Candler County, Georgia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 13043 · population 10,953 · 243 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 219 records for Candler County, Georgia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 171 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (113 records). The most damaging was the April 15, 1999 tornado ($443,000 in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 22 declarations naming the county since 1977, 20 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
- 219on 171 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 04 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $2.3Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 6strongest F1
- FEMA declarations
- 22latest 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 Candler County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 113 since 1963. 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.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 113 | 89 | 1963-2026 | 0 | 2 | $283K | 56 of 159 |
| Hail | 31 | 25 | 1991-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 78 of 159 |
| Drought | 23 | 23 | 1996-2002 | 0 | 0 | – | 86 of 159 |
| Winter storms | 11 | 10 | 2002-2026 | 0 | 0 | $52K | 70 of 159 |
| Floods | 8 | 7 | 2004-2025 | 0 | 0 | $122K | 94 of 159 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 7 | 7 | 1999-2024 | 0 | 0 | $301K | 110 of 159 |
| Heat | 6 | 6 | 1996-2010 | 0 | 0 | – | 87 of 159 |
| Tornadoes | 6 | 5 | 1956-2004 | 0 | 2 | $1.4M | 135 of 159 |
| High wind and dust storms | 5 | 3 | 2004-2023 | 0 | 0 | $1K | 87 of 159 |
| Extreme cold | 4 | 4 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 105 of 159 |
| Lightning | 4 | 4 | 2017-2026 | 0 | 0 | $208K | 60 of 159 |
| Wildfires | 1 | 1 | 2018-2018 | 0 | 0 | – | 29 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 Candler County had?
NOAA records 6 tornadoes in Candler County from 1956 to 2004, the strongest rated F1, with 0 deaths and 2 injuries recorded in the county. 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 6 tornadoes whose track touched Candler County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 6, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Georgia.
Every tornado record filed for Candler County (6)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-09-06 | Metter, Candler County | F0 2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1999-04-15 | Metter, Candler County | F0 1.5 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $9K |
| 1999-04-15 | Metter, Candler County | F1 9 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 2 | $443K |
| 1997-04-22 | Metter, Candler County | F1 5 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | $202K |
| 1984-05-03 | Candler County | F1 1 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1956-09-25 | Candler County | F1 0.5 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 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 Candler County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 14, 2026 lightning ($150,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-14 | LightningMetter, Candler County | 0 | 0 | $150K | |
| 2026-06-14 | Thunderstorm WindPulaski, Candler County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-14 | Thunderstorm WindPulaski, Candler County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-01 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillCandler County · forecast zone Candler | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-31 | Winter WeatherCandler County · forecast zone Candler | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-31 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillCandler County · forecast zone Candler | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-18 | Winter WeatherCandler County · forecast zone Candler | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-07-20 | Thunderstorm WindMetter, Candler County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-07-14 | Thunderstorm WindMetter, Candler County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-07-14 | HailMetter, Candler County | 0.88 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-07-11 | LightningMetter, Candler County | 0 | 0 | $20K | |
| 2025-06-25 | Thunderstorm WindMetter, Candler County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
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
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-06-17 | Thunderstorm WindExcelsior, Candler County An emergency manager reported numerous trees down and 3 recreational vehicles turned over with 2 minor injuries along Interstate 16 just before mile marker 111. | 50 kt wind | 0 | 2 | – |
| 1999-04-15 | TornadoMetter, Candler County Tornado ripped the end off one mobile home, caused moderate damage to a house and practically destroyed seven other mobile homes. Another mobile home was flipped several times and ended up on the bottom of a nearby pond. Two persons were in this mobile home. The female landed at the edge of the water while the male ... | F1 9 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 2 | $443K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999-04-15 | TornadoMetter, Candler County | F1 9 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 2 | $443K |
| 2017-09-11 | Tropical DepressionCandler County · forecast zone Candler | 0 | 0 | $301K | |
| 1997-04-22 | TornadoMetter, Candler County | F1 5 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | $202K |
| 2026-06-14 | LightningMetter, Candler County | 0 | 0 | $150K | |
| 2011-09-25 | Thunderstorm WindMetter, Candler County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $79K |
| 2025-05-11 | Flash FloodPulaski, Candler County | 0 | 0 | $30K |
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 $250K, in the dollars of the day) holds: May 3, 1984 (tornado, Candler 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 Candler 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).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 14 | 26 | 35 | 26 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 8 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 3 | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
Records by month in Candler County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 17 · Feb 11 · Mar 15 · Apr 24 · May 29 · Jun 37 · Jul 29 · Aug 24 · Sep 18 · Oct 4 · Nov 4 · Dec 7 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Candler County
FEMA's register lists 22 declarations that include Candler County: 11 major disasters, 11 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (10) and tropical storm (3).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-24 | EM-3642 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2024-09-30 | DR-4830 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| 2024-09-26 | EM-3616 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Helene |
| 2024-09-24 | DR-4821 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Debby |
| 2024-08-05 | EM-3607 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Debby |
| 2023-09-07 | DR-4738 | Hurricane | Hurricane Idalia |
| 2020-03-29 | DR-4501 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3464 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018-10-14 | DR-4400 | Hurricane | Hurricane Michael |
| 2018-10-10 | EM-3406 | Hurricane | Hurricane Michael |
| 2017-09-15 | DR-4338 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| 2017-09-08 | EM-3387 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| 2016-10-08 | DR-4284 | Hurricane | Hurricane Matthew |
| 2016-10-06 | EM-3379 | Hurricane | Hurricane Matthew |
| 2014-03-06 | DR-4165 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2014-02-11 | EM-3368 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3218 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-09-24 | DR-1560 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Frances |
| 1999-04-20 | DR-1271 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Tornadoes |
| 1998-03-11 | DR-1209 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1993-03-15 | EM-3097 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall, Winter Storm |
| 1977-07-20 | EM-3044 | Drought | Drought |
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 Candler County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 8 flood or flash flood records for Candler County from 2004 to 2025, on 7 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Candler County ranks 2523rd of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Irma | 2017-09-11 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $124,000 on 6 claims filed in Candler County; the most in one year was 4 in 2024. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
2013: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2024: 4; 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 Candler County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Candler County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $4.3 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.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | $1.3M | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $228K | 26 modeled event-days a year |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $268K | 7.9 modeled event-days a year |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $35K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $499K | once in about 9 years (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $76K | 67 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $139K | 1.9 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Very Low | $267K | once in about 484 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Candler County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Tornadoes in GeorgiaEvery Georgia tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Severe thunderstorm wind in GeorgiaThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, by county, year and month
- The Georgia recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Candler CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Candler County's FEMA declarations (CSV)22 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis