NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Wrightsville, 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
50 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Wrightsville, Georgia since 1851, 3 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Helene in 2024. Since 1950, 68 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 1 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 3
- Tropical storms
- 47
- Tornadoes
- 68
- 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 Wrightsville
The strongest storm to pass near Wrightsville was an unnamed storm in 1894, a Category 1 hurricane with 77 mph winds when its centre passed 52 miles away. The record near Wrightsville begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Helene in 2024, a tropical storm 25 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1880s, with 7 systems. Of the 50 systems, 6 have come since 2000. Wrightsville has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 66% of the 405 Georgia cities on this site. The strongest of the 68 tornadoes within 25 miles was an F3 on January 13, 1972; its path came within 21 miles. The deadliest, an EF2 on May 11, 2008, killed 2 people. Of the 68, 4 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 44 have come since 2000. April has had the most tornadoes, 21. The most recent tornado was on January 4, 2023. Of the 405 Georgia cities, 68% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Wrightsville. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 29 times since 1994, with stones up to 2.75 inches (baseball size). Of the 405 Georgia cities, 80% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Wrightsville.
Compare Wrightsville's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Wrightsville
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | HeleneSep 27 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2023 | IdaliaAug 30 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2021 | ElsaJul 8 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2019 | NestorOct 20 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2018 | MichaelOct 11 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2016 | HermineSep 2 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1998 | EarlSep 3 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1995 | AllisonJun 6 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1985 | KateNov 22 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1968 | AbbyJun 7 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1965 | Unnamed 1965 stormJun 15 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1964 | DoraSep 13 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1964 | CleoAug 30 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1956 | FlossySep 25 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1953 | FlorenceSep 27 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 28 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormOct 15 | 74 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1946 | Unnamed 1946 stormOct 8 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1941 | Unnamed 1941 stormOct 8 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1940 | Unnamed 1940 stormAug 12 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1935 | Unnamed 1935 stormSep 5 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1933 | Unnamed 1933 stormSep 7 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 1 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 30 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1917 | Unnamed 1917 stormSep 30 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 3 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1911 | Unnamed 1911 stormAug 29 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 15 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormSep 28 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormSep 18 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1898 | Unnamed 1898 stormOct 3 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1898 | Unnamed 1898 stormAug 31 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormJul 8 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormOct 9 | 52 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 3 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 24 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 9 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJul 1 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJun 22 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormOct 12 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 10 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1881 | Unnamed 1881 stormAug 28 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 3 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormOct 6 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormAug 13 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1856 | Unnamed 1856 stormAug 31 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1854 | Unnamed 1854 stormSep 9 | 69 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormOct 10 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormAug 27 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1851 | Unnamed 1851 stormAug 24 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 3 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Wrightsville: 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 Wrightsville
By decade
- 2020s8
- 2010s22
- 2000s14
- 1990s4
- 1980s7
- 1970s8(1 EF3+)
- 1960s3
- 1950s2
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 13, 1972 | F3 | 21 mi | 33.6 mi | 0 / 21 |
| May 11, 2008 | EF2 | 12 mi | 13.79 mi | 2 / 2 |
| Jul 22, 1970 | F2 | 18 mi | 2 mi | 1 / 1 |
| Apr 5, 2017 | EF2 | 21 mi | 20.19 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 21, 2014 | EF2 | 4 mi | 17.47 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 11, 2008 | EF2 | 10 mi | 7.49 mi | 0 / 3 |
| Dec 15, 2007 | EF2 | 24 mi | 3.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 14, 2007 | EF2 | 21 mi | 6.03 mi | 0 / 3 |
| Mar 1, 2007 | EF2 | 17 mi | 13.27 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 1, 1989 | F2 | 9 mi | 4 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 14, 1975 | F2 | 7 mi | 6 mi | 0 / 7 |
| Jan 13, 1972 | F2 | 14 mi | 11.3 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 68, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Wrightsville
The Storm Prediction Center has 29 hail reports within 10 miles of Wrightsville since 1994, made on 25 separate days. Of these, 12 were 1 inch across or larger, and 2 reached 2 inches. The largest, 2.75 inches (baseball size), fell on December 28, 2005. The most recent report is from April 9, 2020. April and May have the most reports, 5 each.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Wrightsville
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Kite, GA, 9 miles east of Wrightsville at 311 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 93°F and low of 70°F; January is the coolest, at 58°F and 35°F. June is the wettest at 5.3 inches of precipitation on average and October the driest at 2.9 inches; the year adds up to 49.0 inches. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 52% of the year's precipitation (25.3 of 49.0 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 50 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (16); a normal September there has highs of 87°F and 4.0 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 94 days a year, almost all from April to October. Lows fall below freezing on about 50 nights a year. That 49.0 inches is more than at 34 of the 108 Georgia stations used on this site (31%). East Dublin, 12 miles southwest, has its own station (Dublin, GA): 47.4 inches a year, 1.6 less than here, and a July average high of 94°F against 93°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58 | 35 | 4.3 |
| Feb | 62 | 37 | 4.1 |
| Mar | 69 | 43 | 4.4 |
| Apr | 77 | 49 | 3.4 |
| May | 84 | 58 | 3.2 |
| Jun | 90 | 67 | 5.3 |
| Jul | 93 | 70 | 5.0 |
| Aug | 91 | 69 | 5.0 |
| Sep | 87 | 63 | 4.0 |
| Oct | 78 | 52 | 2.9 |
| Nov | 68 | 41 | 3.1 |
| Dec | 60 | 36 | 4.3 |
| Year | 76 | 52 | 49.0 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Kite, GA (311 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 Wrightsville
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 92 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Wrightsville: 80 thunderstorm wind reports, 5 flash floods, 5 lightning strikes and 2 floods. They killed 0 people and injured 1, and the NWS estimated $1.6 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 70 mph, on November 16, 2011. Of the 392 Georgia cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 86 have had fewer than Wrightsville.
June 5, 2010: thunderstorm wind 10 miles from the centre of Wrightsville — 1 injured, $7,000 damage.
June 18, 2009: thunderstorm wind 2 miles from the centre of Wrightsville — $300,000 damage.
NWS: “The Johnson County Emergency Management Director reported that many trees and a number of power lines were down across the county from Wrightsville to Kite and southward toward Spann. Several roads were blocked from downed trees, including parts of Georgia Highway 15 south of Wrightsville.”
June 10, 2008: lightning strike 2 miles from the centre of Wrightsville — $250,000 damage.
NWS: “The Johnson County Emergency Management Director reported that lightning struck a large 3500 square foot home on the west side of Wrightsville igniting a fire. The structure was completely destroyed by the fire.”
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
Johnson County, which includes Wrightsville, has been named in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1977, 10 of them major disasters (by incident: 7 hurricanes, 2 biological emergencies, 2 floods, 2 ice storms). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Helene, on September 30, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Johnson 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 $2.8 million a year, the 143rd highest of 159 Georgia counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $878,000 (31%), 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 Wrightsville
- East Dublin, GA12 mi
- Adrian, GA14 mi
- Tennille, GA14 mi
- Davisboro, GA18 mi
- Dublin, GA19 mi
- Wadley, GA20 mi
- Sandersville, GA20 mi
- Swainsboro, GA22 mi
- Soperton, GA24 mi
- Louisville, GA27 mi
- Rentz, GA29 mi
- Dexter, GA29 mi
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