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Tornado in Sumter County, Georgia
27 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 27 tornado events in Sumter County, Georgia, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 18 years.
April is the busiest month, with 10 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 11 events against 5 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.1% of the 2,356 tornado events recorded in Georgia; its 5.6 per 100 square miles compares with 4.1 statewide.
NCEI attributes 3 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 4 at (E)F0, 16 at (E)F1, 5 at (E)F2, 2 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with Georgia
| Measure | Sumter County | Georgia | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 27 | 2,356 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 5.6 | 4.1 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 9.2 | 2.2 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 3 | 220 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | April | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
2Feb
1Mar
3Apr
10May
1Jun
2Jul
1Aug
1Sep
3Oct
1Nov
0Dec
2
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 27 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Apr 2022 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 2021 | Tornado | EF1 | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 May 2017 | Tornado | EF0 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 2017 | Tornado | EF0 | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2015 | Tornado | EF1 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Mar 2011 | Tornado | EF0 | $30K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Oct 2009 | Tornado | EF1 | $125K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Apr 2009 | Tornado | EF1 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Apr 2009 | Tornado | EF1 | $1.0M | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Apr 2009 | Tornado | EF1 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Mar 2007 | Tornado | EF3 | $110M | — | 2 | 8 | County |
| 16 Dec 2000 | Tornado | F2 | $310K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Sep 1998 | Tornado | F1 | $200K | — | — | 10 | County |
| 29 Sep 1998 | Tornado | F0 | — | $20K | — | — | County |
| 29 Sep 1998 | Tornado | F1 | $200K | — | — | 12 | County |
| 10 Feb 1990 | Tornado | F1 | $2.5M | — | — | 1 | County |
| 1 Apr 1981 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jun 1972 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Apr 1972 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jan 1972 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Apr 1971 | Tornado | F3 | $250K | — | — | 8 | County |
| 15 Jan 1971 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | 1 | 1 | County |
| 16 Dec 1970 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 6 Jul 1965 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 1961 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Jun 1960 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Mar 1956 | Tornado | F1 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Sumter County had?
27 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 Sumter County?
6 Apr 2022 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Sumter County?
The tornado of 1 Mar 2007, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $110M; 2 deaths recorded.
How does Sumter County compare with Georgia for tornado?
5.6 events per 100 square miles against 4.1 statewide; the county holds 27 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.