Rincon
Population 11,726 (2025)
57 tropical storms and hurricanes have passed within 50 miles of Rincon since 1851; the strongest at closest approach was Gracie in 1959 (Category 4).
Hazard fingerprint Each spoke is this county’s percentile among U.S. counties where that hazard occurs. How it is computed
- Tornado damage paths within 25 miles since 195056
- Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger97
- Wildfire burn scars within 25 miles since 198426
- Major flood years since 1978, Effingham County1
At a glance
Tornado paths within 25 miles, tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles and wildfire perimeters within 25 miles of the city centre. Storm events, flood insurance claims and disaster declarations are for Effingham County. Earthquakes within 50 miles, volcanoes within 100 miles and smoke days are measured from the city centre; river and tide gauges, tsunami and landslide records and the drought index are for Effingham County.
Strongest tornado
EF4
April 5, 2022, 14.4 mile path
Strongest tropical cyclone
Cat. 4
Hurricane Gracie, 1959, 39.7 miles away
Tornadoes
About one every 1.4 years since 1950, 2 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
Strongest
April 5, 2022
EF4, 14.4 mile path
1,300 yards wide; 1 killed along the whole path.
Deadliest
April 9, 1998
2 killed, F3
17 injured along the whole path.
Most recent
Thursday, July 10, 2025
EF0, 0.6 mile path
Within the past year.
Every recorded tornado
| Jul 10, 2025 | EF0 | 0.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 26, 2024 | EF0 | 1.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 26, 2024 | EF0 | 6.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 14, 2023 | EF1 | 7.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 14, 2023 | EF0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 5, 2022 | EF4 | 14.4 | 12 | 1 |
| Jul 7, 2021 | EF1 | 1.9 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 17, 2020 | EF1 | 2.7 | 0 | 0 |
| May 4, 2019 | EF1 | 2.2 | 1 | 0 |
| Jul 27, 2018 | EF1 | 2.4 | 0 | 0 |
| May 4, 2017 | EF1 | 2.8 | 5 | 0 |
| Feb 9, 2017 | EF2 | 9.8 | 7 | 0 |
| May 17, 2016 | EF1 | 0.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 4, 2015 | EF1 | 3.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 11, 2012 | EF1 | 4.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 8, 2010 | EF0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 19, 2008 | EF1 | 0.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 15, 2008 | EF2 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 15, 2008 | EF2 | 7.0 | 5 | 0 |
| Jun 13, 2006 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun 13, 2006 | F1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 13, 2005 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 7, 2004 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 6, 2004 | F1 | 2.0 | 1 | 0 |
| Sep 6, 2004 | F1 | 6.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 8, 1998 | F0 | 5.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 9, 1998 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 9, 1998 | F3 | 8.0 | 17 | 2 |
| Apr 3, 1998 | F0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 21, 1996 | F0 | 0.9 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 7, 1995 | F1 | 8.5 | 1 | 0 |
| Nov 15, 1989 | F1 | 1.0 | 5 | 0 |
| May 3, 1984 | F1 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 |
| May 3, 1984 | F1 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 3, 1984 | F1 | 5.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 23, 1980 | F2 | 1.0 | 2 | 0 |
| Apr 8, 1980 | F1 | 4.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 5, 1979 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 9, 1979 | F1 | 10.7 | 10 | 0 |
| Feb 1, 1976 | F1 | 8.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 23, 1975 | F1 | 2.5 | 8 | 0 |
| May 3, 1975 | F2 | 5.4 | 2 | 0 |
| May 12, 1974 | F1 | 2.0 | 3 | 1 |
| Nov 9, 1973 | F2 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| May 29, 1973 | F1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 27, 1972 | F2 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 2, 1969 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 30, 1966 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| May 19, 1965 | F1 | 0.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul 12, 1962 | F1 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 13, 1961 | F2 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 9, 1961 | F1 | 0.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 3, 1961 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 5, 1957 | F0 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Sep 4, 1956 | F1 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 2, 1955 | F1 | 5.1 | 0 | 0 |
- Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond this area.
- Weak tornadoes were under-recorded before Doppler radar coverage became national in the early 1990s, so earlier decades read low. Ratings use the Fujita scale before February 2007 and the Enhanced Fujita scale after.
Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025.
Hurricanes and tropical storms
57 passed within 50 miles since 1851; 14 at hurricane strength, 1 as major hurricanes.
Strongest within 50 miles
September 29, 1959
Gracie, Category 4
39.7 miles at closest approach, winds near 132 mph.
Most recent
August 6, 2024
Debby, Tropical storm
21.8 miles at closest approach.
Every storm within 100 miles
| Debby | 2024 | 21.8 | Tropical storm |
| Idalia | 2023 | 11.6 | Tropical storm |
| Colin | 2022 | 43.1 | Tropical storm |
| Elsa | 2021 | 46.2 | Tropical storm |
| Eta | 2020 | 71.6 | Tropical storm |
| Bertha | 2020 | 99.1 | Tropical storm |
| Nestor | 2019 | 61.4 | Post-tropical |
| Florence | 2018 | 90.2 | Tropical storm |
| Matthew | 2016 | 45.0 | Category 2 |
| Julia | 2016 | 46.4 | Tropical storm |
| Hermine | 2016 | 7.6 | Tropical storm |
| Colin | 2016 | 56.2 | Tropical storm |
| Andrea | 2013 | 14.4 | Tropical storm |
| Barry | 2007 | 19.2 | Post-tropical |
| Charley | 2004 | 83.0 | Category 1 |
| Kyle | 2002 | 46.4 | Tropical storm |
| Earl | 1998 | 37.1 | Post-tropical |
| Josephine | 1996 | 25.1 | Post-tropical |
| Allison | 1995 | 32.0 | Post-tropical |
| Hugo | 1989 | 90.6 | Category 4 |
| Chris | 1988 | 15.8 | Tropical storm |
| Kate | 1985 | 21.0 | Tropical storm |
| Bob | 1985 | 40.2 | Tropical storm |
| Isidore | 1984 | 80.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1982 | 82.0 | Subtropical storm |
| Dennis | 1981 | 69.6 | Tropical storm |
| David | 1979 | 7.4 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1976 | 26.3 | Subtropical storm |
| Dottie | 1976 | 72.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1976 | 62.3 | Subtropical storm |
| Alma | 1970 | 6.3 | Tropical storm |
| Alma | 1966 | 15.2 | Tropical storm |
| Hilda | 1964 | 89.5 | Post-tropical |
| Dora | 1964 | 18.3 | Tropical storm |
| Cleo | 1964 | 16.8 | Tropical storm |
| Brenda | 1960 | 26.2 | Tropical storm |
| Gracie | 1959 | 39.7 | Category 4 |
| Unnamed | 1957 | 30.7 | Tropical storm |
| Flossy | 1956 | 35.4 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1954 | 36.9 | Tropical storm |
| Florence | 1953 | 14.0 | Post-tropical |
| Able | 1952 | 36.1 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1949 | 92.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1947 | 35.1 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1947 | 7.6 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1946 | 30.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1945 | 23.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1944 | 11.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1941 | 26.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1940 | 7.6 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1935 | 49.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1933 | 73.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1932 | 66.4 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1929 | 49.9 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1928 | 37.9 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1927 | 50.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1924 | 13.8 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1924 | 9.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1919 | 74.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1916 | 54.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1916 | 35.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1915 | 56.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1913 | 97.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1912 | 68.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1911 | 3.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1910 | 42.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1907 | 22.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1907 | 42.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1906 | 63.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1902 | 49.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1901 | 47.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1900 | 79.3 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1898 | 86.5 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1898 | 4.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1896 | 6.9 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1894 | 18.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1894 | 31.3 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1893 | 70.9 | Category 3 |
| Unnamed | 1893 | 7.9 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1893 | 19.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1889 | 97.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1888 | 78.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1888 | 21.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1886 | 37.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1886 | 99.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1885 | 35.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1885 | 78.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1885 | 61.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1885 | 52.9 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1882 | 47.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1881 | 37.5 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1880 | 63.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1878 | 60.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1878 | 46.9 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1877 | 60.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1877 | 76.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1874 | 44.5 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1873 | 11.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1873 | 95.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1871 | 15.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1871 | 88.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1871 | 42.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1868 | 50.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1867 | 81.6 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1860 | 25.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1856 | 53.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1854 | 10.1 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1853 | 75.6 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1852 | 32.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1852 | 76.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1851 | 68.9 | Tropical storm |
- Tropical storms and hurricanes (34 kt or more, still tropical) at closest approach. Post-tropical remnants with gale-force winds are listed but not counted. Direct: track within 50 miles; near: within 100 miles. Distance is measured to the county boundary for counties and to the city centre for cities, using positions interpolated hourly between HURDAT2 fixes.
National Hurricane Center HURDAT2, 1851 to 2025.
Wildfire and smoke
26 large fires burned within 25 miles since 1984.
Largest
March 27, 1994
Unnamed Fire, 3,466 acres
15.3 miles from the city centre.
Most recent
March 22, 2016
Barrows Fire
1,472 acres in total.
Every large fire
| Barrows | 2016 | 10.0 | 1,472 |
| Unnamed | 2012 | 7.7 | 543 |
| Unnamed | 2009 | 15.5 | 850 |
| Unnamed | 2008 | 17.8 | 1,318 |
| Unnamed | 2007 | 22.6 | 638 |
| Sar Impoundment 4 5 Rx | 2006 | 10.0 | 597 |
| Unnamed | 2004 | 8.9 | 2,881 |
| Unnamed | 2004 | 7.8 | 1,052 |
| Unnamed | 2004 | 18.2 | 730 |
| Unnamed | 2004 | 15.1 | 2,541 |
| Unnamed | 2004 | 14.6 | 2,554 |
| Unnamed | 2000 | 17.6 | 1,007 |
| Unnamed | 1999 | 20.7 | 1,948 |
| Unnamed | 1999 | 19.8 | 902 |
| Unnamed | 1999 | 20.5 | 1,027 |
| Unnamed | 1994 | 15.3 | 3,466 |
| Unnamed | 1994 | 17.0 | 1,018 |
| Unnamed | 1994 | 20.8 | 641 |
| Unnamed | 1994 | 20.3 | 1,288 |
| Unnamed | 1994 | 8.9 | 2,545 |
| Unnamed | 1994 | 13.0 | 893 |
| East Marsh N | 1988 | 10.3 | 514 |
| Pool 12 13 | 1987 | 11.6 | 934 |
| Unnamed | 1985 | 18.7 | 775 |
| Unnamed | 1985 | 2.1 | 974 |
| Unnamed | 1985 | 18.7 | 2,332 |
- Large fires mapped by the Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity program since 1984: 1,000 acres or more in the West, 500 or more in the East. Prescribed burns are excluded. Acres here are the part of each perimeter inside this place.
Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity (USGS and U.S. Forest Service), 1984 to 2026.
Smoke overhead
Smokiest year
2023: 32 days
Heavy smoke on 5 days in 2023, the most of any year.
Last 10 years
7.9 days a year
Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.
2025
6 days
Medium or heavy smoke. 21 so far in 2026.
- A smoke day is a date on which a smoke plume traced by NOAA Hazard Mapping System analysts from satellite imagery covered this place's point (the county's population centre or the city centre). Counts here are of medium or heavy smoke. Since 2018 analysts have often drawn light smoke as one area over most of the continent, so light-smoke counts are not comparable from year to year. The plumes show smoke anywhere in the air above, not air quality at the ground, and smoke hidden by cloud is missed.
NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, 2011 to 2026, retrieved October 30, 2026.
Floods and flood insurance
77 federal flood insurance claims since 1990, with $1.1 million paid.
Flood insurance figures are for Effingham County, the county that contains Rincon.
Most claims in one year
2024: 32 claims
$802,000 paid.
2nd most
1995: 6 claims
$69,000 paid.
3rd most
2020: 6 claims
$25,000 paid.
Claims by ZIP code
| 31326 | 23 | $212,000 |
| 31302 | 17 | $408,000 |
| 31307 | 14 | $332,000 |
| 31312 | 12 | $47,000 |
| 31329 | 8 | $118,000 |
Flood events since 1996
- Flash Flood6
- Flood5
- Heavy Rain1
This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026. NOAA Storm Events through 2026.
River crests
River gauges in Effingham County, the county that contains Rincon.
Most severe crest
August 26, 1995
Ebenezer Creek at Springfield, 17.80 ft
0.80 feet above the 17.0 ft flood stage; minor flooding by today’s categories.
| Aug 26, 1995 | Ebenezer Creek at Springfield | 17.80 | +0.80 |
| Aug 7, 2024 | Ebenezer Creek at Springfield | 17.28 | +0.28 |
| Aug 26, 1991 | Ebenezer Creek at Springfield | 16.57 | −0.43 |
| Sep 12, 2017 | Ebenezer Creek at Springfield | 16.10 | −0.90 |
| Mar 6, 2020 | Ebenezer Creek at Springfield | 15.74 | −1.26 |
| Oct 9, 2016 | Ebenezer Creek at Springfield | 15.69 | −1.31 |
| Jan 13, 1993 | Ebenezer Creek at Springfield | 15.63 | −1.37 |
| Jun 13, 2019 | Ebenezer Creek at Springfield | 15.52 | −1.48 |
| Jan 23, 2017 | Ebenezer Creek at Springfield | 15.12 | −1.88 |
| Mar 28, 2005 | Ebenezer Creek at Springfield | 14.99 | −2.01 |
River gauges
| Ebenezer Creek at Springfield | 17.0 | 17.80 ft | 0 |
- Crests are the highest and the recent crests the National Weather Service lists for each river gauge in the county that has a flood stage, not every flood. Flood categories use each gauge's current flood stages; crests from before levees, dams or channel changes may not be comparable. Crests measured on an old datum are left out of the rankings.
NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge records, retrieved October 30, 2026.
Drought
In severe drought or worse for 111 of 1,581 months since 1895 (7%); the longest spell lasted 17 months.
The drought index is for Effingham County, the county that contains Rincon.
111
Months in severe drought or worse since 1895
42
Months in extreme drought
7%
Share of all months, severe or worse
23
Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996
Lowest reading
January 2012
−5.73, extreme drought
Longest severe spell
17 months
August 2006 to December 2007.
Latest month
September 2026
−5.06, extreme drought
- The Palmer Drought Severity Index is computed by NOAA each month from the county's average temperature and precipitation, relative to the county's own climate. Zero is normal; -3 or lower is severe drought and -4 or lower extreme drought. It describes the long-term balance of moisture, not water supply or crop losses.
NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, 1895 to September 2026, issued October 6, 2026.
Earthquakes
1 earthquake of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles since 1900; the largest was magnitude 4.1 in 1903.
0
Magnitude 3+ within 50 miles since 1973
1
Magnitude 4+ within 50 miles since 1900
0
Magnitude 5+ within 50 miles since 1900
Largest within 50 miles
January 23, 1903
Magnitude 4.1
Near Savannah, Georgia; 15.7 miles away.
Most recent, magnitude 3 or more
June 19, 1912
Magnitude 3.5
Near Savannah, Georgia; 24.6 miles away.
Every earthquake of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles
| Jan 23, 1903 | 4.1 | 15.7 |
- Earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more in the USGS Comprehensive Catalog since 1900. Within 50 miles means the epicentre lies within 50 miles of the city centre.
- Small earthquakes were under-recorded before the modern seismic networks of the 1970s and are still missed in remote areas, so early decades read low. Magnitudes are as the catalogue reports them and mix scales (moment, local and body-wave).
USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, 1900 to present, retrieved October 30, 2026.
Severe weather and other events
592 events in the National Weather Service record for Effingham County, 557 of them since 1996.
70
Hail reports, 1 inch or larger
4
Hail, 2 inches or larger
324
Damaging gusts, 58 mph+
10
Winter weather events since 1996
5
Heat events since 1996
2
Cold events since 1996
Largest hail
May 7, 2006
2.75 inches
Strongest measured or estimated gust
June 14, 2023
81 mph
More event types since 1996
| Lightning | 19 | 0 |
Costliest events since 1996
- Mar 15, 2008Tornado$3.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
An EF2 Tornado was confirmed by a Storm Survey conducted by the Charleston, South Carolina National Weather Service Forecast Office. The Tornado touched down in Effingham county 3.5 miles northeast of Rincon, Georgia and just northwest of the Georgia Power McIntosh Plant around 944 PM EDT and traveled southeast approximately a half a mile before lifting at 945 PM EDT. This Tornado destroyed a water cooling tower, damaged another water cooling tower and several buildings, toppled two high voltage transmission towers, knocked down or uprooted several dozen trees, tossed tractor trailer cargo containers with equipment inside up to 100 yards. In addition, at the time of the survey one…
- Mar 15, 2008Tornado$1.5 million
National Weather Service narrative
An EF2 Tornado was confirmed by a Storm Survey conducted by the Charleston, South Carolina National Weather Service Forecast Office. The Tornado touched down in Effingham county 1 mile northeast of Springfield, Georgia at 934 PM EDT and traveled southeast approximately 7 miles before lifting at 943 PM EDT about 6 miles east-southeast of Springfield, Georgia. This Tornado destroyed three mobile homes, damaged three to four dozen homes, knocked down 15 high voltage transmission towers, destroyed or damaged 20 vehicles, destroyed numerous outbuildings, sheds, and barns. Five people were injured when the mobile home they were in was blown over and rolled a time or two. Another person…
- May 14, 2006Hail$1.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Car dealership estimates near 1 million dollars of damage from golf ball hail.
- Apr 9, 1998Tornado$500,000
National Weather Service narrative
The Bryan County tornado crossed the county line and weakened as it moved into a less populated area. Once the tornado moved east of GA State Road 17, it lifted. There were no further reports of damage or touchdowns from the parent supercell until the F1 touchdown reported just west of Hardeeville, S.C., which is approximately 12 miles from the last report of damage in Effingham County, Georgia. There were 40 homes damaged along GA 17, about 5 miles south of Guyton. Six of these were mobile homes that were destroyed. Numerous trees were uprooted or snapped off 10 to 15 feet above the ground.
- Apr 5, 2011Thunderstorm Wind$263,000
National Weather Service narrative
An emergency manager reported 25 houses in the Rincon, Georgia area sustained minimal to moderate roof and siding damage. Five cars were also damaged by falling trees.
- Mar 24, 2009Wildfire, Effingham$250,000
National Weather Service narrative
During a prescribed burn the fire spotted over a road, so a head fire was set against that thinking it would contain it. The fire blew up when the main fire met with the head fire, causing the fire to get hot and spot over another road onto private land. The total acreage burned by this entire fire was 130.80 acres. The number of acres burned outside of the prescribed burn area totaled 45.80 acres.
- Aug 6, 2024Flash Flood$100,000
National Weather Service narrative
An Effingham County emergency manager reported around 10 roads washed out across the county. The washed out roads were listed at the following locations: 1100 Block of Arnsdorff Lane, Springfield-Egypt Road and Tarver Pond Drive, Turkey Branch Road, Lorenzo Hurst Road, Old Louisville Road and Riverside Drive, Herbert Kessler Road and Blue Jay Road, Corinth Church Road. The 300 Block of South Ash Street was also damaged with the roadbed completely washed out.
- Jul 9, 2017Lightning$50,000
National Weather Service narrative
Effingham County dispatch reported 2 homes struck by lightning in Rincon. One house became fully engulfed and the other resulted in no major damage.
- May 11, 2008Lightning$25,000
National Weather Service narrative
Lightning struck a house starting it on fire in Guyton, Georgia.
- Jun 15, 2010Thunderstorm Wind$25,000
National Weather Service narrative
An Emergency Manager reported two 3 feet diameter oak trees knocked down on Corinth Church Road. The Emergency Manager also reported tree limbs down and a small portable shop overturned on Old Dixie highway. The Emergency Manager also reported that an anchored oil tank was overturned and a roof was torn off a barn on Bird Road.
- Storm Events records before 1996 cover only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail. Damage figures are as reported by the National Weather Service at the time, not adjusted for inflation.
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1950 to 2026, issued October 26, 2026.
Weather records
From Savannah International Airport, 11.4 miles from the city centre, with records from 1948.
- All-time high
- 105°FJul 20, 1986
- All-time low
- 3°FJan 21, 1985
- Warmest night
- 83°FJul 24, 1983
- Coldest day
- 22°FDec 23, 1989
- Wettest day
- 8.94 inOct 7, 2016
- Snowiest day
- 3.6 inFeb 8, 1968
- Hottest year
- 2020mean 70.4°F
- Coldest year
- 1969mean 64.4°F
- Wettest year
- 196473.17 in
- Driest year
- 200131.64 in
- Snowiest season
- 3.6 in1967-68
Median first snow
February 4
Earliest: December 22, 1989
Median last snow
February 8
Latest: March 13, 1993
65 of 78 winters had no measurable snow.
Station Savannah International Airport (USW00003822), 29 ft elevation, 11.4 miles from the city centre. Daily records from 1948 to October 27, 2026; 100.0% of days in the last 30 years are complete. Records at a single station can differ from a city’s official threaded record, which may combine several stations.
NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily.
Federal disaster declarations
17 since 1953. The most recent: Hurricane Helene, September 30, 2024.
Declarations for Effingham County.
| Sep 30, 2024 | Hurricane | DR-4830-GA |
| Sep 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3616-GA |
| Sep 24, 2024 | Tropical Storm | DR-4821-GA |
| Aug 5, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3607-GA |
| Mar 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4501-GA |
| Mar 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3464-GA |
| Sep 1, 2019 | Hurricane | EM-3422-GA |
| Oct 10, 2018 | Hurricane | EM-3406-GA |
| Sep 15, 2017 | Hurricane | DR-4338-GA |
| Sep 8, 2017 | Hurricane | EM-3387-GA |
| Oct 8, 2016 | Hurricane | DR-4284-GA |
| Oct 6, 2016 | Hurricane | EM-3379-GA |
| Sep 5, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3218-GA |
| Mar 11, 1998 | Severe Storm | DR-1209-GA |
| Oct 19, 1994 | Severe Storm | DR-1042-GA |
| Mar 15, 1993 | Snowstorm | EM-3097-GA |
| Jul 20, 1977 | Drought | EM-3044-GA |
This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, retrieved October 30, 2026. Statewide declarations are not listed.
Sources and vintage
Every number on this page comes from these public records.
- Tornadoes NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, through 2025.
- Tropical cyclones NOAA National Hurricane Center HURDAT2 (Atlantic; Northeast and Central Pacific), through 2025.
- Wildfire USGS/USFS Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity, through 2026.
- Storm events NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, through 2026.
- Flood insurance OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026.
- Declarations OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2, retrieved October 30, 2026.
- Weather records NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily, station USW00003822.
- River crests NOAA National Weather Service, National Water Prediction Service river gauges, retrieved October 30, 2026.
- Drought NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, through September 2026.
- Smoke NOAA NESDIS Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, retrieved October 30, 2026.
- Earthquakes USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat), retrieved October 30, 2026.
Joins, thresholds and known limits are set out in the methodology. Found an error? Report it. Page built October 30, 2026.