Bibb County, Georgia

County storm and disaster record · FIPS 13021 · population 157,280 · 249 sq mi

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 505 records for Bibb County, Georgia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 397 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (241 records). The deadliest single record is the March 13, 1954 tornado: 5 deaths and 50 injuries. FEMA has issued 16 declarations naming the county since 1977, 14 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Winter Storm” on January 24, 2026.

The record, 1950 to 2026

Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).

  • recorded, no damage figure
  • under $100,000
  • $100,000 or more
  • $1 million or more
  • $10 million or more, or a death
  • $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
  • a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
  • a year with a death
  • 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
  • 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
Storm records
505on 397 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
Deaths recorded
765 injuries
Damage, 2025 dollars
$106Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
Tornadoes
26strongest EF3
FEMA declarations
16latest 2026

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.

What hazards hit Bibb County most?

The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 241 since 1962. 40% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1962 fell in June and July. The rank column places the county among Georgia's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.

Bibb County: records by hazard, 1950 to June 30, 2026
HazardRecordsDaysFirst, lastKilledInjuredDamageRank in state
Severe thunderstorm wind 241 204 1962-2026 0 6 $3.3M 4 of 159
Hail 98 80 1962-2023 0 0 $11M 7 of 159
Drought 31 31 1997-2026 0 0 $2.6M 53 of 159
Tornadoes 26 24 1952-2026 5 57 $85M 2 of 159
Floods 21 19 1997-2023 0 0 $1.1M 25 of 159
Hurricanes and tropical storms 18 17 2002-2024 0 0 $362K 30 of 159
Extreme cold 14 14 1996-2007 0 0 – 31 of 159
High wind and dust storms 13 13 1998-2009 0 0 $1.2M 23 of 159
Heat 11 11 1999-2012 0 0 – 32 of 159
Winter storms 11 11 2002-2026 2 0 $38K 66 of 159
Lightning 10 9 1999-2011 0 2 $619K 27 of 159
Heavy rain 6 6 2001-2014 0 0 – 14 of 159
Fog, smoke and funnel clouds 5 4 2002-2011 0 0 – 21 of 159

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.

How many tornadoes has Bibb County had?

NOAA records 26 tornadoes in Bibb County from 1952 to 2026, the strongest rated EF3, with 5 deaths and 57 injuries recorded in the county. That is 2nd of 159 Georgia counties and 47th of 3,080 U.S. counties by days with tornadoes per 1,000 square miles since 1950. A tornado that crossed a county line is counted in each county it touched, with the length of its path inside the county.

Counted as whole tornadoes rather than county records, the Storm Prediction Center's database holds 24 tornadoes whose track touched Bibb County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 26: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 5 people.

The deadliest and strongest tornadoes that touched Bibb County, whole tracks
DateTornadoRatingPathKilled
1954-03-13 21:20, as SPC files itMacon-Bibb CountyF349.5 mi5
2007-03-01 16:34, as SPC files itMacon-Bibb CountyEF39.72 mi0
1952-03-03 20:11, as SPC files itMacon-Bibb CountyF34.3 mi0

Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Georgia.

Every tornado record filed for Bibb County (26)
Every tornado recorded in Bibb County, newest first
DatePlaceCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-03-16 Payne City, Bibb County EF0 1.94 mi x 320 yd 0 0 –
2026-03-12 Rivoli, Bibb County EF1 3.39 mi x 200 yd 0 0 –
2025-04-06 Dry Branch, Bibb County EF1 1.42 mi x 300 yd 0 0 –
2025-03-31 Avondale, Bibb County EF0 0.3 mi x 100 yd 0 0 –
2022-04-05 Payne City, Bibb County EF1 2.02 mi x 100 yd 0 0 –
2020-04-13 Wesleyan College, Bibb County EF1 3.68 mi x 300 yd 0 0 $285K
2019-03-03 Bloomfield, Bibb County EF0 1.07 mi x 150 yd 0 0 $115K
2018-11-07 Skipperton, Bibb County EF0 7.59 mi x 200 yd 0 0 $18K
2017-08-04 Walden, Bibb County EF1 1.86 mi x 200 yd 0 0 $120K
2011-04-16 Rivoli, Bibb County EF1 3.46 mi x 500 yd 0 0 $2.6M
2011-04-05 Walden, Bibb County EF1 1.11 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $394K
2008-05-11 Lizella, Bibb County EF2 17.42 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $6.9M
2007-03-01 Payne City, Bibb County EF0 2.55 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $142K
2007-03-01 Lizella, Bibb County EF3 3.16 mi x 448 yd 0 0 $36K
2002-11-10 Lorane, Bibb County F0 0.6 mi x 200 yd 0 0 $656K
1983-04-23 Bibb County F1 1 mi x 30 yd 0 0 $3K step
1979-04-13 Bibb County F1 1 mi x 300 yd 0 0 $25K step
1979-04-13 Bibb County F1 4 mi x 500 yd 0 1 $2.5M step
1972-04-07 Bibb County F1 2.7 mi x 200 yd 0 0 $25K step
1962-03-11 Bibb County F0 0.5 mi x 300 yd 0 0 $25K step
1961-02-24 Bibb County F2 3.8 mi x 30 yd 0 0 $25K step
1958-01-31 Bibb County F2 0.3 mi x 33 yd 0 0 $250K step
1955-05-21 Bibb County F1 16.1 mi x 400 yd 0 2 $2.5M step
1954-03-13 Bibb County F3 15.5 mi x 300 yd 5 50 $2.5M step
1953-04-30 Bibb County F2 5.6 mi x 200 yd 0 0 $250K step
1952-03-03 Bibb County F3 4.3 mi x 400 yd 0 4 $250K step

A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, tornado records by county (path length in the county, maximum width); ratings as published: F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after. Whole-track figures: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950-2025). SPC severe weather database.

When was the last damaging storm in Bibb County?

The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the March 12, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($1,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).

The 12 most recent records kept for Bibb County
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-03-16 TornadoPayne City, Bibb County EF0 1.94 mi x 320 yd 0 0 –
2026-03-12 TornadoRivoli, Bibb County EF1 3.39 mi x 200 yd 0 0 –
2026-03-12 Thunderstorm WindPayne City, Bibb County 56 kt wind 0 0 $1K
2026-03-12 Thunderstorm WindPayne City, Bibb County 56 kt wind 0 0 $1K
2026-03-01 DroughtBibb County · forecast zone Bibb 0 0 –
2026-02-01 DroughtBibb County · forecast zone Bibb 0 0 –
2026-01-18 Winter StormBibb County · forecast zone Bibb 0 0 –
2026-01-13 DroughtBibb County · forecast zone Bibb 0 0 –
2025-04-06 TornadoDry Branch, Bibb County EF1 1.42 mi x 300 yd 0 0 –
2025-04-06 Thunderstorm WindRivoli, Bibb County 55 kt wind 0 0 –
2025-03-31 TornadoAvondale, Bibb County EF0 0.3 mi x 100 yd 0 0 –
2025-02-16 Thunderstorm WindRivoli, Bibb County 48 kt wind 0 0 $1K

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.

The deadliest and costliest records

Records with deaths or injuries in Bibb County, most deaths first
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
1954-03-13 TornadoBibb County F3 15.5 mi x 300 yd 5 50 $2.5M step
2018-01-17 Winter WeatherBibb County · forecast zone Bibb The ASOS observer measured an inch of snow accumulation at the Macon airport. The Bibb County Emergency Manager reported several accidents caused by the slick roads. On I-75 around mile marker 160, a car slid off of the roadway hitting the guardrail. A second car also lost control and slid off of the roadway at this ... 2 0 –
1952-03-03 TornadoBibb County F3 4.3 mi x 400 yd 0 4 $250K step
1991-07-10 Thunderstorm WindBibb County 0 2 –
1987-07-25 Thunderstorm WindBibb County 0 2 –
1955-05-21 TornadoBibb County F1 16.1 mi x 400 yd 0 2 $2.5M step
2010-08-14 LightningSkipperton, Bibb County The Macon Telegraph reported that lightning struck a U.S. Postal Service mail carrier while placing mail in a mailbox on Rocky Creek Road in Macon. The female mail carrier was taken to the hospital after asking for medical attention, but did not sustain any life-threatening injuries. 0 1 –
2002-07-02 LightningSkipperton, Bibb County An amateur radio operator reported that a person was struck and injured by lightning. 0 1 –

A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.

The costliest records in Bibb County since 1993, damage in 2025 dollars
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2008-05-11 TornadoLizella, Bibb County EF2 17.42 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $6.9M
2011-03-26 HailLizella, Bibb County 2.50 in hail 0 0 $3.0M
2011-04-16 TornadoRivoli, Bibb County EF1 3.46 mi x 500 yd 0 0 $2.6M
2000-06-01 DroughtBibb County · forecast zone Bibb 0 0 $2.6M
2019-03-03 HailSkipperton, Bibb County 2.00 in hail 0 0 $2.3M
2015-04-25 HailSkipperton, Bibb County 1.75 in hail 0 0 $2.1M
2011-03-26 HailSkipperton, Bibb County 1.75 in hail 0 0 $2.1M
2008-05-10 HailLizella, Bibb County 1.75 in hail 0 0 $1.4M

Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $2.5M, in the dollars of the day) holds: March 13, 1954 (tornado, Bibb County, 5 killed); May 21, 1955 (tornado, Bibb County); April 13, 1979 (tornado, Bibb County).

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.

Is it getting more frequent?

Records per decade for Bibb County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).

Bibb County: records per decade (the 2020s to June 30, 2026)
Hazard1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020-26
Severe thunderstorm wind02173164386029
Hail035132238152
Drought––––31783
Tornadoes52310456
Floods––––31413
Hurricanes and tropical storms––––01233

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).

What time of year?

40% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1962 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.

The values, month by month

Jan 33 · Feb 28 · Mar 61 · Apr 65 · May 51 · Jun 67 · Jul 71 · Aug 58 · Sep 35 · Oct 14 · Nov 13 · Dec 9 (records).

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.

Federal disaster declarations for Bibb County

FEMA's register lists 16 declarations that include Bibb County: 7 major disasters, 9 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (5) and severe storm (3).

Declarations including Bibb County, newest first
DeclaredNumberTypeTitle
2026-01-24EM-3642Winter StormSevere Winter Storm
2024-09-26EM-3616Tropical StormHurricane Helene
2020-03-29DR-4501BiologicalCovid-19 Pandemic
2020-03-13EM-3464BiologicalCovid-19
2018-10-10EM-3406HurricaneHurricane Michael
2017-09-15DR-4338HurricaneHurricane Irma
2017-09-08EM-3387HurricaneHurricane Irma
2014-02-11EM-3368Severe Ice StormSevere Winter Storm
2008-05-23DR-1761Severe StormSevere Storms and Tornadoes
2005-09-05EM-3218HurricaneHurricane Katrina Evacuation
2004-09-24DR-1560HurricaneTropical Storm Frances
1998-03-11DR-1209Severe StormSevere Storms and Flooding
1994-07-07DR-1033TornadoTornadoes, Flooding Torrential Rain(Trop Storm Alberto)
1993-03-15EM-3097SnowstormSevere Snowfall, Winter Storm
1990-02-23DR-857Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornaodes & Flooding
1977-07-20EM-3044DroughtDrought

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.

How many floods has Bibb County had?

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 21 flood or flash flood records for Bibb County from 1997 to 2023, on 19 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Bibb County ranks 1069th of 2,942 U.S. counties.

Named storms on Bibb County's flood and tropical record
StormBeganRecordsDeaths in the county
Hurricane Irma2017-09-1110

The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $3.8 million on 155 claims filed in Bibb County; the most in one year was 33 in 1994. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.

The values, year by year

1979: 1 · 1980: 1 · 1983: 2 · 1985: 1 · 1986: 1 · 1990: 4 · 1992: 3 · 1994: 33 · 1997: 2 · 1998: 11 · 2001: 1 · 2002: 1 · 2003: 3 · 2004: 3 · 2005: 3 · 2006: 1 · 2007: 3 · 2009: 12 · 2010: 1 · 2011: 1 · 2012: 1 · 2013: 7 · 2015: 3 · 2016: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2019: 5 · 2020: 18 · 2021: 10 · 2022: 4 · 2023: 6 · 2024: 7 · 2025: 1 · 2026: 1; the other years: 0.

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.

FEMA's modeled risk for Bibb County

FEMA's National Risk Index rates Bibb County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $33.3 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.

National Risk Index ratings for Bibb County (December 2025 release), by FEMA's rating, then score
HazardRisk ratingExpected annual lossModeled frequency
LightningRelatively High$893K63 a year (modeled)
Heat WaveRelatively Moderate$4.3M6.9 modeled event-days a year
TornadoRelatively Moderate$5.2Monce in about 7 years (modeled)
HailRelatively Moderate$862K2.7 a year (modeled)
HurricaneRelatively Moderate$2.1Monce in about 11 years (modeled)
Strong WindRelatively Moderate$1.1M1.5 a year (modeled)
Riverine FloodingRelatively Moderate$17Mabout once a year (modeled)
EarthquakeRelatively Low$1.1Monce in about 530 years (modeled)

Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.

Counties that share a border with Bibb County

  1. Houston County 556
  2. Bibb County 505
  3. Monroe County 343
  4. Twiggs County 322
  5. Jones County 289
  6. Crawford County 265

Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.

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