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Tornado in Thomas County, Georgia
20 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 20 tornado events in Thomas County, Georgia, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 16 years.
April is the busiest month, with 8 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 10 events against 4 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 0.8% of the 2,356 tornado events recorded in Georgia; its 3.7 per 100 square miles compares with 4.1 statewide.
By rating: 3 at (E)F0, 12 at (E)F1, 3 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 | Thomas County | Georgia | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 20 | 2,356 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 3.7 | 4.1 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 4.4 | 2.2 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 220 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | April | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
1Feb
4Mar
2Apr
8May
1Jun
0Jul
0Aug
0Sep
2Oct
0Nov
2Dec
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 20 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Apr 2025 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Feb 2024 | Tornado | EF1 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 2023 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 2023 | Tornado | EF1 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Apr 2022 | Tornado | EF1 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Apr 2022 | Tornado | EF1 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Sep 2020 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jan 2017 | Tornado | EF2 | $250K | — | — | 3 | County |
| 19 Feb 2009 | Tornado | EF3 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Feb 2009 | Tornado | EF2 | $10M | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Mar 2001 | Tornado | F0 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 Feb 2000 | Tornado | F3 | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Sep 1998 | Tornado | F1 | $450K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Nov 1995 | Tornado | F1 | $50K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 5 Apr 1982 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 1982 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Apr 1980 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Nov 1979 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Mar 1968 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 May 1955 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Thomas County had?
20 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 Thomas County?
7 Apr 2025 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Thomas County?
The tornado of 19 Feb 2009, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $10M.
How does Thomas County compare with Georgia for tornado?
3.7 events per 100 square miles against 4.1 statewide; the county holds 20 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.