Lowndes County, Georgia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 13185 · population 118,124 · 497 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 716 records for Lowndes County, Georgia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 365 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (445 records). The deadliest single record is the September 26, 2024 hurricane, filed for the forecast zone Lowndes, which covers the county: 2 deaths, 77 injuries and $564 million in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 18 declarations naming the county since 1977, 16 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Hurricane Helene” on September 30, 2024.
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
- 716on 365 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 5102 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $666Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 22strongest EF2
- FEMA declarations
- 18latest 2024
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 Lowndes County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 445 since 1960. 41% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1960 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 | 445 | 226 | 1960-2026 | 0 | 1 | $8.8M | 34 of 159 |
| Floods | 93 | 32 | 1998-2025 | 0 | 0 | $13M | 38 of 159 |
| Hail | 57 | 43 | 1957-2024 | 0 | 0 | – | 95 of 159 |
| Drought | 39 | 39 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 108 of 159 |
| Tornadoes | 22 | 22 | 1956-2024 | 0 | 14 | $16M | 54 of 159 |
| Heavy rain | 17 | 5 | 2011-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 66 of 159 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 15 | 15 | 1998-2024 | 3 | 84 | $618M | 109 of 159 |
| Lightning | 13 | 12 | 2000-2023 | 2 | 3 | $260K | 41 of 159 |
| Heat | 7 | 7 | 2010-2023 | 0 | 0 | – | 108 of 159 |
| Winter storms | 3 | 3 | 2014-2025 | 0 | 0 | $62K | 150 of 159 |
| Extreme cold | 2 | 2 | 2017-2026 | 0 | 0 | $9.5M | 140 of 159 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 2 | 2 | 2009-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 116 of 159 |
| High wind and dust storms | 1 | 1 | 2008-2008 | 0 | 0 | $7K | 139 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 Lowndes County had?
NOAA records 22 tornadoes in Lowndes County from 1956 to 2024, the strongest rated EF2, with 0 deaths and 14 injuries recorded in the county. That is 54th 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 22 tornadoes whose track touched Lowndes County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 22, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-03-03 11:56, as SPC files it | Lakeland | EF3 | 10.45 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Georgia.
Every tornado record filed for Lowndes County (22)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-02-04 | Dasher, Lowndes County | EF2 7.27 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 2 | $235K |
| 2022-04-06 | Clyattville, Lowndes County | EF0 7.88 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2017-01-22 | I-75 At Exit 22, Lowndes County | EF1 4.84 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 0 | $301K |
| 2014-12-29 | Valdosta, Lowndes County | EF2 0.74 mi x 180 yd | 0 | 9 | $935K |
| 2014-12-23 | Kinderlou, Lowndes County | EF0 0.1 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2012-03-03 | Barretts, Lowndes County | EF2 4.13 mi x 390 yd | 0 | 0 | $450K |
| 2007-03-02 | Lake Park, Lowndes County | EF0 2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $14K |
| 2004-09-05 | Valdosta, Lowndes County | F0 0.2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $8K |
| 1997-11-01 | Valdosta, Lowndes County | F1 3.5 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $643K |
| 1988-04-25 | Lowndes County | F1 16 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1983-05-16 | Lowndes County | F1 0.3 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1977-06-23 | Lowndes County | F1 1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1974-01-30 | Lowndes County | F1 0.5 mi x 60 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1972-06-27 | Lowndes County | F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1971-02-08 | Lowndes County | F1 0.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 2 | $25K step |
| 1968-12-03 | Lowndes County | F2 0.1 mi x 27 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1967-05-22 | Lowndes County | F2 0.5 mi x 500 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1966-07-08 | Lowndes County | F2 3.3 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 1 | $250K step |
| 1961-12-18 | Lowndes County | F2 0.5 mi x 37 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1960-08-24 | Lowndes County | F0 2 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1959-02-04 | Lowndes County | F1 8 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1956-06-04 | Lowndes County | F1 3.3 mi x 77 yd | 0 | 0 | $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 Lowndes County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the May 22, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($2,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-22 | Thunderstorm WindDasher, Lowndes County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtLowndes County · forecast zone Lowndes | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtLowndes County · forecast zone Lowndes | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindValdosta, Lowndes County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-01 | DroughtLowndes County · forecast zone Lowndes | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-01 | DroughtLowndes County · forecast zone Lowndes | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-01 | Extreme Cold/Wind ChillLowndes County · forecast zone Lowndes | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-25 | Thunderstorm WindI-75 At Exit 5, Lowndes County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-01-01 | DroughtLowndes County · forecast zone Lowndes | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-12-01 | DroughtLowndes County · forecast zone Lowndes | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-11-09 | Thunderstorm WindRemerton, Lowndes County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2025-11-09 | Thunderstorm WindHahira, Lowndes County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-09-26 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Lowndes County · forecast zone Lowndes A huge number of trees and power lines were blown down. Approximately 99% of Lowndes County lost power, and thousands of power lines were down across local roads. Colquitt Electric reported 1000 broken power poles in their service area, mostly in Lowndes and Berrien Counties. The Willis L. Miller Library sustained ... | 2 | 77 | $564M | |
| 2023-08-30 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Lowndes County · forecast zone Lowndes There were 1,127 homes damaged, with 684 being destroyed or receiving major damage. The current combined property damage estimate at $20 million is likely to go higher. Over 1000 calls were received for downed trees and power lines. At the peak, over 90% of residents were without power with 75% still without power 24 ... | 1 | 7 | $19M | |
| 2014-09-07 | LightningValdosta Regional Airport, Lowndes County A 57 year old male was struck by lightning at a construction site while sheltering under a pole barn. He then suffered a heart attack and died as a result of the lightning strike. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2003-08-31 | LightningKinderlou, Lowndes County A Lowndes County teen was struck by lightning while outside his home. Three days later, he died of cardiac failure at Shands Hospital in Gainesville. Reported by the Valdosta Daily Times. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2014-12-29 | TornadoValdosta, Lowndes County The tornado first developed just north of Langdales Pond and Old Clyattville Road on the south side of the city of Valdosta. Some of the most severe damage was near the beginning of the track as the tornado impacted Langdale Forest Products along Old Clyattville Road. Several large metal buildings were severely ... | EF2 0.74 mi x 180 yd | 0 | 9 | $935K |
| 2024-02-04 | TornadoDasher, Lowndes County The tornado initially touched down along Old Lake Park Road south of Hickory Grove Road, causing damage to trees and powerline, with minor damage noted to a manufactured home. The tornado continued northward, crossing Hickory Grove Road, and causing minor damage to a home at the intersection of Ezelle Road. An ... | EF2 7.27 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 2 | $235K |
| 2015-09-05 | LightningI-75 At Exit 29, Lowndes County Two people were struck by lightning and injured. | 0 | 2 | – | |
| 1971-02-08 | TornadoLowndes County | F1 0.5 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.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-09-26 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Lowndes County · forecast zone Lowndes | 2 | 77 | $564M | |
| 2017-09-10 | Tropical StormLowndes County · forecast zone Lowndes | 0 | 0 | $26M | |
| 2023-08-30 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Lowndes County · forecast zone Lowndes | 1 | 7 | $19M | |
| 2016-09-02 | Tropical StormLowndes County · forecast zone Lowndes | 0 | 0 | $4.9M | |
| 2024-11-06 | Flash FloodMoody Afb, Lowndes County | 0 | 0 | $4.7M | |
| 2009-04-02 | FloodBarretts, Lowndes County | 0 | 0 | $3.4M | |
| 2024-03-27 | Thunderstorm WindRemerton, Lowndes County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3.3M |
| 2001-06-11 | Flash FloodCountywide, Lowndes County | 0 | 0 | $1.7M |
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 25, 1988 (tornado, Lowndes 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 Lowndes 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 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 18 | 53 | 170 | 178 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 1 | 6 | 9 | 77 |
| Hail | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 16 | 14 | 9 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 1 | 0 | 27 | 11 |
| Tornadoes | 2 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| Heavy rain | – | – | – | – | 0 | 0 | 17 | 0 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
41% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1960 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 30 · Feb 60 · Mar 51 · Apr 97 · May 60 · Jun 107 · Jul 128 · Aug 102 · Sep 23 · Oct 7 · Nov 36 · Dec 15 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Lowndes County
FEMA's register lists 18 declarations that include Lowndes County: 10 major disasters, 8 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (7) and tropical storm (3).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-09-30 | DR-4830 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| 2024-09-26 | EM-3616 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Helene |
| 2024-09-24 | DR-4821 | Tropical Storm | Tropical Storm Debby |
| 2024-08-05 | EM-3607 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Debby |
| 2023-09-07 | DR-4738 | Hurricane | Hurricane Idalia |
| 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 |
| 2017-01-26 | DR-4297 | Tornado | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2009-04-23 | DR-1833 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3218 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-09-24 | DR-1560 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Frances |
| 1998-03-11 | DR-1209 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1993-03-15 | EM-3097 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall, Winter Storm |
| 1991-03-15 | DR-897 | Flood | Severe Storms & 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 Lowndes County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 93 flood or flash flood records for Lowndes County from 1998 to 2025, on 32 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Lowndes County ranks 1153rd of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Helene | 2024-09-26 | 1 | 2 |
| Hurricane Idalia | 2023-08-30 | 1 | 1 |
| Hurricane Debby | 2024-08-05 | 1 | 0 |
| Hurricane Irma | 2017-09-10 | 1 | 0 |
| Tropical Storm Frances | 2004-09-26 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $5.0 million on 135 claims filed in Lowndes County; the most in one year was 37 in 2024. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1980: 2 · 1984: 3 · 1991: 5 · 1992: 1 · 1994: 13 · 1995: 1 · 1996: 2 · 1997: 1 · 1998: 2 · 2000: 1 · 2002: 2 · 2003: 1 · 2004: 2 · 2005: 1 · 2009: 25 · 2010: 2 · 2012: 1 · 2013: 7 · 2014: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2021: 3 · 2022: 3 · 2023: 16 · 2024: 37; 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 Lowndes County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Lowndes County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $29.8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lightning | Relatively High | $1.2M | 76 a year (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | $8.8M | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $2.8M | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | $1.9M | 1.4 a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $1.3M | 4.8 modeled event-days a year |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $203K | once in about 1,213 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $12M | about once a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $629K | once in about 887 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Lowndes 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 Lowndes CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Lowndes County's FEMA declarations (CSV)18 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis