NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Williamson, 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
21 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Williamson, Georgia since 1851, 0 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Helene in 2024. Since 1950, 121 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 10 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 0
- Tropical storms
- 21
- Tornadoes
- 121
- EF3 or stronger
- 10
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
11 deaths in all
What the records show for Williamson
None of the 21 tropical systems was at hurricane strength as it passed Williamson; the strongest was Helene in 2024, a tropical storm with 66 mph winds when its centre passed 72 miles away. The record near Williamson begins with an unnamed storm in 1852; the most recent system was Helene in 2024. The busiest decade was the 1900s, with 5 systems. Of the 21 systems, 2 have come since 2000. Of the 405 Georgia cities on this site, 51% have more tropical storms and hurricanes within 75 miles than Williamson. The strongest of the 121 tornadoes within 25 miles was an EF4 on March 25, 2021; its path came within 22 miles. The deadliest, an EF2 on January 12, 2023, killed 4 people. Of the 121, 9 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 77 have come since 2000. April has had the most tornadoes, 25. The most recent tornado was on June 25, 2025. Williamson has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 93% of the 405 Georgia cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 67 times since 1968, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Williamson has more hail reports within 10 miles than 57% of the 405 Georgia cities.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Williamson
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | HeleneSep 27 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2018 | MichaelOct 11 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1975 | EloiseSep 23 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1965 | Unnamed 1965 stormJun 15 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1940 | Unnamed 1940 stormAug 12 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormSep 4 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormJun 14 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormSep 22 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1903 | Unnamed 1903 stormSep 15 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormOct 11 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormSep 28 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormSep 18 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1898 | Unnamed 1898 stormOct 3 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1898 | Unnamed 1898 stormSep 1 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormJul 8 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 3 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 23 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1887 | Unnamed 1887 stormJul 28 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 10 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormSep 16 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormAug 27 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Williamson: 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 Williamson
By decade
- 2020s30(4 EF3+)
- 2010s30(2 EF3+)
- 2000s17(1 EF3+)
- 1990s10
- 1980s13(1 EF3+)
- 1970s7
- 1960s8(1 EF3+)
- 1950s6(1 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 25, 2021 | EF4 | 22 mi | 38.56 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF3 | 12 mi | 30.82 mi | 2 / 22 |
| Apr 27, 2011 | EF3 | 7 mi | 21.68 mi | 2 / 0 |
| Jan 12, 2023 | EF3 | 3 mi | 31.16 mi | 0 / 18 |
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF3 | 22 mi | 5.3 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF3 | 19 mi | 16.63 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jan 2, 2006 | F3 | 2 mi | 3 mi | 0 / 3 |
| Mar 5, 1989 | F3 | 25 mi | 14 mi | 0 / 23 |
| Dec 24, 1964 | F3 | 22 mi | 75.4 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Dec 5, 1954 | F3 | 25 mi | 51 mi | 0 / 7 |
| Jan 12, 2023 | EF2 | 11 mi | 125.76 mi | 4 / 40 |
| Mar 31, 1973 | F2 | 25 mi | 72.4 mi | 2 / 100 |
The strongest 12 of 121, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Williamson
The Storm Prediction Center has 67 hail reports within 10 miles of Williamson since 1968, made on 55 separate days. Of these, 35 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 March 26, 2011. The most recent report is from April 10, 2025. May has the most reports, 16.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Williamson
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Experiment, GA, 8 miles northeast of Williamson at 934 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 90°F and low of 69°F; January is the coolest, at 56°F and 34°F. January is the wettest at 5.3 inches of precipitation on average and October the driest at 3.3 inches; the year adds up to 54.2 inches over 79 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 49% of the year's precipitation (26.8 of 54.2 inches); the other six months are wetter. September has brought the most of the 21 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (11); a normal September there has highs of 84°F and 4.4 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 39 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 52 nights a year. That 54.2 inches is more than at 82 of the 108 Georgia stations used on this site (76%). Brooks, 9 miles northwest, has its own station (Atlanta, GA): 49.4 inches a year, 4.8 less than here, and a July average high of 91°F against 90°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56 | 34 | 5.3 | 8 |
| Feb | 59 | 37 | 4.3 | 7 |
| Mar | 67 | 44 | 5.1 | 7 |
| Apr | 74 | 50 | 4.0 | 6 |
| May | 81 | 59 | 3.7 | 6 |
| Jun | 87 | 66 | 4.9 | 9 |
| Jul | 90 | 69 | 5.1 | 7 |
| Aug | 89 | 68 | 5.1 | 6 |
| Sep | 84 | 64 | 4.4 | 6 |
| Oct | 75 | 52 | 3.3 | 5 |
| Nov | 66 | 42 | 4.0 | 7 |
| Dec | 58 | 36 | 5.0 | 7 |
| Year | 74 | 52 | 54.2 | 79 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Experiment, GA (934 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 Williamson
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 249 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Williamson: 206 thunderstorm wind reports, 33 flash floods, 6 lightning strikes and 4 floods. They killed 0 people and injured 1, and the NWS estimated $1.8 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 69 mph, on June 17, 2016. March has had the most flash floods, 12 of 33. Of the 392 Georgia cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 348 have had fewer than Williamson.
February 18, 2009: lightning strike 8 miles from the centre of Williamson — 1 injured.
July 15, 1997: thunderstorm wind 8 miles from the centre of Williamson — $250,000 damage.
July 6, 2005: thunderstorm wind 7 miles from the centre of Williamson — $250,000 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
Pike County, which includes Williamson, has been named in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1977, 13 of them major disasters (by incident: 7 hurricanes, 4 severe storms, 2 biological emergencies, 2 ice storms). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Helene, on September 30, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Pike County a Very Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Low for tornadoes, hail, strong wind and lightning; Very Low for hurricanes, inland flooding and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $3.7 million a year, the 132nd highest of 159 Georgia counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $2.2 million (59%), 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 Williamson
- Zebulon, GA6 mi
- Concord, GA6 mi
- Griffin, GA8 mi
- Brooks, GA9 mi
- Milner, GA11 mi
- Meansville, GA11 mi
- Molena, GA13 mi
- Senoia, GA14 mi
- Barnesville, GA15 mi
- Hampton, GA17 mi
- Woodbury, GA19 mi
- Thomaston, GA19 mi
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