Berrien County

Population 18,932 (2025) 453 sq mi

57 tropical storms and hurricanes have passed within 50 miles of Berrien County since 1851, 8 of them at hurricane strength; the strongest was Helene in 2024 (Category 1).

Hazard fingerprint for Berrien County Tornado: 40th percentile. Tropical: 90th percentile. Wildfire: 10th percentile. Flood: 39th percentile. Hail & wind: 43th percentile. Heat: 25th percentile. Cold: 9th percentile. Winter: 2th percentile. TORTROPFIREFLOODSEVEREHEATCOLDWINTER

Hazard fingerprint Each spoke is this county’s percentile among U.S. counties where that hazard occurs. How it is computed

2026
  • Tornado damage paths since 195014
  • Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger87
  • Wildfire burn scars since 19841

At a glance

The record for Berrien County in eight numbers. Each links to its section below.

Tropical cyclones within 50 mi

57

25th of 159 in Georgia

8 at hurricane strength since 1851

Details

Tornadoes since 1950

14

68th of 159 in Georgia

About as many as the typical Georgia county

Details

Flood insurance claims

8

97th of 159 in Georgia

$156,000 paid since 2009

Details

Acres burned since 1984

582

52nd of 159 in Georgia

1 large fire; the largest was Unnamed, 2007

Details

Strongest tornado

EF3

January 22, 2017, 24.7 mile path

Strongest tropical cyclone

Cat. 1

Hurricane Helene, 2024, 0.0 miles away

Federal disaster declarations

20

Most recent: Hurricane Helene, 2024

Details

Record high

106°F

September 5, 1925

Details

Tornadoes

About one every 5.4 years since 1950, 2 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.

Strongest

January 22, 2017

EF3, 24.7 mile path

700 yards wide; 11 killed along the whole path.

Most recent

Wednesday, June 14, 2023

EF0, 0.1 mile path

3 years ago.

Tornadoes by decade Doppler radar era² 1950s: 2 2 1960s: 2 2 1970s: 3 3 1980s: 1 1 1990s: 3 3 2000s: 0 2010s: 1 1 2020s: 2 2 1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
Recorded tornadoes per decade. The 2020s are incomplete.
Tornadoes by month J: 2 F: 0 M: 1 A: 3 M: 1 J: 5 5 J: 1 A: 0 S: 0 O: 0 N: 0 D: 1 JFMAMJJASOND
By month of occurrence, all years.

Every recorded tornado

Tornadoes in Berrien County since 1950
Jun 14, 2023EF00.15000
Apr 8, 2020EF04.430000
Jan 22, 2017EF324.77004511
Jun 25, 1994F00.72000
Jun 11, 1993F11.03000
Jul 25, 1991F10.72700
Apr 4, 1980F10.22000
Jan 25, 1975F110.45000
Apr 8, 1974F192.625071
Dec 30, 1973F00.11000
Mar 12, 1968F10.510000
Jun 8, 1962F12.03000
Jun 30, 1959F10.53300
May 11, 1952F34.3200100
  1. Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Berrien County: 2.
  2. 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; 8 at hurricane strength.

Strongest within 50 miles

September 27, 2024

Helene, Category 1

0.0 miles at closest approach, winds near 92 mph.

Most recent

September 27, 2024

Helene, Category 1

0.0 miles at closest approach.

Tropical cyclones within 50 miles by decade 50s: 3 60s: 2 70s: 6 80s: 7 7 90s: 3 00s: 4 10s: 4 20s: 2 30s: 3 40s: 3 50s: 3 60s: 3 70s: 2 80s: 1 90s: 3 00s: 2 10s: 2 20s: 4 50s60s70s80s90s00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s00s10s20s
Storms within 50 miles, by decade. Records before about 1900 miss storms that never reached land or ships.

Every storm within 100 miles

Tropical cyclones within 100 miles
Helene20240.0Category 192Category 4
Debby202442.6Tropical storm55Category 1
Idalia202315.9Category 184Category 4
Elsa20217.0Tropical storm52Category 1
Eta202089.5Tropical storm44Category 4
Nestor201923.4Post-tropical41Tropical storm
Michael201852.2Category 181Category 5
Irma201715.0Tropical storm52Category 5
Julia201686.8Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Hermine20160.0Tropical storm60Category 1
Colin201657.4Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Andrea201358.6Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Fay200885.5Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Alberto20067.2Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Jeanne200424.3Tropical storm39Category 3
Frances200468.2Tropical storm48Category 4
Earl199815.1Tropical storm49Category 2
Josephine199636.9Tropical storm59Tropical storm
Allison19950.0Tropical storm44Category 1
Kate19858.1Category 175Category 3
Isidore198497.2Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Unnamed197643.1Subtropical storm46Tropical storm
Alpha197238.2Subtropical storm40Tropical storm
Abby196872.4Tropical storm44Category 1
Alma19663.4Tropical storm55Category 3
Unnamed196575.5Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Hilda19647.4Post-tropical52Category 4
Dora19649.5Tropical storm63Category 4
Brenda196043.3Tropical storm55Tropical storm
Unnamed19577.2Tropical storm45Category 1
Flossy195619.4Tropical storm43Category 1
Florence19534.7Post-tropical46Category 3
King19507.7Tropical storm55Category 4
Unnamed19498.1Category 175Category 4
Unnamed19472.4Tropical storm58Category 2
Unnamed194763.6Post-tropical52Tropical storm
Unnamed194659.5Tropical storm62Category 2
Unnamed194494.8Tropical storm64Category 4
Unnamed194126.8Tropical storm60Category 3
Unnamed194071.9Tropical storm48Category 2
Unnamed193778.6Tropical storm47Tropical storm
Unnamed193674.1Tropical storm39Tropical storm
Unnamed19355.1Tropical storm72Category 5
Unnamed19331.1Tropical storm58Category 4
Unnamed193247.1Tropical storm51Category 1
Unnamed19295.3Post-tropical60Category 4
Unnamed19260.0Tropical storm49Category 4
Unnamed192410.7Post-tropical63Category 1
Unnamed192415.4Tropical storm48Category 1
Unnamed191735.9Tropical storm41Category 4
Unnamed191694.2Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed191549.5Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed19140.0Tropical storm44Tropical storm
Unnamed19120.0Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed191084.7Tropical storm58Category 4
Unnamed19070.0Tropical storm44Tropical storm
Unnamed19079.6Tropical storm54Tropical storm
Unnamed19020.0Tropical storm45Tropical storm
Unnamed190150.0Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed190164.0Tropical storm43Category 1
Unnamed190085.3Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed189825.5Category 179Category 4
Unnamed189878.0Tropical storm52Category 1
Unnamed189660.9Category 2106Category 3
Unnamed189684.6Tropical storm52Category 2
Unnamed18946.9Category 183Category 3
Unnamed189337.3Tropical storm55Category 1
Unnamed188992.1Tropical storm53Category 2
Unnamed188838.6Tropical storm48Tropical storm
Unnamed18860.0Tropical storm69Category 2
Unnamed188617.4Tropical storm71Category 2
Unnamed188529.9Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed188536.5Tropical storm48Category 1
Unnamed188511.9Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed188499.9Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed188250.8Tropical storm58Category 4
Unnamed188298.9Tropical storm61Category 3
Unnamed188136.8Tropical storm58Category 2
Unnamed188056.0Tropical storm49Category 1
Unnamed187819.2Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed18779.0Tropical storm61Category 3
Unnamed18770.0Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed187489.5Tropical storm72Category 1
Unnamed187312.1Tropical storm67Category 1
Unnamed187113.1Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed187198.5Tropical storm58Category 1
Unnamed18710.0Tropical storm49Category 3
Unnamed186821.6Tropical storm49Category 1
Unnamed186794.0Tropical storm60Category 2
Unnamed186017.8Tropical storm46Category 3
Unnamed185635.9Tropical storm72Category 3
Unnamed18520.0Category 177Category 2
Unnamed185136.9Category 177Category 3
  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

582 acres burned in 1 large fire since 1984, equal to 0.2% of the land.

Largest

May 7, 2007

Unnamed Fire, 581 acres

581 acres inside Berrien County.

Most recent

May 7, 2007

Unnamed Fire

581 acres in total.

Acres burned since 1984, cumulative 2007: 582 582 acres 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Running total of acres burned inside the county (line) and each year’s acres (bars).

Every large fire

Large wildfires since 1984
Unnamed2007581581
  1. 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 4 days in 2025, the most of any year.

Last 10 years

7.5 days a year

Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.

2025

8 days

Medium or heavy smoke. 23 so far in 2026.

Days with medium or heavy smoke overhead, by year 2011: 14 2012: 2 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 1 2016: 1 2017: 2 2018: 2 2019: 2 2020: 2 2021: 9 2022: 16 2023: 27 27 2024: 6 2025: 8 201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Days each year on which a satellite-traced plume of medium or heavy smoke covered the county’s population centre, 2011 to 2025.
  1. 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

8 federal flood insurance claims since 2009, with $156,000 paid.

Federal flood insurance claims by year
Claims per year since 2009. Years with fewer than five claims are not shown.

Claims by ZIP code

Flood insurance claims by ZIP code
316396$119,000

Flood events since 1996

  • Flash Flood25
  • 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.

River crests

Most severe crest

April 30, 1928

Alapaha River at Alapaha, 226.60 ft

3.60 feet above the 223.0 ft flood stage; moderate flooding by today’s categories.

Most recent moderate or major crest

April 4, 2009

Alapaha River at Alapaha, 226.23 ft

Moderate flooding.

Highest river crests above flood stage
Apr 30, 1928Alapaha River at Alapaha226.60+3.60Moderate
Apr 4, 2009Alapaha River at Alapaha226.23+3.23Moderate
Apr 4, 1948Alapaha River at Alapaha225.40+2.40Minor
Mar 9, 2020Alapaha River at Alapaha225.23+2.23Minor
Feb 28, 2013Alapaha River at Alapaha224.57+1.57Minor
Jan 18, 1993Alapaha River at Alapaha224.40+1.40Minor
Apr 1, 2005Alapaha River at Alapaha224.26+1.26Minor
Feb 12, 1986Alapaha River at Alapaha224.05+1.05Minor
Mar 8, 1966Alapaha River at Alapaha223.99+0.99Minor
Mar 3, 1939Alapaha River at Alapaha223.90+0.90Minor
Mar 5, 1991Alapaha River at Alapaha223.62+0.62Minor
Jan 25, 2010Alapaha River at Alapaha223.61+0.61Minor
Apr 23, 1944Alapaha River at Alapaha223.60+0.60Minor
Mar 8, 1964Alapaha River at Alapaha223.50+0.50Minor
Apr 5, 1970Alapaha River at Alapaha223.48+0.48Minor
Jan 26, 2017Alapaha River at Alapaha223.41+0.41Minor
Apr 18, 1961Alapaha River at Alapaha223.30+0.30Minor
Apr 20, 1975Alapaha River at Alapaha223.13+0.13Minor
Dec 7, 2018Alapaha River at Alapaha223.13+0.13Minor
Apr 5, 1973Alapaha River at Alapaha222.87−0.13Action
Mar 9, 1971Alapaha River at Alapaha222.80−0.20Action
Feb 20, 1965Alapaha River at Alapaha222.40−0.60Action
Apr 21, 1947Alapaha River at Alapaha222.30−0.70Action
Mar 11, 1984Alapaha River at Alapaha222.29−0.71Action
Dec 26, 2014Alapaha River at Alapaha222.04−0.96Action

River gauges

River gauges and their highest listed crests
Alapaha River at Alapaha223.0226.60 ftApr 30, 19280
  1. 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 104 of 1,581 months since 1895 (7%); the longest spell lasted 21 months.

104

Months in severe drought or worse since 1895

26

Months in extreme drought

7%

Share of all months, severe or worse

38

Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996

Lowest reading

June 2007

−5.25, extreme drought

Longest severe spell

21 months

July 1954 to March 1956.

Latest month

September 2026

−2.22, moderate drought

Last severe month: April 2026.

Months in severe drought or worse, by year 1895: 0 1896: 0 1897: 0 1898: 5 1899: 1 1900: 0 1901: 0 1902: 0 1903: 0 1904: 0 1905: 0 1906: 0 1907: 4 1908: 0 1909: 0 1910: 2 1911: 0 1912: 0 1913: 0 1914: 0 1915: 0 1916: 0 1917: 0 1918: 1 1919: 0 1920: 0 1921: 0 1922: 0 1923: 0 1924: 0 1925: 4 1926: 0 1927: 3 1928: 0 1929: 0 1930: 0 1931: 1 1932: 3 1933: 2 1934: 5 1935: 4 1936: 0 1937: 0 1938: 1 1939: 0 1940: 0 1941: 0 1942: 0 1943: 0 1944: 0 1945: 0 1946: 0 1947: 0 1948: 0 1949: 0 1950: 0 1951: 0 1952: 0 1953: 0 1954: 6 1955: 12 12 1956: 3 1957: 0 1958: 0 1959: 0 1960: 0 1961: 0 1962: 0 1963: 0 1964: 0 1965: 0 1966: 0 1967: 0 1968: 0 1969: 0 1970: 0 1971: 0 1972: 0 1973: 0 1974: 0 1975: 0 1976: 0 1977: 0 1978: 0 1979: 0 1980: 0 1981: 3 1982: 0 1983: 0 1984: 0 1985: 0 1986: 2 1987: 0 1988: 0 1989: 0 1990: 2 1991: 0 1992: 0 1993: 0 1994: 0 1995: 0 1996: 0 1997: 0 1998: 0 1999: 1 2000: 6 2001: 0 2002: 0 2003: 0 2004: 0 2005: 0 2006: 6 2007: 12 2008: 1 2009: 0 2010: 0 2011: 5 2012: 5 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 0 2016: 0 2017: 0 2018: 0 2019: 0 2020: 0 2021: 0 2022: 0 2023: 0 2024: 0 2025: 0 18951905191519251935194519551965197519851995200520152025
Months each year with a Palmer index of −3 or lower, 1895 to 2025. Twelve means the whole year.
  1. 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

299 events in the National Weather Service record, 266 of them since 1996.

19

Hail reports, 1 inch or larger

1

Hail, 2 inches or larger

146

Damaging gusts, 58 mph+

4

Winter weather events since 1996

4

Heat events since 1996

2

Cold events since 1996

Largest hail

March 30, 1992

2.00 inches

Strongest measured or estimated gust

August 25, 2023

75 mph

More event types since 1996

Other Storm Events types since 1996
Lightning300Aug 29, 2003

Costliest events since 1996

  1. Sep 26, 2024Hurricane (Typhoon), Berrien$100 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Colquitt Electric reported 1000 broken power poles in their service area, mostly in Lowndes and Berrien Counties.

  2. Aug 30, 2023Tropical Storm, Berrien$5.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Approximately 3871 residents, or 84% lost power due to numerous trees and power lines down.

  3. Sep 10, 2017Tropical Storm, Berrien$1.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Hurricane Irma brought numerous impacts to the Florida Big Bend, southwest Georgia and southeast Alabama including widespread downed trees and power lines, roads blocked by trees, power outages, and trees on homes. Two people died during the event - one due to a car crash (Liberty County, FL) and another that had a heart attack (Worth County, GA). Two indirect deaths occurred due to carbon monoxide from a generator (Taylor County, FL). While many counties across the Florida Big Bend and southwest Georgia were impacted, the greatest impacts were across the eastern portion of the area near the I-75 corridor. There were over 6.5 million customers without power in Florida, over…

  4. Jan 22, 2017Tornado$500,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    The EF3 tornado from northeast Brooks and Cook counties progressed into Berrien County where it completely removed the second story of a wood frame home on South Coffee Road. Just up the road, a well-strapped double wide home was completely removed and tossed into nearby trees and hedges. The last of the EF3 damage occurred on Old Lois Road where most of the roof of a brick home was removed. An add-on room on the back of the home was flattened by a massive live oak tree crushing two occupants to death in their bed. The tornado continued past Old Valdosta Road stripping bark from several trees in the area and then produced EF2 damage just past U.S. Route 129 on County Road before…

  5. Jul 2, 2009Thunderstorm Wind$300,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Straight line winds toppled numerous trees and power lines from Nashville east to State Highway 135. Two homes were set ablaze due to downed power lines. Trees fell on several homes and vehicles in Nashville.

  6. May 27, 2024Thunderstorm Wind$100,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Damage to homes, vehicles, barns, chicken houses, and crops occurred across northern Berrien county. Trees were blown down on cars and homes with power lines down as well.

  7. Oct 10, 2018Tropical Storm, Berrien$100,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Hurricane Michael started as typical weak October Caribbean tropical system. However, after approximately a week of slow development, the system moved into warm Gulf of Mexico waters and rapidly intensified into a major hurricane as it moved north towards the Florida Panhandle. After a 2-day long intensification period over the eastern Gulf, Michael made landfall as an unprecedented (for the region) high-end category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale in the Florida Panhandle with maximum sustained wind speed of 155 mph and a minimum pressure 919 mb. Based on wind, Michael is the fourth most powerful hurricane to hit the United States, behind the Labor Day…

  8. Jul 9, 2005Hurricane (Typhoon), Berrien$100,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Hurricane Dennis came ashore along the central Gulf coast on July 10. The lowest sea-level pressure and peak wind gust recorded were 1007.5 mb and 42 mph, respectively, at Albany, GA. Heavy rainfall commenced July 10, and persisted into the early morning hours of July 11. A nearly stationary feeder band from the eastern Florida Panhandle into southwest Georgia produced four to eight inches, with isolated amounts up to a foot. In Colquitt County, flash flooding along the Okapilco Creek in Moultrie damaged many homes, washed out roads, and forced the evacuation of 100 homes. Heavy rains in the upper Flint River basin generated high flows which reached as far south as Bainbridge, GA.…

  9. Sep 26, 2004Tropical Storm, Berrien$75,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Tropical Storm Jeanne moved north across south central Georgia during the early morning hours of September 27. Maximum sustained winds up to 40 knots with peak gusts to 50 knots were reported. The lowest sea-level pressure was 987.8 mb at Valdosta, GA. Rainfall totals varied from an inch at Albany, GA to nine inches at Tifton, GA. Widespread areal flooding was reported over portions of south central Georgia. In Lowndes County, high water forced 700 residents of a Valdosta subdivision to evacuate. The Withlacoochee River near Valdosta rose above flood stage. Many county and dirt roads were washed out. Schools and local businesses were closed on September 27. There were numerous…

  10. Sep 6, 2000Flash Flood$75,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Flood waters closed several county roads. Reported by the Berrien County EMA.

  1. 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 Tifton, 19.8 miles from the county’s population centre, with records from 1911.

All-time high
106°FSep 5, 1925
All-time low
0°F2 times, most recently Jan 22, 1985
Warmest night
80°FJun 29, 1931
Coldest day
22°F2 times, most recently Dec 24, 1989
Wettest day
9.01 inAug 8, 2012
Snowiest day
5.0 inJan 21, 2025
Hottest year
1990mean 68.9°F
Coldest year
1966mean 63.7°F
Wettest year
196468.82 in
Driest year
195423.25 in
Snowiest season
5.0 in2024-25
Average monthly high and low temperature and precipitation, last 30 years, Tifton 32°F 60° 37° 3.5 Jan 65° 41° 4.2 Feb 72° 46° 4.4 Mar 78° 52° 3.6 Apr 85° 61° 3.1 May 90° 69° 5.1 Jun 92° 71° 4.7 Jul 91° 71° 5.4 Aug 87° 66° 4.4 Sep 79° 56° 2.4 Oct 70° 45° 2.6 Nov 63° 40° 4.0 Dec Precipitation, inches
Average daily high and low by month, and average monthly precipitation, over the last 30 years.
Days reaching 95°F per year 1976: 2 1977: 39 1978: 17 1979: 7 1980: 36 1981: 35 1982: 3 1983: 27 1984: 5 1985: 11 1986: 33 1987: 29 1988: 18 1989: 12 1990: 46 1991: 7 1992: 4 1993: 13 1994: 0 1995: 15 1996: 15 1997: 9 1998: 31 1999: 14 2000: 33 2001: 0 2002: 18 2005: 25 2006: 55 2007: 25 2009: 4 2010: 34 2011: 66 66 2012: 11 2013: 1 2014: 14 2015: 12 2016: 22 2017: 16 2018: 13 2019: 32 2021: 5 2023: 23 2024: 16 2025: 21 19761986199620092019
Days reaching 95°F each complete year, last 50 years. Thirty-year average: 20.6.
Snowfall by winter 1976: 0.0 in 1977: 0.0 in 1979: 0.0 in 1980: 0.0 in 1981: 0.0 in 1982: 0.0 in 1983: 0.0 in 1984: 0.0 in 1985: 0.0 in 1986: 0.0 in 1987: 0.0 in 1988: 0.0 in 1989: 0.0 in 1990: 0.0 in 1991: 0.0 in 1992: 0.0 in 1993: 0.0 in 1994: 0.0 in 1996: 0.0 in 1997: 0.0 in 1998: 0.0 in 1999: 0.0 in 2000: 0.0 in 2001: 0.0 in 2002: 0.0 in 2003: 0.0 in 2004: 0.0 in 2005: 0.0 in 2006: 0.0 in 2007: 0.0 in 2008: 0.0 in 2009: 0.0 in 2016: 0.0 in 2017: 0.0 in 2018: 0.0 in 2020: 0.0 in 2021: 0.0 in 2023: 0.0 in 2024: 5.0 in 5.0 2025: 0.0 in 1976198719982008
Total snowfall each winter (July to June), last 50 winters.

86 of 89 winters had no measurable snow.

Station Tifton (USC00098703), 380 ft elevation, 19.8 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1911 to September 30, 2026; 94.6% 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

20 since 1953. The most recent: Hurricane Helene, September 30, 2024.

Federal disaster declarations
Sep 30, 2024HurricaneHurricane HeleneMajor disasterDR-4830-GA
Sep 26, 2024Tropical StormHurricane HeleneEmergencyEM-3616-GA
Sep 24, 2024Tropical StormTropical Storm DebbyMajor disasterDR-4821-GA
Aug 5, 2024Tropical StormHurricane DebbyEmergencyEM-3607-GA
Sep 7, 2023HurricaneHurricane IdaliaMajor disasterDR-4738-GA
Mar 29, 2020BiologicalCovid-19 PandemicMajor disasterDR-4501-GA
Mar 13, 2020BiologicalCovid-19EmergencyEM-3464-GA
Oct 14, 2018HurricaneHurricane MichaelMajor disasterDR-4400-GA
Oct 10, 2018HurricaneHurricane MichaelEmergencyEM-3406-GA
Sep 15, 2017HurricaneHurricane IrmaMajor disasterDR-4338-GA
Sep 8, 2017HurricaneHurricane IrmaEmergencyEM-3387-GA
Jan 26, 2017TornadoSevere Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4297-GA
Apr 23, 2009Severe StormSevere Storms, Flooding, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line WindsMajor disasterDR-1833-GA
Sep 5, 2005HurricaneHurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergencyEM-3218-GA
Sep 24, 2004HurricaneTropical Storm FrancesMajor disasterDR-1560-GA
Mar 11, 1998Severe StormSevere Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1209-GA
Mar 15, 1993SnowstormSevere Snowfall, Winter StormEmergencyEM-3097-GA
Mar 15, 1991FloodSevere Storms & FloodingMajor disasterDR-897-GA
Jul 20, 1977DroughtDroughtEmergencyEM-3044-GA
Apr 5, 1974TornadoTornadoesMajor disasterDR-425-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 Berrien County stands among 159 counties in Georgia and 3,143 in the United States.

Ranks
Tornadoes since 19501468 / 1591,935 / 3,143
Tornadoes rated F3/EF3 or stronger225 / 159866 / 3,143
Tropical cyclones within 50 mi5725 / 159137 / 3,143
Hurricane-strength passes within 50 mi827 / 159247 / 3,143
Wildfire acres since 198458252 / 1591,415 / 3,143
Flood insurance claims897 / 1592,410 / 3,143
Flood insurance paid$156,00090 / 1592,214 / 3,143
Disaster declarations2031 / 1591,524 / 3,143
Flood events since 19962749 / 1592,222 / 3,143
Hail and wind events since 199617365 / 1592,186 / 3,143
Winter storm events since 19964139 / 1592,985 / 3,143
Reported damage since 1996$108 million14 / 159496 / 3,143
River crests at major flood stage0——
High tide flooding days a year, last 10 years0.0——
Months in severe drought since 1895104139 / 1592,253 / 3,143
Medium or heavy smoke days a year, last 10 years7.5139 / 1592,970 / 3,143
Earthquakes M4+ within 50 mi since 19000——
Earthquakes M2.5+ in the county since 19730——

Neighbouring counties

Neighbouring counties
Atkinson County11637,8102
Coffee County29583,27845
Cook County21568079
Irwin County124901
Lanier County8592,2255
Lowndes County22621,964135
Tift County2647090

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 USC00098703.
  • 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.