NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Tifton, 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
69 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Tifton, Georgia since 1851, 10 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Helene in 2024. Since 1950, 111 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 1 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 10
- Tropical storms
- 59
- Tornadoes
- 111
- EF3 or stronger
- 1
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
4 deaths in all
What the records show for Tifton
The strongest storm to pass near Tifton was Helene in 2024, a Category 1 hurricane with 90 mph winds when its centre passed 13 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was Kate in 1985, whose centre came within 1 mile. The record near Tifton begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Helene in 2024. The 1870s and the 1880s were the busiest decades, with 7 systems each. Of the 69 systems, 12 have come since 2000. Tifton has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 81% of the 405 Georgia cities on this site. The strongest of the 111 tornadoes within 25 miles was an F3 on May 11, 1952; its path came within 17 miles. The deadliest, an EF1 on December 15, 2007, killed 1 person. Of the 111, 10 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 42 have come since 2000. April has had the most tornadoes, 22. The most recent tornado was on September 25, 2024. Tifton has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 84% of the 405 Georgia cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 49 times since 1955, with stones up to 2.75 inches (baseball size). Of the 405 Georgia cities, 55% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Tifton.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Tifton
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | HeleneSep 27 | 13 mi | Category 1 (90 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2023 | IdaliaAug 30 | 51 mi | Category 1 (82 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2021 | MindySep 9 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2021 | ElsaJul 7 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2019 | NestorOct 20 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2018 | MichaelOct 11 | 46 mi | Category 1 (82 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2017 | IrmaSep 11 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2016 | HermineSep 2 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2006 | AlbertoJun 13 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2005 | TammyOct 6 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2004 | JeanneSep 27 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2004 | FrancesSep 6 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1998 | EarlSep 3 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1996 | JosephineOct 8 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1995 | AllisonJun 5 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1985 | KateNov 22 | 1 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1972 | AlphaMay 28 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1966 | AlmaJun 10 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1965 | Unnamed 1965 stormJun 15 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1964 | HildaOct 5 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1964 | DoraSep 12 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1957 | Unnamed 1957 stormJun 9 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1956 | FlossySep 25 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1953 | FlorenceSep 27 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1950 | KingOct 19 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 28 | 36 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormOct 15 | 1 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormOct 7 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1941 | Unnamed 1941 stormOct 7 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1935 | Unnamed 1935 stormSep 5 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormSep 6 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 1 | overhead | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormAug 10 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1926 | Unnamed 1926 stormJul 29 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 30 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 16 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1919 | Unnamed 1919 stormOct 1 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1917 | Unnamed 1917 stormSep 29 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 2 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1914 | Unnamed 1914 stormSep 17 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormJul 16 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1911 | Unnamed 1911 stormAug 29 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormSep 29 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormJun 29 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 15 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormSep 28 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormSep 18 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1898 | Unnamed 1898 stormOct 3 | 38 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormOct 9 | 4 mi | Category 1 (85 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormJun 16 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 9 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJul 1 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJun 21 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormOct 12 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormSep 21 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormAug 31 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1881 | Unnamed 1881 stormAug 28 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormOct 11 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 3 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormSep 20 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1873 | Unnamed 1873 stormSep 19 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormOct 6 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 26 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 23 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1868 | Unnamed 1868 stormOct 4 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormAug 13 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1856 | Unnamed 1856 stormAug 31 | 30 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormOct 10 | 20 mi | Category 1 (78 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1851 | Unnamed 1851 stormAug 24 | 31 mi | Category 1 (78 mph) | Category 3 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Tifton: 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 Tifton
By decade
- 2020s10
- 2010s12
- 2000s20
- 1990s13
- 1980s10
- 1970s17
- 1960s18
- 1950s11(1 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 11, 1952 | F3 | 17 mi | 4.3 mi | 0 / 10 |
| Feb 14, 2000 | F2 | 9 mi | 6 mi | 1 / 0 |
| Jan 12, 1975 | F2 | 11 mi | 168.5 mi | 1 / 33 |
| Jan 22, 2023 | EF2 | 22 mi | 5.89 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 20, 2020 | EF2 | 21 mi | 8.72 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Dec 17, 2019 | EF2 | 9 mi | 20.31 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 1, 2007 | EF2 | 12 mi | 2.93 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 1, 2007 | EF2 | 20 mi | 4.55 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Mar 6, 1996 | F2 | 18 mi | 10 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 22, 1970 | F2 | 21 mi | 0.3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 15, 1969 | F2 | 2 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 18, 1969 | F2 | 17 mi | 217.8 mi | 0 / 30 |
The strongest 12 of 111, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Tifton
The Storm Prediction Center has 49 hail reports within 10 miles of Tifton since 1955, made on 29 separate days. Of these, 37 were 1 inch across or larger, and 4 reached 2 inches. The largest, 2.75 inches (baseball size), fell on May 24, 1988. The most recent report is from April 27, 2025. May has the most reports, 21.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Tifton
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Tifton, GA, 2 miles southeast of Tifton at 380 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 90°F and low of 70°F; January is the coolest, at 59°F and 37°F. July is the wettest at 5.2 inches of precipitation on average and May the driest at 2.7 inches; the year adds up to 48.5 inches over 71 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 52% of the year's precipitation (25.0 of 48.5 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 69 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (23); a normal September there has highs of 86°F and 4.3 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 74 days a year, almost all from May to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 30 nights a year. That 48.5 inches is more than at 29 of the 108 Georgia stations used on this site (27%). Ocilla, 16 miles northeast, has its own station (Fitzgerald, GA): 47.6 inches a year, 0.9 less than here, and a July average high of 92°F against 90°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 59 | 37 | 4.1 | 6 |
| Feb | 64 | 40 | 4.4 | 6 |
| Mar | 69 | 46 | 4.8 | 6 |
| Apr | 75 | 52 | 3.3 | 4 |
| May | 84 | 60 | 2.7 | 5 |
| Jun | 88 | 67 | 5.0 | 9 |
| Jul | 90 | 70 | 5.2 | 9 |
| Aug | 89 | 70 | 4.5 | 8 |
| Sep | 86 | 65 | 4.3 | 5 |
| Oct | 77 | 55 | 2.8 | 4 |
| Nov | 68 | 45 | 3.2 | 4 |
| Dec | 63 | 40 | 4.2 | 5 |
| Year | 76 | 54 | 48.5 | 71 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Tifton, GA (380 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 Tifton
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 161 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Tifton: 128 thunderstorm wind reports, 14 floods, 10 flash floods, 7 heavy rain events and 2 lightning strikes. They killed 1 person and injured 2, and the NWS estimated $1.7 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 75 mph, on June 24, 2013. April has had the most flash floods, 5 of 10. Of the 392 Georgia cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 189 have had fewer than Tifton.
June 30, 2007: lightning strike 8 miles from the centre of Tifton — 1 killed, 2 injured.
NWS: “Three men taking shelter under a pecan tree off Ty Ty-Sparkss Road were struck by lightning. Two of the men were injured and one was killed.”
February 23, 2013: flood 7 miles from the centre of Tifton — $500,000 damage.
August 8, 2012: flash flood in Tifton — $250,000 damage.
NWS: “Significant flash flooding occurred across Tifton and extending eastward into eastern Tift county along Highway 82. In Tifton, the bottom floor of the Ramada Inn hotel had to be evacuated due to water entering the hotel.”
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 Tifton's 2 ZIP codes have filed 88 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1980, and were paid $3.5 million for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The year with the most claims was 2012, with 19. 11% 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, 111 have fewer than Tifton.
Tift County, which includes Tifton, has been named in 20 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1974, 12 of them major disasters (by incident: 8 hurricanes, 4 severe storms, 3 tropical storms, 2 biological emergencies). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Helene, on September 30, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Tift County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Moderate for hurricanes, tornadoes, strong wind and lightning; Relatively Low for hail, inland flooding and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $16.3 million a year, the 48th highest of 159 Georgia counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $5.3 million (32%), 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 Tifton
- Omega, GA11 mi
- Lenox, GA13 mi
- Sycamore, GA13 mi
- Ocilla, GA16 mi
- Norman Park, GA17 mi
- Poulan, GA17 mi
- Ashburn, GA19 mi
- Sparks, GA20 mi
- Sylvester, GA21 mi
- Fitzgerald, GA23 mi
- Adel, GA24 mi
- Nashville, GA25 mi
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