Atkinson County
Population 8,454 (2025) 343 sq mi
63 tropical storms and hurricanes have passed within 50 miles of Atkinson County since 1851, 8 of them at hurricane strength; the strongest was an unnamed storm in 1896 (Category 2).
Hazard fingerprint Each spoke is this county’s percentile among U.S. counties where that hazard occurs. How it is computed
- Tornado damage paths since 195011
- Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger94
- Wildfire burn scars since 19843
At a glance
The record for Atkinson County in eight numbers. Each links to its section below.
Acres burned since 1984
7,810
15th of 159 in Georgia
3 large fires; the largest was Roundabout Swamp Fire, 2007
DetailsStrongest tornado
F2
April 8, 1964, 5.0 mile path
Strongest tropical cyclone
Cat. 2
Hurricane (unnamed), 1896, 41.7 miles away
Tornadoes
About one every 6.9 years since 1950, none rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
Strongest
April 8, 1964
F2, 5.0 mile path
150 yards wide.
Deadliest
April 8, 1974
1 killed, F1
7 injured along the whole path.
Most recent
Sunday, December 2, 2018
EF0, 0.2 mile path
8 years ago.
Every recorded tornado
| Dec 2, 2018 | EF0 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 2, 2018 | EF0 | 3.2 | 0 | 0 |
| May 4, 2017 | EF0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 22, 2017 | EF1 | 3.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 20, 2003 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 12, 2002 | F2 | 3.1 | 2 | 0 |
| Jun 11, 2001 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 26, 1997 | F0 | 8.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 25, 1997 | F0 | 1.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 8, 1974 | F1 | 92.6 | 7 | 1 |
| Apr 8, 1964 | F2 | 5.0 | 0 | 0 |
- Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Atkinson County: 0.
- 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
63 passed within 50 miles since 1851; 8 at hurricane strength.
Strongest within 50 miles
September 29, 1896
Unnamed storm, Category 2
41.7 miles at closest approach, winds near 106 mph.
Most recent
September 27, 2024
Helene, Category 1
12.6 miles at closest approach.
Every storm within 100 miles
| Helene | 2024 | 12.6 | Category 1 |
| Debby | 2024 | 34.0 | Tropical storm |
| Idalia | 2023 | 2.6 | Category 1 |
| Elsa | 2021 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Eta | 2020 | 74.5 | Tropical storm |
| Nestor | 2019 | 31.5 | Post-tropical |
| Michael | 2018 | 65.0 | Category 1 |
| Irma | 2017 | 33.2 | Tropical storm |
| Julia | 2016 | 65.0 | Tropical storm |
| Hermine | 2016 | 1.1 | Tropical storm |
| Colin | 2016 | 47.6 | Tropical storm |
| Andrea | 2013 | 43.6 | Tropical storm |
| Fay | 2008 | 95.6 | Tropical storm |
| Alberto | 2006 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Tammy | 2005 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Frances | 2004 | 86.3 | Tropical storm |
| Earl | 1998 | 25.7 | Tropical storm |
| Josephine | 1996 | 29.5 | Post-tropical |
| Allison | 1995 | 1.0 | Tropical storm |
| Kate | 1985 | 17.1 | Tropical storm |
| Isidore | 1984 | 80.8 | Tropical storm |
| David | 1979 | 84.8 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1976 | 33.2 | Subtropical storm |
| Alpha | 1972 | 41.6 | Subtropical storm |
| Abby | 1968 | 47.8 | Tropical storm |
| Alma | 1966 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1965 | 86.9 | Tropical storm |
| Hilda | 1964 | 16.3 | Post-tropical |
| Dora | 1964 | 18.7 | Tropical storm |
| Cleo | 1964 | 77.9 | Tropical storm |
| Brenda | 1960 | 26.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1957 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Flossy | 1956 | 29.4 | Tropical storm |
| Florence | 1953 | 12.6 | Post-tropical |
| King | 1950 | 24.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1949 | 0.0 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1947 | 10.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1947 | 44.9 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1946 | 37.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1945 | 86.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1944 | 72.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1941 | 37.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1940 | 72.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1937 | 94.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1936 | 88.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1935 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1933 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1932 | 42.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1929 | 17.4 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1928 | 85.5 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1926 | 13.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1924 | 2.2 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1924 | 4.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1917 | 40.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1916 | 74.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1915 | 25.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1914 | 9.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1912 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1910 | 63.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1907 | 2.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1907 | 5.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1906 | 93.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1902 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1901 | 66.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1901 | 72.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1900 | 74.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1898 | 14.1 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1898 | 81.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1896 | 41.7 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1896 | 95.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1894 | 11.5 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1893 | 93.0 | Category 3 |
| Unnamed | 1893 | 23.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1889 | 97.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1888 | 88.7 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1888 | 19.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1886 | 9.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1886 | 30.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1885 | 10.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1885 | 37.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1885 | 16.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1884 | 76.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1882 | 40.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1881 | 40.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1880 | 47.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1878 | 21.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1877 | 21.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1877 | 8.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1874 | 72.8 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1873 | 9.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1873 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1871 | 1.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1871 | 85.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1871 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1868 | 21.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1867 | 90.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1860 | 22.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1856 | 47.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1854 | 89.6 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1852 | 4.0 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1851 | 48.1 | Category 1 |
- 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
7,810 acres burned in 3 large fires since 1984, equal to 3.6% of the land.
Largest
April 27, 2007
Roundabout Swamp Fire, 5,792 acres
5,791 acres inside Atkinson County.
Most recent
April 27, 2007
Roundabout Swamp Fire
5,792 acres in total.
Every large fire
| Roundabout Swamp Fire | 2007 | 5,791 | 5,792 |
| Unnamed | 1996 | 1,859 | 1,859 |
| Unnamed | 1989 | 159 | 2,881 |
- 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: 27 days
Heavy smoke on 3 days in 2025, the most of any year.
Last 10 years
7.4 days a year
Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.
2025
8 days
Medium or heavy smoke. 22 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
2 federal flood insurance claims since 1979, with $1,640 paid.
Flood events since 1996
- Flood5
- Flash Flood3
- Heavy Rain2
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.
Drought
In severe drought or worse for 109 of 1,581 months since 1895 (7%); the longest spell lasted 19 months.
109
Months in severe drought or worse since 1895
26
Months in extreme drought
7%
Share of all months, severe or worse
8
Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996
Lowest reading
May 2007
−5.35, extreme drought
Longest severe spell
19 months
July 2006 to January 2008.
Latest month
September 2026
+0.63, incipient wet spell
Last severe month: April 2026.
- 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
No earthquake of magnitude 2.5 or more is recorded within 50 miles of the county in the USGS catalogue, which begins in 1900.
Severe weather and other events
197 events in the National Weather Service record, 184 of them since 1996.
13
Hail reports, 1 inch or larger
1
Hail, 2 inches or larger
89
Damaging gusts, 58 mph+
3
Winter weather events since 1996
0
Heat events since 1996
0
Cold events since 1996
Largest hail
June 1, 1997
2.00 inches
Strongest measured or estimated gust
March 15, 2024
100 mph
More event types since 1996
| Lightning | 2 | 0 |
Costliest events since 1996
- Mar 1, 1998Flood, Atkinson$100,000
National Weather Service narrative
Total flooding related to El Nino. More than 200 homes damaged. Flooding mainly along the St Mary's, Altamaha, and Satilla Rivers. Some areas also effect with Closed Basin flooding.
- Mar 12, 2026Thunderstorm Wind$100,000
National Weather Service narrative
A mobile home being transported by semi truck was blown off the trailer during transport along Hwy 441 near Axson Rd north of Pearson, GA. Several trees were reported down and minor structure damage was also reported. An RV was also flipped over. Time was estimated from radar.
- Sep 29, 1998Flash Flood$15,000
National Weather Service narrative
Rainfall amounts of 5 to 7 inches from the remnants of Hurricane Georges caused the closing of numerous street and roads.
- Feb 22, 2003Thunderstorm Wind$15,000
National Weather Service narrative
Power pole down on Fears Ave. Trees down on West Albany Ave. Large trees on roadway on Old Douglas Highway, north side of Pearson.
- Aug 9, 2000Thunderstorm Wind$15,000
- Mar 8, 1998Flash Flood$15,000
- Nov 12, 2002Tornado$10,000
National Weather Service narrative
Brief tornado touchdown along Highway 82. Several tree tops snapped and twisted. Several large trees down across roadway.
- Oct 26, 1997Tornado$5,000
National Weather Service narrative
Tornado skipped Eastward along US-82. Two homes recieved minor damage.
- Jun 17, 2015Thunderstorm Wind$5,000
National Weather Service narrative
A chicken house roof was blown off and spread into a field and an awning next to a mobile home was lifted up and the steel leg penetrated into the mobile home. The cost of damage was estimated. Time of damage was estimated based on radar.
- Dec 24, 2002Thunderstorm Wind$5,000
National Weather Service narrative
Numerous trees and power lines downed. EMA reported event due to straight line winds.
- 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 Alma Bacon County Airport, 26.7 miles from the county’s population centre, with records from 1938.
- All-time high
- 105°F2 times, most recently Jun 23, 2022
- All-time low
- −1°FJan 21, 1985
- Warmest night
- 80°F2 times, most recently Jun 18, 1996
- Coldest day
- 25°F2 times, most recently Jan 21, 1985
- Wettest day
- 7.66 inApr 24, 2021
- Snowiest day
- 4.4 inFeb 10, 1973
- Hottest year
- 1990mean 70.1°F
- Coldest year
- 1940mean 64.1°F
- Wettest year
- 194764.56 in
- Driest year
- 195426.08 in
- Snowiest season
- 5.0 in2024-25
78 of 83 winters had no measurable snow.
Station Alma Bacon County Airport (USW00013870), 191 ft elevation, 26.7 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1938 to October 26, 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
19 since 1953. The most recent: Hurricane Helene, September 30, 2024.
| 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 |
| Sep 7, 2023 | Hurricane | DR-4738-GA |
| Mar 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4501-GA |
| Mar 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3464-GA |
| Oct 14, 2018 | Hurricane | DR-4400-GA |
| Oct 10, 2018 | Hurricane | EM-3406-GA |
| Sep 15, 2017 | Hurricane | DR-4338-GA |
| Sep 8, 2017 | Hurricane | EM-3387-GA |
| Oct 6, 2016 | Hurricane | EM-3379-GA |
| Apr 23, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1833-GA |
| May 5, 2007 | Fire | FM-2688-GA |
| Sep 5, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3218-GA |
| Sep 24, 2004 | Hurricane | DR-1560-GA |
| Mar 11, 1998 | Severe Storm | DR-1209-GA |
| Mar 15, 1991 | Flood | DR-897-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.
How this compares
Where Atkinson County stands among 159 counties in Georgia and 3,143 in the United States.
| Tornadoes since 1950 | 11 | 98 / 159 |
| Tornadoes rated F3/EF3 or stronger | 0 | — |
| Tropical cyclones within 50 mi | 63 | 17 / 159 |
| Hurricane-strength passes within 50 mi | 8 | 27 / 159 |
| Wildfire acres since 1984 | 7,810 | 15 / 159 |
| Flood insurance claims | 2 | 121 / 159 |
| Flood insurance paid | $1,640 | 130 / 159 |
| Disaster declarations | 19 | 52 / 159 |
| Flood events since 1996 | 10 | 124 / 159 |
| Hail and wind events since 1996 | 143 | 90 / 159 |
| Winter storm events since 1996 | 3 | 148 / 159 |
| Reported damage since 1996 | $329,000 | 158 / 159 |
| River crests at major flood stage | 0 | — |
| High tide flooding days a year, last 10 years | 0.0 | — |
| Months in severe drought since 1895 | 109 | 123 / 159 |
| Medium or heavy smoke days a year, last 10 years | 7.4 | 141 / 159 |
| Earthquakes M4+ within 50 mi since 1900 | 0 | — |
| Earthquakes M2.5+ in the county since 1973 | 0 | — |
Neighbouring counties
| Berrien County | 14 | 57 |
| Clinch County | 9 | 70 |
| Coffee County | 29 | 58 |
| Lanier County | 8 | 59 |
| Ware County | 21 | 74 |
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 USW00013870.
- 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.