Harris County, Georgia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 13145 · population 34,598 · 464 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 508 records for Harris County, Georgia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 335 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (173 records). The deadliest single record is the January 28, 2014 winter storm, filed for the forecast zone Harris, which covers the county: 1 death. 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
- 508on 335 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 211 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $36Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 26strongest F3
- 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 Harris County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 173 since 1977. 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 | 173 | 130 | 1977-2026 | 0 | 0 | $868K | 90 of 159 |
| Hail | 66 | 57 | 1959-2024 | 0 | 0 | $2.3M | 64 of 159 |
| Drought | 57 | 39 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | $3.5M | 97 of 159 |
| Heat | 51 | 40 | 1996-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 4 of 159 |
| Extreme cold | 31 | 18 | 1996-2007 | 0 | 0 | – | 63 of 159 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 30 | 17 | 2002-2020 | 0 | 0 | $60K | 94 of 159 |
| Tornadoes | 26 | 24 | 1953-2024 | 0 | 8 | $24M | 35 of 159 |
| Floods | 23 | 14 | 1998-2022 | 1 | 0 | $2.9M | 87 of 159 |
| Winter storms | 16 | 11 | 2002-2018 | 1 | 2 | $252K | 97 of 159 |
| High wind and dust storms | 15 | 11 | 2001-2013 | 0 | 0 | $571K | 55 of 159 |
| Lightning | 10 | 9 | 1999-2018 | 0 | 1 | $843K | 50 of 159 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 6 | 3 | 2002-2005 | 0 | 0 | – | 85 of 159 |
| Heavy rain | 4 | 2 | 2001-2002 | 0 | 0 | – | 121 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 Harris County had?
NOAA records 26 tornadoes in Harris County from 1953 to 2024, the strongest rated F3, with 0 deaths and 8 injuries recorded in the county. That is 35th 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 26 tornadoes whose track touched Harris County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 26, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 23 people, 0 of them in Harris County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-03-03 14:00, as SPC files it | ColumbusCrossed AL, GA | EF4 | 68.04 mi | 23 |
| 1954-12-05 12:00, as SPC files it | ManchesterCrossed AL, GA | F3 | 51 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Georgia.
Every tornado record filed for Harris County (26)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-05-27 | New Hope, Harris County | EF1 4.28 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2020-04-13 | Turntime Crossroads, Harris County | EF0 3.76 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $23K |
| 2019-04-14 | Ridgeway, Harris County | EF0 5.1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $87K |
| 2019-03-03 | Fortson, Harris County | EF2 12.83 mi x 750 yd | 0 | 0 | $577K |
| 2019-03-03 | Smiths Xrds, Harris County | EF1 7.41 mi x 900 yd | 0 | 0 | $173K |
| 2017-02-07 | Fortson, Harris County | EF1 2.31 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $181K |
| 2017-01-21 | Fortson, Harris County | EF1 10.84 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | $90K |
| 2014-10-14 | Shiloh, Harris County | EF1 1.42 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $6K |
| 2011-11-16 | Bartletts Ferry Lake, Harris County | EF2 26.2 mi x 880 yd | 0 | 2 | $6.6M |
| 2011-04-27 | Hog Gap, Harris County | EF2 7.66 mi x 1,320 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.6M |
| 2011-04-15 | Kingsboro, Harris County | EF0 0.43 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $7K |
| 1997-03-13 | Cataula, Harris County | F0 1 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $6K |
| 1996-03-06 | Mulberry Grove, Harris County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $19K |
| 1990-02-22 | Harris County | F1 0.2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1988-04-18 | Harris County | F1 0.8 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1984-04-22 | Harris County | F1 2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1980-04-13 | Harris County | F1 8.6 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1979-09-13 | Harris County | F0 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1979-09-13 | Harris County | F1 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1978-06-08 | Harris County | F1 2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 2 | $25K step |
| 1971-05-12 | Harris County | F1 1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1970-04-19 | Harris County | F2 0.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 1 | $25K step |
| 1970-03-20 | Harris County | F2 2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 1 | $25K step |
| 1956-12-23 | Harris County | F1 31.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1954-12-05 | Harris County | F3 24.8 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 1 | $250K step |
| 1953-01-20 | Harris County | F1 0.4 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 1 | $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 Harris County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the March 9, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($1,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-09 | Thunderstorm WindWaverly Hall, Harris County | 43 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-03-01 | DroughtHarris County · forecast zone Harris | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-01 | DroughtHarris County · forecast zone Harris | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-01 | DroughtHarris County · forecast zone Harris | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-10-01 | DroughtHarris County · forecast zone Harris | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-09-23 | DroughtHarris County · forecast zone Harris | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-05-03 | Thunderstorm WindHudson Mill, Harris County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2025-03-31 | Thunderstorm WindGordydale, Harris County | 43 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindNew Hope, Harris County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2024-05-27 | TornadoNew Hope, Harris County | EF1 4.28 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2020-04-13 | TornadoTurntime Crossroads, Harris County | EF0 3.76 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $23K |
| 2019-04-14 | TornadoRidgeway, Harris County | EF0 5.1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $87K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-01-28 | Winter StormHarris County · forecast zone Harris A significant winter storm impacted north and central Georgia on the 28th. Snow and sleet began late Tuesday morning, accumulating to widespread amounts of 1 to 3 inches of snow, up to a half inch of sleet, and up to a quarter of an inch of ice. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2001-03-03 | Flash FloodEllerslie, Harris County The Harris county 911 center reported that thunderstorms dumped very heavy rainfall across the county. Rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches in a 6 hour period were common across much of the county. Around 10 pm EST a 19-year old male and an additional occupant tried to cross swollen Randall Creek near Georgia Highway 315 ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2011-11-16 | TornadoBartletts Ferry Lake, Harris County A damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Peachtree City, Georgia confirmed that an EF2 tornado caused extensive damage across Harris county. The tornado first touched down as an EF1 in Macon county, Alabama before moving east into Lee county, Alabama and then into Harris county, ... | EF2 26.2 mi x 880 yd | 0 | 2 | $6.6M |
| 2011-01-09 | Winter StormHarris County · forecast zone Harris The Harris County 911 Center reported 0.88 inch of sleet and 0.25 inch of ice accumulation. The Hogansville Daily News reported that there were numerous traffic accidents caused by icy roads, some with minor injuries. The number of injuries was unknown. Schools and businesses were closed for a couple of days. | 0 | 2 | – | |
| 1978-06-08 | TornadoHarris County | F1 2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 2 | $25K step |
| 2009-02-28 | LightningPine Mtn, Harris County The Harris County 911 Center reported that a woman was struck by lightning and injured. No further information was provided. | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 1970-04-19 | TornadoHarris County | F2 0.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 1 | $25K step |
| 1970-03-20 | TornadoHarris County | F2 2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 1 | $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.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-11-16 | TornadoBartletts Ferry Lake, Harris County | EF2 26.2 mi x 880 yd | 0 | 2 | $6.6M |
| 2000-06-01 | DroughtHarris County · forecast zone Harris | 0 | 0 | $3.4M | |
| 2011-04-27 | TornadoHog Gap, Harris County | EF2 7.66 mi x 1,320 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.6M |
| 2003-05-08 | Flash FloodCountywide, Harris County | 0 | 0 | $2.4M | |
| 2011-04-15 | HailMountain Hill, Harris County | 2.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $1.4M |
| 2019-03-03 | TornadoFortson, Harris County | EF2 12.83 mi x 750 yd | 0 | 0 | $577K |
| 2006-04-19 | HailPine Mtn, Harris County | 2.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $512K |
| 2011-03-26 | HailWhitesville, Harris County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $350K |
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: April 13, 1980 (tornado, Harris 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 Harris 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 | 0 | 5 | 13 | 49 | 21 | 53 | 32 |
| Hail | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 14 | 31 | 10 | 4 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 7 | 35 | 10 | 5 |
| Heat | – | – | – | – | 32 | 14 | 5 | 0 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 7 | 24 | 0 | 0 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | – | – | – | – | 0 | 25 | 4 | 1 |
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 Harris County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 37 · Feb 25 · Mar 70 · Apr 63 · May 46 · Jun 52 · Jul 50 · Aug 53 · Sep 38 · Oct 27 · Nov 18 · Dec 29 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Harris County
FEMA's register lists 14 declarations that include Harris County: 8 major disasters, 6 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (6) 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 |
| 2016-02-26 | DR-4259 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2011-04-29 | DR-1973 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Associated Flooding |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3218 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-09-24 | DR-1560 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Frances |
| 2004-09-18 | DR-1554 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ivan |
| 1995-10-10 | DR-1071 | Hurricane | Hurricane Opal |
| 1990-02-23 | DR-857 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornaodes & 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 Harris County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 23 flood or flash flood records for Harris County from 1998 to 2022, on 14 days, with 1 death. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Harris County ranks 2321st of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $118,000 on 11 claims filed in Harris County; the most in one year was 4 in 2015. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
2009: 3 · 2013: 1 · 2015: 4 · 2016: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2019: 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 Harris County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Harris County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $8.4 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 | Relatively Moderate | $562K | 64 a year (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | $384K | once in about 12 years (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $170K | 48 modeled event-days a year |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $361K | 4.7 modeled event-days a year |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $5.4M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $193K | 3.5 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $837K | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $197K | 1.7 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 Harris 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 Harris CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Harris County's FEMA declarations (CSV)14 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis