Wilkes County, Georgia
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 13317 · population 9,516 · 470 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 229 records for Wilkes County, Georgia from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 199 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (74 records). The most damaging was the June 1, 2000 drought ($10.8 million in 2025 dollars). FEMA has issued 17 declarations naming the county since 1977, 15 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
- 229on 199 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 05 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $22Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 5strongest EF3
- FEMA declarations
- 17latest 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 Wilkes County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 74 since 1966. 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 | 74 | 69 | 1966-2025 | 0 | 0 | $1.3M | 154 of 159 |
| Drought | 36 | 36 | 1997-2026 | 0 | 0 | $14M | 111 of 159 |
| Hail | 28 | 26 | 1968-2023 | 0 | 0 | $144K | 132 of 159 |
| Winter storms | 21 | 21 | 2000-2026 | 0 | 1 | $2.7M | 65 of 159 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 18 | 18 | 2001-2024 | 0 | 0 | $241K | 86 of 159 |
| Extreme cold | 14 | 14 | 1996-2007 | 0 | 0 | – | 91 of 159 |
| Heat | 11 | 11 | 1999-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 92 of 159 |
| Floods | 10 | 9 | 2001-2020 | 0 | 1 | $123K | 128 of 159 |
| Tornadoes | 5 | 5 | 1954-2009 | 0 | 3 | $3.6M | 155 of 159 |
| High wind and dust storms | 4 | 4 | 2004-2005 | 0 | 0 | $14K | 104 of 159 |
| Heavy rain | 3 | 3 | 2001-2005 | 0 | 0 | $23K | 98 of 159 |
| Lightning | 3 | 3 | 2000-2005 | 0 | 0 | $438K | 112 of 159 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 2 | 2 | 2002-2005 | 0 | 0 | – | 111 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 Wilkes County had?
NOAA records 5 tornadoes in Wilkes County from 1954 to 2009, the strongest rated EF3, with 0 deaths and 3 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 5 tornadoes whose track touched Wilkes County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 5, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-02-18 18:26, as SPC files it | Unnamed | EF3 | 19.74 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in Georgia.
Every tornado record filed for Wilkes County (5)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-02-18 | Tyrone, Wilkes County | EF3 16.56 mi x 880 yd | 0 | 0 | $413K |
| 2008-08-26 | Mallorysville, Wilkes County | EF0 5.06 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $41K |
| 2004-09-16 | Tignall, Wilkes County | F1 7 mi x 500 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.3M |
| 1992-11-22 | Wilkes County | F1 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 1 | $250K step |
| 1954-06-03 | Wilkes County | F1 2 mi x 33 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.
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 Wilkes County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the April 10, 2025 thunderstorm wind ($1,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-03-01 | DroughtWilkes County · forecast zone Wilkes | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-02-01 | DroughtWilkes County · forecast zone Wilkes | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-31 | Winter StormWilkes County · forecast zone Wilkes | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-24 | Ice StormWilkes County · forecast zone Wilkes | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-13 | DroughtWilkes County · forecast zone Wilkes | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-04-10 | Thunderstorm WindBrickhouse, Wilkes County | 39 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2020-01-13 | Flash FloodTyrone, Wilkes County | 0 | 1 | $46K | |
| 2015-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindLogan, Wilkes County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $37K |
| 2009-02-18 | TornadoTyrone, Wilkes County | EF3 16.56 mi x 880 yd | 0 | 0 | $413K |
| 2008-08-26 | TornadoMallorysville, Wilkes County | EF0 5.06 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $41K |
| 2005-05-20 | LightningWashington, Wilkes County | 0 | 0 | $378K | |
| 2004-09-16 | TornadoTignall, Wilkes County | F1 7 mi x 500 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.3M |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1954-06-03 | TornadoWilkes County | F1 2 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 2 | $25K step |
| 2020-01-13 | Flash FloodTyrone, Wilkes County Media reported that Rocker Road near Greensboro Highway was washed out by flash flooding. A driver was injured and had to be rescued when her car drove into the floodwaters. Additionally, several other roads were closed in the area due to water over the road or touching the bridge, including: Happy Hollow Road, Norman ... | 0 | 1 | $46K | |
| 2004-01-25 | Ice StormWilkes County · forecast zone Wilkes An extensive and formidable wedge of cold air associated with a back door cold front invaded the area during the late morning and afternoon of the 25th and moved west toward the Alabama border by the morning of the 26th. The wedge of cold air remained in place until a cold front moved the persistent wedge of cold air ... | 0 | 1 | $781K | |
| 1992-11-22 | TornadoWilkes County | F1 1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 1 | $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.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000-06-01 | DroughtWilkes County · forecast zone Wilkes | 0 | 0 | $11M | |
| 2004-09-16 | TornadoTignall, Wilkes County | F1 7 mi x 500 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.3M |
| 2004-01-25 | Ice StormWilkes County · forecast zone Wilkes | 0 | 1 | $781K | |
| 2009-02-18 | TornadoTyrone, Wilkes County | EF3 16.56 mi x 880 yd | 0 | 0 | $413K |
| 2005-05-20 | LightningWashington, Wilkes County | 0 | 0 | $378K | |
| 2020-01-13 | Flash FloodTyrone, Wilkes County | 0 | 1 | $46K | |
| 2008-08-26 | TornadoMallorysville, Wilkes County | EF0 5.06 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $41K |
| 2015-06-18 | Thunderstorm WindLogan, Wilkes County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $37K |
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, Wilkes 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 Wilkes 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 | 8 | 2 | 13 | 18 | 23 | 9 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 3 | 18 | 10 | 5 |
| Hail | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 11 | 6 | 1 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 0 | 9 | 10 | 2 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | – | – | – | – | 0 | 13 | 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?
Records by month in Wilkes County. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 25 · Feb 20 · Mar 18 · Apr 18 · May 30 · Jun 24 · Jul 22 · Aug 20 · Sep 19 · Oct 11 · Nov 12 · Dec 10 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Wilkes County
FEMA's register lists 17 declarations that include Wilkes County: 9 major disasters, 8 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 |
| 2018-10-10 | EM-3406 | Hurricane | Hurricane Michael |
| 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 |
| 2014-03-06 | 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 |
| 2004-09-18 | DR-1554 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ivan |
| 2000-01-28 | DR-1311 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 1992-12-01 | DR-969 | Tornado | High Winds, Heavy Rains & Tornadoes |
| 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.
FEMA's modeled risk for Wilkes County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Wilkes County Very Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $3.8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | $159K | 1.2 a year (modeled) |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate | $259K | 62 modeled event-days a year |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | $537K | once in about 17 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $311K | once in about 408 years (modeled) |
| Hail | Relatively Low | $148K | 3.5 a year (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $181K | 5.4 modeled event-days a year |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low | $368K | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Low | $340K | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Wilkes 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 Wilkes CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Wilkes County's FEMA declarations (CSV)17 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis