Douglas County
Population 154,293 (2025) 200 sq mi
Property owners in Douglas County have filed 215 federal flood insurance claims since 1978, 16th most of 159 counties in Georgia.
Hazard fingerprint Each spoke is this county’s percentile among U.S. counties where that hazard occurs. How it is computed
- Tornado damage paths since 195011
- Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger16
- Major flood years since 19781
At a glance
The record for Douglas County in eight numbers. Each links to its section below.
Tropical cyclones within 50 mi
6
126th of 159 in Georgia
None at hurricane strength since 1851
DetailsStrongest tornado
F2
March 29, 1991, 3.0 mile path
Strongest tropical cyclone
TS
Tropical storm Zeta, 2020, 41.6 miles away
Tornadoes
About one every 6.9 years since 1950, none rated F3/EF3 or stronger.
Strongest
March 29, 1991
F2, 3.0 mile path
200 yards wide.
Most recent
Sunday, December 29, 2024
EF1, 0.2 mile path
2 years ago.
Every recorded tornado
| Dec 29, 2024 | EF1 | 0.2 | 1 | 0 |
| May 3, 2021 | EF1 | 1.4 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 7, 2008 | EF1 | 7.0 | 1 | 0 |
| Mar 29, 1991 | F2 | 3.0 | 2 | 0 |
| Feb 10, 1990 | F1 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Aug 17, 1989 | F1 | 0.7 | 0 | 0 |
| Apr 5, 1985 | F1 | 2.0 | 16 | 0 |
| Feb 23, 1975 | F1 | 2.0 | 2 | 0 |
| Sep 18, 1965 | F0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mar 17, 1963 | F1 | 26.8 | 0 | 0 |
| Dec 5, 1954 | F1 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 |
- Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Douglas 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
6 passed within 50 miles since 1851; none at hurricane strength.
Strongest within 50 miles
October 29, 2020
Zeta, Tropical storm
41.6 miles at closest approach, winds near 60 mph.
Most recent
September 27, 2024
Helene, Tropical storm
81.7 miles at closest approach.
Every storm within 100 miles
| Helene | 2024 | 81.7 | Tropical storm |
| Zeta | 2020 | 41.6 | Tropical storm |
| Opal | 1995 | 65.8 | Tropical storm |
| Eloise | 1975 | 20.8 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1965 | 90.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1932 | 62.6 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1915 | 3.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1912 | 14.2 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1907 | 0.0 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1906 | 57.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1902 | 0.0 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1901 | 63.8 | Post-tropical |
| Unnamed | 1898 | 16.1 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1898 | 55.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1896 | 68.3 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1893 | 35.5 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1889 | 73.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1882 | 54.7 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1881 | 95.0 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1859 | 28.4 | Tropical storm |
| Unnamed | 1852 | 52.7 | 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: 45 days
Heavy smoke on 4 days in 2025, the most of any year.
Last 10 years
10.3 days a year
Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.
2025
8 days
Medium or heavy smoke. 32 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
215 federal flood insurance claims since 1978, with $7.2 million paid.
Most claims in one year
2009: 91 claims
$5.5 million paid.
2nd most
1990: 20 claims
$321,000 paid.
3rd most
1982: 17 claims
$240,000 paid.
Claims by ZIP code
| 30168 | 92 | $2.5 million |
| 30122 | 55 | $3.6 million |
| 30135 | 38 | $502,000 |
| 30134 | 11 | $247,000 |
| 30001 | 10 | $156,000 |
| 30187 | 5 | $32,000 |
Flood events since 1996
- Flash Flood22
- Flood6
- Heavy Rain4
7 deaths recorded in flood events since 1996.
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
September 21, 2009
Dog River at GA 5 near Fairplay, 33.83 ft
20.83 feet above the 13.0 ft flood stage; major flooding by today’s categories.
Most recent moderate or major crest
September 28, 2024
Sweetwater Creek below Austell, 25.43 ft
Moderate flooding.
River gauges
| Chattahoochee River near Fairburn | 20.0 | 31.60 ft | 2 |
| Dog River at GA 5 near Fairplay | 13.0 | 33.83 ft | 1 |
| Sweetwater Creek below Austell | 21.0 | 25.43 ft | 0 |
| Sweetwater Creek near Austell | 10.0 | 30.82 ft | 11 |
- 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 153 of 1,581 months since 1895 (10%); the longest spell lasted 23 months.
153
Months in severe drought or worse since 1895
51
Months in extreme drought
10%
Share of all months, severe or worse
39
Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996
Lowest reading
November 2007
−5.71, extreme drought
Longest severe spell
23 months
April 2007 to February 2009.
Latest month
September 2026
−2.60, 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
3 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more within 50 miles since 1993; none reached magnitude 4.
0
Magnitude 2.5+ inside the county since 1973
0
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
November 23, 2018
Magnitude 2.7
3 km N of Plainville, Georgia; 45.9 miles away, 5.9 miles deep.
- 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
581 events in the National Weather Service record, 525 of them since 1996.
43
Hail reports, 1 inch or larger
2
Hail, 2 inches or larger
173
Damaging gusts, 58 mph+
33
Winter weather events since 1996
11
Heat events since 1996
14
Cold events since 1996
Largest hail
March 15, 2008
2.75 inches
Strongest measured or estimated gust
May 2, 2003
75 mph
More event types since 1996
| Lightning | 22 | 0 |
| Dense fog and smoke | 2 | 0 |
Costliest events since 1996
- Sep 21, 2009Flood$10.4 million
National Weather Service narrative
Douglas county emergency management personnel and USGS stream gages confirmed that record to catastrophic flooding continued across much of the county. Some of the worst flooding during this event occurred in the Douglas and Cobb county areas. Hundreds of homes, apartments, businesses, and roads sustained damages from flooding. A number of culverts and/or bridges were washed out and many roads were closed. Some will remain closed for months up to a year. Flood waters began to recede after 830 am EDT on the 22nd, but many locations remained in major to record flood until 715 am EDT on the 23rd. Monetary damage from flooding continued to mount, with damage near $10.5 million, just…
- Sep 21, 2009Flood$8.7 million
National Weather Service narrative
Earlier flash flooding evolved into record and catastrophic flooding as confirmed by emergency management personnel and USGS stream gages. More than 40 roads across the county were completely washed out, including Post Road just south of Interstate-20. A portion of Interstate-20 near Fairburn Road was closed for nearly 12-hours causing major traffic backups throughout the region. The main line of the Norfolk-Southern railroad near Villa Rica was also washed out. A seventh person in Douglas county fell victim to the raging flood waters. A 29-year old female perished when she was swept away in her vehicle by flood waters from the Dog River at 451 am EDT. Over 1200 residents in the…
- Mar 15, 2008Hail$5.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
An amateur radio operator relayed a report of baseball-sized hail at Lee Road and Fairburn Road, just south of Interstate 20. The public and reported golf ball to tennis ball-sized hail across northern Douglas county, roughly along and just north of Interstate-20. Golf ball-sized hail was also reported by the public in Winston and west of Winston near Villa Rica. An amateur radio operator reported golf ball-sized just north of Douglasville, and the public observed tennis ball-sized hail east of Douglasville, between Douglasville and Sweetwater State Park. Another amateur radio operator observed nickel to tennis ball-sized hail approximately two miles southwest of the intersection…
- Jun 15, 2011Hail$3.2 million
National Weather Service narrative
Several reports of large damaging hail were received from across the northern half of Douglas county. The public observed baseball-sized hail in Douglasville. An amateur radio operator relayed a report of golf ball-sized hail in the northwest part of the county, near Winston. The public observed half-dollar-sized hail in the eastern part of the county near Lithia Springs.
- Mar 18, 2013Hail$2.3 million
National Weather Service narrative
The Douglas County Emergency Manager reported that golfball sized hail occurred in the Lithia Springs area, damaging vehicles and homes.
- Mar 18, 2013Hail$2.3 million
National Weather Service narrative
Ham radio operators relayed reports of golfball sized hail in Douglasville.
- Mar 7, 2008Tornado$2.0 million
National Weather Service narrative
A storm damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Peachtree City, Georgia concluded that a tornado, with a maximum intensity of EF1, tracked nearly seven miles across eastern Douglas county. Maximum path width was determined to be 100 yards and maximum wind speeds were estimated at 110 mph, near the upper end of the EF1 scale. The tornado, which began as an EF0 tornado, touched down in the 4300 block of Hampton Mill Drive in Chapel Hill, or about 4 miles south-southeast of Douglasville. Damage at this location was confined to minor roof damage and several snapped trees. The tornado continued across Stratford Drive as an EF0 where several more trees…
- May 11, 2008Thunderstorm Wind$1.5 million
National Weather Service narrative
A damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Peachtree City confirmed that the path of widespread straight-line wind damage that began in Carroll county continued into Douglas county. The wind damage path continued generally along and south of Georgia Highway 166 in the southern part of the county, from west of Fairplay to the Fulton county line south of Chapel Hill. The most extensive damage was observed in the Fairplay area. Numerous trees and power lines were blown down in Fairplay. A total of 121 homes sustained damage in the Fairplay, Chapel Hill, and southern Douglasville areas, including homes on Hannah Road, Tyree Road, South Post Road,…
- Apr 23, 2009Hail$1.3 million
National Weather Service narrative
The public observed quarter-sized hail in northern Douglas county, north of Douglasville near the Douglas/Paulding county line, penny-sized hail in Douglasville, and golf ball-sized hail in the southeast part of the county near and southeast of Chapel Hill. The public reported that hail completely covered the ground in some areas. Significant damage to vehicles was reported from this area.
- Jul 22, 2008Lightning$1.3 million
National Weather Service narrative
The Douglas County Emergency Management Director reported that five homes in the Douglasville area were struck by lightning and set on fire. Three of the homes were completely destroyed and the other two suffered major damage. Most of the homes were located in the Chapel Hill area just off Georgia Highway 92, south of Douglasville.
- 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 Atlanta Hartsfield-jackson Int, 18.1 miles from the county’s population centre, with records from 1930.
- All-time high
- 106°FJun 30, 2012
- All-time low
- −8°FJan 21, 1985
- Warmest night
- 82°FAug 8, 2007
- Coldest day
- 15°F2 times, most recently Jan 30, 1966
- Wettest day
- 6.68 inOct 4, 1995
- Snowiest day
- 8.3 inJan 23, 1940
- Hottest year
- 2019mean 66.2°F
- Coldest year
- 1976mean 59.1°F
- Wettest year
- 194871.45 in
- Driest year
- 195431.80 in
- Snowiest season
- 10.9 in1935-36
Median first snow
January 17
Earliest: November 11, 1968
Median last snow
February 1
Latest: March 24, 1983
25 of 86 winters had no measurable snow.
Station Atlanta Hartsfield-jackson Int (USW00013874), 1,011 ft elevation, 18.1 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1930 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 Isaias, October 9, 2026.
| Oct 9, 2026 | Tropical Storm | EM-3657-GA |
| Jan 24, 2026 | Winter Storm | EM-3642-GA |
| Sep 26, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3616-GA |
| Jan 12, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4579-GA |
| Mar 29, 2020 | Biological | DR-4501-GA |
| Mar 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3464-GA |
| Sep 15, 2017 | Hurricane | DR-4338-GA |
| Sep 8, 2017 | Hurricane | EM-3387-GA |
| Feb 26, 2016 | Severe Storm | DR-4259-GA |
| Feb 11, 2014 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3368-GA |
| Sep 24, 2009 | Severe Storm | DR-1858-GA |
| May 23, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1761-GA |
| Sep 5, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3218-GA |
| Jan 28, 2000 | Severe Storm | DR-1311-GA |
| Mar 11, 1998 | Severe Storm | DR-1209-GA |
| Oct 10, 1995 | Hurricane | DR-1071-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 Douglas County stands among 159 counties in Georgia and 3,143 in the United States.
| Tornadoes since 1950 | 11 | 98 / 159 |
| Tornadoes rated F3/EF3 or stronger | 0 | — |
| Tropical cyclones within 50 mi | 6 | 126 / 159 |
| Hurricane-strength passes within 50 mi | 0 | — |
| Wildfire acres since 1984 | 0 | — |
| Flood insurance claims | 215 | 16 / 159 |
| Flood insurance paid | $7.2 million | 9 / 159 |
| Disaster declarations | 19 | 52 / 159 |
| Flood events since 1996 | 32 | 37 / 159 |
| Hail and wind events since 1996 | 369 | 12 / 159 |
| Winter storm events since 1996 | 33 | 39 / 159 |
| Reported damage since 1996 | $51.3 million | 26 / 159 |
| River crests at major flood stage | 14 | 7 / 159 |
| High tide flooding days a year, last 10 years | 0.0 | — |
| Months in severe drought since 1895 | 153 | 22 / 159 |
| Medium or heavy smoke days a year, last 10 years | 10.3 | 36 / 159 |
| Earthquakes M4+ within 50 mi since 1900 | 0 | — |
| Earthquakes M2.5+ in the county since 1973 | 0 | — |
Neighbouring counties
| Carroll County | 27 | 12 |
| Cobb County | 34 | 5 |
| Fulton County | 40 | 8 |
| Paulding County | 10 | 6 |
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 USW00013874.
- 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.