Monroe County, Georgia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 13207 · population 27,887 · 396 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 343 records for Monroe County, Georgia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 264 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (153 records). The most damaging was the April 13, 2020 tornado ($11.4 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 21 declarations naming the county since 1977, 19 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
- 343on 264 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 013 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $33Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 19strongest EF3
- FEMA declarations
- 21latest 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 Monroe County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 153 since 1963. 41% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1963 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 | 153 | 122 | 1963-2025 | 0 | 0 | $2.9M | 74 of 159 |
| Hail | 47 | 41 | 1969-2022 | 0 | 0 | $864K | 75 of 159 |
| Drought | 35 | 35 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | $5.1M | 93 of 159 |
| Tornadoes | 19 | 16 | 1952-2025 | 0 | 13 | $21M | 66 of 159 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 17 | 17 | 2002-2020 | 0 | 0 | $90K | 73 of 159 |
| Extreme cold | 14 | 14 | 1996-2007 | 0 | 0 | – | 77 of 159 |
| Floods | 13 | 11 | 1996-2023 | 0 | 0 | $831K | 100 of 159 |
| Winter storms | 13 | 13 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $286K | 81 of 159 |
| Heat | 11 | 11 | 1999-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 73 of 159 |
| Lightning | 9 | 8 | 2005-2012 | 0 | 0 | $998K | 48 of 159 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 5 | 4 | 2002-2005 | 0 | 0 | – | 51 of 159 |
| High wind and dust storms | 4 | 4 | 2004-2004 | 0 | 0 | $864K | 94 of 159 |
| Heavy rain | 3 | 3 | 2001-2007 | 0 | 0 | $7K | 84 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 Monroe County had?
NOAA records 19 tornadoes in Monroe County from 1952 to 2025, the strongest rated EF3, with 0 deaths and 13 injuries recorded in the county. That is 66th 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 19 tornadoes whose track touched Monroe County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 19, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 2 people, 0 of them in Monroe County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-04-27 22:38, as SPC files it | Barnesville | EF3 | 30.82 mi | 2 |
| 2020-04-13 00:40, as SPC files it | Forsyth | EF3 | 5.3 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Georgia.
Every tornado record filed for Monroe County (19)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-05-03 | Culloden, Monroe County | EF0 2.47 mi x 175 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-01-01 | Bolingbroke, Monroe County | EF1 3.34 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $49K |
| 2021-01-01 | Russellville, Monroe County | EF0 1.2 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $109K |
| 2020-04-13 | Collier, Monroe County | EF3 5.3 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 1 | $11M |
| 2017-04-03 | Smarr, Monroe County | EF1 8.13 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $361K |
| 2017-01-21 | Spring Hill, Monroe County | EF0 8.84 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $18K |
| 2014-11-23 | Dyas, Monroe County | EF1 20.02 mi x 70 yd | 0 | 0 | $37K |
| 2011-04-28 | Socrates, Monroe County | EF2 11.51 mi x 1,056 yd | 0 | 10 | $6.6M |
| 2009-01-07 | Smarr, Monroe County | EF0 2.88 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $34K |
| 2008-08-26 | Percale, Monroe County | EF0 0.29 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2002-11-10 | Bolingbroke, Monroe County | F0 0.2 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $164K |
| 1998-05-03 | Dames Ferry, Monroe County | F0 1.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 2 | $181K |
| 1998-05-03 | Forsyth, Monroe County | F0 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $4K |
| 1992-11-22 | Monroe County | F2 2 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1992-11-22 | Monroe County | F0 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1983-05-16 | Monroe County | F0 0.5 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1956-02-27 | Monroe County | F0 0.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $30 step |
| 1954-08-16 | Monroe County | F1 1 mi x 17 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1952-01-28 | Monroe County | F1 3.8 mi x 400 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 Monroe County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the May 3, 2025 thunderstorm wind ($2,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-01 | DroughtMonroe County · forecast zone Monroe | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-01 | DroughtMonroe County · forecast zone Monroe | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-18 | Winter StormMonroe County · forecast zone Monroe | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-13 | DroughtMonroe County · forecast zone Monroe | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-05-03 | TornadoCulloden, Monroe County | EF0 2.47 mi x 175 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-03 | Thunderstorm WindStar Mills, Monroe County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2025-04-10 | Thunderstorm WindHiggins Mill, Monroe County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-04-10 | Thunderstorm WindBrent, Monroe County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2025-04-10 | Thunderstorm WindStar Mills, Monroe County | 56 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $5K |
| 2025-03-31 | Thunderstorm WindBlount, Monroe County | 48 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-03-31 | Thunderstorm WindSmarr, Monroe County | 48 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-03-31 | Thunderstorm WindStar Mills, Monroe County | 48 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011-04-28 | TornadoSocrates, Monroe County A damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Peachtree City confirmed that the tornado, which originally touched down in far southeast Pike county and continued moving northeast across Lamar county, causing extensive damage and two fatalities there, continued across northern Monroe ... | EF2 11.51 mi x 1,056 yd | 0 | 10 | $6.6M |
| 1998-05-03 | TornadoDames Ferry, Monroe County A severe thunderstorm cell spawned a tornado in the southeast corner of the county. The damage path was surveyed by a NWS employee who reported damage at the Whispering Pines mobile home park. Four mobile homes and a van were destroyed, mainly from trees falling on them.Two minor injuries occurred. Numerous trees and ... | F0 1.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 2 | $181K |
| 2020-04-13 | TornadoCollier, Monroe County This tornado is a regeneration from the same storm which caused the Upson County EF-3 tornado to the southwest. This tornado first touched down along Potts Cemetery Road downing a few trees continuing NE crossing Hwy 41 and Ingram Rd snapping and uprooting a few trees. This portion of the track was rated EF-0. The ... | EF3 5.3 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 1 | $11M |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-04-13 | TornadoCollier, Monroe County | EF3 5.3 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 1 | $11M |
| 2011-04-28 | TornadoSocrates, Monroe County | EF2 11.51 mi x 1,056 yd | 0 | 10 | $6.6M |
| 2007-08-05 | Thunderstorm WindHiggins Mill, Monroe County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $712K |
| 2009-03-28 | FloodHiggins Mill, Monroe County | 0 | 0 | $688K | |
| 2004-09-16 | High WindMonroe County · forecast zone Monroe | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $469K |
| 2006-01-02 | HailBrent, Monroe County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $439K |
| 2004-09-06 | High WindMonroe County · forecast zone Monroe | 35 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $391K |
| 2017-04-03 | TornadoSmarr, Monroe County | EF1 8.13 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $361K |
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, Monroe County); November 22, 1992 (tornado, Monroe 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 Monroe 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 | 4 | 3 | 12 | 42 | 25 | 30 | 37 |
| Hail | 0 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 8 | 18 | 8 | 2 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 3 | 18 | 11 | 3 |
| Tornadoes | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | – | – | – | – | 0 | 13 | 3 | 1 |
| Extreme cold | – | – | – | – | 2 | 12 | 0 | 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 1963 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 29 · Feb 25 · Mar 35 · Apr 39 · May 23 · Jun 44 · Jul 49 · Aug 32 · Sep 21 · Oct 14 · Nov 18 · Dec 14 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Monroe County
FEMA's register lists 21 declarations that include Monroe County: 12 major disasters, 9 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (6) and severe storm (5).
| 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 |
| 2014-03-06 | DR-4165 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2014-02-11 | EM-3368 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2011-04-29 | DR-1973 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Associated 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 |
| 2000-01-28 | DR-1311 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 1998-03-11 | DR-1209 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1994-07-07 | DR-1033 | Tornado | Tornadoes, Flooding Torrential Rain(Trop Storm Alberto) |
| 1993-03-15 | EM-3097 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall, Winter Storm |
| 1992-12-01 | DR-969 | Tornado | High Winds, Heavy Rains & Tornadoes |
| 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 Monroe County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 13 flood or flash flood records for Monroe County from 1996 to 2023, on 11 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Monroe County ranks 1558th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $3.0 million on 61 claims filed in Monroe County; the most in one year was 25 in 1994. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1990: 3 · 1992: 1 · 1994: 25 · 1996: 2 · 1998: 6 · 2009: 2 · 2015: 7 · 2016: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2023: 5 · 2024: 4; 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 Monroe County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Monroe County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $6.8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | $319K | once in about 15 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $501K | 6.3 modeled event-days a year |
| Drought | Relatively Low | $155K | 56 modeled event-days a year |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $232K | 3.9 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $435K | 2.1 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Low | $174K | 62 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $924K | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $28K | about once 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 Monroe 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 Monroe CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Monroe County's FEMA declarations (CSV)21 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis