NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Richland, 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
38 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Richland, Georgia since 1851, 4 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Fred in 2021. Since 1950, 62 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 3 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 4
- Tropical storms
- 34
- Tornadoes
- 62
- EF3 or stronger
- 3
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
7 deaths in all
What the records show for Richland
The strongest storm to pass near Richland was Michael in 2018, a Category 1 hurricane with 84 mph winds when its centre passed 34 miles away. The record near Richland begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Fred in 2021, a tropical storm 52 miles away. The 1880s and the 1900s were the busiest decades, with 5 systems each. Of the 38 systems, 4 have come since 2000. Richland has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 69% of the 405 Georgia cities on this site. The highest rating among the 62 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3 or EF3, reached 3 times; the most recent, on March 1, 2007, came within 14 miles. Of the 62, 5 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 34 have come since 2000. April has had the most tornadoes, 22. The most recent tornado was on June 14, 2023. Of the 405 Georgia cities, 75% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Richland. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 28 times since 1981, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Of the 405 Georgia cities, 81% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Richland.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Richland
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | FredAug 17 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2019 | NestorOct 20 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2018 | MichaelOct 11 | 34 mi | Category 1 (84 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2017 | IrmaSep 12 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1998 | EarlSep 3 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1975 | EloiseSep 23 | 71 mi | Category 1 (84 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1965 | Unnamed 1965 stormJun 15 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1964 | DoraSep 12 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1956 | FlossySep 25 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1953 | FlorenceSep 27 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1950 | KingOct 19 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormOct 16 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1941 | Unnamed 1941 stormOct 7 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormAug 15 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormJul 29 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1917 | Unnamed 1917 stormSep 29 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormSep 4 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1914 | Unnamed 1914 stormSep 17 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormJul 16 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1906 | Unnamed 1906 stormJun 13 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1903 | Unnamed 1903 stormSep 15 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormOct 11 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormSep 28 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormSep 18 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1898 | Unnamed 1898 stormOct 3 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1898 | Unnamed 1898 stormSep 1 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormJul 8 | overhead | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 3 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 23 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormJul 28 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJun 21 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 10 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1881 | Unnamed 1881 stormAug 28 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormAug 13 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormSep 16 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1856 | Unnamed 1856 stormAug 31 | 47 mi | Category 1 (76 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormAug 27 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1851 | Unnamed 1851 stormAug 24 | 48 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 3 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Richland: 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 Richland
By decade
- 2020s6
- 2010s18
- 2000s10(1 EF3+)
- 1990s3
- 1980s5
- 1970s4(1 EF3+)
- 1960s7
- 1950s9(1 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 1, 2007 | EF3 | 14 mi | 40.14 mi | 2 / 11 |
| Mar 13, 1954 | F3 | 24 mi | 7 mi | 2 / 20 |
| Apr 23, 1971 | F3 | 17 mi | 13.9 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Apr 5, 1957 | F2 | 19 mi | 75 mi | 2 / 5 |
| Dec 5, 1954 | F2 | 2 mi | 71.5 mi | 1 / 35 |
| Mar 31, 2020 | EF2 | 18 mi | 29.97 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Mar 3, 2019 | EF2 | 10 mi | 30.86 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 5, 2017 | EF2 | 11 mi | 16.86 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 17, 2008 | EF2 | 15 mi | 17.08 mi | 0 / 4 |
| Jan 20, 1963 | F2 | 23 mi | 16.4 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Apr 9, 1961 | F2 | 5 mi | 4.9 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 31, 1961 | F2 | 23 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 62, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Richland
The Storm Prediction Center has 28 hail reports within 10 miles of Richland since 1981, made on 25 separate days. Of these, 13 were 1 inch across or larger, and none reached 2 inches. The largest size, 1.75 inches (golf ball size), was reported on 7 days, most recently May 22, 2020. The most recent report is from March 13, 2025. April has the most reports, 8.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Richland
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Lumpkin 2 SE, GA, 9 miles southwest of Richland at 485 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 92°F and low of 68°F; January is the coolest, at 60°F and 34°F. July is the wettest at 5.7 inches of precipitation on average and September the driest at 3.4 inches; the year adds up to 52.7 inches over 75 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 50% of the year's precipitation (26.2 of 52.7 inches). September has brought the most of the 38 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (16); a normal September there has highs of 88°F and 3.4 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 72 days a year, almost all from May to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 58 nights a year. That 52.7 inches is more than at 73 of the 108 Georgia stations used on this site (68%). Buena Vista, 16 miles northeast, has its own station (Plains SW Ga Exp Stn, GA): 50.8 inches a year, 1.9 less than here, and a July average high of 90°F against 92°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60 | 34 | 4.8 | 8 |
| Feb | 65 | 36 | 4.9 | 6 |
| Mar | 72 | 41 | 4.9 | 7 |
| Apr | 79 | 48 | 4.2 | 6 |
| May | 86 | 57 | 3.6 | 4 |
| Jun | 91 | 64 | 5.6 | 9 |
| Jul | 92 | 68 | 5.7 | 9 |
| Aug | 92 | 67 | 3.6 | 7 |
| Sep | 88 | 62 | 3.4 | 5 |
| Oct | 81 | 51 | 3.6 | 4 |
| Nov | 71 | 39 | 4.3 | 6 |
| Dec | 63 | 35 | 4.1 | 6 |
| Year | 78 | 50 | 52.7 | 75 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Lumpkin 2 SE, GA (485 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 Richland
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 44 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Richland: 42 thunderstorm wind reports, 1 flood and 1 lightning strike. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $389,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 69 mph, on July 11, 2016.
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
Stewart County, which includes Richland, has been named in 17 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1977, 9 of them major disasters (by incident: 6 hurricanes, 4 severe storms, 2 biological emergencies, 2 tropical storms). The latest major disaster declaration was Covid-19 Pandemic, on March 29, 2020. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Stewart County a Very Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Low for hurricanes, tornadoes and lightning; Very Low for hail, inland flooding, strong wind and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $1.8 million a year, the 153rd highest of 159 Georgia counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $625,000 (35%), 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 Richland
- Lumpkin, GA10 mi
- Buena Vista, GA16 mi
- Ellaville, GA22 mi
- Fort Mitchell, AL22 mi
- Fort Benning, GA23 mi
- Cuthbert, GA24 mi
- Americus, GA25 mi
- Dawson, GA27 mi
- Georgetown, GA29 mi
- Box Springs, GA29 mi
- Seale, AL30 mi
- Columbus, GA31 mi
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