2016 | HermineSep 2 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2006 | AlbertoJun 14 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2005 | TammyOct 6 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1998 | EarlSep 3 | overhead | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1985 | KateNov 22 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1968 | AbbyJun 7 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1966 | AlmaJun 10 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1965 | Unnamed 1965 stormJun 15 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1964 | HildaOct 5 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1964 | DoraSep 12 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | BrendaJul 29 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1957 | Unnamed 1957 stormJun 9 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1956 | FlossySep 25 | overhead | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1953 | FlorenceSep 27 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1950 | KingOct 19 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 28 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormOct 15 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1946 | Unnamed 1946 stormOct 8 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1941 | Unnamed 1941 stormOct 8 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1940 | Unnamed 1940 stormAug 12 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1935 | Unnamed 1935 stormSep 5 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormSep 6 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 1 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormJul 29 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 30 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 16 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1919 | Unnamed 1919 stormOct 1 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1917 | Unnamed 1917 stormSep 30 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 3 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1914 | Unnamed 1914 stormSep 17 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormJul 15 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1911 | Unnamed 1911 stormAug 29 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormSep 29 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormJun 29 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 15 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormSep 28 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormSep 18 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1898 | Unnamed 1898 stormOct 2 | 15 mi | Category 1 (76 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1898 | Unnamed 1898 stormAug 31 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormOct 9 | 18 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormJun 16 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 9 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJul 1 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJun 21 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormOct 12 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormAug 31 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1881 | Unnamed 1881 stormAug 28 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 3 | 1 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormSep 20 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1873 | Unnamed 1873 stormSep 19 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormOct 6 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 23 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormAug 13 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1856 | Unnamed 1856 stormAug 31 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormOct 10 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1851 | Unnamed 1851 stormAug 24 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 3 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Mc Rae: 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 Mc Rae
By decade
- 2020s9
- 2010s12
- 2000s9
- 1990s5
- 1980s7
- 1970s3
- 1960s5
- 1950s4(1 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 8, 1957 | F3 | 14 mi | 14.7 mi | 1 / 3 |
| Apr 5, 2017 | EF2 | 21 mi | 20.19 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Dec 15, 2007 | EF2 | 24 mi | 3.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 15, 2007 | EF2 | 17 mi | 3.64 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Dec 29, 1982 | F2 | 13 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 28, 1966 | F2 | 23 mi | 0.9 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jan 20, 1963 | F2 | 23 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 24, 1961 | F2 | 14 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 28, 1958 | F2 | 11 mi | 0.2 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Sep 26, 2024 | EF1 | 14 mi | 0.69 mi | 2 / 0 |
| May 9, 2024 | EF1 | 25 mi | 14.66 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 9, 2024 | EF1 | 18 mi | 12.2 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 54, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Mc Rae
The Storm Prediction Center has 23 hail reports within 10 miles of Mc Rae since 1981, made on 21 separate days. Of these, 16 were 1 inch across or larger, and none reached 2 inches. The largest size, 1.75 inches (golf ball size), was reported on 5 days, most recently May 17, 2009. The most recent report is from July 10, 2015. May has the most reports, 5.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Mc Rae
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Hazlehurst, GA, 21 miles southeast of Mc Rae at 250 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 92°F and low of 72°F; January is the coolest, at 60°F and 38°F. August is the wettest at 6.9 inches of precipitation on average and October and November the driest at 3.0 inches; the year adds up to 51.1 inches over 70 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 53% of the year's precipitation (27.2 of 51.1 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 61 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (18); a normal September there has highs of 87°F and 4.5 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 83 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 34 nights a year. That 51.1 inches is more than at 55 of the 108 Georgia stations used on this site (51%). Helena, 4 miles northwest, has its own station (Eastman 1 W, GA): 47.0 inches a year, 4.1 less than here, and a July average high of 91°F against 92°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60 | 38 | 4.2 | 6 |
| Feb | 64 | 41 | 4.2 | 5 |
| Mar | 71 | 47 | 4.4 | 5 |
| Apr | 78 | 53 | 3.7 | 5 |
| May | 85 | 62 | 3.3 | 5 |
| Jun | 90 | 69 | 5.3 | 8 |
| Jul | 92 | 72 | 4.5 | 8 |
| Aug | 91 | 71 | 6.9 | 9 |
| Sep | 87 | 66 | 4.5 | 6 |
| Oct | 79 | 55 | 3.0 | 4 |
| Nov | 70 | 45 | 3.0 | 4 |
| Dec | 63 | 40 | 4.1 | 5 |
| Year | 77 | 55 | 51.1 | 70 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Hazlehurst, GA (250 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 Mc Rae
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 77 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Mc Rae: 70 thunderstorm wind reports, 3 flash floods, 3 floods and 1 lightning strike. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $700,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 81 mph, on December 17, 2012.
April 5, 2011: thunderstorm wind 9 miles from the centre of Mc Rae — $250,000 damage.
March 27, 2005: flash flood 10 miles from the centre of Mc Rae — $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
Telfair County, which includes Mc Rae, has been named in 18 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1977, 8 of them major disasters (by incident: 7 hurricanes, 2 biological emergencies, 2 severe storms, 2 tornadoes). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Helene, on September 30, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Telfair 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 $5.1 million a year, the 118th highest of 159 Georgia counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $2.0 million (40%), 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 Mc Rae
- Helena, GA4 mi
- Alamo, GA9 mi
- Glenwood, GA15 mi
- Eastman, GA20 mi
- Mount Vernon, GA20 mi
- Hazlehurst, GA22 mi
- Rentz, GA23 mi
- Uvalda, GA24 mi
- Broxton, GA25 mi
- Abbeville, GA26 mi
- Dexter, GA28 mi
- Chester, GA29 mi
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