Columbia County, Georgia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 13073 · population 155,619 · 290 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 412 records for Columbia County, Georgia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 248 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (216 records). The deadliest single record is the September 27, 2024 tropical storm, filed for the forecast zone Columbia, which covers the county: 1 death and $212 million in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 14 declarations naming the county since 1977, 12 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
- 412on 248 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 113 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $230Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 8strongest EF2
- FEMA declarations
- 14latest 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 Columbia County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 216 since 1966. 42% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1966 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.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 216 | 150 | 1966-2026 | 0 | 6 | $2.1M | 25 of 159 |
| Hail | 106 | 67 | 1975-2024 | 0 | 0 | $156K | 26 of 159 |
| Floods | 43 | 29 | 1996-2025 | 0 | 0 | $1.1M | 11 of 159 |
| Winter storms | 16 | 14 | 2002-2026 | 0 | 1 | – | 62 of 159 |
| High wind and dust storms | 8 | 6 | 2008-2022 | 0 | 4 | $55K | 63 of 159 |
| Tornadoes | 8 | 7 | 1957-2019 | 0 | 2 | $14M | 123 of 159 |
| Heavy rain | 6 | 3 | 2013-2020 | 0 | 0 | – | 62 of 159 |
| Lightning | 4 | 4 | 2010-2022 | 0 | 0 | $293K | 69 of 159 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 3 | 3 | 2018-2024 | 1 | 0 | $212M | 146 of 159 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 2 | 2 | 1999-2013 | 0 | 0 | – | 82 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 Columbia County had?
NOAA records 8 tornadoes in Columbia County from 1957 to 2019, the strongest rated EF2, 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 7 tornadoes whose track touched Columbia County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 8: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-04-10 20:30, as SPC files it | Grovetown | EF3 | 17.68 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Georgia.
Every tornado record filed for Columbia County (8)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-03-03 | Evans, Columbia County | EF2 1.52 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2009-04-10 | Pumpkin Center, Columbia County | EF2 5.95 mi x 880 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.4M |
| 2008-03-15 | Winfield, Columbia County | EF1 5.28 mi x 440 yd | 0 | 2 | $192K |
| 2005-01-13 | Leah, Columbia County | F0 0.2 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2003-02-22 | Appling, Columbia County | F2 2 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $501K |
| 1978-05-08 | Columbia County | F1 4.1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1957-04-05 | Columbia County | F2 3 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1957-04-05 | Columbia County | F2 14.4 mi x 400 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 Columbia County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 18, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($2,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindMartinez, Columbia County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-01-31 | Heavy SnowColumbia County · forecast zone Columbia | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-25 | Winter WeatherColumbia County · forecast zone Columbia | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-06-07 | Thunderstorm WindEvans, Columbia County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-06-07 | Thunderstorm WindGrovetown, Columbia County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-06-07 | Thunderstorm WindMartinez, Columbia County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-06-07 | Thunderstorm WindAppling, Columbia County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-30 | Thunderstorm WindPollards Corner, Columbia County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-30 | Thunderstorm WindMartinez, Columbia County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-29 | Flash FloodSnead, Columbia County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-05-29 | Flash FloodEvans, Columbia County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-05-29 | Flash FloodSnead, Columbia County | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-09-27 | Tropical StormColumbia County · forecast zone Columbia Significant and widespread tree and power line damage across the county. Vast majority of the county lost power for an extended period of time and many roads were closed. Falling trees and wind caused substantial structural damage across the county. At least 5103 homes sustained some level of damage including 248 ... | 1 | 0 | $212M | |
| 2016-02-24 | Strong WindColumbia County · forecast zone Columbia Harlem Fire Department reported 4 injuries at North Harlem Elementary School. Strong winds knocked down a tree injuring four children. They were transported to the hospital with non life threatening injuries. | 43 kt wind | 0 | 4 | – |
| 2017-04-03 | Thunderstorm WindLeah, Columbia County Significant damage was done to a dock, 20 boats were destroyed, and another 20 to 30 boats suffered extensive damage, at Pointes West Army Resort in the Fort Gordon Recreational Area on Clarks Hill Lake. Several pine trees were also snapped, all facing easterly. 2 persons, who were on the dock at the time, suffered ... | 70 kt wind | 0 | 2 | – |
| 2008-03-15 | TornadoWinfield, Columbia County Several mobile homes had moderate damage and one was destroyed. Numerous trees and powerlines were down along path. Two people had minor injuries. | EF1 5.28 mi x 440 yd | 0 | 2 | $192K |
| 1999-05-06 | Thunderstorm WindAppling, Columbia County EOC and damage survey found trees down all across northern Columbia county. A downburst 8 miles wide with a 4 mile focus took down many trees and damaged a few homes. An abandoned mobile home was totaled. | 0 | 2 | $266K | |
| 2016-06-17 | Thunderstorm WindLeah, Columbia County Downburst winds from a thunderstorm produced an area of significant damage to trees and property. The event occurred at Mistletoe State Park in northern Columbia County, GA. Nearly 200 trees had limb damage, were uprooted or snapped. There was a mixture of hardwood and softwood trees, however softwood trees made up ... | 91 kt wind | 0 | 1 | – |
| 2004-01-26 | Ice StormColumbia County · forecast zone Columbia An ice storm developed over the CSRA late Sunday night and Monday and produced 1/4-3/4 inch of ice. The heaviest ice accumulations occurred in Lincoln, Columbia, and McDuffie counties. Many trees and powerlines were down causing scattered power outages. About 100,000 homes were without power for several days. Four ... | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 1983-12-28 | Thunderstorm WindColumbia County | 0 | 1 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-09-27 | Tropical StormColumbia County · forecast zone Columbia | 1 | 0 | $212M | |
| 2009-04-10 | TornadoPumpkin Center, Columbia County | EF2 5.95 mi x 880 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.4M |
| 2005-05-20 | Thunderstorm WindEvans, Columbia County | 80 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $529K |
| 2003-02-22 | TornadoAppling, Columbia County | F2 2 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $501K |
| 2012-08-07 | Flash FloodMartinez, Columbia County | 0 | 0 | $360K | |
| 2010-05-23 | Thunderstorm WindLeah, Columbia County | 80 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $271K |
| 1999-05-06 | Thunderstorm WindAppling, Columbia County | 0 | 2 | $266K | |
| 2011-04-05 | Thunderstorm WindGrovetown, Columbia County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $236K |
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: May 8, 1978 (tornado, Columbia 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 Columbia 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 | 3 | 7 | 20 | 54 | 77 | 54 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 24 | 33 | 24 | 18 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 5 | 7 | 15 | 16 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 0 | 4 | 5 | 7 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
42% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1966 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 26 · Feb 17 · Mar 32 · Apr 51 · May 60 · Jun 58 · Jul 81 · Aug 35 · Sep 22 · Oct 7 · Nov 10 · Dec 13 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Columbia County
FEMA's register lists 14 declarations that include Columbia County: 6 major disasters, 8 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (5) and biological (2).
| 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 |
| 2020-03-29 | DR-4501 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3464 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2018-10-10 | EM-3406 | Hurricane | Hurricane Michael |
| 2017-09-15 | DR-4338 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| 2017-09-08 | EM-3387 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| 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 |
| 1998-03-11 | DR-1209 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1990-10-19 | DR-880 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
| 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 Columbia County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 43 flood or flash flood records for Columbia County from 1996 to 2025, on 29 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Columbia County ranks 1041st of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Helene | 2024-09-27 | 1 | 1 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $2.1 million on 164 claims filed in Columbia County; the most in one year was 36 in 2024. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1980: 1 · 1990: 9 · 1994: 2 · 1995: 2 · 1996: 3 · 1997: 1 · 1998: 10 · 1999: 1 · 2000: 4 · 2002: 1 · 2003: 1 · 2005: 2 · 2007: 6 · 2008: 1 · 2009: 4 · 2011: 1 · 2013: 13 · 2014: 2 · 2015: 5 · 2016: 1 · 2017: 20 · 2018: 3 · 2019: 5 · 2020: 19 · 2021: 4 · 2022: 1 · 2024: 36 · 2026: 6; 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 Columbia County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Columbia County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $51.5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | $791K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $7.9M | once in about 6 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Moderate | $31M | about once a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $1.4M | 3.2 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $680K | 60 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $3.0M | once in about 401 years (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | $2.6M | once in about 17 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $1.6M | 3.9 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 Columbia 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 Columbia CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Columbia County's FEMA declarations (CSV)14 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis