Terrell County

Population 8,656 (2025) 336 sq mi

28 tropical storms and hurricanes have passed within 50 miles of Terrell County since 1851, 5 of them at hurricane strength; the strongest was an unnamed storm in 1894 (Category 1).

Hazard fingerprint for Terrell County Tornado: 42th percentile. Tropical: 77th percentile. Wildfire: 0th percentile. Flood: 22th percentile. Hail & wind: 35th percentile. Heat: 19th percentile. Cold: 16th percentile. Winter: 4th 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 195011
  • Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger66

At a glance

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

Tropical cyclones within 50 mi

28

67th of 159 in Georgia

5 at hurricane strength since 1851

Details

Tornadoes since 1950

11

98th of 159 in Georgia

About as many as the typical Georgia county

Details

Flood insurance claims

6

102nd of 159 in Georgia

$58,000 paid since 1998

Details

Strongest tornado

F2

December 5, 1954, 2.7 mile path

Strongest tropical cyclone

Cat. 1

Hurricane (unnamed), 1894, 39.3 miles away

Federal disaster declarations

11

Most recent: Hurricane Isaias, 2026

Details

Record high

106°F

August 7, 2007

Details

Record low

12°F

January 22, 2025

Details

Tornadoes

About one every 6.9 years since 1950, none rated F3/EF3 or stronger.

Strongest

December 5, 1954

F2, 2.7 mile path

200 yards wide.

Deadliest

January 20, 1963

1 killed, F1

4 injured along the whole path.

Most recent

Saturday, April 24, 2021

EF1, 0.9 mile path

5 years ago.

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

Every recorded tornado

Tornadoes in Terrell County since 1950
Apr 24, 2021EF10.910000
Mar 18, 2021EF14.020000
Feb 23, 2016EF15.120000
Apr 10, 2009EF10.610000
May 21, 1990F11.07300
May 3, 1984F14.08010
Dec 31, 1973F10.11000
Jan 11, 1972F10.35000
Apr 27, 1964F01.56700
Jan 20, 1963F170.250041
Dec 5, 1954F22.720000
  1. Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond the county. Deaths recorded within Terrell County: 0.
  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

28 passed within 50 miles since 1851; 5 at hurricane strength.

Strongest within 50 miles

October 9, 1894

Unnamed storm, Category 1

39.3 miles at closest approach, winds near 90 mph.

Most recent

September 27, 2024

Helene, Category 1

60.2 miles at closest approach.

Tropical cyclones within 50 miles by decade 50s: 2 60s: 1 70s: 1 80s: 4 4 90s: 3 00s: 3 10s: 4 20s: 1 30s: 0 40s: 1 50s: 2 60s: 2 70s: 0 80s: 1 90s: 1 00s: 0 10s: 2 20s: 0 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
Helene202460.2Category 184Category 4
Idalia202396.5Category 184Category 4
Mindy202181.0Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Elsa202188.2Tropical storm52Category 1
Nestor201929.7Post-tropical40Tropical storm
Michael20181.8Category 186Category 5
Irma20170.0Tropical storm40Category 5
Hermine201672.0Tropical storm67Category 1
Alberto200687.3Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Earl199828.3Tropical storm52Category 2
Allison199562.3Tropical storm46Category 1
Kate198539.1Category 178Category 3
Eloise197577.6Category 189Category 3
Alma196676.5Tropical storm60Category 3
Unnamed19657.9Tropical storm48Tropical storm
Hilda196455.9Post-tropical52Category 4
Dora196416.4Tropical storm52Category 4
Unnamed195781.2Tropical storm46Category 1
Flossy195621.9Tropical storm44Category 1
Florence195321.4Post-tropical46Category 3
King19500.0Tropical storm40Category 4
Unnamed194979.8Category 175Category 4
Unnamed194119.3Tropical storm69Category 3
Unnamed194068.8Tropical storm40Category 2
Unnamed193786.0Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed193585.1Tropical storm72Category 5
Unnamed193377.2Tropical storm58Category 4
Unnamed192937.6Post-tropical62Category 4
Unnamed192852.9Tropical storm40Category 1
Unnamed19261.4Tropical storm41Category 4
Unnamed192487.2Tropical storm63Category 1
Unnamed192487.0Tropical storm51Category 1
Unnamed19170.0Tropical storm48Category 4
Unnamed191539.7Tropical storm55Category 2
Unnamed191431.5Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed191222.2Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed191299.8Tropical storm41Tropical storm
Unnamed190746.0Tropical storm45Tropical storm
Unnamed190767.2Tropical storm53Tropical storm
Unnamed190664.4Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed190379.4Tropical storm40Category 1
Unnamed190284.6Post-tropical40Category 2
Unnamed190277.8Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed19015.7Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed19014.2Tropical storm44Category 1
Unnamed189975.5Tropical storm52Category 2
Unnamed189847.6Tropical storm60Category 4
Unnamed189852.4Tropical storm45Category 1
Unnamed189613.0Tropical storm60Category 2
Unnamed189439.3Category 190Category 3
Unnamed189372.1Tropical storm56Category 4
Unnamed188926.4Tropical storm54Category 2
Unnamed188753.5Tropical storm45Category 2
Unnamed188657.0Tropical storm71Category 2
Unnamed188636.8Tropical storm71Category 2
Unnamed188590.8Tropical storm49Category 1
Unnamed188571.9Tropical storm48Tropical storm
Unnamed188222.6Tropical storm66Category 3
Unnamed18813.4Tropical storm58Category 2
Unnamed187876.5Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed187737.4Tropical storm69Category 3
Unnamed187751.2Tropical storm52Category 1
Unnamed187382.9Tropical storm69Category 1
Unnamed187190.7Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed186884.4Tropical storm54Category 1
Unnamed18604.2Tropical storm46Category 3
Unnamed185975.6Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed185610.7Category 177Category 3
Unnamed185264.7Category 181Category 2
Unnamed185261.0Tropical storm46Category 3
Unnamed185111.7Category 181Category 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

No large wildfire has been mapped here since satellite mapping began in 1984.

Smoke overhead

Smokiest year

2023: 37 days

Heavy smoke on 3 days in 2025, the most of any year.

Last 10 years

9.2 days a year

Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.

2025

6 days

Medium or heavy smoke. 26 so far in 2026.

Days with medium or heavy smoke overhead, by year 2011: 11 2012: 1 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 1 2016: 1 2017: 1 2018: 3 2019: 3 2020: 2 2021: 10 2022: 22 2023: 37 37 2024: 7 2025: 6 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

6 federal flood insurance claims since 1998, with $58,000 paid.

Federal flood insurance claims by year
Claims per year since 1998. Years with fewer than five claims are not shown.

Flood events since 1996

  • Flash Flood8
  • Flood2

This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).

OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026. NOAA Storm Events through 2026.

Drought

In severe drought or worse for 110 of 1,581 months since 1895 (7%); the longest spell lasted 21 months.

110

Months in severe drought or worse since 1895

42

Months in extreme drought

7%

Share of all months, severe or worse

41

Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996

Lowest reading

March 1955

−5.54, extreme drought

Longest severe spell

21 months

May 2011 to January 2013.

Latest month

September 2026

−1.58, mild drought

Last severe month: April 2026.

Months in severe drought or worse, by year 1895: 0 1896: 0 1897: 0 1898: 6 1899: 0 1900: 0 1901: 0 1902: 0 1903: 0 1904: 0 1905: 0 1906: 0 1907: 0 1908: 0 1909: 1 1910: 2 1911: 6 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: 4 1926: 0 1927: 5 1928: 0 1929: 0 1930: 0 1931: 0 1932: 0 1933: 1 1934: 2 1935: 0 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: 3 1952: 0 1953: 0 1954: 6 1955: 9 1956: 1 1957: 0 1958: 0 1959: 0 1960: 0 1961: 0 1962: 0 1963: 0 1964: 0 1965: 0 1966: 0 1967: 0 1968: 2 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: 9 1982: 0 1983: 0 1984: 0 1985: 0 1986: 6 1987: 0 1988: 1 1989: 3 1990: 4 1991: 0 1992: 0 1993: 1 1994: 0 1995: 0 1996: 0 1997: 0 1998: 0 1999: 0 2000: 4 2001: 0 2002: 1 2003: 0 2004: 0 2005: 0 2006: 0 2007: 7 2008: 2 2009: 0 2010: 0 2011: 8 2012: 12 12 2013: 1 2014: 0 2015: 0 2016: 2 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

219 events in the National Weather Service record, 186 of them since 1996.

11

Hail reports, 1 inch or larger

1

Hail, 2 inches or larger

82

Damaging gusts, 58 mph+

6

Winter weather events since 1996

3

Heat events since 1996

3

Cold events since 1996

Largest hail

June 12, 2007

2.50 inches

Strongest measured or estimated gust

February 12, 2019

90 mph

Costliest events since 1996

  1. Mar 8, 1998Flood, Terrell$10.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    An intense Gulf storm produced 5 to 12 inches of rain across much of southwest Georgia on March 7-9 which caused widespread flooding. Baker, Ben Hill, Cook, Colquitt, Dougherty, Lee, Miller, Mitchell, Terrell, Decatur, Early, Brooks, Colquitt, Clay, Seminole, Calhoun, Thomas, and Worth counties were declared federal disaster areas. In Ben Hill County, floodwaters claimed the life of a Irwinville man whose vehicle overturned. In Baker County, several homes and businesses were flooded in Newton. 100 residents within the Newton city limits were evacuated. Numerous county and secondary roads were closed. Flooding along the Itchuaway-Nochaway Creek forced additional evacuations at…

  2. Oct 10, 2018Hurricane (Typhoon), Terrell$5.0 million
    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…

  3. Sep 10, 2017Tropical Storm, Terrell$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. Apr 10, 2009Tornado$300,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    An EF1 tornado touched down just west of County Line Road. It raced eastward across the road and lifted just before crossing State Road 520. Along its brief path, several mobile homes and barns were destroyed, a few frame homes were damaged, and many trees and power lines were down. A woman escaped injury when her mobile home was blown off its foundation.

  5. Jul 11, 2005Flash Flood$300,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Torrential rains of three to five inches in less than three hours flooded many county roads. Reported by the Terrell County EMA.

  6. Jul 9, 2005Hurricane (Typhoon), Terrell$250,000
    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.…

  7. Dec 24, 2002Thunderstorm Wind$100,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Straight-line winds inflicted minor roof damage to several homes. Numerous trees and power lines were toppled. Approximately 400 customers were without power, from the town of Sasser south to the county line. Reported by a SKYWARN spotter and GEMA.

  8. Sep 3, 1998Tropical Storm, Terrell$85,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Tropical Storm Earl produced widespread moderate to heavy rain and strong winds as it trekked northeast from Southwest to East-central Georgia. Rainfall totals associated with Earl ranged from three to six inches. Peak wind gusts of 40 to 50 mph were common. Ben Hill County officials reported several county roads closed due to high water, flooding of low-lying areas, and sporadic power outages. Berrien, Irwin, and Worth counties sustained minor flooding, downed trees and power lines. In Clay County, GA 37 and 39 were closed to high water and scattered debris. Several downed trees and power lines reported in Fort Gaines. Across Brooks, Grady, Miller, Tift, and Seminole counties,…

  9. Jun 5, 1998Thunderstorm Wind$80,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Numerous reports of trees and power lines. An estimated 10 to 15 acres of corn were damaged, and four greenhouses and a mobile home were destroyed in Terrell County.

  10. Dec 11, 2008Strong Wind, Terrell$60,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Several trees and power lines were down throughout the county. In Dawson, a large oak tree fell on two tractor-trailer rigs. One of the rigs was totaled and the other damaged.

  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 Albany Sw Georgia Regional Airport, 21.3 miles from the county’s population centre, with records from 1948.

All-time high
106°FAug 7, 2007
All-time low
12°FJan 22, 2025
Warmest night
80°F2 times, most recently Aug 9, 2007
Coldest day
30°F2 times, most recently Jan 7, 2014
Wettest day
5.29 inMar 28, 2009
Snowiest day
0.9 inJan 18, 2026
Hottest year
2019mean 70.1°F
Coldest year
2014mean 65.8°F
Wettest year
194866.72 in
Driest year
201126.79 in
Average monthly high and low temperature and precipitation, last 30 years, Albany Sw Georgia Regional Airport 32°F 62° 38° 3.5 Jan 67° 42° 3.8 Feb 74° 48° 3.9 Mar 80° 55° 3.9 Apr 87° 63° 2.8 May 92° 71° 5.0 Jun 93° 73° 5.1 Jul 93° 73° 5.3 Aug 89° 68° 3.2 Sep 81° 57° 1.8 Oct 72° 47° 2.3 Nov 65° 42° 4.4 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 2001: 15 2002: 25 2003: 1 2004: 16 2005: 23 2006: 56 2007: 46 2008: 32 2009: 30 2010: 71 2011: 96 96 2012: 32 2013: 5 2014: 27 2015: 32 2016: 61 2017: 19 2018: 37 2019: 68 2020: 41 2021: 47 2022: 38 2023: 26 2024: 57 2025: 39 200120112021
Days reaching 95°F each complete year, last 50 years. Thirty-year average: 37.6.

Station Albany Sw Georgia Regional Airport (USW00013869), 191 ft elevation, 21.3 miles from the population centre. Daily records from 1948 to October 26, 2026; 85.5% 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

11 since 1953. The most recent: Hurricane Isaias, October 9, 2026.

Federal disaster declarations
Oct 9, 2026Tropical StormHurricane IsaiasEmergencyEM-3657-GA
Sep 26, 2024Tropical StormHurricane HeleneEmergencyEM-3616-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
Sep 5, 2005HurricaneHurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergencyEM-3218-GA
Mar 11, 1998Severe StormSevere Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-1209-GA
Jul 7, 1994TornadoTornadoes, Flooding Torrential Rain(Trop Storm Alberto)Major disasterDR-1033-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 Terrell County stands among 159 counties in Georgia and 3,143 in the United States.

Ranks
Tornadoes since 19501198 / 1592,153 / 3,143
Tornadoes rated F3/EF3 or stronger0——
Tropical cyclones within 50 mi2867 / 159375 / 3,143
Hurricane-strength passes within 50 mi550 / 159329 / 3,143
Wildfire acres since 19840——
Flood insurance claims6102 / 1592,494 / 3,143
Flood insurance paid$58,000108 / 1592,472 / 3,143
Disaster declarations11159 / 1592,727 / 3,143
Flood events since 199610124 / 1592,902 / 3,143
Hail and wind events since 1996110119 / 1592,700 / 3,143
Winter storm events since 19966115 / 1592,927 / 3,143
Reported damage since 1996$17.7 million57 / 1591,580 / 3,143
River crests at major flood stage0——
High tide flooding days a year, last 10 years0.0——
Months in severe drought since 1895110120 / 1592,060 / 3,143
Medium or heavy smoke days a year, last 10 years9.296 / 1592,760 / 3,143
Earthquakes M4+ within 50 mi since 19000——
Earthquakes M2.5+ in the county since 19730——

Neighbouring counties

Neighbouring counties
Calhoun County143105
Dougherty County193401,255
Lee County16310700
Randolph County162601
Sumter County2732016
Webster County72200

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 USW00013869.
  • 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.