Bryan County

Population 52,062 (2025) 438 sq mi

81 tropical storms and hurricanes have passed within 50 miles of Bryan County since 1851, 18 of them at hurricane strength; the strongest was an unnamed storm in 1893 (Category 3).

Hazard fingerprint for Bryan County Tornado: 28th percentile. Tropical: 97th percentile. Wildfire: 65th percentile. Flood: 28th percentile. Hail & wind: 46th percentile. Heat: 56th percentile. Cold: 22th percentile. Winter: 5th 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 19509
  • Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger119
  • Wildfire burn scars since 19847
  • Major flood years since 19783

At a glance

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

Tropical cyclones within 50 mi

81

2nd of 159 in Georgia

18 at hurricane strength since 1851

Details

Acres burned since 1984

15,910

12th of 159 in Georgia

7 large fires; the largest was Unnamed, 2007

Details

Tornadoes since 1950

9

120th of 159 in Georgia

Fewer than the typical Georgia county, which has had 13

Details

Flood insurance claims

285

14th of 159 in Georgia

$5.8 million paid since 1983

Details

Strongest tornado

EF4

April 5, 2022, 14.4 mile path

Strongest tropical cyclone

Cat. 3

Hurricane (unnamed), 1893, 48.1 miles away

Federal disaster declarations

21

Most recent: Hurricane Helene, 2024

Details

Record high

105°F

July 20, 1986

Details

Tornadoes

About one every 8.4 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

4 killed, F2

31 injured along the whole path.

Most recent

Tuesday, April 5, 2022

EF4, 14.4 mile path

4 years ago.

Tornadoes by decade Doppler radar era² 1950s: 0 1960s: 0 1970s: 1 1 1980s: 1 1 1990s: 4 4 2000s: 1 1 2010s: 0 2020s: 2 2 1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
Recorded tornadoes per decade. The 2020s are incomplete.
Tornadoes by month J: 0 F: 0 M: 0 A: 4 4 M: 0 J: 0 J: 1 A: 1 S: 1 O: 0 N: 2 D: 0 JFMAMJJASOND
By month of occurrence, all years.

Every recorded tornado

Tornadoes in Bryan County since 1950
Apr 5, 2022EF414.41,300121
Apr 13, 2020EF18.925000
Sep 6, 2004F00.53000
Apr 9, 1998F224.5400314
Apr 9, 1998F38.0440172
Nov 7, 1995F00.54000
Nov 7, 1995F18.56010
Aug 21, 1980F10.12700
Jul 5, 1979F00.15000
  1. Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Bryan County: 3.
  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

81 passed within 50 miles since 1851; 18 at hurricane strength, 2 as major hurricanes.

Strongest within 50 miles

October 13, 1893

Unnamed storm, Category 3

48.1 miles at closest approach, winds near 121 mph.

Most recent

September 27, 2024

Helene, Category 1

82.3 miles at closest approach.

Tropical cyclones within 50 miles by decade 50s: 4 60s: 2 70s: 8 80s: 11 11 90s: 7 00s: 5 10s: 7 20s: 2 30s: 2 40s: 6 50s: 3 60s: 5 70s: 4 80s: 5 90s: 0 00s: 1 10s: 5 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
Helene202482.3Category 177Category 4
Debby20240.0Tropical storm46Category 1
Idalia20230.0Tropical storm63Category 4
Elsa202123.8Tropical storm48Category 1
Eta202039.0Tropical storm43Category 4
Isaias202093.1Category 175Category 1
Nestor201947.8Post-tropical45Tropical storm
Dorian201994.3Category 3115Category 5
Michael201890.5Tropical storm56Category 5
Florence201893.9Tropical storm41Category 4
Matthew201633.8Category 298Category 5
Julia201612.6Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Hermine20161.9Tropical storm58Category 1
Colin201620.1Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Andrea20130.0Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Alberto201285.7Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Barry20070.0Post-tropical44Tropical storm
Ernesto2006100.0Tropical storm66Category 1
Tammy200580.4Tropical storm44Tropical storm
Charley200464.5Category 181Category 4
Kyle200226.0Tropical storm40Category 1
Irene199993.1Category 175Category 2
Earl199831.7Post-tropical46Category 2
Josephine19960.9Post-tropical52Tropical storm
Chris198817.2Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Kate198512.9Tropical storm60Category 3
Bob198537.7Category 175Category 1
Isidore198447.0Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Unnamed198255.1Subtropical storm69Tropical storm
Dennis198144.6Tropical storm48Category 1
David19790.0Category 186Category 5
Unnamed197611.2Subtropical storm41Tropical storm
Dottie197667.1Tropical storm41Tropical storm
Unnamed197624.3Subtropical storm46Tropical storm
Alpha197265.2Subtropical storm60Tropical storm
Alma19700.0Tropical storm43Category 1
Gladys196884.6Category 184Category 2
Dolly196893.5Tropical storm40Category 1
Brenda196897.3Tropical storm40Category 1
Abby196814.2Tropical storm39Category 1
Alma19660.0Tropical storm46Category 3
Unnamed196595.3Tropical storm43Tropical storm
Hilda196450.2Post-tropical52Category 4
Dora196411.3Tropical storm69Category 4
Cleo19640.0Tropical storm53Category 4
Unnamed196486.7Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Ginny196390.2Category 192Category 2
Donna196085.7Category 192Category 4
Brenda19604.9Tropical storm66Tropical storm
Gracie195951.6Category 4132Category 4
Unnamed19570.0Tropical storm40Category 1
Unnamed195690.8Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Flossy195627.2Post-tropical45Category 1
Unnamed19549.0Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Florence19530.0Post-tropical46Category 3
Able195239.3Category 298Category 2
Unnamed194962.0Tropical storm71Category 4
Unnamed19473.7Category 2104Category 2
Unnamed194766.4Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed19473.4Post-tropical47Tropical storm
Unnamed19464.5Tropical storm59Category 2
Unnamed19459.1Tropical storm69Category 4
Unnamed194591.5Category 175Category 2
Unnamed19440.0Tropical storm60Category 4
Unnamed194126.6Tropical storm46Category 3
Unnamed19402.8Tropical storm71Category 2
Unnamed193528.3Tropical storm61Category 5
Unnamed193342.0Tropical storm45Category 4
Unnamed193230.7Post-tropical46Category 1
Unnamed192932.9Post-tropical58Category 4
Unnamed192820.1Category 186Category 5
Unnamed192758.4Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed19246.6Post-tropical63Category 1
Unnamed19240.0Tropical storm40Category 1
Unnamed191936.5Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed191617.3Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed191612.6Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed191526.4Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed191476.5Tropical storm64Tropical storm
Unnamed191229.6Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Unnamed19113.1Tropical storm60Category 2
Unnamed191013.6Tropical storm66Category 4
Unnamed19070.0Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed19077.1Tropical storm61Tropical storm
Unnamed190638.0Tropical storm66Category 3
Unnamed190229.2Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed190147.3Tropical storm40Category 1
Unnamed190047.0Post-tropical40Tropical storm
Unnamed189855.3Category 2104Category 4
Unnamed189811.2Tropical storm69Category 1
Unnamed18968.2Category 2101Category 3
Unnamed189414.6Category 175Category 3
Unnamed189422.6Category 190Category 3
Unnamed189348.1Category 3121Category 3
Unnamed18933.7Category 3115Category 3
Unnamed18931.6Tropical storm53Category 1
Unnamed188964.0Tropical storm43Category 1
Unnamed188849.8Category 175Category 2
Unnamed18882.7Tropical storm43Tropical storm
Unnamed188691.9Tropical storm60Category 1
Unnamed188621.3Tropical storm60Category 2
Unnamed188677.5Tropical storm49Category 2
Unnamed188510.4Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Unnamed188594.0Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed188542.8Tropical storm54Category 1
Unnamed188521.6Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed188533.8Category 2104Category 2
Unnamed18840.0Tropical storm44Category 1
Unnamed188214.9Tropical storm63Category 4
Unnamed18812.3Category 298Category 2
Unnamed188098.7Tropical storm72Category 1
Unnamed188027.0Tropical storm66Category 1
Unnamed187826.1Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed187837.1Category 192Category 2
Unnamed187744.1Tropical storm48Category 3
Unnamed187736.5Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed187420.0Category 183Category 1
Unnamed18734.0Tropical storm61Category 1
Unnamed187361.1Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed18710.0Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed187155.4Tropical storm66Category 1
Unnamed187111.1Tropical storm66Category 3
Unnamed186814.9Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed186777.8Tropical storm46Category 2
Unnamed186772.7Category 177Category 1
Unnamed18600.7Tropical storm46Category 3
Unnamed185646.0Tropical storm61Category 3
Unnamed18540.0Category 2104Category 3
Unnamed185344.0Category 192Category 2
Unnamed185219.7Tropical storm63Category 2
Unnamed185277.6Tropical storm46Category 3
Unnamed185160.0Tropical storm66Category 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

15,910 acres burned in 7 large fires since 1984, equal to 5.7% of the land.

Largest

May 21, 2007

Unnamed Fire, 10,956 acres

10,705 acres inside Bryan County.

Most recent

December 22, 2008

Unnamed Fire

1,318 acres in total.

Acres burned since 1984, cumulative 1985: 7761999: 1,0262000: 1,0072004: 4382007: 11,3452008: 1,318 15,910 acres 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Running total of acres burned inside the county (line) and each year’s acres (bars).

Every large fire

Large wildfires since 1984
Unnamed20081,3181,318
Unnamed2007639638
Unnamed200710,70510,956
Unnamed2004437575
Unnamed20001,0071,007
Unnamed19991,0261,027
Unnamed1985776775
  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: 28 days

Heavy smoke on 5 days in 2011, the most of any year.

Last 10 years

8.9 days a year

Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.

2025

9 days

Medium or heavy smoke. 22 so far in 2026.

Days with medium or heavy smoke overhead, by year 2011: 19 2012: 7 2013: 1 2014: 1 2015: 1 2016: 1 2017: 3 2018: 8 2019: 9 2020: 1 2021: 8 2022: 15 2023: 28 28 2024: 7 2025: 9 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

285 federal flood insurance claims since 1983, with $5.8 million paid.

Federal flood insurance claims by year 1994: 14 1996: 7 1999: 13 2005: 10 2007: 5 2009: 6 2014: 5 2015: 5 2016: 50 2017: 36 2020: 7 2024: 81 81 199420092020
Claims per year since 1983. Years with fewer than five claims are not shown.

Most claims in one year

2024: 81 claims

$2.9 million paid.

2nd most

2016: 50 claims

$1.2 million paid.

3rd most

2017: 36 claims

$1.0 million paid.

Claims by ZIP code

Flood insurance claims by ZIP code
31324280$5.7 million

Flood events since 1996

  • Flash Flood15

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

October 1, 1929

Ogeechee River near Eden, 22.00 ft

11.00 feet above the 11.0 ft flood stage; major flooding by today’s categories.

Most recent moderate or major crest

November 13, 2024

Ogeechee River near Eden, 14.21 ft

Moderate flooding.

Highest river crests above flood stage
Oct 1, 1929Ogeechee River near Eden22.00+11.00Major
Jan 1, 1925Ogeechee River near Eden21.50+10.50Major
Aug 10, 2024Ogeechee River near Eden17.97+6.97Major
Mar 14, 1936Ogeechee River near Eden17.20+6.20Major
Mar 15, 1998Ogeechee River near Eden17.15+6.15Major
Mar 19, 1980Ogeechee River near Eden16.77+5.77Major
Mar 31, 1944Ogeechee River near Eden16.70+5.70Major
Jan 15, 1993Ogeechee River near Eden16.64+5.64Major
Oct 20, 1990Ogeechee River near Eden16.41+5.41Major
Mar 1, 1929Ogeechee River near Eden16.30+5.30Major
Mar 9, 1939Ogeechee River near Eden16.20+5.20Major
Feb 25, 2020Ogeechee River near Eden16.09+5.09Major
Mar 11, 1966Ogeechee River near Eden16.05+5.05Major
Apr 10, 1960Ogeechee River near Eden16.00+5.00Major
Aug 23, 1940Ogeechee River near Eden15.80+4.80Moderate
Feb 26, 1995Ogeechee River near Eden15.75+4.75Moderate
Mar 13, 1971Ogeechee River near Eden15.61+4.61Moderate
Mar 10, 1991Ogeechee River near Eden15.56+4.56Moderate
Mar 27, 2003Ogeechee River near Eden15.41+4.41Moderate
Apr 22, 1961Ogeechee River near Eden15.40+4.40Moderate
Apr 3, 1948Ogeechee River near Eden15.30+4.30Moderate
Feb 25, 2021Ogeechee River near Eden15.15+4.15Moderate
Jan 28, 1987Ogeechee River near Eden14.87+3.87Moderate
Aug 1, 1928Ogeechee River near Eden14.80+3.80Moderate
Dec 10, 1948Ogeechee River near Eden14.80+3.80Moderate

River gauges

River gauges and their highest listed crests
Black Creek near Blitchton18.016.51 ftAug 7, 20240
Canoochee River at Fort Stewart17.016.88 ftAug 9, 20240
Ogeechee River near Eden11.022.00 ftOct 1, 192914
  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 115 of 1,581 months since 1895 (7%); the longest spell lasted 16 months.

115

Months in severe drought or worse since 1895

37

Months in extreme drought

7%

Share of all months, severe or worse

46

Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996

Lowest reading

April 1932

−5.73, extreme drought

Longest severe spell

16 months

April 2011 to July 2012.

Latest month

September 2026

−4.45, extreme drought

Months in severe drought or worse, by year 1895: 0 1896: 0 1897: 0 1898: 0 1899: 0 1900: 0 1901: 0 1902: 0 1903: 0 1904: 0 1905: 0 1906: 0 1907: 1 1908: 0 1909: 0 1910: 0 1911: 0 1912: 0 1913: 0 1914: 0 1915: 0 1916: 0 1917: 0 1918: 0 1919: 0 1920: 0 1921: 0 1922: 0 1923: 0 1924: 0 1925: 2 1926: 0 1927: 1 1928: 1 1929: 0 1930: 0 1931: 4 1932: 5 1933: 0 1934: 0 1935: 6 1936: 0 1937: 0 1938: 0 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: 4 1956: 4 1957: 2 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: 1 1979: 0 1980: 0 1981: 6 1982: 0 1983: 0 1984: 0 1985: 0 1986: 1 1987: 0 1988: 0 1989: 0 1990: 3 1991: 0 1992: 0 1993: 2 1994: 0 1995: 0 1996: 0 1997: 0 1998: 1 1999: 2 2000: 5 2001: 6 2002: 9 2003: 0 2004: 0 2005: 0 2006: 6 2007: 9 2008: 0 2009: 0 2010: 2 2011: 10 10 2012: 7 2013: 1 2014: 0 2015: 0 2016: 0 2017: 0 2018: 0 2019: 1 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

1 earthquake of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles since 1900; the largest was magnitude 4.1 in 1903.

0

Magnitude 2.5+ inside the county since 1973

3

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; 13.4 miles away.

Most recent, magnitude 3 or more

June 18, 2022

Magnitude 3.9

7 km E of Stillmore, Georgia; 29.5 miles away.

Earthquakes of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles, by year 1973: 0 1974: 0 1975: 0 1976: 1 1 1977: 0 1978: 0 1979: 0 1980: 0 1981: 0 1982: 0 1983: 0 1984: 0 1985: 0 1986: 0 1987: 0 1988: 0 1989: 0 1990: 0 1991: 0 1992: 0 1993: 0 1994: 0 1995: 0 1996: 0 1997: 0 1998: 0 1999: 0 2000: 0 2001: 0 2002: 0 2003: 1 2004: 0 2005: 0 2006: 0 2007: 0 2008: 0 2009: 0 2010: 0 2011: 0 2012: 0 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 0 2016: 0 2017: 0 2018: 0 2019: 0 2020: 0 2021: 0 2022: 1 2023: 0 2024: 0 2025: 0 19731978198319881993199820032008201320182023
Per year, 1973 to 2025.

Every earthquake of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles

Earthquakes of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles
Jan 23, 19034.113.4—Near Savannah, Georgia
  1. 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).
  2. 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

320 events in the National Weather Service record, 288 of them since 1996.

32

Hail reports, 1 inch or larger

3

Hail, 2 inches or larger

102

Damaging gusts, 58 mph+

7

Winter weather events since 1996

11

Heat events since 1996

4

Cold events since 1996

Largest hail

April 5, 2022

2.75 inches

Strongest measured or estimated gust

April 19, 2006

75 mph

More event types since 1996

Other Storm Events types since 1996
High surf and sneaker waves300Oct 29, 2007
Lightning101Sep 4, 2000

Costliest events since 1996

  1. Apr 9, 1998Tornado$2.2 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Tornado first touched down just northeast of Pembroke and then crossed I-16 at the Olive Branch Road overpass (about 2 miles west of exit 29) then continued northeast. Significant damage occurred in the Olive Branch Rd. area and also just north of Blitchton, where a 38 year-old female and a 41 year old male were killed along with 15 injured. There were seventy-four (74) homes and other buildiings damaged, with fourteen of those destroyed (6 mobile homes, two frame houses, two brick homes, and four other buildings. Numerous trees were uprooted or snapped off 10 to 15 feet above the ground.

  2. Sep 11, 2017Tropical Depression, Inland Bryan$450,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Bryan County Emergency Management reported multiple trees down across the county due to strong winds associated with Hurricane Irma.

  3. Sep 11, 2017Tropical Storm, Coastal Bryan$450,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Bryan County Emergency Management reported multiple trees down across the county due to strong winds associated with Hurricane Irma.

  4. Jun 26, 2009Thunderstorm Wind$50,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    The Bryan county Emergency Manager reported 50 to 80 trees down in Lincoln Hill Estates at the intersection of Kilkenny Road and Lincoln Trail, 4 miles southeast of Keller, Georgia. One tree branch punctured the roof of a home, several trees were blown down onto roads in the subdivision, and a few power lines were knocked down as well.

  5. Aug 11, 2007Thunderstorm Wind$10,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Many trees were reported down in Pembroke along with widespread Power Outages.

  6. Sep 2, 2007Flash Flood$10,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Law enforcement officials reported that numerous roads were closed due to high water in the Richmond Hill area of Bryan County. In addition, water was also reported to be entering several homes in subdivisions around the Richmond Hill area.

  7. Jul 20, 2009Thunderstorm Wind$10,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Broadcast media relayed a report of a gas station canopy that was damaged along Interstate 95 at exit 87 in Richmond Hill, Georgia.

  8. Sep 2, 2007Flash Flood$10,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    It was reported that water was starting to rise into housing units in the Belfast Siding area of Richmond Hill.

  9. Sep 2, 2007Flash Flood$6,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    The Bryan County Warning Point reported numerous road closures across the county...especially in and around Richmond Hill. Several cars have been stalled and stranded due to the flash flooding.

  10. Jul 29, 2006Thunderstorm Wind$5,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Trees and powerlines down off Highway 17 near Richmond Hill.

  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 Savannah International Airport, 14.9 miles from the county’s population 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
Average monthly high and low temperature and precipitation, last 30 years, Savannah International Airport 32°F 62° 39° 2.8 Jan 66° 43° 2.8 Feb 72° 49° 3.3 Mar 79° 55° 3.1 Apr 85° 63° 3.8 May 90° 70° 6.1 Jun 92° 74° 5.6 Jul 91° 73° 5.4 Aug 87° 69° 4.2 Sep 79° 58° 2.9 Oct 71° 48° 2.2 Nov 64° 43° 3.3 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: 6 1977: 31 1978: 19 1979: 15 1980: 31 1981: 42 1982: 5 1983: 27 1984: 14 1985: 19 1986: 65 65 1987: 34 1988: 28 1989: 24 1990: 36 1991: 20 1992: 19 1993: 48 1994: 8 1995: 26 1996: 12 1997: 4 1998: 33 1999: 22 2000: 24 2001: 4 2002: 19 2003: 4 2004: 7 2005: 18 2006: 26 2007: 23 2008: 20 2009: 12 2010: 40 2011: 51 2012: 20 2013: 4 2014: 21 2015: 25 2016: 45 2017: 24 2018: 14 2019: 49 2020: 32 2021: 4 2022: 17 2023: 26 2024: 23 2025: 16 19761986199620062016
Days reaching 95°F each complete year, last 50 years. Thirty-year average: 21.3.
Snowfall by winter 1976: 2.0 in 1977: 0.0 in 1978: 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: 1.4 in 1986: 0.0 in 1987: 0.0 in 1988: 1.0 in 1989: 3.6 in 3.6 1990: 0.0 in 1991: 0.0 in 1992: 0.2 in 1993: 0.0 in 1994: 0.0 in 1995: 0.2 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: 0.9 in 2010: 0.0 in 2011: 0.0 in 2012: 0.0 in 2013: 0.0 in 2014: 0.0 in 2015: 0.0 in 2016: 0.0 in 2017: 1.2 in 2018: 0.0 in 2019: 0.0 in 2020: 0.0 in 2021: 0.0 in 2022: 0.0 in 2023: 0.0 in 2024: 1.1 in 2025: 0.5 in 19761986199620062016
Total snowfall each winter (July to June), last 50 winters.

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, 14.9 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1948 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

21 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
Mar 29, 2020BiologicalCovid-19 PandemicMajor disasterDR-4501-GA
Mar 13, 2020BiologicalCovid-19EmergencyEM-3464-GA
Sep 1, 2019HurricaneHurricane DorianEmergencyEM-3422-GA
Oct 10, 2018HurricaneHurricane MichaelEmergencyEM-3406-GA
Sep 15, 2017HurricaneHurricane IrmaMajor disasterDR-4338-GA
Sep 8, 2017HurricaneHurricane IrmaEmergencyEM-3387-GA
Oct 8, 2016HurricaneHurricane MatthewMajor disasterDR-4284-GA
Oct 6, 2016HurricaneHurricane MatthewEmergencyEM-3379-GA
May 31, 2007FireHarveytown FireFire managementFM-2697-GA
Sep 5, 2005HurricaneHurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergencyEM-3218-GA
Sep 14, 1999HurricaneHurricane Floyd Emergency DeclarationsEmergencyEM-3144-GA
Mar 11, 1998Severe StormSevere Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1209-GA
Oct 19, 1994Severe StormHeavy Rains, Tornados, Flooding, High WindsMajor disasterDR-1042-GA
Mar 15, 1993SnowstormSevere Snowfall, Winter StormEmergencyEM-3097-GA
Jul 20, 1977DroughtDroughtEmergencyEM-3044-GA
Jun 2, 1977FreezingShrimp Loss Due to Cold WeatherMajor disasterDR-536-GA
Mar 14, 1966FloodFloodingMajor disasterDR-214-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 Bryan County stands among 159 counties in Georgia and 3,143 in the United States.

Ranks
Tornadoes since 19509120 / 1592,326 / 3,143
Tornadoes rated F3/EF3 or stronger225 / 159866 / 3,143
Tropical cyclones within 50 mi812 / 15917 / 3,143
Hurricane-strength passes within 50 mi184 / 159106 / 3,143
Wildfire acres since 198415,91012 / 159712 / 3,143
Flood insurance claims28514 / 159767 / 3,143
Flood insurance paid$5.8 million11 / 159661 / 3,143
Disaster declarations2116 / 1591,345 / 3,143
Flood events since 19961597 / 1592,715 / 3,143
Hail and wind events since 199617564 / 1592,163 / 3,143
Winter storm events since 19967106 / 1592,899 / 3,143
Reported damage since 1996$3.3 million113 / 1592,589 / 3,143
River crests at major flood stage147 / 159354 / 3,143
High tide flooding days a year, last 10 years0.0——
Months in severe drought since 1895115110 / 1591,895 / 3,143
Medium or heavy smoke days a year, last 10 years8.9107 / 1592,807 / 3,143
Earthquakes M4+ within 50 mi since 1900137 / 1591,397 / 3,143
Earthquakes M2.5+ in the county since 19730——

Neighbouring counties

Neighbouring counties
Bulloch County17562,991183
Chatham County32801,6385,467
Effingham County15671,87677
Evans County45407
Liberty County16823,687174

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.