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Tornado in Mitchell County, Georgia
28 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 28 tornado events in Mitchell County, Georgia, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 21 years.
March is the busiest month, with 8 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 6 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 5.5 per 100 square miles compares with 4.1 statewide.
NCEI attributes 17 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 4 at (E)F0, 14 at (E)F1, 7 at (E)F2, 3 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Georgia
| Measure | Mitchell County | Georgia | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 28 | 2,356 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 5.5 | 4.1 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 13.0 | 2.2 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 17 | 220 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | March | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
4Feb
3Mar
8Apr
6May
2Jun
2Jul
0Aug
0Sep
1Oct
1Nov
0Dec
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 28 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Mar 2025 | Tornado | EF1 | $300K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 2022 | Tornado | EF1 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 2020 | Tornado | EF1 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Apr 2020 | Tornado | EF2 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jan 2017 | Tornado | EF1 | $100K | $7.5M | — | — | County |
| 2 Mar 2007 | Tornado | EF2 | $2.3M | $500K | — | — | County |
| 28 Dec 2005 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Mar 2005 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 20 Mar 2003 | Tornado | F3 | $6.0M | — | 4 | 200 | County |
| 16 Feb 2003 | Tornado | F1 | $350K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Oct 2002 | Tornado | F0 | $90K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Feb 2000 | Tornado | F3 | $1.0M | — | 1 | 1 | County |
| 13 Feb 2000 | Tornado | F3 | $20M | $2.0M | 11 | 175 | County |
| 29 Sep 1998 | Tornado | F1 | $500K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 8 Jun 1989 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Mar 1984 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Mar 1976 | Tornado | F1 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jan 1975 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | — | 15 | County |
| 8 Apr 1974 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | 1 | 3 | County |
| 8 May 1972 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Mar 1972 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jan 1972 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 30 Apr 1971 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jun 1968 | Tornado | F0 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Apr 1963 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Mar 1963 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 1960 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jan 1952 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Mitchell County had?
28 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 Mitchell County?
16 Mar 2025 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Mitchell County?
The tornado of 13 Feb 2000, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $20M and crop damage at $2.0M; 11 deaths recorded.
How does Mitchell County compare with Georgia for tornado?
5.5 events per 100 square miles against 4.1 statewide; the county holds 28 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.