Washington County, Georgia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 13303 · population 19,925 · 679 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 307 records for Washington County, Georgia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 247 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (127 records). The deadliest single record is the September 27, 2024 hurricane, filed for the forecast zone Washington, which covers the county: 2 deaths. FEMA has issued 16 declarations naming the county since 1966, 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
- 307on 247 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 211 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $17Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 23strongest F2
- 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 Washington County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 127 since 1965. 40% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1965 fell in July and August. 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 | 127 | 111 | 1965-2026 | 0 | 3 | $937K | 145 of 159 |
| Hail | 52 | 41 | 1980-2022 | 0 | 0 | $80K | 127 of 159 |
| Drought | 31 | 31 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | $12M | 135 of 159 |
| Tornadoes | 23 | 13 | 1958-2023 | 0 | 8 | $3.5M | 139 of 159 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 16 | 16 | 2002-2024 | 2 | 0 | $181K | 126 of 159 |
| Extreme cold | 14 | 14 | 1996-2007 | 0 | 0 | – | 102 of 159 |
| Floods | 11 | 9 | 1998-2021 | 0 | 0 | $239K | 146 of 159 |
| Heat | 11 | 11 | 1999-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 102 of 159 |
| Winter storms | 11 | 10 | 2002-2026 | 0 | 0 | $151K | 118 of 159 |
| High wind and dust storms | 4 | 4 | 2000-2013 | 0 | 0 | $90K | 117 of 159 |
| Lightning | 3 | 3 | 2000-2023 | 0 | 0 | $115K | 128 of 159 |
| Heavy rain | 2 | 2 | 2001-2002 | 0 | 0 | – | 134 of 159 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 2 | 2 | 2002-2005 | 0 | 0 | – | 127 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 Washington County had?
NOAA records 23 tornadoes in Washington County from 1958 to 2023, the strongest rated F2, 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 23 tornadoes whose track touched Washington County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 23, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Georgia.
Every tornado record filed for Washington County (23)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-01-04 | Kaolin, Washington County | EF1 3.8 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 1 | – |
| 2020-04-13 | Riddleville, Washington County | EF1 11.44 mi x 220 yd | 0 | 0 | $285K |
| 2020-04-13 | Chalker, Washington County | EF0 1.01 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $57K |
| 2020-04-13 | Lindsey, Washington County | EF0 3.08 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $57K |
| 2020-04-13 | Oconee, Washington County | EF0 1.66 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $23K |
| 2019-03-03 | Heidrich, Washington County | EF1 0.18 mi x 85 yd | 0 | 0 | $58K |
| 2019-03-03 | Irwins Crossroads, Washington County | EF1 1.41 mi x 290 yd | 0 | 0 | $40K |
| 2019-03-03 | Oconee, Washington County | EF1 0.55 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $58K |
| 2017-04-03 | Halls Crossing, Washington County | EF1 2.77 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $60K |
| 2017-04-03 | Sparks, Washington County | EF0 0.39 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $12K |
| 2017-04-03 | Ennis, Washington County | EF1 5.72 mi x 250 yd | 0 | 0 | $36K |
| 2017-01-21 | Sun Hill, Washington County | EF1 8.38 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $72K |
| 2017-01-21 | Tennille, Washington County | EF1 1.3 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $60K |
| 2017-01-21 | Tennille, Washington County | EF1 2.59 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $36K |
| 2008-05-20 | Lindsey, Washington County | EF1 4.6 mi x 125 yd | 0 | 0 | $103K |
| 2008-05-20 | Davisboro, Washington County | EF0 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K |
| 2008-05-11 | Silas, Washington County | EF0 11.23 mi x 440 yd | 0 | 0 | $206K |
| 1989-10-01 | Washington County | F2 4 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1980-05-23 | Washington County | F1 1 mi x 27 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1976-05-30 | Washington County | F1 2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1975-03-14 | Washington County | F2 6 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 7 | $250K step |
| 1962-03-11 | Washington County | F1 1 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1958-04-15 | Washington County | F1 0.8 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K 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 Washington County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the March 16, 2026 thunderstorm wind ($1,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-31 | DroughtWashington County · forecast zone Washington | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindSilas, Washington County | 43 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindIrwins Crossroads, Washington County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2026-01-31 | Winter StormWashington County · forecast zone Washington | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-06-25 | Thunderstorm WindDavisboro, Washington County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-03-31 | Thunderstorm WindEnnis, Washington County | 48 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-02-16 | Thunderstorm WindPeacocks Crossing, Washington County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2025-02-16 | Thunderstorm WindSilas, Washington County | 52 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2024-09-27 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Washington County · forecast zone Washington | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 2023-01-04 | TornadoKaolin, Washington County | EF1 3.8 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 1 | – |
| 2020-04-13 | TornadoRiddleville, Washington County | EF1 11.44 mi x 220 yd | 0 | 0 | $285K |
| 2020-04-13 | TornadoChalker, Washington County | EF0 1.01 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $57K |
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 | Hurricane (Typhoon)Washington County · forecast zone Washington An NWS Damage Survey observed extensive damage from trees down across the county, with the worst damage seen along and east of Hwy 15 from Davisboro to Riddleville to Harrison. Many trees were down on homes. Power outages covered the entire county for multiple days. | 2 | 0 | – | |
| 1975-03-14 | TornadoWashington County | F2 6 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 7 | $250K step |
| 2023-01-04 | TornadoKaolin, Washington County The tornado caused hundreds of trees to be blown down or snapped along and just north of Fall Line Fwy on the northern side of Sandersville. The tornado touched down just to the east of the Oconee Fall Line Technical College and traversed just north of the school, downing dozens of trees before crossing Deepstep Rd, ... | EF1 3.8 mi x 400 yd | 0 | 1 | – |
| 1991-03-29 | Thunderstorm WindWashington County | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 1990-04-28 | Thunderstorm WindWashington County | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 1988-07-25 | Thunderstorm WindWashington County | 0 | 1 | – |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000-06-01 | DroughtWashington County · forecast zone Washington | 0 | 0 | $8.5M | |
| 2008-05-11 | TornadoSilas, Washington County | EF0 11.23 mi x 440 yd | 0 | 0 | $206K |
| 2008-05-11 | Thunderstorm WindSandersville, Washington County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $206K |
| 2008-05-20 | TornadoLindsey, Washington County | EF1 4.6 mi x 125 yd | 0 | 0 | $103K |
| 2017-01-21 | TornadoSun Hill, Washington County | EF1 8.38 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $72K |
| 2017-04-03 | TornadoHalls Crossing, Washington County | EF1 2.77 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $60K |
| 2019-03-03 | TornadoIrwins Crossroads, Washington County | EF1 1.41 mi x 290 yd | 0 | 0 | $40K |
| 2017-04-03 | TornadoSparks, Washington County | EF0 0.39 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $12K |
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: March 14, 1975 (tornado, Washington County); October 1, 1989 (tornado, Washington 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 Washington 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 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 23 | 33 | 27 | 32 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 33 | 6 | 1 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 3 | 18 | 9 | 1 |
| Tornadoes | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 5 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | – | – | – | – | 0 | 11 | 3 | 2 |
| 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?
40% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1965 fell in July and August. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 21 · Feb 13 · Mar 28 · Apr 30 · May 46 · Jun 35 · Jul 35 · Aug 39 · Sep 25 · Oct 13 · Nov 10 · Dec 12 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Washington County
FEMA's register lists 16 declarations that include Washington County: 7 major disasters, 9 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (7) 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 |
| 2018-10-14 | DR-4400 | Hurricane | Hurricane Michael |
| 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 |
| 2005-09-05 | EM-3218 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-09-24 | DR-1560 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Frances |
| 1993-03-15 | EM-3097 | Snowstorm | Severe Snowfall, Winter Storm |
| 1977-07-20 | EM-3044 | Drought | Drought |
| 1966-03-14 | DR-214 | Flood | 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 Washington County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 11 flood or flash flood records for Washington County from 1998 to 2021, on 9 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Washington County ranks 2245th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Helene | 2024-09-27 | 1 | 2 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $224,000 on 14 claims filed in Washington County; the most in one year was 7 in 2020. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1998: 2 · 2005: 2 · 2020: 7 · 2024: 3; 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 Washington County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Washington County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $6.1 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | $1.0M | 51 modeled event-days a year |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | $625K | once in about 12 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $443K | once in about 438 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $452K | 7.4 modeled event-days a year |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low | $70K | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $137K | 2.5 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $549K | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low | $192K | 2.2 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 Washington 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 Washington CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Washington County's FEMA declarations (CSV)16 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis