Cobb County, Georgia

County storm and disaster record · FIPS 13067 · population 764,915 · 340 sq mi

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 760 records for Cobb County, Georgia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 501 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (250 records). The deadliest single record is the June 30, 1995 tornado: 4 deaths and 250 injuries. FEMA has issued 19 declarations naming the county since 1966, 17 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
760on 501 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
Deaths recorded
9374 injuries
Damage, 2025 dollars
$474Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
Tornadoes
31strongest F4
FEMA declarations
19latest 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 Cobb County most?

The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 250 since 1957. 48% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1957 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.

Cobb County: records by hazard, 1950 to June 30, 2026
HazardRecordsDaysFirst, lastKilledInjuredDamageRank in state
Severe thunderstorm wind 250 207 1957-2025 2 8 $13M 13 of 159
Hail 222 151 1960-2025 0 0 $38M 2 of 159
Floods 53 36 1996-2021 0 0 $67M 8 of 159
Lightning 49 45 1997-2017 3 23 $7.7M 4 of 159
Winter storms 43 42 1998-2026 0 0 $2.1M 32 of 159
Drought 42 42 1997-2026 0 0 $257K 54 of 159
Tornadoes 31 29 1953-2024 4 343 $345M 6 of 159
Hurricanes and tropical storms 17 17 2002-2024 0 0 $61K 56 of 159
Extreme cold 14 14 1996-2007 0 0 – 54 of 159
High wind and dust storms 13 13 1998-2022 0 0 $685K 36 of 159
Heat 11 11 1999-2012 0 0 – 55 of 159
Heavy rain 9 9 2001-2016 0 0 $185K 11 of 159
Fog, smoke and funnel clouds 6 5 2002-2011 0 0 – 26 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 Cobb County had?

NOAA records 31 tornadoes in Cobb County from 1953 to 2024, the strongest rated F4, with 4 deaths and 343 injuries recorded in the county. That is 6th of 159 Georgia counties and 88th 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 34 tornadoes whose track touched Cobb County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 31: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 1 person, 4 of them in Cobb County.

The deadliest and strongest tornadoes that touched Cobb County, whole tracks
DateTornadoRatingPathKilled
1974-04-03 16:50, as SPC files itTallapoosa to EmersonCrossed AL, GAF265.9 mi1
1992-11-22 09:44, as SPC files itKennesaw to WoodstockF420 mi0
1993-02-21 19:15, as SPC files itMariettaF38 mi0
1991-03-29 06:30, as SPC files itMabletonF35 mi0

Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Georgia.

Every tornado record filed for Cobb County (31)
Every tornado recorded in Cobb County, newest first
DatePlaceCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2024-12-29 Blackwells, Cobb County EF1 0.26 mi x 100 yd 0 2 $47K
2023-01-12 Austell, Cobb County EF1 1.46 mi x 150 yd 0 0 –
2020-01-11 Lost Mtn, Cobb County EF0 1.79 mi x 400 yd 0 0 $57K
2016-11-30 Leland, Cobb County EF1 0.46 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $61K
2014-10-14 Mt Bethel, Cobb County EF1 0.83 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $75K
2013-06-13 Noonday, Cobb County EF0 10.46 mi x 200 yd 0 0 $380K
2012-03-02 Mt Bethel, Cobb County EF1 1.41 mi x 150 yd 0 0 $96K
2008-02-26 Sandy Plains, Cobb County EF0 0.05 mi x 20 yd 0 0 $7K
2006-04-08 Due West, Cobb County F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $220K
2006-04-08 Noonday, Cobb County F1 7 mi x 200 yd 0 0 $8.8M
1998-04-08 Smyrna, Cobb County F2 3 mi x 200 yd 0 0 $27M
1995-06-30 Smyrna, Cobb County F1 0.1 mi x 10 yd 4 250 –
1994-06-26 Kennesaw To Kennesaw, Cobb County F2 2 mi x 440 yd 0 1 $10.0M
1993-02-21 Lost Mountain To, Cobb County F3 8 mi x 880 yd 0 3 $102M
1992-11-22 Cobb County F4 13 mi x 867 yd 0 34 $25M step
1991-04-27 Cobb County F0 0.2 mi x 30 yd 0 3 $250K step
1991-03-29 Cobb County F3 5 mi x 1,320 yd 0 25 $25M step
1990-02-10 Cobb County F2 1.3 mi x 200 yd 0 2 $2.5M step
1989-04-04 Cobb County F2 3 mi x 150 yd 0 0 $2.5M step
1989-04-04 Cobb County F2 1 mi x 150 yd 0 0 $250K step
1986-03-19 Cobb County F2 5.7 mi x 300 yd 0 15 $25M step
1979-11-25 Cobb County F1 1 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $250K step
1975-03-07 Cobb County F1 1 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $250K step
1975-02-23 Cobb County F1 1 mi x 30 yd 0 0 $25K step
1974-04-03 Cobb County F2 2.3 mi x 150 yd 0 7 –
1972-08-07 Cobb County F0 3 mi x 20 yd 0 0 $250 step
1972-04-07 Cobb County F1 3.6 mi x 300 yd 0 1 $250K step
1971-04-28 Cobb County F2 0.3 mi x 77 yd 0 0 $250K step
1958-09-21 Cobb County F0 0.2 mi x 30 yd 0 0 $3K step
1955-05-24 Cobb County F1 5.4 mi x 300 yd 0 0 $250K step
1953-12-04 Cobb County F2 1 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $25K 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 Cobb County?

The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 7, 2025 thunderstorm wind ($2,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).

The 12 most recent records kept for Cobb County
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-03-01 DroughtCobb County · forecast zone Cobb 0 0 –
2026-02-17 DroughtCobb County · forecast zone Cobb 0 0 –
2026-01-31 Winter StormCobb County · forecast zone Cobb 0 0 –
2026-01-24 Ice StormCobb County · forecast zone Cobb 0 0 –
2025-10-07 DroughtCobb County · forecast zone Cobb 0 0 –
2025-09-06 HailMarietta McColum Arp, Cobb County 1.00 in hail 0 0 –
2025-06-26 HailOakdale, Cobb County 1.25 in hail 0 0 –
2025-06-26 HailLeland, Cobb County 1.00 in hail 0 0 –
2025-06-07 Thunderstorm WindCarmichael Crossroads, Cobb County 56 kt wind 0 0 –
2025-06-07 Thunderstorm WindSandy Plains, Cobb County 52 kt wind 0 0 $2K
2025-06-07 Thunderstorm WindGilmore, Cobb County 56 kt wind 0 0 $4K
2025-06-07 Thunderstorm WindCarmichael Crossroads, Cobb County 52 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

Records with deaths or injuries in Cobb County, most deaths first
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
1995-06-30 TornadoSmyrna, Cobb County A preliminary survey confirmed a small F1 tornado touched down for less than 30 seconds. Path width 30 yards...Length 100 yards. A Dairy Queen sustained the worst damage, as the roof was completely destroyed. A pay phone on the southeast side of the building held the roof up, sparing the lives of the 30 people inside. ... F1 0.1 mi x 10 yd 4 250 –
2010-07-13 LightningLeland, Cobb County WXIA Television of Atlanta reported that two teenage girls were struck by lightning while standing under a tree adjacent to their home at the Windwood apartments, just south of Mableton. The 16-year old female died shortly after being transported from the scene to the hospital. Her 14-year old cousin died on July 21st ... 2 0 –
2011-06-18 Thunderstorm WindAcworth, Cobb County The Atlanta Journal-Contstituation and the Cobb County 911 Center reported that dozens of trees were down throughout the county. A 55-year old Marietta woman was killed instantly when a large tree fell on her vehicle while traveling along Powers Ferry Road. Many power outages were noted around the county for up to ... 52 kt wind 1 0 $39K
2011-05-26 Thunderstorm WindMableton, Cobb County WSB Television of Atlanta and the public reported that up to 50 trees and dozens of power lines were down across the county, especially the eastern portion. Damage was quite significant in the Smyrna area, where several roads were blocked form downed trees, including major roads such as South Cobb Drive and Cumberland ... 52 kt wind 1 0 $39K
2002-07-30 LightningMarietta, Cobb County Several newspapers, including the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Marietta Daily Journal, the Columbus Ledger Enquirer, and the Macon Telegraph, as well as the Cobb county Emergency Management Agency and local Atlanta TV stations, reported on a lightning strike and subsequent death to a 49-year old woman from ... 1 0 $5K
1992-11-22 TornadoCobb County F4 13 mi x 867 yd 0 34 $25M step
1991-03-29 TornadoCobb County F3 5 mi x 1,320 yd 0 25 $25M step
1986-03-19 TornadoCobb County F2 5.7 mi x 300 yd 0 15 $25M 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.

The costliest records in Cobb County since 1993, damage in 2025 dollars
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
1993-02-21 TornadoLost Mountain To, Cobb County F3 8 mi x 880 yd 0 3 $102M
1998-04-08 TornadoSmyrna, Cobb County F2 3 mi x 200 yd 0 0 $27M
2009-09-21 FloodAcworth, Cobb County 0 0 $17M
2009-09-21 FloodNoonday, Cobb County 0 0 $16M
2005-07-11 Flash FloodCountywide, Cobb County 0 0 $9.1M
2006-04-08 TornadoNoonday, Cobb County F1 7 mi x 200 yd 0 0 $8.8M
2009-09-21 FloodAcworth, Cobb County 0 0 $7.8M
2004-09-16 FloodCobb County · forecast zone Cobb 0 0 $7.8M

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 $25M, in the dollars of the day) holds: November 22, 1992 (tornado, Cobb County); March 29, 1991 (tornado, Cobb County); March 19, 1986 (tornado, Cobb 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 Cobb 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).

Cobb County: records per decade (the 2020s to June 30, 2026)
Hazard1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020-26
Severe thunderstorm wind10102749516646
Hail0141178733916
Floods––––629135
Lightning––––1126120
Winter storms––––219184
Drought––––318156

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

What time of year?

48% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1957 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.

The values, month by month

Jan 47 · Feb 54 · Mar 41 · Apr 100 · May 78 · Jun 120 · Jul 126 · Aug 68 · Sep 60 · Oct 16 · Nov 25 · Dec 25 (records).

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

Federal disaster declarations for Cobb County

FEMA's register lists 19 declarations that include Cobb County: 11 major disasters, 8 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (5) and severe storm (4).

Declarations including Cobb 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
2017-09-15DR-4338HurricaneHurricane Irma
2017-09-08EM-3387HurricaneHurricane Irma
2014-02-11EM-3368Severe Ice StormSevere Winter Storm
2009-09-24DR-1858Severe StormSevere Storms and Flooding
2005-09-05EM-3218HurricaneHurricane Katrina Evacuation
2004-09-18DR-1554HurricaneHurricane Ivan
2000-01-28DR-1311Severe StormSevere Winter Storm
1998-03-11DR-1209Severe StormSevere Storms and Flooding
1995-10-10DR-1071HurricaneHurricane Opal
1993-03-15EM-3097SnowstormSevere Snowfall, Winter Storm
1993-03-04DR-980TornadoTornadoes, High Winds & Heavy Rains
1992-12-01DR-969TornadoHigh Winds, Heavy Rains & Tornadoes
1990-02-23DR-857Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornaodes & Flooding
1977-07-20EM-3044DroughtDrought
1966-03-14DR-214FloodFlooding

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 Cobb County had?

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 53 flood or flash flood records for Cobb County from 1996 to 2021, on 36 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Cobb County ranks 189th of 2,942 U.S. counties.

Named storms on Cobb County's flood and tropical record
StormBeganRecordsDeaths in the county
Hurricane Ivan2004-09-1640

The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $66.9 million on 2,031 claims filed in Cobb County; the most in one year was 723 in 2009. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.

The values, year by year

1978: 6 · 1979: 59 · 1980: 6 · 1981: 16 · 1982: 172 · 1983: 21 · 1984: 11 · 1985: 3 · 1986: 5 · 1987: 10 · 1988: 1 · 1989: 27 · 1990: 64 · 1991: 18 · 1992: 25 · 1993: 4 · 1994: 13 · 1995: 39 · 1996: 9 · 1997: 4 · 1998: 25 · 1999: 14 · 2000: 8 · 2001: 17 · 2002: 7 · 2003: 26 · 2004: 90 · 2005: 147 · 2006: 7 · 2007: 4 · 2008: 9 · 2009: 723 · 2010: 16 · 2011: 12 · 2012: 14 · 2013: 33 · 2014: 9 · 2015: 22 · 2016: 8 · 2017: 11 · 2018: 14 · 2019: 10 · 2020: 37 · 2021: 126 · 2022: 4 · 2023: 43 · 2024: 62 · 2025: 8 · 2026: 12.

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 Cobb County

FEMA's National Risk Index rates Cobb County Relatively High overall, with an expected annual loss of $210 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 Cobb County (December 2025 release), by FEMA's rating, then score
HazardRisk ratingExpected annual lossModeled frequency
LightningVery High$3.4M62 a year (modeled)
TornadoRelatively High$36Monce in about 5 years (modeled)
HailRelatively High$6.1M5.6 a year (modeled)
Cold WaveRelatively High$20M1.1 a year (modeled)
Riverine FloodingRelatively High$125M1.3 a year (modeled)
Ice StormRelatively High$1.8M1.2 a year (modeled)
EarthquakeRelatively Moderate$10Monce in about 431 years (modeled)
Heat WaveRelatively Moderate$3.7M2.2 modeled event-days a year

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

Counties that share a border with Cobb County

  1. Fulton County 1,180
  2. Cherokee County 796
  3. Cobb County 760
  4. Bartow County 739
  5. Douglas County 581
  6. Paulding County 490

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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