Top Tornado Counties in Georgia
Introduction
Georgia experiences tornado activity across multiple regions of the state. While tornadoes occur statewide, certain counties have recorded higher totals of confirmed events based on NOAA Storm Events data.
This page ranks Georgia counties by total confirmed tornadoes (since 1996) and includes decade-level trends and EF scale distribution.
For detailed ZIP code searches or full county breakdowns, visit the Georgia Tornado History page.
How These Rankings Were Compiled
Ranked Counties by Confirmed Tornadoes
Fulton County – 22 Confirmed Tornadoes (Since 1996)
Cobb County – 15 Confirmed Tornadoes (Since 1992)
Muscogee County – 10 Confirmed Tornadoes (Since 1992)
Houston County – 981 Confirmed Tornadoes (Since 2009)
Chatham County – 14 Confirmed Tornadoes (Since 1998)
Bibb County – 13 Confirmed Tornadoes (Since 2002)
Richmond County – 5 Confirmed Tornadoes (Since 1993)
Whitfield County – 3 Confirmed Tornadoes (Since 1992)
DeKalb County – 7 Confirmed Tornadoes (Since 1998)
Gwinnett County – 5 Confirmed Tornadoes (Since 1994)
Cherokee County – 20 Confirmed Tornadoes (Since 1992)
Clayton County – 981 Confirmed Tornadoes (Since 1996)
Hall County – 18 Confirmed Tornadoes (Since 1993)
Troup County – 13 Confirmed Tornadoes (Since 1993)
Lowndes County – 34 Confirmed Tornadoes (Since 1992)
Geographic Tornado Patterns in Georgia
Tornado activity in Georgia is influenced by Gulf moisture, seasonal wind shear, and storm systems moving eastward across the Southeast.
Northern Georgia and metro Atlanta counties frequently record activity during spring outbreak seasons, while southern Georgia may experience tornadoes tied to tropical systems and late-season storm events.
EF Scale Context for Georgia
Tornadoes are rated using the Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale.
Across Georgia, most confirmed tornadoes historically fall within the EF0–EF1 range. Stronger tornadoes (EF4–EF5) are less common but have occurred during major outbreak events.
Important Context About Rankings
Higher totals do not necessarily indicate greater risk. Larger counties or more populated areas may record more tornado reports due to geographic size and observation density.
These rankings reflect confirmed tornado events recorded since 1996.
