Colquitt County, Georgia

County storm and disaster record · FIPS 13071 · population 45,835 · 547 sq mi

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 420 records for Colquitt County, Georgia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 300 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (221 records). The deadliest single record is the October 1, 1989 tornado: 2 deaths and 12 injuries. FEMA has issued 20 declarations naming the county since 1977, 18 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Hurricane Helene” on September 30, 2024.

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
420on 300 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
Deaths recorded
836 injuries
Damage, 2025 dollars
$139Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
Tornadoes
38strongest EF2
FEMA declarations
20latest 2024

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 Colquitt County most?

The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 221 since 1955. 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.

Colquitt County: records by hazard, 1950 to June 30, 2026
HazardRecordsDaysFirst, lastKilledInjuredDamageRank in state
Severe thunderstorm wind 221 164 1955-2026 2 8 $2.9M 78 of 159
Hail 59 40 1957-2026 0 0 – 111 of 159
Drought 42 42 1997-2026 0 0 – 110 of 159
Tornadoes 38 36 1951-2025 3 27 $18M 13 of 159
Floods 17 15 1998-2024 0 0 $3.9M 102 of 159
Hurricanes and tropical storms 14 14 2002-2024 2 0 $105M 120 of 159
Fog, smoke and funnel clouds 7 7 1999-2024 0 0 – 36 of 159
Lightning 5 5 1999-2022 1 1 $449K 92 of 159
Winter storms 5 4 2014-2025 0 0 – 147 of 159
Heat 4 4 2023-2023 0 0 – 136 of 159
Heavy rain 4 2 2012-2012 0 0 – 129 of 159
Extreme cold 3 3 2017-2026 0 0 $9.5M 132 of 159
High wind and dust storms 1 1 2008-2008 0 0 $7K 140 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 Colquitt County had?

NOAA records 38 tornadoes in Colquitt County from 1951 to 2025, the strongest rated EF2, with 3 deaths and 27 injuries recorded in the county. That is 13th of 159 Georgia counties and 235th 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 41 tornadoes whose track touched Colquitt County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 38: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 3 people.

The deadliest and strongest tornadoes that touched Colquitt County, whole tracks
DateTornadoRatingPathKilled
1989-10-01 10:30, as SPC files itFunstonF210 mi2
2000-02-14 00:39, as SPC files itOmegaF26 mi1

Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Georgia.

Every tornado record filed for Colquitt County (38)
Every tornado recorded in Colquitt County, newest first
DatePlaceCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2025-04-07 Center Hill, Colquitt County EF1 0.85 mi x 150 yd 0 0 $10K
2024-09-25 Cool Springs, Colquitt County EFU 0.18 mi x 25 yd 0 0 –
2022-12-15 Ticknor, Colquitt County EF2 1.96 mi x 280 yd 0 0 $1.0M
2022-11-30 Funston, Colquitt County EFU 0.01 mi x 25 yd 0 0 –
2022-11-30 Hamilton Elementary School, Colquitt County EF0 0.04 mi x 25 yd 0 0 $5K
2022-04-06 New Elm, Colquitt County EFU 7.14 mi x 25 yd 0 0 –
2021-12-30 Spence Field, Colquitt County EF1 3.82 mi x 150 yd 0 0 $109K
2020-04-23 Center Hill, Colquitt County EF1 23.25 mi x 650 yd 0 0 $114K
2019-04-14 Autreyville, Colquitt County EF1 5.04 mi x 180 yd 0 0 $115K
2015-11-01 Hamilton Elementary School, Colquitt County EF0 0.03 mi x 25 yd 0 0 $9K
2012-02-24 Crosland, Colquitt County EF0 3.75 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $26K
2011-03-09 Doerun, Colquitt County EF0 0.4 mi x 30 yd 0 0 $5K
2009-03-31 Norman Park, Colquitt County EF0 0.06 mi x 25 yd 0 0 –
2006-01-13 Norman Park, Colquitt County F1 9.6 mi x 100 yd 0 1 $2.9M
2005-12-28 Moultrie, Colquitt County F0 0.2 mi x 25 yd 0 0 –
2005-03-22 Hartsfield, Colquitt County F1 3.7 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $189K
2003-07-01 Hartsfield, Colquitt County F0 3 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $120K
2000-02-14 Crosland, Colquitt County F2 1 mi x 200 yd 1 0 $857K
2000-02-14 Moultrie, Colquitt County F1 2 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $129K
1998-09-29 Autreyville, Colquitt County F1 2 mi x 70 yd 0 1 $996K
1996-03-06 Moultrie, Colquitt County F0 4 mi x 25 yd 0 0 $38K
1993-05-13 Bay To, Colquitt County F0 8 mi x 30 yd 0 0 $10K
1989-10-01 Colquitt County F2 10 mi x 100 yd 2 12 $2.5M step
1988-05-10 Colquitt County F0 0.1 mi x 50 yd 0 0 –
1984-04-22 Colquitt County F1 1 mi x 30 yd 0 2 $250K step
1983-12-05 Colquitt County F1 10 mi x 80 yd 0 3 $30 step
1978-04-18 Colquitt County F1 3.8 mi x 77 yd 0 0 $25K step
1976-08-13 Colquitt County F1 0.8 mi x 33 yd 0 0 $25K step
1971-03-03 Colquitt County F1 4.1 mi x 400 yd 0 0 $25K step
1971-02-07 Colquitt County F1 13.8 mi x 200 yd 0 0 $25K step
1967-05-07 Colquitt County F1 0.2 mi x 30 yd 0 0 $3K step
1966-02-28 Colquitt County F1 2 mi x 30 yd 0 0 $25K step
1964-04-27 Colquitt County F1 1 mi x 33 yd 0 0 $25K step
1958-04-06 Colquitt County F1 4.5 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $3K step
1957-06-05 Colquitt County F0 2 mi x 200 yd 0 0 $25K step
1957-04-05 Colquitt County F0 13.7 mi x 67 yd 0 0 $3K step
1952-01-22 Colquitt County F2 6.8 mi x 350 yd 0 8 $250K step
1951-05-23 Colquitt County F2 9.2 mi x 50 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 Colquitt County?

The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 27, 2025 thunderstorm wind ($25,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).

A downburst damaged the Colquitt County Livestock barn.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1274003)
The 12 most recent records kept for Colquitt County
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-06-20 Thunderstorm WindMurphy, Colquitt County 50 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-05-01 DroughtColquitt County · forecast zone Colquitt 0 0 –
2026-04-03 HailSouth Moultrie, Colquitt County 0.88 in hail 0 0 –
2026-04-03 HailSpence Field, Colquitt County 1.00 in hail 0 0 –
2026-04-03 Thunderstorm WindAutreyville, Colquitt County 60 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-04-03 Thunderstorm WindSpence Field, Colquitt County 50 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-04-01 DroughtColquitt County · forecast zone Colquitt 0 0 –
2026-03-12 Thunderstorm WindMoultrie, Colquitt County 55 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-03-12 Thunderstorm WindNorman Park, Colquitt County 50 kt wind 0 0 –
2026-03-01 DroughtColquitt County · forecast zone Colquitt 0 0 –
2026-02-01 DroughtColquitt County · forecast zone Colquitt 0 0 –
2026-02-01 Extreme Cold/Wind ChillColquitt County · forecast zone Colquitt 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 Colquitt County, most deaths first
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
1989-10-01 TornadoColquitt County F2 10 mi x 100 yd 2 12 $2.5M step
2020-07-03 LightningSouth Moultrie, Colquitt County A 9-year-old girl was killed by a lightning strike in Moultrie while walking on a trail on South Main Street with her mother and 15 year old sister. The sister was injured. The family took cover under a shelter when lightning struck a nearby tree. 1 1 –
2024-09-26 Hurricane (Typhoon)Colquitt County · forecast zone Colquitt One man died when a tree fell into the road in front of him and his car crashed into it. City of Moultrie roads closed due to fallen trees and/or flooding include 4th Ave. NE at Clay St., 11th St. SW, 12th Ave. SW and 13th St. SW. 1 0 $99M
2024-08-05 Tropical StormColquitt County · forecast zone Colquitt A tree fell on a home, resulting in a fatality of a 19 year old male. 1 0 $188K
2011-04-05 Thunderstorm WindMoultrie, Colquitt County A large oak tree was blown down into the middle of a road. A car ran into it and the driver was killed. The monetary damage figure provided is a rough estimate. 55 kt wind 1 0 $33K
2002-03-31 Thunderstorm WindMoultrie, Colquitt County An elderly man was killed when a pine tree snapped and fell on the cab of his truck while driving during a severe thunderstorm. Reported by the Courier Herald. 1 0 $16K
2000-02-14 TornadoCrosland, Colquitt County A strong tornado tore through extreme northeast Colquitt County near Crosland toppling trees and power lines before it moved into extreme southwest Tift County. Several mobile homes were damaged. One woman was killed in a mobile home just northeast of Crosland when a large tree and another mobile home were blown ... F2 1 mi x 200 yd 1 0 $857K
1952-01-22 TornadoColquitt County F2 6.8 mi x 350 yd 0 8 $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.

The costliest records in Colquitt County since 1993, damage in 2025 dollars
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2024-09-26 Hurricane (Typhoon)Colquitt County · forecast zone Colquitt 1 0 $99M
2006-01-13 TornadoNorman Park, Colquitt County F1 9.6 mi x 100 yd 0 1 $2.9M
2005-07-11 Flash FloodCountywide, Colquitt County 0 0 $1.9M
1998-03-08 FloodColquitt County · forecast zone Colquitt 0 0 $1.8M
2005-07-09 Hurricane (Typhoon)Colquitt County · forecast zone Colquitt 0 0 $1.5M
2022-12-15 TornadoTicknor, Colquitt County EF2 1.96 mi x 280 yd 0 0 $1.0M
1998-09-29 TornadoAutreyville, Colquitt County F1 2 mi x 70 yd 0 1 $996K
1994-08-05 Thunderstorm WindMoultrie, Colquitt County 0 0 $995K

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: October 1, 1989 (tornado, Colquitt County, 2 killed).

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 Colquitt 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).

Colquitt County: records per decade (the 2020s to June 30, 2026)
Hazard1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020-26
Severe thunderstorm wind4791433385165
Hail121114131116
Drought––––103110
Tornadoes53443748
Floods––––1547
Hurricanes and tropical storms––––0734

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 Colquitt County. The two busiest months are in violet.

The values, month by month

Jan 28 · Feb 28 · Mar 53 · Apr 49 · May 51 · Jun 63 · Jul 43 · Aug 39 · Sep 18 · Oct 8 · Nov 18 · Dec 22 (records).

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

Federal disaster declarations for Colquitt County

FEMA's register lists 20 declarations that include Colquitt County: 12 major disasters, 8 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (8) and severe storm (4).

Declarations including Colquitt County, newest first
DeclaredNumberTypeTitle
2024-09-30DR-4830HurricaneHurricane Helene
2024-09-26EM-3616Tropical StormHurricane Helene
2024-09-24DR-4821Tropical StormTropical Storm Debby
2024-08-05EM-3607Tropical StormHurricane Debby
2023-09-07DR-4738HurricaneHurricane Idalia
2020-03-29DR-4501BiologicalCovid-19 Pandemic
2020-03-13EM-3464BiologicalCovid-19
2018-10-14DR-4400HurricaneHurricane Michael
2018-10-10EM-3406HurricaneHurricane Michael
2017-09-15DR-4338HurricaneHurricane Irma
2017-09-08EM-3387HurricaneHurricane Irma
2017-01-26DR-4297TornadoSevere Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding
2009-04-23DR-1833Severe StormSevere Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds
2005-09-05EM-3218HurricaneHurricane Katrina Evacuation
2004-09-24DR-1560HurricaneTropical Storm Frances
2000-02-15DR-1315Severe StormSevere Storms/Tornados
1998-03-11DR-1209Severe StormSevere Storms and Flooding
1994-10-19DR-1042Severe StormHeavy Rains, Tornados, Flooding, High Winds
1993-03-15EM-3097SnowstormSevere Snowfall, Winter Storm
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 Colquitt County had?

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 17 flood or flash flood records for Colquitt County from 1998 to 2024, on 15 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Colquitt County ranks 1530th of 2,942 U.S. counties.

Named storms on Colquitt County's flood and tropical record
StormBeganRecordsDeaths in the county
Hurricane Helene2024-09-2611
Hurricane Debby2024-08-0511
Hurricane Idalia2023-08-3010
Hurricane Michael2018-10-1010
Hurricane Irma2017-09-1010

The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $1.3 million on 64 claims filed in Colquitt County; the most in one year was 15 in 2005. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.

The values, year by year

1979: 1 · 1981: 1 · 1983: 2 · 1984: 2 · 1985: 5 · 1986: 1 · 1991: 1 · 1993: 4 · 1994: 1 · 1997: 1 · 1998: 1 · 2002: 1 · 2003: 1 · 2005: 15 · 2008: 1 · 2009: 7 · 2010: 1 · 2013: 5 · 2014: 3 · 2016: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2024: 5 · 2025: 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 Colquitt County

FEMA's National Risk Index rates Colquitt County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $19.9 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 Colquitt County (December 2025 release), by FEMA's rating, then score
HazardRisk ratingExpected annual lossModeled frequency
HurricaneRelatively Moderate$6.1Monce in about 4 years (modeled)
TornadoRelatively Moderate$3.7Monce in about 3 years (modeled)
LightningRelatively Moderate$534K72 a year (modeled)
DroughtRelatively Moderate$483K29 modeled event-days a year
Cold WaveRelatively Moderate$1.4M1.7 a year (modeled)
Strong WindRelatively Moderate$541K1.6 a year (modeled)
WildfireRelatively Low$112Konce in about 1,663 years (modeled)
HailRelatively Low$284K1.4 a year (modeled)

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

Counties that share a border with Colquitt County

  1. Worth County 501
  2. Thomas County 425
  3. Colquitt County 420
  4. Mitchell County 387
  5. Tift County 328
  6. Brooks County 277
  7. Cook County 207

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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