Forsyth County, Georgia

County storm and disaster record · FIPS 13117 · population 251,239 · 225 sq mi

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 497 records for Forsyth County, Georgia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 378 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (153 records). The deadliest single record is the January 7, 2010 winter weather, filed for the forecast zone Forsyth, which covers the county: 1 death and 7 injuries. FEMA has issued 17 declarations naming the county since 1974, 15 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
497on 378 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
Deaths recorded
635 injuries
Damage, 2025 dollars
$64Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
Tornadoes
10strongest F3
FEMA declarations
17latest 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 Forsyth County most?

The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 153 since 1966. 47% 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.

Forsyth County: records by hazard, 1950 to June 30, 2026
HazardRecordsDaysFirst, lastKilledInjuredDamageRank in state
Severe thunderstorm wind 153 135 1966-2025 2 2 $6.3M 15 of 159
Hail 109 80 1963-2025 0 0 $37M 6 of 159
Winter storms 47 47 1997-2026 2 11 $2.0M 15 of 159
Drought 39 39 1997-2026 0 0 $3.1M 25 of 159
Lightning 36 31 1998-2017 1 7 $6.7M 3 of 159
Floods 33 27 1997-2020 0 0 $1.4M 5 of 159
High wind and dust storms 17 17 1998-2012 0 0 $2.2M 14 of 159
Hurricanes and tropical storms 17 17 2002-2024 1 1 $121K 22 of 159
Extreme cold 14 14 1996-2007 0 0 – 24 of 159
Heat 11 11 1999-2012 0 0 – 25 of 159
Tornadoes 10 10 1959-2026 0 7 $2.7M 53 of 159
Fog, smoke and funnel clouds 6 6 1998-2009 0 0 – 6 of 159
Heavy rain 3 3 2001-2003 0 0 $802 43 of 159
Wildfires 2 2 2004-2004 0 7 $3.4M 16 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 Forsyth County had?

NOAA records 10 tornadoes in Forsyth County from 1959 to 2026, the strongest rated F3, with 0 deaths and 7 injuries recorded in the county. That is 53rd of 159 Georgia 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 10 tornadoes whose track touched Forsyth County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 10, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.

The deadliest and strongest tornadoes that touched Forsyth County, whole tracks
DateTornadoRatingPathKilled
1970-04-02 04:00, as SPC files itCummingF36.5 mi0

Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Georgia.

Every tornado record filed for Forsyth County (10)
Every tornado recorded in Forsyth County, newest first
DatePlaceCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-03-12 Cumming Mathis Airport, Forsyth County EF1 1.42 mi x 300 yd 0 0 –
2017-05-01 Ducktown, Forsyth County EF0 2.36 mi x 150 yd 0 0 $30K
2016-11-30 Sinclair Lake, Forsyth County EF0 1.86 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $18K
2014-10-14 Drew, Forsyth County EF0 1.11 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $19K
2009-04-10 Dunn, Forsyth County EF1 0.19 mi x 200 yd 0 0 $275K
2005-08-29 Silver City, Forsyth County F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $378K
1975-03-13 Forsyth County F1 4.7 mi x 100 yd 0 1 $250K step
1975-03-07 Forsyth County F1 0.3 mi x 33 yd 0 0 $25K step
1970-04-02 Forsyth County F3 6.5 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $25K step
1959-07-11 Forsyth County F0 0.1 mi x 50 yd 0 6 $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 Forsyth County?

The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 10, 2025 thunderstorm wind ($1,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).

The 12 most recent records kept for Forsyth County
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-03-12 TornadoCumming Mathis Airport, Forsyth County EF1 1.42 mi x 300 yd 0 0 –
2026-03-01 DroughtForsyth County · forecast zone Forsyth 0 0 –
2026-02-17 DroughtForsyth County · forecast zone Forsyth 0 0 –
2026-01-31 Winter StormForsyth County · forecast zone Forsyth 0 0 –
2026-01-24 Ice StormForsyth County · forecast zone Forsyth 0 0 –
2025-06-10 Thunderstorm WindCumming, Forsyth County 52 kt wind 0 0 $1K
2025-06-07 Thunderstorm WindHightower, Forsyth County 61 kt wind 0 0 $3K
2025-06-07 Thunderstorm WindDunn, Forsyth County 43 kt wind 0 0 $1K
2025-05-20 Thunderstorm WindDunn, Forsyth County 48 kt wind 0 0 $10K
2025-04-10 HailMars Hill Crossroads, Forsyth County 1.00 in hail 0 0 –
2025-04-10 HailMars Hill Crossroads, Forsyth County 1.75 in hail 0 0 –
2025-04-10 HailChestatee, Forsyth County 1.00 in hail 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 Forsyth County, most deaths first
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2010-01-07 Winter WeatherForsyth County · forecast zone Forsyth The Forsyth County 911 Center reported up to 0.5 inch of snow across the county. A total of 160 traffic accidents were observed across the county. Some secondary roads were closed near Lake Lanier. Seven injuries occurred as a result of these accidents. The most serious accident involved an 11-year old boy who was ... 1 7 –
2017-09-11 Tropical StormForsyth County · forecast zone Forsyth The Forsyth County Emergency Manager, local law enforcement and the local media reported numerous trees and power lines blown down across the county. A tree fell onto a vehicle in a driveway off of Shadburn Road killing the passenger in the vehicle, a 67 year old female, and injuring the driver. 1 1 $120K
2011-11-16 Thunderstorm WindDrew, Forsyth County The Forsyth County Emergency Management Director reported that a tree fell on a sport utility vehicle (SUV) killing a 51-year old male inside the vehicle. The incident took place on Brookwood Drive near McGinnis Ferry Road in the Johns Creek portion of far southern Forsyth county. The person inside the vehicle was ... 43 kt wind 1 0 $26K
2011-01-09 Heavy SnowForsyth County · forecast zone Forsyth The Forsyth County 911 Center reported 6.0 inches of snow across the county. Icey roads contributed to a vehicle accident on Buford Dam Road on 01/14/11 and the death of one male. 1 0 –
2007-06-25 LightningCumming, Forsyth County WSB Television of Atlanta reported that a 27-year old male construction worker was killed when struck by lightning. The individual was working on a house under construction. He and other workers sought shelter in the structure during the thunderstorm. 1 0 –
1989-04-04 Thunderstorm WindForsyth County 1 0 –
2004-04-04 WildfireForsyth County · forecast zone Forsyth The Forsyth county Emergency Management Director reported that an outdoor burning incident, fueled by gusty northwest winds at speeds of 15 to 25 mph with gusts over 30 mph and low relative humidity values in the 15 to 20% range, quickly turned into a ravaging out of control fire that destroyed seven homes and damaged ... 0 7 $3.4M
1959-07-11 TornadoForsyth County F0 0.1 mi x 50 yd 0 6 $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.

The costliest records in Forsyth County since 1993, damage in 2025 dollars
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2012-03-15 HailCumming, Forsyth County 1.75 in hail 0 0 $6.1M
2013-04-11 HailHeardville, Forsyth County 1.75 in hail 0 0 $6.0M
2020-05-22 HailDrew, Forsyth County 1.75 in hail 0 0 $5.7M
2008-03-15 HailCoal Mtn, Forsyth County 2.00 in hail 0 0 $4.1M
2007-06-12 HailCumming, Forsyth County 1.75 in hail 0 0 $3.8M
2008-03-15 HailDrew, Forsyth County 2.00 in hail 0 0 $3.4M
2004-04-04 WildfireForsyth County · forecast zone Forsyth 0 7 $3.4M
2000-06-01 DroughtForsyth County · forecast zone Forsyth 0 0 $3.1M

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: March 13, 1975 (tornado, Forsyth 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 Forsyth 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).

Forsyth County: records per decade (the 2020s to June 30, 2026)
Hazard1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020-26
Severe thunderstorm wind025726404924
Hail010236411613
Winter storms––––319214
Drought––––318144
Lightning––––519120
Floods––––217131

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

What time of year?

47% 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 35 · Feb 35 · Mar 42 · Apr 58 · May 56 · Jun 74 · Jul 71 · Aug 34 · Sep 37 · Oct 17 · Nov 17 · Dec 21 (records).

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

Federal disaster declarations for Forsyth County

FEMA's register lists 17 declarations that include Forsyth County: 9 major disasters, 8 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (6) and biological (2).

Declarations including Forsyth County, newest first
DeclaredNumberTypeTitle
2026-01-24EM-3642Winter StormSevere Winter Storm
2024-09-26EM-3616Tropical StormHurricane Helene
2021-01-12DR-4579HurricaneTropical Storm Zeta
2020-03-29DR-4501BiologicalCovid-19 Pandemic
2020-03-13EM-3464BiologicalCovid-19
2017-09-15DR-4338HurricaneHurricane Irma
2017-09-08EM-3387HurricaneHurricane Irma
2015-04-20DR-4215Severe Ice StormSevere Winter Storm
2014-02-11EM-3368Severe Ice StormSevere Winter Storm
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
1977-07-20EM-3044DroughtDrought
1974-04-05DR-425TornadoTornadoes

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 Forsyth County had?

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 33 flood or flash flood records for Forsyth County from 1997 to 2020, on 27 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Forsyth County ranks 1514th of 2,942 U.S. counties.

Named storms on Forsyth County's flood and tropical record
StormBeganRecordsDeaths in the county
Hurricane Irma2017-09-1111
Hurricane Ivan2004-09-1610

The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $928,000 on 66 claims filed in Forsyth County; the most in one year was 14 in 2013. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.

The values, year by year

1979: 1 · 1980: 1 · 2004: 1 · 2005: 1 · 2008: 1 · 2009: 10 · 2011: 1 · 2013: 14 · 2014: 2 · 2015: 7 · 2016: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2018: 4 · 2019: 3 · 2020: 10 · 2021: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2024: 3; 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 Forsyth County

FEMA's National Risk Index rates Forsyth County Relatively Moderate overall, with an expected annual loss of $89.6 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 Forsyth County (December 2025 release), by FEMA's rating, then score
HazardRisk ratingExpected annual lossModeled frequency
TornadoRelatively High$16Monce in about 7 years (modeled)
LightningRelatively High$1.5M60 a year (modeled)
Riverine FloodingRelatively Moderate$58Mabout once a year (modeled)
HailRelatively Moderate$2.2M5.5 a year (modeled)
Ice StormRelatively Moderate$599Kabout once a year (modeled)
Cold WaveRelatively Moderate$5.4M1.1 a year (modeled)
Strong WindRelatively Moderate$1.5M2.6 a year (modeled)
EarthquakeRelatively Low$3.3Monce in about 413 years (modeled)

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

Counties that share a border with Forsyth County

  1. Fulton County 1,180
  2. Gwinnett County 870
  3. Cherokee County 796
  4. Hall County 617
  5. Forsyth County 497
  6. Dawson County 373

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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