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Macon, GA Tornado History — 94 Tornadoes Since 1950

Georgia · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

How many tornadoes has Macon, GA had?

Macon has had 94 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 9 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Macon?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Macon was an EF1 on April 6, 2025.

When is tornado season in Macon?

April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Macon, with 34 on record. Spring through early summer (April–June) generally sees the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
94
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
9
9.6% of total
Peak Month
April
34 on record
Per Year Avg
1.2
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Macon

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 51 total, averaging 2.5 per year over this window.

2026 0+8 prelim
2025 3
2024 1
2023 1
2022 5
2021 4
2020 2
2019 3
2018 2
2017 10
2016 2
2015 0
2014 2
2013 0
2012 0
2011 2
2010 1
2009 3
2008 5
2007 5

Striped bars mark preliminary reports not yet confirmed by NWS survey — excluded from the confirmed counts.

Preliminary tornado reports near Macon since December 29, 2025

These are 8 preliminary reports, not confirmed tornadoes. They have not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and are not counted in the confirmed totals above.

Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete. Ratings are omitted until a survey assigns one.

Confirmed records above are complete through December 29, 2025. NOAA publishes the confirmed archive annually, so tornadoes after that date appear here first and move into the totals above once finalized.

Preliminary EF1° June 19, 2026
3 WSW Blountsville, Jones County, GA
Preliminary EF0° June 19, 2026
3 S Dames Ferry, Monroe County, GA
Preliminary EF1° June 18, 2026
1 SSE Musella, Crawford County, GA
Preliminary EF0° March 16, 2026
2 ENE Payne City, Bibb County, GA
Preliminary EF1° March 12, 2026
2 NE District Path, Twiggs County, GA
Preliminary March 12, 2026
2 S Lakewood, Peach County, GA
Preliminary EF1° March 12, 2026
3 SW Wesleyan, Bibb County, GA
Preliminary EF1° March 12, 2026
2 SSE Forsyth, Monroe County, GA

Within 25 miles of Macon. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 16
1960s 11
1970s 8
1980s 2
1990s 3
2000s 16
2010s 22
2020s 16

Tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita Rating

F0–F5 ratings (pre-2007) are grouped with their EF equivalents. The Enhanced Fujita scale replaced the original Fujita scale in February 2007.

EF0 29
EF1 41
EF2 15
EF3 8
EF4 1

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 11
Feb 6
Mar 18
Apr 34
May 5
Jun 1
Jul 3
Aug 7
Sep 0
Oct 0
Nov 7
Dec 2

Casualties on Record Near Macon

32 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Macon since 1950, across 8 events. 504 injuries have been reported across all events. 1953 was the deadliest year on record.

The deadliest single event was a F4 on April 30, 1953, which caused 18 fatalities along a 1.0-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Macon

Deadliest Tornado
F4 on April 30, 1953 — 18 fatalities, 1.0 mi path, 333 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
F3 on February 18, 1975 — est. ~$27.5M (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
EF3 on April 5, 2022 — 820 yards wide.
Longest Path
F2 on April 5, 1957 — 75.0 mile track.
Most Recent
EF1 on April 6, 2025.

About Tornadoes in Macon

This overview was written August 10, 2026. The tornado counts and notable-event figures elsewhere on this page reflect the latest data and may differ from this summary.

Humidity streaming up from the Gulf of Mexico, shear from a vigorous jet stream, and cold fronts dropping off the continental interior converge over middle Georgia to prime Macon for tornadoes. The city sits where the Piedmont eases into the Coastal Plain, and when a sharp front or upper-level disturbance sweeps in from the west, thunderstorm updrafts can begin to rotate. The NOAA Storm Prediction Center's record for the Macon area reflects this recipe repeatedly, reaching back to the 1950s.

A grim chapter came on April 30, 1953, when an F4 tornado tore into the city, killing 18 people and injuring 300. On March 14, 1954, a long-track F3 carved a 49.5-mile path across the region and killed 5. The modern era has produced its own dangerous storms: an EF3 struck on March 1, 2007; another EF3 moved through on April 13, 2020; and an EF3 820 yards wide hit on April 5, 2022.

Tornado activity around Macon follows a pronounced seasonal rhythm, clustering in late winter and early spring, when the contrast between departing continental chill and returning Gulf warmth peaks, though cool-season surprises, like the F3 that arrived the day after Christmas in 1964, show the window can reopen. As summer's uniform warmth settles in, the ingredients decouple. The event list, ratings, and track maps elsewhere on this page carry the live record for Macon.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Macon, GA had?
Since 1950, 94 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Macon. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Macon?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Macon was a F4 on April 30, 1953, which caused 18 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Macon?
April is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Macon, with 34 tornadoes on record. Tornadoes can occur any time of year, but spring months (April–June) generally see the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
Has Macon been hit by an EF4 or EF5 tornado?
Within 25 miles of Macon, there has been 0 EF5 and 1 EF4 tornado recorded since 1950. EF4 and EF5 tornadoes are the most destructive ratings on the Enhanced Fujita scale, with winds above 166 mph.
When was the most recent tornado near Macon?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Macon was an EF1 on April 6, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Macon?
Vortex delivers real-time tornado warnings, severe thunderstorm alerts, and SPC outlook updates for any US location via push notification and phone call. Alerts are sourced directly from the National Weather Service and updated within seconds of issuance.

Official Resources

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