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Tornado in Effingham County, Georgia
15 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.
Effingham County, Georgia, has 15 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 14 different years.
May is the busiest month, with 3 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 6 events against 3 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.6% of the 2,356 tornado events recorded in Georgia; its 3.1 per 100 square miles compares with 4.1 statewide.
NCEI attributes 1 death in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 1 at (E)F0, 9 at (E)F1, 5 at (E)F2, 0 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Georgia
| Measure | Effingham County | Georgia | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 15 | 2,356 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 3.1 | 4.1 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 1 | 220 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | May | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
2Mar
2Apr
2May
3Jun
2Jul
1Aug
0Sep
1Oct
1Nov
1Dec
0
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 15 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Jun 2023 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2021 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 17 Sep 2020 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Feb 2017 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Mar 2008 | Tornado | EF2 | $3.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Mar 2008 | Tornado | EF2 | $1.5M | — | — | 6 | County |
| 13 Jun 2006 | Tornado | F0 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Apr 1998 | Tornado | F2 | $500K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 7 Nov 1995 | Tornado | F1 | $50K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 3 May 1984 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Apr 1980 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Feb 1976 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 May 1975 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 12 May 1974 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | 1 | 3 | County |
| 27 Oct 1972 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Effingham County had?
15 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 Effingham County?
14 Jun 2023 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Effingham County?
The tornado of 15 Mar 2008, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $3.0M.
How does Effingham County compare with Georgia for tornado?
3.1 events per 100 square miles against 4.1 statewide; the county holds 15 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.