Lincoln County, Georgia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 13181 · population 7,683 · 210 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 184 records for Lincoln County, Georgia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 138 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (105 records). The deadliest single record is the September 27, 2024 tropical storm, filed for the forecast zone Lincoln, which covers the county: 1 death and $8.4 million in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 13 declarations naming the county since 1977, 11 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
- 184on 138 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 111 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $11Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 10strongest F3
- FEMA declarations
- 13latest 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 Lincoln County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 105 since 1973. 46% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1973 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.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 105 | 91 | 1973-2025 | 0 | 1 | $500K | 40 of 159 |
| Hail | 41 | 33 | 1967-2023 | 0 | 0 | $724 | 49 of 159 |
| Winter storms | 14 | 14 | 2002-2026 | 0 | 2 | – | 50 of 159 |
| Tornadoes | 10 | 7 | 1992-2013 | 0 | 8 | $1.9M | 85 of 159 |
| Floods | 7 | 3 | 2015-2022 | 0 | 0 | $66K | 143 of 159 |
| High wind and dust storms | 3 | 3 | 2009-2014 | 0 | 0 | $76K | 82 of 159 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 2 | 2 | 2018-2024 | 1 | 0 | $8.4M | 149 of 159 |
| Heavy rain | 1 | 1 | 2020-2020 | 0 | 0 | – | 115 of 159 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2008-2008 | 0 | 0 | $14K | 124 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 Lincoln County had?
NOAA records 10 tornadoes in Lincoln County from 1992 to 2013, the strongest rated F3, 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 Lincoln County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 10, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 1 person, 0 of them in Lincoln County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992-11-22 17:00, as SPC files it | PeakCrossed GA, SC | F3 | 67 mi | 1 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Georgia.
Every tornado record filed for Lincoln County (10)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-04-28 | Clay Hill, Lincoln County | EF0 1.24 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | $15K |
| 2008-03-15 | Gill, Lincoln County | EF0 1.14 mi x 110 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2005-01-13 | Double Branches, Lincoln County | F0 0.1 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2003-05-06 | New Hope, Lincoln County | F0 3 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2002-11-11 | Goshen, Lincoln County | F0 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1998-05-07 | New Hope, Lincoln County | F2 0.5 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $634K |
| 1998-05-07 | New Hope, Lincoln County | F1 1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $91K |
| 1998-05-07 | Lincolnton, Lincoln County | F2 1 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 8 | $543K |
| 1998-05-07 | Lincolnton, Lincoln County | F1 0.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $91K |
| 1992-11-22 | Lincoln County | F3 5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K 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 Lincoln County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the September 27, 2024 tropical storm (1 death and $8.4 million in damage in 2025 dollars).
Widespread trees and power lines down throughout the county leading to many closed roads. Large sections of the county lost power for extended period of time. Falling trees and wind caused substantial structural damage across the county. At least 207 homes sustained some level of damage including 16 destroyed and 79 with major damage. NWS storm survey estimated that maximum wind gusts around 80-100 mph. A man was killed when a tree fell on his home. Areas of flooding with 2 day rainfall from a COOP observer in Lincolnton of 7.20 inches.
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1209157)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-31 | Heavy SnowLincoln County · forecast zone Lincoln | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-06-07 | Thunderstorm WindLincolnton, Lincoln County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-02-16 | Thunderstorm WindMartins Xrds, Lincoln County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-02-16 | Thunderstorm WindGoshen, Lincoln County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-01-21 | Winter WeatherLincoln County · forecast zone Lincoln | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-01-10 | Winter WeatherLincoln County · forecast zone Lincoln | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2024-09-27 | Tropical StormLincoln County · forecast zone Lincoln | 1 | 0 | $8.4M | |
| 2023-07-20 | Thunderstorm WindKenna, Lincoln County | 74 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2023-07-20 | Thunderstorm WindGill, Lincoln County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2017-07-06 | Thunderstorm WindGill, Lincoln County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2017-04-03 | Thunderstorm WindAmity, Lincoln County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2016-06-17 | Thunderstorm WindKenna, Lincoln County | 75 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-09-27 | Tropical StormLincoln County · forecast zone Lincoln Widespread trees and power lines down throughout the county leading to many closed roads. Large sections of the county lost power for extended period of time. Falling trees and wind caused substantial structural damage across the county. At least 207 homes sustained some level of damage including 16 destroyed and 79 ... | 1 | 0 | $8.4M | |
| 1998-05-07 | TornadoLincolnton, Lincoln County An F2 tornado hit the Pine Woods subdivision destryoing 12 homes and causing major damage to 15 homes and minor damage to 8 homes. | F2 1 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 8 | $543K |
| 2004-01-26 | Ice StormLincoln County · forecast zone Lincoln An ice storm developed over the CSRA late Sunday night and Monday and produced 1/4-3/4 inch of ice. The heaviest ice accumulations occurred in Lincoln, Columbia, and McDuffie counties. Many trees and powerlines were down causing scattered power outages. About 100,000 homes were without power for several days. Four ... | 0 | 2 | – | |
| 2015-06-09 | Thunderstorm WindAmity, Lincoln County Lincoln DOT reported several trees down along Thomson Highway. One tree fell on a vehicle injuring the occupant. | 55 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $35K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-09-27 | Tropical StormLincoln County · forecast zone Lincoln | 1 | 0 | $8.4M | |
| 1998-05-07 | TornadoNew Hope, Lincoln County | F2 0.5 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $634K |
| 1998-05-07 | TornadoLincolnton, Lincoln County | F2 1 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 8 | $543K |
| 2015-06-09 | Thunderstorm WindAmity, Lincoln County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $35K |
| 2013-04-28 | TornadoClay Hill, Lincoln County | EF0 1.24 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | $15K |
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: November 22, 1992 (tornado, Lincoln 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 Lincoln 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 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 25 | 46 | 17 |
| Hail | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 2 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 0 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Tornadoes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
46% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1973 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 20 · Feb 8 · Mar 8 · Apr 24 · May 34 · Jun 39 · Jul 22 · Aug 11 · Sep 6 · Oct 1 · Nov 6 · Dec 5 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Lincoln County
FEMA's register lists 13 declarations that include Lincoln County: 5 major disasters, 8 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (5) 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 |
| 2018-10-10 | EM-3406 | Hurricane | Hurricane Michael |
| 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 |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3218 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 1998-03-11 | DR-1209 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1992-12-01 | DR-969 | Tornado | High Winds, Heavy Rains & Tornadoes |
| 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.
FEMA's modeled risk for Lincoln County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Lincoln County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $2.8 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 | $135K | 1.1 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $558K | once in about 6 years (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Very Low | $101K | once in about 17 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Very Low | $178K | once in about 378 years (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Very Low | $21K | once in about 1,169 years (modeled) |
| Hail | Very Low | $89K | 3.4 a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Very Low | $65K | 3.3 modeled event-days a year |
| Strong Wind | Very Low | $128K | 3.6 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 Lincoln 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 Lincoln CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Lincoln County's FEMA declarations (CSV)13 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis