Union County, Georgia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 13291 · population 24,618 · 322 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 363 records for Union County, Georgia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 285 days; the most frequent are winter storm records (85 records). 210 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 most damaging was the June 28, 1994 tornado ($995,000 in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 16 declarations naming the county since 1990, 14 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
- 363on 285 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 01 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $11Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 3strongest F1
- FEMA declarations
- 16latest 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 Union County most?
The most frequent records are winter storm records: 85 since 1996. 69% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in January and February. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | 85 | 81 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $1.8M | 12 of 159 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 69 | 51 | 1980-2025 | 0 | 0 | $858K | 150 of 159 |
| Hail | 45 | 32 | 1986-2020 | 0 | 1 | $1.3M | 82 of 159 |
| Drought | 42 | 42 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | $4.0M | 46 of 159 |
| Floods | 31 | 16 | 1996-2023 | 0 | 0 | $757K | 50 of 159 |
| High wind and dust storms | 20 | 20 | 2001-2019 | 0 | 0 | $1.0M | 18 of 159 |
| Wildfires | 18 | 18 | 2009-2016 | 0 | 0 | $39K | 3 of 159 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 17 | 17 | 2002-2024 | 0 | 0 | $19K | 49 of 159 |
| Extreme cold | 14 | 14 | 1996-2007 | 0 | 0 | – | 51 of 159 |
| Heat | 11 | 11 | 1999-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 52 of 159 |
| Lightning | 5 | 4 | 2002-2011 | 0 | 0 | $409K | 76 of 159 |
| Tornadoes | 3 | 2 | 1994-1998 | 0 | 0 | $1.2M | 157 of 159 |
| Heavy rain | 2 | 2 | 2001-2002 | 0 | 0 | – | 99 of 159 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2002-2002 | 0 | 0 | – | 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 Union County had?
NOAA records 3 tornadoes in Union County from 1994 to 1998, the strongest rated F1, with 0 deaths and 0 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 3 tornadoes whose track touched Union County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 3, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Georgia.
Every tornado record filed for Union County (3)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-05-07 | Ivy Log, Union County | F0 9 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $91K |
| 1994-06-28 | Blairsville, Union County | F1 16 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $995K |
| 1994-06-28 | Blairsville, Union County | F1 1.2 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $100K |
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 Union County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the June 7, 2025 thunderstorm wind ($1,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-01 | DroughtUnion County · forecast zone Union | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-01 | DroughtUnion County · forecast zone Union | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-30 | Winter StormUnion County · forecast zone Union | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Ice StormUnion County · forecast zone Union | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-01 | DroughtUnion County · forecast zone Union | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-06-07 | Thunderstorm WindFain, Union County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-06-07 | Thunderstorm WindIvy Log, Union County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-06-07 | Thunderstorm WindBethlehem, Union County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2020-07-21 | HailChoestoe, Union County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $342K |
| 2018-03-17 | HailIvy Log, Union County | 2.12 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2011-05-26 | LightningBethlehem, Union County | 0 | 0 | $328K | |
| 2011-05-26 | HailBlairsville, Union County | 2.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | $505K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-05-07 | HailIvy Log, Union County | 2.75 in hail | 0 | 1 | $91K |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994-06-28 | TornadoBlairsville, Union County | F1 16 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $995K |
| 2000-06-01 | DroughtUnion County · forecast zone Union | 0 | 0 | $883K | |
| 2004-09-16 | High WindUnion County · forecast zone Union | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $781K |
| 2011-05-26 | HailBlairsville, Union County | 2.50 in hail | 0 | 0 | $505K |
| 2004-09-16 | Flash FloodCountywide, Union County | 0 | 0 | $391K | |
| 2020-07-21 | HailChoestoe, Union County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | $342K |
| 1994-06-28 | TornadoBlairsville, Union County | F1 1.2 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $100K |
| 1998-05-07 | TornadoIvy Log, Union County | F0 9 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $91K |
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 Union 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 12 | 34 | 33 | 6 |
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 23 | 26 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 15 | 14 | 5 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 3 | 17 | 15 | 7 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 1 | 9 | 2 | 19 |
| High wind and dust storms | – | – | – | – | 0 | 18 | 2 | 0 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
69% of its winter storm records since 1996 fell in January and February. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 49 · Feb 41 · Mar 34 · Apr 39 · May 34 · Jun 31 · Jul 37 · Aug 13 · Sep 23 · Oct 15 · Nov 21 · Dec 26 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Union County
FEMA's register lists 16 declarations that include Union County: 9 major disasters, 7 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (6) and severe storm (4).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-24 | EM-3642 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2024-09-26 | EM-3616 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Helene |
| 2021-01-12 | DR-4579 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Zeta |
| 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 |
| 2016-02-26 | DR-4259 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2014-02-11 | EM-3368 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3218 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-09-18 | DR-1554 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ivan |
| 2000-01-28 | DR-1311 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 1998-03-11 | DR-1209 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 1995-10-10 | DR-1071 | Hurricane | Hurricane Opal |
| 1993-03-15 | EM-3097 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall, Winter Storm |
| 1990-02-23 | DR-857 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornaodes & 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 Union County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 31 flood or flash flood records for Union County from 1996 to 2023, on 16 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Union County ranks 1558th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Ivan | 2004-09-16 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $678,000 on 61 claims filed in Union County; the most in one year was 15 in 2020. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1990: 4 · 1994: 2 · 1996: 2 · 1998: 4 · 2001: 1 · 2002: 1 · 2004: 11 · 2013: 5 · 2015: 4 · 2020: 15 · 2021: 8 · 2024: 2 · 2026: 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 Union County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Union County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $11.6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landslide | Relatively Moderate | $73K | 1.1 a year (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | $2.6M | 2.4 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $333K | 61 a year (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | $97K | 1.2 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $135K | once in about 455 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $397K | once in about 317 years (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $1.3M | once in about 6 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $5.8M | 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 Union 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
- Winter storms in GeorgiaThe state's winter storm records, 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 Union CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Union County's FEMA declarations (CSV)16 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis