Bacon County
Population 11,070 (2025) 284 sq mi
60 tropical storms and hurricanes have passed within 50 miles of Bacon County since 1851, 6 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 195020
- Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger102
- Wildfire burn scars since 19846
At a glance
The record for Bacon County in eight numbers. Each links to its section below.
Acres burned since 1984
6,389
18th of 159 in Georgia
6 large fires; the largest was Sessom Community Fire, 2011
DetailsStrongest tornado
F2
April 18, 1969, 217.8 mile path
Strongest tropical cyclone
Cat. 2
Hurricane (unnamed), 1896, 30.4 miles away
Tornadoes
About one every 3.8 years since 1950, none rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
Strongest
April 18, 1969
F2, 217.8 mile path
233 yards wide.
Most recent
Tuesday, January 9, 2024
EF1, 7.3 mile path
2 years ago.
Every recorded tornado
| Jan 9, 2024 | EF1 | 7.3 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 22, 2023 | EF1 | 7.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 4, 2015 | EF1 | 4.8 | 2 | 0 |
| Dec 2, 2009 | EF1 | 0.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 28, 2005 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 20, 2003 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 24, 2002 | F0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 24, 2002 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 12, 2002 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 30, 2000 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 26, 1997 | F2 | 6.0 | 1 | 0 |
| Feb 22, 1983 | F1 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 22, 1983 | F1 | 4.0 | 3 | 0 |
| Feb 7, 1971 | F1 | 15.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 15, 1971 | F2 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 18, 1969 | F2 | 217.8 | 30 | 0 |
| Mar 31, 1962 | F1 | 61.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 6, 1962 | F2 | 5.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 12, 1961 | F2 | 20.6 | 2 | 0 |
| Nov 29, 1957 | F2 | 1.0 | 6 | 0 |
- Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Bacon 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
60 passed within 50 miles since 1851; 6 at hurricane strength.
Strongest within 50 miles
September 29, 1896
Unnamed storm, Category 2
30.4 miles at closest approach, winds near 104 mph.
Most recent
September 27, 2024
Helene, Category 1
37.3 miles at closest approach.
Every storm within 100 miles
| Helene | 2024 | 37.3 | Category 1 |
| Debby | 2024 | 29.7 | Tropical storm |
| Idalia | 2023 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Elsa | 2021 | 1.7 | Tropical storm |
| Eta | 2020 | 70.0 | Tropical storm |
| Nestor | 2019 | 38.0 | Post-tropical |
| Michael | 2018 | 76.0 | Tropical storm |
| Irma | 2017 | 66.3 | Tropical storm |
| Matthew | 2016 | 95.9 | Category 2 |
| Julia | 2016 | 45.7 | Tropical storm |
| Hermine | 2016 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Colin | 2016 | 51.6 | Tropical storm |
| Andrea | 2013 | 36.7 | Tropical storm |
| Barry | 2007 | 49.5 | Post-tropical |
| Alberto | 2006 | 1.7 | Tropical storm |
| Tammy | 2005 | 16.7 | Tropical storm |
| Kyle | 2002 | 88.2 | Tropical storm |
| Earl | 1998 | 30.7 | Tropical storm |
| Josephine | 1996 | 29.2 | Post-tropical |
| Chris | 1988 | 80.2 | Tropical storm |
| Kate | 1985 | 16.4 | Tropical storm |
| Isidore | 1984 | 75.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1982 | 96.1 | Subtropical storm |
| Dennis | 1981 | 91.9 | Tropical storm |
| David | 1979 | 60.5 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1976 | 68.3 | Subtropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1976 | 36.0 | Subtropical storm |
| Alpha | 1972 | 54.2 | Subtropical storm |
| Abby | 1968 | 21.7 | Tropical storm |
| Alma | 1966 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1965 | 91.2 | Tropical storm |
| Hilda | 1964 | 28.9 | Post-tropical |
| Dora | 1964 | 17.6 | Tropical storm |
| Cleo | 1964 | 52.8 | Tropical storm |
| Brenda | 1960 | 22.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1957 | 3.3 | Tropical storm |
| Flossy | 1956 | 31.0 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1954 | 74.5 | Tropical storm |
| Florence | 1953 | 3.9 | Post-tropical |
| King | 1950 | 57.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1949 | 16.0 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1947 | 1.1 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1947 | 39.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1947 | 31.1 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1946 | 19.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1945 | 67.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1944 | 53.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1941 | 43.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1940 | 48.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1935 | 5.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1933 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1932 | 46.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1929 | 22.0 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1928 | 72.9 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1926 | 46.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1924 | 7.5 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1924 | 5.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1919 | 1.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1916 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1916 | 61.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1915 | 2.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1914 | 28.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1912 | 8.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1911 | 36.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1910 | 52.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1907 | 3.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1907 | 14.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1906 | 82.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1902 | 6.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1901 | 91.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1901 | 66.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1900 | 75.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1898 | 0.0 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1898 | 61.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1896 | 30.4 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1894 | 14.3 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1894 | 81.3 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1893 | 98.3 | Category 3 |
| Unnamed | 1893 | 67.3 | Category 3 |
| Unnamed | 1893 | 22.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1889 | 96.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1888 | 88.4 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1888 | 8.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1886 | 9.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1886 | 49.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1885 | 3.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1885 | 46.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1885 | 24.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1885 | 90.4 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1884 | 49.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1882 | 42.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1881 | 16.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1880 | 50.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1878 | 26.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1878 | 97.2 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1877 | 31.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1877 | 22.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1874 | 65.6 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1873 | 8.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1873 | 12.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1871 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1871 | 86.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1871 | 9.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1868 | 29.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1867 | 95.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1860 | 7.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1856 | 51.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1854 | 63.2 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1853 | 89.7 | Category 2 |
| Unnamed | 1852 | 13.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1851 | 56.6 | 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
6,389 acres burned in 6 large fires since 1984, equal to 3.5% of the land.
Largest
March 24, 2011
Sessom Community Fire, 20,915 acres
3,178 acres inside Bacon County.
Most recent
July 28, 2014
Heron Road Fire
768 acres in total.
Every large fire
| Heron Road Fire | 2014 | 768 | 768 |
| Sessom Community Fire | 2011 | 3,178 | 20,915 |
| Unnamed | 2001 | 1,006 | 1,611 |
| Unnamed | 1999 | 564 | 1,302 |
| Unnamed | 1988 | 818 | 817 |
| Unnamed | 1985 | 54 | 599 |
- 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: 28 days
Heavy smoke on 5 days in 2011, the most of any year.
Last 10 years
6.7 days a year
Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.
2025
6 days
Medium or heavy smoke. 23 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
1 federal flood insurance claims since 2024, with $0 paid.
Flood events since 1996
- Heavy Rain7
- Flash Flood4
- Flood4
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 116 of 1,581 months since 1895 (7%); the longest spell lasted 21 months.
116
Months in severe drought or worse since 1895
26
Months in extreme drought
7%
Share of all months, severe or worse
9
Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996
Lowest reading
January 2012
−5.01, extreme drought
Longest severe spell
21 months
May 2011 to January 2013.
Latest month
September 2026
−2.08, moderate drought
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
4 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more within 50 miles since 1976; none reached magnitude 4.
0
Magnitude 2.5+ inside the county since 1973
2
Magnitude 3+ within 50 miles since 1973
0
Magnitude 4+ within 50 miles since 1900
0
Magnitude 5+ within 50 miles since 1900
Largest within 50 miles
December 27, 1976
Magnitude 3.7
0 km NNE of Higgston, Georgia; 35.5 miles away, 3.1 miles deep.
Most recent, magnitude 3 or more
July 13, 2003
Magnitude 3.6
6 km N of Cobbtown, Georgia; 47.8 miles away.
- 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 county boundary (or inside the county).
- 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
190 events in the National Weather Service record, 160 of them since 1996.
10
Hail reports, 1 inch or larger
1
Hail, 2 inches or larger
67
Damaging gusts, 58 mph+
6
Winter weather events since 1996
0
Heat events since 1996
1
Cold events since 1996
Largest hail
March 20, 2003
2.75 inches
Strongest measured or estimated gust
August 4, 1957
75 mph
More event types since 1996
| Lightning | 1 | 0 |
Costliest events since 1996
- Dec 2, 2009Tornado$3.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
A weak tornado touched down briefly in an open field and tracked northeast, striking a set of chicken houses. Damage was estimated at nearly $3 million to the chicken houses. The structure was primarily made of wood and tin, and amount of damage, mainly to roof of one section, and total collapse of a 2-story section, suggests EF1 damage. Significant damage to trees was also noted along track.
- Oct 26, 1997Tornado$200,000
National Weather Service narrative
Ten homes destroyed, four with major damage, and 17 sustained minor damage. A four mile line of standing pine timber was completely destroyed.
- Dec 28, 2005Tornado$200,000
National Weather Service narrative
Near White pine Highway and Sessoms Rd. Tornado touched down uprooting oak trees with one in the side of a house collapsing back porch. A second house was damaged with the roof ripped off. A nearby mobile home was pushed off its foundation. wood frame house suffered roof damage with several windows smashed. Debris was scattered in all directions. Source Mr. Charles Carter EMA Director. Touchdown at 31 28.738N 82 35.842W lifted at 31 29.224N 82 33.808W.
- Mar 1, 1998Flood, Bacon$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.
- Nov 12, 2002Tornado$100,000
National Weather Service narrative
One mobile home destroyed and a portion of the roof of an adjacent wood frame structure removed. Several large trees down across roadway. Several tree tops snapped off and twisted. Debris wrapped around tree tops.
- Dec 24, 2002Thunderstorm Wind$50,000
- Dec 24, 2002Tornado$40,000
National Weather Service narrative
House damaged by 16 inch diameter tree. Numerous trees down. 2 mile long path about 100 yards wide.
- Mar 8, 1998Flash Flood$25,000
- Mar 30, 2000Tornado$25,000
National Weather Service narrative
Destroyed one mobile home, two others were damaged.
- Jul 24, 1996Lightning$20,000
National Weather Service narrative
Lighting struck to connecting apartments. The building suffered moderate damage to the roof, attic and ceiling.
- 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, 2.5 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, 2.5 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 |
| Sep 5, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3218-GA |
| Sep 24, 2004 | Hurricane | DR-1560-GA |
| Mar 11, 1998 | Severe Storm | DR-1209-GA |
| Mar 15, 1993 | Snowstorm | EM-3097-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 Bacon County stands among 159 counties in Georgia and 3,143 in the United States.
| Tornadoes since 1950 | 20 | 39 / 159 |
| Tornadoes rated F3/EF3 or stronger | 0 | — |
| Tropical cyclones within 50 mi | 60 | 20 / 159 |
| Hurricane-strength passes within 50 mi | 6 | 42 / 159 |
| Wildfire acres since 1984 | 6,389 | 18 / 159 |
| Flood insurance claims | 1 | 129 / 159 |
| Flood insurance paid | $0 | — |
| Disaster declarations | 19 | 52 / 159 |
| Flood events since 1996 | 15 | 97 / 159 |
| Hail and wind events since 1996 | 107 | 121 / 159 |
| Winter storm events since 1996 | 6 | 115 / 159 |
| Reported damage since 1996 | $3.8 million | 104 / 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 | 116 | 108 / 159 |
| Medium or heavy smoke days a year, last 10 years | 6.7 | 150 / 159 |
| Earthquakes M4+ within 50 mi since 1900 | 0 | — |
| Earthquakes M2.5+ in the county since 1973 | 0 | — |
Neighbouring counties
| Appling County | 19 | 67 |
| Coffee County | 29 | 58 |
| Jeff Davis County | 8 | 52 |
| Pierce County | 16 | 63 |
| 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.