Jackson County, Georgia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 13157 · population 75,573 · 340 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 618 records for Jackson County, Georgia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 352 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (159 records). 336 of them are forecast-zone records, which the National Weather Service files once per zone: a county covered by several zones receives each one, so a single storm can add several records on the same day. The deadliest single record is the March 21, 2017 thunderstorm wind: 1 death and $120,000 in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 14 declarations naming the county since 1976, 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
- 618on 352 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 218 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $39Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 10strongest 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 Jackson County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 159 since 1956. 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 | 159 | 140 | 1956-2025 | 1 | 3 | $2.8M | 45 of 159 |
| Drought | 88 | 42 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | $17M | 55 of 159 |
| Winter storms | 81 | 40 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $2.7M | 35 of 159 |
| Hail | 79 | 60 | 1968-2025 | 0 | 0 | $4.1M | 41 of 159 |
| Extreme cold | 43 | 15 | 1996-2007 | 0 | 0 | – | 49 of 159 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 41 | 15 | 2002-2020 | 0 | 0 | $90K | 68 of 159 |
| Heat | 35 | 12 | 1999-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 49 of 159 |
| High wind and dust storms | 33 | 17 | 1998-2019 | 1 | 6 | $2.9M | 24 of 159 |
| Floods | 20 | 17 | 2003-2020 | 0 | 0 | $93K | 49 of 159 |
| Lightning | 16 | 14 | 2001-2025 | 0 | 1 | $1.4M | 21 of 159 |
| Tornadoes | 10 | 10 | 1952-2017 | 0 | 8 | $8.1M | 105 of 159 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 7 | 3 | 2002-2005 | 0 | 0 | – | 59 of 159 |
| Heavy rain | 6 | 2 | 2001-2002 | 0 | 0 | – | 102 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 Jackson County had?
NOAA records 10 tornadoes in Jackson County from 1952 to 2017, the strongest rated F2, with 0 deaths and 8 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 10 tornadoes whose track touched Jackson County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 10, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Georgia.
Every tornado record filed for Jackson County (10)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-03-21 | Clarksboro, Jackson County | EF1 0.44 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $90K |
| 2016-12-29 | Red Stone, Jackson County | EF1 3.49 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $61K |
| 2016-11-30 | Grove Level, Jackson County | EF1 2.37 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $61K |
| 2008-08-26 | Arcade, Jackson County | EF1 7.64 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 3 | $480K |
| 2005-08-29 | Braselton, Jackson County | F0 1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $30K |
| 1994-06-27 | Commerce, Jackson County | F0 0.5 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 1985-08-17 | Jackson County | F1 10 mi x 70 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1976-05-14 | Jackson County | F2 1.9 mi x 160 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1966-05-01 | Jackson County | F2 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1952-02-29 | Jackson County | F2 0.2 mi x 17 yd | 0 | 5 | $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 Jackson County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the November 8, 2025 thunderstorm wind ($1,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-01 | DroughtJackson County · forecast zone Jackson | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-01 | DroughtJackson County · forecast zone Jackson | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-31 | Winter StormJackson County · forecast zone Jackson | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Ice StormJackson County · forecast zone Jackson | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-06 | DroughtJackson County · forecast zone Jackson | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-11-08 | Thunderstorm WindCommerce, Jackson County | 48 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-06-07 | Thunderstorm WindCenter, Jackson County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-06-07 | Thunderstorm WindCommerce, Jackson County | 48 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-06-07 | Thunderstorm WindHoschton, Jackson County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-05-12 | Thunderstorm WindBrockton, Jackson County | 43 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-05-12 | HailJefferson, Jackson County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-04-10 | LightningHoschton, Jackson County | 0 | 0 | $5K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-03-21 | Thunderstorm WindFairview, Jackson County The Jackson County Emergency Manager reported numerous trees and power lines blown down across the far western portion of the county. Trees were snapped at Guy Cooper Road and Highway 60. A tree fell onto a building and the roof was blow off of the building along Highway 332 east of Braselton. On Cambridge Farm Road ... | 65 kt wind | 1 | 0 | $120K |
| 2008-05-11 | Strong WindBarrow County and Jackson County · forecast zone Barrow The Barrow county Emergency Management Director reported that a 55-year old male was killed when a tree fell on him while grilling for a Mother's Day picnic. This occurred in northeast Barrow county about five miles north-northeast of Statham on Jones Road. He was pined underneath the 30-foot tall, 3-foot diameter ... | 39 kt wind | 1 | 0 | $14K |
| 1952-02-29 | TornadoJackson County | F2 0.2 mi x 17 yd | 0 | 5 | $25K step |
| 2008-08-26 | TornadoArcade, Jackson County A survey conducted by the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Peachtree City and the Jackson County Emergency Management Agency confirmed that an EF1 tornado touched down and caused considerable damage in northeast Jackson county. The tornado initially touched down very briefly about three miles east-northeast ... | EF1 7.64 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 3 | $480K |
| 2007-03-03 | Strong WindBarrow County and Jackson County · forecast zone Barrow The Gwinnett Daily Post reported that strong wind gusts resulted in a the collapse of a home under construction on Shumard Oak Drive in a new phase of the Chateau Elan subdivision in western Barrow county near the Gwinnett county line. All three workers had to be transported to a local hospital. One worker in the home ... | 35 kt wind | 0 | 3 | $213K |
| 2005-04-02 | Strong WindClarke County and Jackson County · forecast zone Clarke An unusually strong, late winter/early spring cold front moved through the area early in the day, bringing strong and gusty northwest winds to the region, along with some snow and sleet showers early in the day. The strong winds, combined with wet ground from heavy rain during the previous week, caused several trees ... | 39 kt wind | 0 | 2 | $38K |
| 1989-04-04 | Thunderstorm WindJackson County | 0 | 2 | – | |
| 2012-10-29 | Strong WindBarrow County and Jackson County · forecast zone Barrow Winder Police reported that two-year-old boy was critically injured when a tree limb fell on him while he was playing at his daycare at about 11:30 am EDT. Strong winds were reported through the late morning and into the afternoon hours, with the nearby KWDR ASOS reporting a peak gust of 43 mph at 3:55 pm EDT. | 37 kt wind | 0 | 1 | – |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000-06-01 | DroughtBarrow County and Jackson County · forecast zone Barrow | 0 | 0 | $5.0M | |
| 2008-03-15 | HailJefferson, Jackson County | 2.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | $1.4M |
| 2017-04-05 | HailRed Stone, Jackson County | 2.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | $890K |
| 2015-04-20 | HailRed Stone, Jackson County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $804K |
| 2013-08-23 | Thunderstorm WindJefferson, Jackson County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $760K |
| 2004-09-16 | High WindClarke County and Jackson County · forecast zone Clarke | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $625K |
| 2007-06-12 | HailCommerce, Jackson County | 2.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $527K |
| 2010-06-15 | HailTalmo, Jackson County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $501K |
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: August 17, 1985 (tornado, Jackson 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 Jackson 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 | 3 | 3 | 23 | 26 | 32 | 38 | 33 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 9 | 54 | 18 | 7 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 7 | 41 | 27 | 6 |
| Hail | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 28 | 20 | 18 | 3 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 7 | 36 | 0 | 0 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | – | – | – | – | 0 | 36 | 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 Jackson County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 54 · Feb 50 · Mar 48 · Apr 65 · May 53 · Jun 68 · Jul 61 · Aug 62 · Sep 53 · Oct 35 · Nov 22 · Dec 47 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Jackson County
FEMA's register lists 14 declarations that include Jackson County: 6 major disasters, 8 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (4) 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 |
| 2017-09-15 | DR-4338 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| 2017-09-08 | EM-3387 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| 2015-04-20 | DR-4215 | 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 |
| 2000-01-28 | DR-1311 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 1993-03-15 | EM-3097 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall, Winter Storm |
| 1977-07-20 | EM-3044 | Drought | Drought |
| 1976-06-11 | DR-507 | Flood | Severe Storms & Flooding |
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 Jackson County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 20 flood or flash flood records for Jackson County from 2003 to 2020, on 17 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Jackson County ranks 2477th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $66,000 on 7 claims filed in Jackson County; the most in one year was 3 in 2004. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
2004: 3 · 2014: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2019: 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 Jackson County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Jackson County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $19.0 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 Moderate | $422K | 1.2 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $3.6M | once in about 5 years (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $644K | 57 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $1.0M | once in about 494 years (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | $515K | once in about 23 years (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $552K | 4.8 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $387K | 41 modeled event-days a year |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $1.8M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Jackson 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 Jackson CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Jackson County's FEMA declarations (CSV)14 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis