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Tornado in Cherokee County, Georgia
29 tornadoes events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Tornado.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.
NCEI records 29 tornado events in Cherokee County, Georgia, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 24 years.
April is the busiest month, with 10 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 12 events against 9 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.2% of the 2,356 tornado events recorded in Georgia; its 6.9 per 100 square miles compares with 4.1 statewide.
NCEI attributes 1 death in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 8 at (E)F0, 12 at (E)F1, 7 at (E)F2, 1 at (E)F3, 1 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Georgia
| Measure | Cherokee County | Georgia | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 29 | 2,356 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 6.9 | 4.1 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 1.1 | 2.2 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 1 | 220 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | April | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
2Feb
0Mar
1Apr
10May
4Jun
3Jul
2Aug
1Sep
2Oct
1Nov
2Dec
1
Magnitude distribution
Enhanced Fujita scale wind estimates
- EF0/F0
- 65–85 mph (EF0)
- EF1/F1
- 86–110 mph (EF1)
- EF2/F2
- 111–135 mph (EF2)
- EF3/F3
- 136–165 mph (EF3)
- EF4/F4
- 166–200 mph (EF4)
- EF5/F5
- over 200 mph (EF5)
- Unrated
- no rating recorded
Tornado rating as recorded (Fujita scale before February 2007, Enhanced Fujita after).
Recorded events
All 29 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 May 2025 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Apr 2023 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Dec 2021 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2020 | Tornado | EF1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jan 2014 | Tornado | EF0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2013 | Tornado | EF0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jun 2013 | Tornado | EF1 | $60K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 5 Sep 2011 | Tornado | EF1 | $17M | — | — | 1 | County |
| 27 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF2 | $350K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Oct 2010 | Tornado | EF0 | $425K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2009 | Tornado | EF1 | $5.0M | — | — | 2 | County |
| 20 May 2008 | Tornado | EF1 | $46M | — | 1 | 5 | County |
| 16 Sep 2004 | Tornado | F1 | $300K | — | — | 4 | County |
| 14 Jul 2004 | Tornado | F0 | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Jul 2004 | Tornado | F0 | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 2003 | Tornado | F1 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Nov 2002 | Tornado | F2 | $1.8M | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 2000 | Tornado | F1 | $1.1M | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 1994 | Tornado | F0 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Nov 1992 | Tornado | F4 | $2.5M | — | — | 12 | County |
| 4 Apr 1989 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 1985 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 1984 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jan 1982 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 1974 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Aug 1973 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 1965 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Apr 1962 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Mar 1962 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Cherokee County had?
29 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of tornadoes became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded tornado event in Cherokee County?
20 May 2025 (Tornado, EF0). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Cherokee County?
The tornado of 20 May 2008, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $46M; 1 death recorded.
How does Cherokee County compare with Georgia for tornado?
6.9 events per 100 square miles against 4.1 statewide; the county holds 29 of the state's 2,356 recorded events.
Provenance
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Tornado hub and the county page.