PlainHazard

Newton County, Georgia

County storm and disaster record · FIPS 13217 · population 112,350 · 274 sq mi

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 347 records for Newton County, Georgia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 285 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (134 records). The deadliest single record is the January 12, 2023 tornado: 2 deaths and 10 injuries. FEMA has issued 20 declarations naming the county since 1977, 18 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
347on 285 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
Deaths recorded
422 injuries
Damage, 2025 dollars
$26Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
Tornadoes
17strongest F3
FEMA declarations
20latest 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 Newton County most?

The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 134 since 1956. 41% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1956 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.

Newton County: records by hazard, 1950 to June 30, 2026
HazardRecordsDaysFirst, lastKilledInjuredDamageRank in state
Severe thunderstorm wind 134 122 1956-2026 2 3 $1.6M 36 of 159
Hail 61 46 1985-2022 0 0 $6.5M 44 of 159
Drought 35 35 1997-2026 0 0 $5.0M 48 of 159
Winter storms 24 24 1996-2026 0 0 $2.1M 45 of 159
Tornadoes 17 16 1964-2025 2 19 $6.7M 23 of 159
Hurricanes and tropical storms 16 16 2002-2024 0 0 $302K 37 of 159
Extreme cold 14 14 1996-2007 0 0 – 36 of 159
Floods 12 11 1996-2021 0 0 $2.0M 70 of 159
Heat 12 12 1999-2012 0 0 – 33 of 159
Lightning 9 9 2000-2012 0 0 $1.3M 31 of 159
High wind and dust storms 6 6 2001-2005 0 0 $417K 58 of 159
Heavy rain 5 4 2001-2017 0 0 – 38 of 159
Fog, smoke and funnel clouds 2 2 2002-2005 0 0 – 77 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 Newton County had?

NOAA records 17 tornadoes in Newton County from 1964 to 2025, the strongest rated F3, with 2 deaths and 19 injuries recorded in the county. That is 23rd 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 17 tornadoes whose track touched Newton County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 17, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 4 people, 2 of them in Newton County.

The deadliest and strongest tornadoes that touched Newton County, whole tracks
DateTornadoRatingPathKilled
2023-01-12 15:27, as SPC files itJenkinsburgEF2125.76 mi4

Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Georgia.

Every tornado record filed for Newton County (17)
Every tornado recorded in Newton County, newest first
DatePlaceCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2025-05-03 Oak Hill, Newton County EF0 1.94 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $4K
2025-02-16 Stewart, Newton County EF0 2.41 mi x 200 yd 0 0 –
2023-01-12 Stewart, Newton County EF1 10.27 mi x 500 yd 0 0 –
2023-01-12 Stewart, Newton County EF2 31.44 mi x 1,400 yd 2 10 –
2021-12-31 Abide Awhile, Newton County EF1 2.5 mi x 75 yd 0 6 –
2020-10-10 Covington, Newton County EF1 1.44 mi x 75 yd 0 2 $285K
2017-04-05 Dialtown, Newton County EF1 0.24 mi x 350 yd 0 0 $30K
2014-11-23 Stewart, Newton County EF0 0.53 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $2K
2013-04-19 Jerusalem, Newton County EF2 7.64 mi x 175 yd 0 1 $633K
2011-04-28 Newborn, Newton County EF1 1.97 mi x 880 yd 0 0 $525K
2009-02-18 Lassiter, Newton County EF1 2.84 mi x 200 yd 0 0 $860K
2008-05-11 Oak Hill, Newton County EF0 0.97 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $1K
1990-02-10 Newton County F1 2.5 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $250K step
1980-05-17 Newton County F1 0.2 mi x 50 yd 0 0 $25K step
1978-05-08 Newton County F1 6.1 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $250K step
1965-07-11 Newton County F2 7.4 mi x 33 yd 0 0 $25K step
1964-12-24 Newton County F3 12.7 mi x 400 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 Newton County?

The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the March 16, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($2,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).

The 12 most recent records kept for Newton County
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2026-03-16 Thunderstorm WindCovington, Newton County 52 kt wind 0 0 $2K
2026-03-01 DroughtNewton County · forecast zone Newton 0 0 –
2026-02-10 DroughtNewton County · forecast zone Newton 0 0 –
2026-01-31 Winter StormNewton County · forecast zone Newton 0 0 –
2026-01-24 Ice StormNewton County · forecast zone Newton 0 0 –
2025-06-25 Thunderstorm WindAbide Awhile, Newton County 52 kt wind 0 0 $1K
2025-06-08 Thunderstorm WindCovington, Newton County 43 kt wind 0 0 $1K
2025-05-03 TornadoOak Hill, Newton County EF0 1.94 mi x 100 yd 0 0 $4K
2025-02-16 TornadoStewart, Newton County EF0 2.41 mi x 200 yd 0 0 –
2023-01-12 TornadoStewart, Newton County EF1 10.27 mi x 500 yd 0 0 –
2023-01-12 TornadoStewart, Newton County EF2 31.44 mi x 1,400 yd 2 10 –
2021-12-31 TornadoAbide Awhile, Newton County EF1 2.5 mi x 75 yd 0 6 –

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 Newton County, most deaths first
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2023-01-12 TornadoStewart, Newton County Radar data, areal surveys and ground surveys confirm that a long track EF2 tornado occurred beginning a few miles east of Griffin GA through Butts, Newton and into Jasper counties. The tornado was part of a larger mesocyclone which can be traced west all the way back to the Selma Alabama tornado which spawned numerous ... EF2 31.44 mi x 1,400 yd 2 10 –
2018-06-25 Thunderstorm WindLassiter, Newton County The Newton County Emergency Manager reported that dozens of trees were blown down at the Bert Adams Boy Scout Camp south of Covington. One of the trees fell onto a tent occupied by two scouts. A 14 year old male camper was killed by the falling tree while the other teenaged occupant escaped with only minor injuries. 55 kt wind 1 1 $24K
1995-05-15 Thunderstorm WindSnapping Shoals, Newton County Thunderstorm winds knocked down tree limbs throughout Snapping Shoals, as well as the southern part of the county. A woman was killed by a tree limb from a six to eight foot in diameter tree which fell on her car during the height of the storm. (F43V) 1 0 $184K
2021-12-31 TornadoAbide Awhile, Newton County An isolated supercell thunderstorm developed during the late afternoon hours December 31,2021 in southeast Newton County. A tornado quickly developed from thatthunderstorm and first touched down along Creekside Lane just east of Brown Bridge Rd where a few trees were snapped. Both video evidence and ground surveys ... EF1 2.5 mi x 75 yd 0 6 –
2020-10-10 TornadoCovington, Newton County A National Weather Service survey team found that an EF1 tornado with maximum wind speeds of 90 mph and a maximum path width of 75 yards travelled 1.43 miles across parts of Newton County on the west side of Covington. The tornado first touched down near the intersection of Washington Street and Walker Bend Parkway ... EF1 1.44 mi x 75 yd 0 2 $285K
1989-04-04 Thunderstorm WindNewton County 0 2 –
2013-04-19 TornadoJerusalem, Newton County A National Weather Service storm survey determined that an EF-2 tornado formed within a line of storms moving through Newton County. It first touched down along Dukes Road, southwest of Mansfield, where it snapped and uprooted a few trees. As the tornado moved east along Kellogg Street it increased in intensity, ... EF2 7.64 mi x 175 yd 0 1 $633K
The costliest records in Newton County since 1993, damage in 2025 dollars
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2013-03-18 HailJerusalem, Newton County 1.75 in hail 0 0 $1.5M
2013-04-28 HailPorterdale, Newton County 1.75 in hail 0 0 $1.5M
2020-06-15 HailFairfield, Newton County 1.75 in hail 0 0 $1.1M
2015-12-30 Flash FloodCovington, Newton County 0 0 $972K
2009-09-21 FloodBarrington, Newton County 0 0 $963K
2008-03-15 HailAlmon, Newton County 1.75 in hail 0 0 $959K
2009-02-18 TornadoLassiter, Newton County EF1 2.84 mi x 200 yd 0 0 $860K
2000-04-28 LightningCovington, Newton County 0 0 $857K

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: December 24, 1964 (tornado, Newton County); May 8, 1978 (tornado, Newton County); February 10, 1990 (tornado, Newton 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 Newton 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).

Newton County: records per decade (the 2020s to June 30, 2026)
Hazard1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020-26
Severe thunderstorm wind1231731263915
Hail00031727104
Drought––––318122
Winter storms––––11193
Tornadoes02111246
Hurricanes and tropical storms––––01222

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 1956 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.

The values, month by month

Jan 25 · Feb 26 · Mar 26 · Apr 39 · May 27 · Jun 52 · Jul 50 · Aug 36 · Sep 22 · Oct 13 · Nov 13 · Dec 18 (records).

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

Federal disaster declarations for Newton County

FEMA's register lists 20 declarations that include Newton County: 12 major disasters, 8 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for severe storm (7) and hurricane (4).

Declarations including Newton County, newest first
DeclaredNumberTypeTitle
2026-01-24EM-3642Winter StormSevere Winter Storm
2024-09-30DR-4830HurricaneHurricane Helene
2024-09-26EM-3616Tropical StormHurricane Helene
2023-01-16DR-4685Severe StormSevere Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes
2020-03-29DR-4501BiologicalCovid-19 Pandemic
2020-03-13EM-3464BiologicalCovid-19
2017-09-15DR-4338HurricaneHurricane Irma
2017-09-08EM-3387HurricaneHurricane Irma
2016-02-26DR-4259Severe StormSevere Storms and Flooding
2014-03-06DR-4165Severe Ice StormSevere Winter Storm
2014-02-11EM-3368Severe Ice StormSevere Winter Storm
2011-04-29DR-1973Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Associated Flooding
2009-09-24DR-1858Severe StormSevere Storms and Flooding
2005-09-05EM-3218HurricaneHurricane Katrina Evacuation
2000-01-28DR-1311Severe StormSevere Winter Storm
1998-03-11DR-1209Severe StormSevere Storms and Flooding
1994-07-07DR-1033TornadoTornadoes, Flooding Torrential Rain(Trop Storm Alberto)
1993-03-15EM-3097SnowstormSevere Snowfall, Winter Storm
1990-02-23DR-857Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornaodes & Flooding
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 Newton County had?

NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 12 flood or flash flood records for Newton County from 1996 to 2021, on 11 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Newton County ranks 1710th of 2,942 U.S. counties.

Named storms on Newton County's flood and tropical record
StormBeganRecordsDeaths in the county
Hurricane Irma2017-09-1110

The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $736,000 on 45 claims filed in Newton County; the most in one year was 7 in 2009. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.

The values, year by year

1992: 2 · 1994: 1 · 1995: 2 · 1997: 3 · 1998: 3 · 2003: 1 · 2005: 1 · 2009: 7 · 2010: 1 · 2013: 1 · 2015: 7 · 2016: 2 · 2017: 3 · 2018: 2 · 2019: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2021: 1 · 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 Newton County

FEMA's National Risk Index rates Newton County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $22.8 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.

National Risk Index ratings for Newton County (December 2025 release), by FEMA's rating, then score
HazardRisk ratingExpected annual lossModeled frequency
Ice StormRelatively Moderate$382K1.3 a year (modeled)
TornadoRelatively Moderate$3.9Monce in about 6 years (modeled)
Strong WindRelatively Moderate$1.2M2.5 a year (modeled)
LightningRelatively Moderate$467K59 a year (modeled)
HailRelatively Low$815K5 a year (modeled)
EarthquakeRelatively Low$715Konce in about 549 years (modeled)
Riverine FloodingRelatively Low$13Monce in about 3 years (modeled)
Heat WaveRelatively Low$843K3.4 modeled event-days a year

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

Counties that share a border with Newton County

  1. Walton County 560
  2. Henry County 449
  3. Newton County 347
  4. Morgan County 338
  5. Rockdale County 301
  6. Butts County 276
  7. Jasper County 269

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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