Bibb County
Population 157,556 (2025) 249 sq mi
Bibb County has recorded 24 tornadoes since 1950, 24th most of 159 counties in Georgia; the most recent was on April 6, 2025.
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 195024
- Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger43
- Major flood years since 19781
At a glance
The record for Bibb County in eight numbers. Each links to its section below.
Tropical cyclones within 50 mi
20
84th of 159 in Georgia
None at hurricane strength since 1851
DetailsStrongest tornado
F3
March 13, 1954, 49.5 mile path
Strongest tropical cyclone
TS
Tropical storm (unnamed), 1851, 32.6 miles away
Tornadoes
About one every 3.2 years since 1950, 3 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
Strongest
March 13, 1954
F3, 49.5 mile path
300 yards wide; 5 killed along the whole path.
Most recent
Sunday, April 6, 2025
EF1, 9.2 mile path
Within the past year.
Every recorded tornado
| Apr 6, 2025 | EF1 | 9.2 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 31, 2025 | EF0 | 6.9 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 5, 2022 | EF1 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF1 | 3.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 3, 2019 | EF0 | 1.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Nov 7, 2018 | EF0 | 7.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 4, 2017 | EF1 | 1.9 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 16, 2011 | EF1 | 3.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 4, 2011 | EF1 | 1.1 | 0 | 0 |
| May 11, 2008 | EF2 | 18.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 1, 2007 | EF0 | 2.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 1, 2007 | EF3 | 9.7 | 9 | 0 |
| Nov 10, 2002 | F0 | 0.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 23, 1983 | F1 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 13, 1979 | F1 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 13, 1979 | F1 | 4.0 | 1 | 0 |
| Apr 7, 1972 | F1 | 2.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 11, 1962 | F0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Feb 24, 1961 | F2 | 3.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 31, 1958 | F2 | 0.3 | 0 | 0 |
| May 21, 1955 | F1 | 20.4 | 2 | 0 |
| Mar 13, 1954 | F3 | 49.5 | 75 | 5 |
| Apr 30, 1953 | F2 | 5.6 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 3, 1952 | F3 | 4.3 | 4 | 0 |
- Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Bibb County: 5.
- 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
20 passed within 50 miles since 1851; none at hurricane strength.
Strongest within 50 miles
August 24, 1851
Unnamed storm, Tropical storm
32.6 miles at closest approach, winds near 71 mph.
Most recent
September 27, 2024
Helene, Tropical storm
23.2 miles at closest approach.
Every storm within 100 miles
| Helene | 2024 | 23.2 | Tropical storm |
| Elsa | 2021 | 85.4 | Tropical storm |
| Nestor | 2019 | 52.0 | Post-tropical |
| Michael | 2018 | 12.2 | Tropical storm |
| Hermine | 2016 | 98.2 | Tropical storm |
| Earl | 1998 | 58.4 | Tropical storm |
| Kate | 1985 | 72.8 | Tropical storm |
| Eloise | 1975 | 99.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1965 | 2.7 | Tropical storm |
| Dora | 1964 | 70.2 | Tropical storm |
| Cleo | 1964 | 89.0 | Tropical storm |
| Flossy | 1956 | 57.6 | Post-tropical |
| Florence | 1953 | 79.0 | Post-tropical |
| King | 1950 | 81.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1949 | 42.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1947 | 79.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1941 | 43.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1940 | 0.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1935 | 79.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1929 | 68.8 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1926 | 64.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1917 | 47.9 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1915 | 70.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1915 | 79.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1912 | 94.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1912 | 50.5 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1907 | 95.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1907 | 79.4 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1902 | 77.5 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1902 | 79.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1901 | 3.1 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1901 | 16.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1898 | 16.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1898 | 0.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1896 | 0.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1894 | 75.2 | Category 1 |
| Unnamed | 1893 | 32.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1889 | 1.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1886 | 79.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1886 | 32.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1885 | 99.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1882 | 16.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1881 | 46.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1877 | 58.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1871 | 87.2 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1860 | 66.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1859 | 41.6 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1856 | 36.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1852 | 75.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1852 | 5.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1851 | 32.6 | 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
No large wildfire has been mapped here since satellite mapping began in 1984.
Smoke overhead
Smokiest year
2023: 40 days
Heavy smoke on 4 days in 2023, the most of any year.
Last 10 years
10.3 days a year
Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.
2025
12 days
Medium or heavy smoke. 28 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
155 federal flood insurance claims since 1979, with $3.8 million paid.
Most claims in one year
1994: 33 claims
$1.5 million paid.
2nd most
2020: 18 claims
$392,000 paid.
3rd most
2009: 12 claims
$130,000 paid.
Claims by ZIP code
| 31210 | 47 | $1.1 million |
| 31204 | 40 | $669,000 |
| 31220 | 14 | $273,000 |
| 31206 | 14 | $691,000 |
| 31211 | 12 | $272,000 |
| 31201 | 9 | $562,000 |
| 31216 | 9 | $260,000 |
| 31052 | 5 | $25,000 |
Flood events since 1996
- Flood14
- Flash Flood7
- Heavy Rain6
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
July 6, 1994
Tobesofkee Creek near Macon, 39.50 ft
19.50 feet above the 20.0 ft flood stage; major flooding by today’s categories.
Most recent moderate or major crest
September 29, 2024
Ocmulgee River at 5th Street Bridge at Macon, 27.88 ft
Moderate flooding.
River gauges
| Ocmulgee River at 5th Street Bridge at Macon | 18.0 | 35.40 ft | 1 |
| Tobesofkee Creek near Macon | 20.0 | 39.50 ft | 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 103 of 1,581 months since 1895 (7%); the longest spell lasted 20 months.
103
Months in severe drought or worse since 1895
33
Months in extreme drought
7%
Share of all months, severe or worse
31
Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996
Lowest reading
September 1925
−5.75, extreme drought
Longest severe spell
20 months
June 2011 to January 2013.
Latest month
September 2026
−1.66, mild 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
1 earthquake of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles since 1900; the largest was magnitude 4.5 in 1914.
2
Magnitude 2.5+ inside the county since 1973
5
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
March 5, 1914
Magnitude 4.5
Near Madison, Georgia; 39.7 miles away.
Most recent, magnitude 3 or more
December 6, 2009
Magnitude 3.2
4 km WNW of Deepstep, Georgia; 31.2 miles away.
Every earthquake of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles
| Mar 5, 1914 | 4.5 | 39.7 |
- 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 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
505 events in the National Weather Service record, 374 of them since 1996.
49
Hail reports, 1 inch or larger
2
Hail, 2 inches or larger
109
Damaging gusts, 58 mph+
13
Winter weather events since 1996
11
Heat events since 1996
14
Cold events since 1996
Largest hail
March 26, 2011
2.50 inches
Strongest measured or estimated gust
February 10, 1990
87 mph
More event types since 1996
| Lightning | 10 | 0 |
| Dense fog and smoke | 2 | 0 |
Costliest events since 1996
- May 11, 2008Tornado$5.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
A damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Peachtree City, Georgia confirmed that an EF2 tornado touched down near Lizella and continued across Bibb county into extreme western Twiggs county near Dry Branch producing sporadic, but significant damage as it varied in intensity from EF0 to EF2. The tornado tracked from just east-northeast of Lizella across the south shores of Lake Tobesofkee, then across the city of Macon, producing widespread significant damage, and then eastward to the Twiggs county line. By far the most significant damage occurred within the city of Macon, especially along Eisenhower Parkway and Pio Nono Avenue where two…
- Mar 26, 2011Hail$2.3 million
National Weather Service narrative
Several reports of golf ball-sized hail were received from the western half of Bibb county from Lizella and Lake Tobesofkee to near Macon. There was even one report of tennis-ball-sized hail near Lizella. The hail decreased to quarter size as the storm moved into the western suburbs of Macon and to nickel size as it moved further into Macon. However, there were several reports within the city of Macon of hail covering the ground like snow. Nickel-sized hail was observed at the terminal station in downtown Macon. There was also one report of a damaged camper at a campground near Macon caused by a downed tree.
- Apr 16, 2011Tornado$2.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
A damage survey conducted by meteorologists from the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Peachtree City, Georgia confirmed that an EF1 tornado touched down approximately five miles northwest of Macon and tracked 2.5 to 3.5 miles lifting approximately five miles north-northwest of Macon. The tornado tracked through the northern suburbs of Macon between Interstate-475 and Interstate-75, just south of the Monroe county line yet lifting just before reaching the Jones county line. The maximum path width was determined to be 500 yards. The maximum wind in the tornado was determined to be 110 mph. Extensive damage was reported from a largely residential area of Bibb county. From…
- Mar 3, 2019Hail$2.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
The Bibb County Emergency Manager reported golf ball to lime size hail on the south side of Macon from around the intersection of Allen Road and Houston Road to the Middle Georgia Regional Airport.
- Apr 25, 2015Hail$1.7 million
National Weather Service narrative
A picture of several golf ball size hail stones that fell on Hartley Bridge Road was received via social media.
- Mar 26, 2011Hail$1.6 million
National Weather Service narrative
A storm spotter observed golf ball-sized hail just north of the Macon Regional Airport on Hartly Bridge Road. An amateur radio operator relayed a report of half-dollar-sized hail from southern Bibb county and a trained spotter observed quarter-sized hail in southern Bibb county, just west of Rutland.
- May 10, 2008Hail$1.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
Numerous reports of large hail were received from the broadcast media, the public, and amateur radio operators from much of Bibb county. Penny to quarter-sized hail was reported from amateur radio operators in north central Bibb county and northwest of Macon. The largest hail observed was golf ball-sized by personnel at WMAZ Television in Macon. Hail reports continued to the east side of the county where the public observed penny-sized hail from the intersection of Interstate-75 and Interstate-16 to about five or six miles down Interstate-16 toward the Twiggs county line.
- Sep 6, 2004High Wind, Bibb$500,000
National Weather Service narrative
High wind damage, associated with Tropical Storm Frances, is listed below, in alphabetical order by county for those counties that "high wind" criteria was either met or assumed to be met.Baldwin: The Georgia Emergency Management Agency reported that extensive and widespread wind damage was observed. Many trees and power lines were down throughout the county and many parts of the county were expected to be without power for up to four days as a result. In addition, four homes suffered major damage and five suffered minor damage. One man was injured and taken to a local hospital when a tree fell on his mobile home. Four to five inches of rain was also reported throughout the…
- Jul 30, 2005Flash Flood$500,000
National Weather Service narrative
The Macon Telegraph reported that slow moving and persistent thunderstorms dumped up to three inches of rain on saturated ground across Macon and much of Bibb county during the mid to late afternoon. The heavy rain resulted in considerable flooding. At least 10 units of an apartment complex were flooded when water rushed down a hill caused by a dam break on a nearby pond. The water rose above the first level of the apartment and many residents had to be rescued from their apartments through the windows. Another home nearby was flooded with up to 18 inches of water in the basement after an area of water 40 feet wide rushed toward his home from the dam breakage. The flash flooding…
- Mar 18, 2013Thunderstorm Wind$450,000
National Weather Service narrative
Ham radio operators and the Macon Fire Department reported wind damage across the Macon area. Numerous trees and power lines were down across the city. Several trees fell on homes, trapping the occupants inside. Media also reported that the press box at the First Presbyterian Day School on Calvin Drive was blown over.
- 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 Macon Middle Ga Regional Airport, 10.3 miles from the county’s population centre, with records from 1948.
- All-time high
- 108°F3 times, most recently Jul 1, 2012
- All-time low
- −6°FJan 21, 1985
- Warmest night
- 79°F8 times, most recently Jul 25, 2010
- Coldest day
- 25°F2 times, most recently Jan 21, 1985
- Wettest day
- 10.25 inJul 5, 1994
- Snowiest day
- 11.0 inFeb 9, 1973
- Hottest year
- 2019mean 67.3°F
- Coldest year
- 1968mean 62.2°F
- Wettest year
- 201372.67 in
- Driest year
- 195426.05 in
- Snowiest season
- 16.5 in1972-73
Median first snow
February 6
Earliest: November 24, 1950
Median last snow
February 8
Latest: March 13, 1993
28 of 47 winters had no measurable snow.
Station Macon Middle Ga Regional Airport (USW00003813), 343 ft elevation, 10.3 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1948 to October 26, 2026; 99.9% 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
16 since 1953. The most recent: Severe Winter Storm, January 24, 2026.
| Jan 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3642-GA |
| Sep 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3616-GA |
| Mar 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4501-GA |
| Mar 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3464-GA |
| Oct 10, 2018 | Hurricane | EM-3406-GA |
| Sep 15, 2017 | Hurricane | DR-4338-GA |
| Sep 8, 2017 | Hurricane | EM-3387-GA |
| Feb 11, 2014 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3368-GA |
| May 23, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1761-GA |
| Sep 5, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3218-GA |
| Sep 24, 2004 | Hurricane | DR-1560-GA |
| Mar 11, 1998 | Severe Storm | DR-1209-GA |
| Jul 7, 1994 | Tornado | DR-1033-GA |
| Mar 15, 1993 | Snowstorm | EM-3097-GA |
| Feb 23, 1990 | Severe Storm | DR-857-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 Bibb County stands among 159 counties in Georgia and 3,143 in the United States.
| Tornadoes since 1950 | 24 | 24 / 159 |
| Tornadoes rated F3/EF3 or stronger | 3 | 11 / 159 |
| Tropical cyclones within 50 mi | 20 | 84 / 159 |
| Hurricane-strength passes within 50 mi | 0 | — |
| Wildfire acres since 1984 | 0 | — |
| Flood insurance claims | 155 | 24 / 159 |
| Flood insurance paid | $3.8 million | 21 / 159 |
| Disaster declarations | 16 | 105 / 159 |
| Flood events since 1996 | 27 | 49 / 159 |
| Hail and wind events since 1996 | 242 | 37 / 159 |
| Winter storm events since 1996 | 13 | 71 / 159 |
| Reported damage since 1996 | $21.3 million | 48 / 159 |
| River crests at major flood stage | 2 | 43 / 159 |
| High tide flooding days a year, last 10 years | 0.0 | — |
| Months in severe drought since 1895 | 103 | 140 / 159 |
| Medium or heavy smoke days a year, last 10 years | 10.3 | 36 / 159 |
| Earthquakes M4+ within 50 mi since 1900 | 1 | 37 / 159 |
| Earthquakes M2.5+ in the county since 1973 | 2 | 9 / 159 |
Neighbouring counties
| Crawford County | 14 | 19 |
| Houston County | 26 | 25 |
| Jones County | 13 | 16 |
| Monroe County | 19 | 13 |
| Twiggs County | 23 | 21 |
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 USW00003813.
- 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.