Gwinnett County, Georgia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 13135 · population 956,460 · 431 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 870 records for Gwinnett County, Georgia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 540 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (327 records). The deadliest single record is the June 27, 2004 lightning: 3 deaths, 6 injuries and $78,000 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
- 870on 540 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 1252 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $250Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 12strongest 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 Gwinnett County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 327 since 1956. 42% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1956 fell in July and August. 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 | 327 | 228 | 1956-2025 | 1 | 15 | $8.8M | 21 of 159 |
| Hail | 190 | 138 | 1963-2025 | 0 | 0 | $49M | 8 of 159 |
| Lightning | 129 | 95 | 1997-2022 | 5 | 14 | $22M | 2 of 159 |
| Floods | 45 | 33 | 1998-2023 | 1 | 0 | $35M | 24 of 159 |
| Drought | 42 | 42 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | $2.3M | 81 of 159 |
| Winter storms | 42 | 41 | 1999-2026 | 0 | 4 | $2.7M | 41 of 159 |
| High wind and dust storms | 21 | 21 | 1998-2022 | 2 | 1 | $1.8M | 25 of 159 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 17 | 17 | 2002-2024 | 2 | 0 | $3.6M | 83 of 159 |
| Extreme cold | 14 | 14 | 1996-2007 | 0 | 0 | – | 83 of 159 |
| Heavy rain | 14 | 13 | 2001-2005 | 0 | 0 | $947K | 8 of 159 |
| Tornadoes | 12 | 12 | 1961-2020 | 1 | 18 | $123M | 115 of 159 |
| Heat | 11 | 11 | 1999-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 81 of 159 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 6 | 5 | 1999-2005 | 0 | 0 | – | 41 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 Gwinnett County had?
NOAA records 12 tornadoes in Gwinnett County from 1961 to 2020, the strongest rated EF2, with 1 death and 18 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 12 tornadoes whose track touched Gwinnett County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 12, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 2 people, 1 of them in Gwinnett County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-04-08 22:35, as SPC files it | Sandy Springs to Johns Creek | F2 | 19 mi | 1 |
| 1994-06-27 01:15, as SPC files it | Snellville | F2 | 8 mi | 1 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Georgia.
Every tornado record filed for Gwinnett County (12)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-10-10 | Luxomni, Gwinnett County | EF0 0.66 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $114K |
| 2010-11-30 | Hog Mtn, Gwinnett County | EF2 2.11 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $6.8M |
| 2000-04-03 | Lawrenceville, Gwinnett County | F1 4 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.6M |
| 1998-04-08 | Norcross, Gwinnett County | F2 15 mi x 800 yd | 0 | 10 | $91M |
| 1994-06-27 | Grayson, Gwinnett County | F2 8 mi x 200 yd | 1 | 0 | $10.0M |
| 1990-02-10 | Gwinnett County | F1 1 mi x 73 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1984-11-10 | Gwinnett County | F2 1.5 mi x 127 yd | 0 | 8 | $2.5M step |
| 1976-05-28 | Gwinnett County | F2 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1971-04-23 | Gwinnett County | F1 0.1 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1970-01-29 | Gwinnett County | F2 0.5 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1969-05-16 | Gwinnett County | F1 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1961-05-25 | Gwinnett County | F1 6.1 mi x 17 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K 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 Gwinnett County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 17, 2025 thunderstorm wind ($1,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-01 | DroughtGwinnett County · forecast zone Gwinnett | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-01 | DroughtGwinnett County · forecast zone Gwinnett | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-31 | Winter StormGwinnett County · forecast zone Gwinnett | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-27 | DroughtGwinnett County · forecast zone Gwinnett | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Ice StormGwinnett County · forecast zone Gwinnett | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-10-01 | DroughtGwinnett County · forecast zone Gwinnett | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-07-18 | Thunderstorm WindNorcross, Gwinnett County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-06-26 | HailNorcross, Gwinnett County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-06-17 | Thunderstorm WindBerkeley Lake, Gwinnett County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-06-17 | Thunderstorm WindBerkeley Lake, Gwinnett County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-06-07 | Thunderstorm WindBerkeley Lake, Gwinnett County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $6K |
| 2025-06-07 | Thunderstorm WindTrickem, Gwinnett 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
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-06-27 | LightningSugar Hill, Gwinnett County Several Atlanta news media television stations, along with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that three individuals were killed and six were injured at Buford Dam State Park at the south end of Lake Lanier when lightning strikes hit one or more trees under which the individuals were seeking refuge during a ... | 3 | 6 | $78K | |
| 2020-10-28 | Tropical StormGwinnett County · forecast zone Gwinnett Winds gusted between 35 and 50 mph for several hours. A gust to 45 mph was recorded at the Lawrenceville AWOS (KLZU) at 5:06 AM EST. The Gwinnett County Emergency Manager reported hundreds of trees and numerous power lines blown down across the county. At least 70 homes were damaged by falling trees. In Buford, a tree ... | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 1997-09-10 | LightningLilburn, Gwinnett County Lightning struck two men as they were roofing a new home. A 17 year old male was injured and a29 yer old male died the next day. | 1 | 1 | – | |
| 2020-09-17 | Strong WindGwinnett County · forecast zone Gwinnett A 71-year old woman was killed by a falling tree as she walked her dog along Capot Court in the Snellville area. The woman was trapped underneath the fallen tree and was pronounced dead on the scene. The dog was also trapped for a time and suffed some injuries, but was able to free itself. | 25 kt wind | 1 | 0 | – |
| 2009-09-21 | Flash FloodNorcross, Gwinnett County Catastrophic flash flooding began to unfold across portions of Gwinnett county during the early morning hours of the 21st as a secondary area of very heavy rain and thunderstorms began to expand across the eastern Atlanta metropolitan counties. Rainfall exceeded 12 inches in portions of the county during the night and ... | 1 | 0 | $867K | |
| 2008-05-11 | Strong WindGwinnett County · forecast zone Gwinnett The Gwinnett County Emergency Management Director reported that a xx-year old female was killed when a tree fell on her while outside during Mother's Day festivities. | 42 kt wind | 1 | 0 | – |
| 2003-07-21 | LightningSnellville, Gwinnett County The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that a 27-year old male was struck by lightning while mowing a lawn. The thunderstorm was not directly over the location at the time, but was nearby in Lawrenceville. The young man was pronounced dead on arrival at a local medical center. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1994-06-27 | TornadoGrayson, Gwinnett County A tornado touched down near Georgia Highway 124, four miles west of Grayson then moved east and tore into the Williums Acres subdivisions near Grayson. Five large homes were destroyed, 20 homes received major damage while another 34 had minor damage inflicted. One large two-story brick home (5300 square feet) took a ... | F2 8 mi x 200 yd | 1 | 0 | $10.0M |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-04-08 | TornadoNorcross, Gwinnett County | F2 15 mi x 800 yd | 0 | 10 | $91M |
| 2009-09-21 | FloodBuford, Gwinnett County | 0 | 0 | $17M | |
| 2009-09-21 | FloodBuford, Gwinnett County | 0 | 0 | $7.7M | |
| 2005-02-21 | HailNorcross, Gwinnett County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $7.6M |
| 2009-09-21 | FloodMechanicsville, Gwinnett County | 0 | 0 | $6.9M | |
| 2010-11-30 | TornadoHog Mtn, Gwinnett County | EF2 2.11 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $6.8M |
| 2005-02-21 | HailSugar Hill, Gwinnett County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $6.0M |
| 2018-07-21 | HailDacula, Gwinnett County | 2.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | $5.3M |
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: November 10, 1984 (tornado, Gwinnett County); February 10, 1990 (tornado, Gwinnett 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 Gwinnett 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 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 27 | 51 | 58 | 86 | 97 |
| Hail | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 62 | 81 | 27 | 11 |
| Lightning | – | – | – | – | 9 | 77 | 42 | 1 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 1 | 25 | 14 | 5 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 3 | 18 | 15 | 6 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 1 | 15 | 20 | 6 |
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 1956 fell in July and August. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 54 · Feb 57 · Mar 43 · Apr 82 · May 92 · Jun 147 · Jul 161 · Aug 115 · Sep 47 · Oct 23 · Nov 19 · Dec 30 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Gwinnett County
FEMA's register lists 14 declarations that include Gwinnett County: 6 major disasters, 8 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (4) and severe storm (3).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-24 | EM-3642 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
| 2017-09-15 | DR-4338 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| 2017-09-08 | EM-3387 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| 2014-02-11 | EM-3368 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2009-09-24 | DR-1858 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3218 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2000-01-28 | DR-1311 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 1998-03-11 | DR-1209 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1995-10-10 | DR-1071 | Hurricane | Hurricane Opal |
| 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 Gwinnett County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 45 flood or flash flood records for Gwinnett County from 1998 to 2023, on 33 days, with 1 death. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Gwinnett County ranks 516th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tropical Storm Zeta | 2020-10-28 | 1 | 2 |
| Hurricane Irma | 2017-09-11 | 1 | 0 |
| Hurricane Ivan | 2004-09-27 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $10.4 million on 487 claims filed in Gwinnett County; the most in one year was 213 in 2009. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1979: 3 · 1980: 6 · 1982: 1 · 1983: 3 · 1984: 1 · 1987: 1 · 1989: 2 · 1990: 4 · 1991: 2 · 1992: 2 · 1994: 2 · 1995: 8 · 1996: 1 · 1997: 7 · 1998: 4 · 1999: 2 · 2000: 1 · 2001: 1 · 2002: 2 · 2003: 15 · 2004: 21 · 2005: 6 · 2006: 3 · 2007: 2 · 2008: 3 · 2009: 213 · 2010: 8 · 2011: 3 · 2012: 3 · 2013: 32 · 2014: 10 · 2015: 16 · 2016: 2 · 2017: 11 · 2018: 10 · 2019: 6 · 2020: 30 · 2021: 4 · 2022: 4 · 2023: 17 · 2024: 13 · 2025: 2; 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 Gwinnett County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Gwinnett County Relatively High overall, with an expected annual loss of $211 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lightning | Very High | $4.4M | 60 a year (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively High | $6.9M | 5.3 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively High | $23M | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively High | $145M | 1.2 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | $1.9M | 1.2 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | $11M | about once a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | $2.8M | 2.5 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate | $10M | once in about 511 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Gwinnett 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 Gwinnett CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Gwinnett County's FEMA declarations (CSV)14 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis