Hart County, Georgia

County storm and disaster record · FIPS 13147 · population 25,791 · 232 sq mi

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 300 records for Hart County, Georgia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 264 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (116 records). The deadliest single record is the January 7, 1996 cold/wind chill, filed for the forecast zone Hart, 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
300on 264 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
Deaths recorded
16 injuries
Damage, 2025 dollars
$6.5Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
Tornadoes
11strongest F2
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 Hart County most?

The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 116 since 1968. 44% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1968 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.

Hart County: records by hazard, 1950 to June 30, 2026
HazardRecordsDaysFirst, lastKilledInjuredDamageRank in state
Severe thunderstorm wind 116 108 1968-2026 0 0 $1.1M 32 of 159
Winter storms 45 41 1996-2026 0 0 $902K 20 of 159
Hail 42 38 1982-2025 0 0 – 45 of 159
Drought 41 41 1998-2026 0 0 – 22 of 159
Floods 16 14 1996-2020 0 0 $174K 41 of 159
Tornadoes 11 11 1970-2023 0 3 $2.5M 45 of 159
High wind and dust storms 10 10 1998-2017 0 0 $52K 30 of 159
Extreme cold 9 9 1996-2026 1 0 $712K 64 of 159
Heat 3 3 1999-2012 0 3 – 110 of 159
Hurricanes and tropical storms 2 2 2020-2024 0 0 $941K 151 of 159
Lightning 2 2 1996-2001 0 0 $25K 96 of 159
Fog, smoke and funnel clouds 2 2 1999-2005 0 0 – 62 of 159
Heavy rain 1 1 2004-2004 0 0 – 122 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 Hart County had?

NOAA records 11 tornadoes in Hart County from 1970 to 2023, the strongest rated F2, with 0 deaths and 3 injuries recorded in the county. That is 45th 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 12 tornadoes whose track touched Hart County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 11: 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.

Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Georgia.

Every tornado record filed for Hart County (11)
Every tornado recorded in Hart County, newest first
DatePlaceCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2023-08-03 Goldmine, Hart County EF0 4.37 mi x 25 yd 0 0 –
2019-04-14 Air Line, Hart County EF0 2.88 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $58K
2008-08-26 Reed Creek, Hart County EF1 3.13 mi x 30 yd 0 0 –
2008-03-15 Vanna, Hart County EF0 0.93 mi x 20 yd 0 0 –
2004-09-16 Reed Creek, Hart County F1 1.5 mi x 40 yd 0 0 $8K
2003-05-06 Vanna, Hart County F1 0.1 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $80K
2001-01-19 Vanna, Hart County F1 1 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $83K
1994-08-16 Hartwell, Hart County F1 1 mi x 100 yd 0 1 $995K
1993-03-31 Lake Hartwell, Hart County F1 1 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $112K
1993-03-23 Hart County F1 2 mi x 33 yd 0 0 $1.0M
1970-04-02 Hart County F2 5.2 mi x 100 yd 0 2 $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 Hart County?

The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 1, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($100,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).

NWS storm survey reported wind damage along the western shores of Lake Hartwell throughout Hart County, with the most concentrated swath of damage extending from Hart State Park SSE to the Elbert County border near Montevideo, where numerous trees were blown down. The highest estimated wind gusts of 75 mph occurred along Old Highway 29 and Elrod Ferry Rd where dozens of trees were downed, with several falling on homes. At least one outbuilding received roof damage near the Elbert County line.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1349759)
The 12 most recent records kept for Hart County
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-06-01 Thunderstorm WindReed Creek, Hart County 65 kt wind 0 0 $100K
2026-05-01 DroughtHart County · forecast zone Hart 0 0 –
2026-04-01 DroughtHart County · forecast zone Hart 0 0 –
2026-02-01 Cold/Wind ChillHart County · forecast zone Hart 0 0 –
2026-01-31 Heavy SnowHart County · forecast zone Hart 0 0 –
2026-01-25 Ice StormHart County · forecast zone Hart 0 0 –
2025-07-11 HailHartwell, Hart County 0.88 in hail 0 0 –
2025-07-11 Thunderstorm WindShoal Creek, Hart County 50 kt wind 0 0 –
2025-06-07 Thunderstorm WindBowersville, Hart County 55 kt wind 0 0 $50K
2025-05-02 HailReed Creek, Hart County 1.00 in hail 0 0 –
2025-04-10 HailReed Creek, Hart County 1.00 in hail 0 0 –
2025-01-21 Winter WeatherHart County · forecast zone Hart 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 Hart County, most deaths first
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
1996-01-07 Cold/Wind ChillHart County · forecast zone Hart A man died of hypothermia after the car in which he was a passenger went into the water near Hartwell Dam. He escaped the car and walked, apparently to seek help, toward the Ranger station. He was found later. It is not clear how the car ended up in the water. His companion, the driver, drowned. The water twmperature ... 1 0 –
1999-08-01 HeatHart County · forecast zone Hart More than a week of high temperatures between 95 and 105 degrees combined with high humidity, caused heat stress related injuries and a death. 0 3 –
1970-04-02 TornadoHart County F2 5.2 mi x 100 yd 0 2 $25K step
1994-08-16 TornadoHartwell, Hart County A tornado touched down near the intersection of Moore and Hickory Crossing Roads, in the Cedar Creek Church community, halfway between Georgia Highways 77 and 172, in southcentral Hart County. The tornado destroyed two mobile homes, rolled a third over and lifted a fourth off its foundation in the Cedar Creek Church ... F1 1 mi x 100 yd 0 1 $995K

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 Hart County since 1993, damage in 2025 dollars
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
1993-03-23 TornadoHart County F1 2 mi x 33 yd 0 0 $1.0M
1994-08-16 TornadoHartwell, Hart County F1 1 mi x 100 yd 0 1 $995K
2024-09-27 Tropical StormHart County · forecast zone Hart 0 0 $941K
2001-01-19 Thunderstorm WindVanna, Hart County 70 kt wind 0 0 $250K
2021-03-26 Thunderstorm WindNuberg, Hart County 65 kt wind 0 0 $218K
1993-03-31 TornadoLake Hartwell, Hart County F1 1 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $112K
2026-06-01 Thunderstorm WindReed Creek, Hart County 65 kt wind 0 0 $100K
2001-01-19 TornadoVanna, Hart County F1 1 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $83K

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 $25K, in the dollars of the day) holds: April 2, 1970 (tornado, Hart 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 Hart 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).

Hart County: records per decade (the 2020s to June 30, 2026)
Hazard1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020-26
Severe thunderstorm wind0121120392815
Winter storms––––719136
Hail000292263
Drought––––52862
Floods––––6622
Tornadoes00103511

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

What time of year?

44% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1968 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.

The values, month by month

Jan 30 · Feb 24 · Mar 26 · Apr 21 · May 30 · Jun 45 · Jul 32 · Aug 36 · Sep 15 · Oct 7 · Nov 12 · Dec 22 (records).

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

Federal disaster declarations for Hart County

FEMA's register lists 14 declarations that include Hart County: 6 major disasters, 8 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (5) and biological (2).

Declarations including Hart County, newest first
DeclaredNumberTypeTitle
2026-01-24EM-3642Winter StormSevere Winter Storm
2024-09-30DR-4830HurricaneHurricane Helene
2024-09-26EM-3616Tropical StormHurricane Helene
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
2004-09-24DR-1560HurricaneTropical Storm Frances
2000-01-28DR-1311Severe StormSevere Winter Storm
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 Hart County had?

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 16 flood or flash flood records for Hart County from 1996 to 2020, on 14 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Hart County ranks 2830th of 2,942 U.S. counties.

Named storms on Hart County's flood and tropical record
StormBeganRecordsDeaths in the county
Hurricane Helene2024-09-2710

The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $0 on 1 claim filed in Hart County; the most in one year was 1 in 2009. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.

The values, year by year

2009: 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 Hart County

FEMA's National Risk Index rates Hart County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $9.3 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 Hart County (December 2025 release), by FEMA's rating, then score
HazardRisk ratingExpected annual lossModeled frequency
Ice StormRelatively Moderate$313K1.6 a year (modeled)
HurricaneRelatively Low$651Konce in about 18 years (modeled)
EarthquakeRelatively Low$595Konce in about 408 years (modeled)
DroughtRelatively Low$296K43 modeled event-days a year
HailRelatively Low$285K4.4 a year (modeled)
Heat WaveRelatively Low$381K2 modeled event-days a year
TornadoRelatively Low$1.1Monce in about 7 years (modeled)
Cold WaveRelatively Low$742Konce in about 5 years (modeled)

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

Counties that share a border with Hart County

  1. Anderson County, SC 1,016
  2. Oconee County, SC 952
  3. Elbert County 341
  4. Madison County 308
  5. Franklin County 307
  6. Hart County 300

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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