Union County Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot Georgia Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in Union County is about the same as Georgia average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Union County is lower than Georgia average and is lower than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #18
| Union County | 0.15 |
| Georgia | 0.08 |
| U.S. | 1.81 |
The earthquake index value is calculated based on historical earthquake events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the earthquake level in a region. A higher earthquake index value means a higher chance of an earthquake.
Volcano Index, #1
| Union County | 0.0000 |
| Georgia | 0.0000 |
| U.S. | 0.0023 |
The volcano index value is calculated based on the currently known volcanoes using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the possibility of a region being affected by a possible volcano eruption. A higher volcano index value means a higher chance of being affected.
Tornado Index, #90
| Union County | 118.21 |
| Georgia | 179.92 |
| U.S. | 136.45 |
The tornado index value is calculated based on historical tornado events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the tornado level in a region. A higher tornado index value means a higher chance of tornado events.
Other Weather Extremes Events
A total of 16,861 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Union County were recorded from 1950 to 2010. The following is a break down of these events:
| Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count |
| Avalanche: | 0 | Blizzard: | 0 | Cold: | 34 | Dense Fog: | 8 | Drought: | 131 |
| Dust Storm: | 0 | Flood: | 1,085 | Hail: | 5,152 | Heat: | 29 | Heavy Snow: | 111 |
| High Surf: | 0 | Hurricane: | 10 | Ice Storm: | 49 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 111 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 8,717 | Tropical Storm: | 18 | Wildfire: | 3 | Winter Storm: | 95 | Winter Weather: | 89 |
| Other: | 1,219 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Union County.
Historical Earthquake Events
A total of 2 historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near Union County.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Depth (km) | Latitude | Longitude |
| 35.7 | 1979-08-13 | 3.7 | 5 | 35.24 | -84.38 |
| 47.2 | 1977-07-27 | 3.5 | 7 | 35.42 | -84.42 |
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 49 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Union County.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 16.0 | 1992-11-22 | 3 | 34°34'N / 83°56'W | 34°41'N / 83°48'W | 10.00 Miles | 867 Yards | 1 | 7 | 2.5M | 0 | Lumpkin |
| 16.4 | 1974-04-03 | 4 | 34°58'N / 84°13'W | 35°09'N / 83°57'W | 18.90 Miles | 33 Yards | 4 | 26 | 25.0M | 0 | Cherokee |
| 17.5 | 1974-04-03 | 4 | 34°57'N / 84°18'W | 34°58'N / 84°13'W | 5.10 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Fannin |
| 18.4 | 2005-08-29 | 2 | 34°40'N / 83°42'W | 34°44'N / 83°43'W | 5.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3.0M | 0 | White |
| Brief Description: A damage survey conducted by the National Weather Service in cooperation with the White County Emergency Management Director and the White County Sheriff concluded that an F2 tornado had carved a five mile long path of destruction, roughly parallel to Georgia Highway 75, causing major destruction to the town of Helen. Extensive damage was reported to several business in downtown Helen, a Bavarian tourist town in the northeast Georgia mountains. The entire second floor was ripped off the Helen Econo Lodge by the tornado. A nearby chapel was completely destroyed. The roof of Hansel & Gretel's Candy Kitchen, the Alpine Village Shoppes, as well as that of a nearby barbecue company were all ripped off by the tornadic winds. A Circle K grocery store also suffered significant damage. Hundreds of trees were also down. One resident reported losing 200 trees just at his property. Georgia Highway 75 was completely blocked on both the north and south side of Helen from downed trees. Many power lines were also down in the area and power was out to much of the area for at least two days. | |||||||||||
| 19.5 | 1974-04-03 | 2 | 34°49'N / 84°21'W | 34°51'N / 84°19'W | 3.00 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 2 | 2.5M | 0 | Fannin |
| 23.4 | 1974-04-03 | 4 | 34°30'N / 84°09'W | 34°32'N / 84°07'W | 3.30 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Lumpkin |
| 25.4 | 1974-04-03 | 2 | 34°41'N / 84°30'W | 34°49'N / 84°21'W | 12.60 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 3 | 2.5M | 0 | Gilmer |
| 26.2 | 1989-04-04 | 2 | 34°25'N / 83°59'W | 34°30'N / 83°52'W | 9.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Hall |
| 27.5 | 1974-04-03 | 4 | 34°27'N / 84°15'W | 34°30'N / 84°09'W | 6.80 Miles | 200 Yards | 5 | 13 | 2.5M | 0 | Dawson |
| 27.7 | 1989-11-15 | 3 | 34°37'N / 83°36'W | 34°42'N / 83°30'W | 8.00 Miles | 1760 Yards | 0 | 3 | 2.5M | 0 | Habersham |
| 31.4 | 2002-11-11 | 2 | 34°25'N / 84°16'W | 34°27'N / 84°14'W | 3.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 3 | 200K | 0 | Dawson |
| Brief Description: The Dawson county Emergency Management Director reported that the tornado that originated in Cherokee county and traveled across Pickens county, entered Dawson county in the Big Canoe area and continued to just east-northeast of the Big Canoe area before dissipating. Two double-wide mobile homes were completely destroyed just east of the Big Canoe area as large trees fell on the structures. While the contents of one were salvagable, those of the other were destroyed. Three injuries occurred at one of these mobile homes as the residents were trapped by the downed trees on the structure. In addition, there were four other homes that received minor damage in the Big Canoe area. Numerous trees and power lines were blown down in the area of the tornado and some roads were temporarily blocked as a result. Dawson county was one of five counties declared in a state of emergency by the governor. | |||||||||||
| 31.7 | 1965-04-15 | 2 | 34°23'N / 84°07'W | 34°22'N / 83°55'W | 11.50 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Pickens |
| 32.6 | 1974-04-03 | 2 | 35°16'N / 83°59'W | 35°20'N / 83°49'W | 10.50 Miles | 33 Yards | 2 | 11 | 250K | 0 | Graham |
| 32.6 | 1977-03-30 | 2 | 34°37'N / 84°30'W | 2.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 4 | 250K | 0 | Gilmer | |
| 33.6 | 1989-04-04 | 2 | 34°30'N / 83°34'W | 34°36'N / 83°27'W | 8.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 3 | 2.5M | 0 | Habersham |
| 34.0 | 1974-04-03 | 4 | 34°22'N / 84°20'W | 34°27'N / 84°15'W | 7.60 Miles | 200 Yards | 1 | 17 | 2.5M | 0 | Pickens |
| 34.2 | 1989-04-04 | 2 | 34°25'N / 83°46'W | 34°22'N / 83°40'W | 7.50 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Hall |
| 34.4 | 1980-04-28 | 2 | 35°15'N / 84°20'W | 35°16'N / 84°17'W | 3.30 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Monroe |
| 35.5 | 1974-04-03 | 2 | 34°58'N / 83°23'W | 0.30 Mile | 20 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Rabun | |
| 36.2 | 1976-05-14 | 2 | 34°28'N / 83°32'W | 1.00 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Habersham | |
| 37.0 | 2002-11-11 | 2 | 34°21'N / 84°27'W | 34°26'N / 84°16'W | 14.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 10 | 5.6M | 0 | Pickens |
| Brief Description: The tornado that originated in Cherokee county near Beasley Gap, continued into and across Pickens county. Once again, the National Weather Service disaster survey team determined that this was a multi-segmented tornado, with much of the damage along the path caused by straight line winds of at least 70 mph. The tornado entered the county southwest of Cagle, then continued on to just north of Tate roughly paralleling Georgia Highway 108, then turned more eastward along Georgia Highway 53 to near Marblehill, through the Big Canoe golf course and recreation area, then east of Big Canoe into extreme western Dawson county. There was definite evidence of F2 tornadic damage just north of Tate where winds were estimated in the 113 to 157 mph range. Some of the hardest hit areas included homes on Pleasant Union Road near the Cherokee county border; the Mountain Lakes Estates area, where several homes suffered extensive damage; the Bethany-Salem district where at least 56 structures were damaged or destroyed; Refuge Road near Tate, the town suffering some of the greatest damage where several homes and business were destroyed; the Big Canoe area near the Dawson county border, where several homes were damaged and the tennis center suffered extensive damage. All together, a total of 26 structures, mostly residential homes were destroyed, 142 structures were partially damaged, 2 businesses were destroyed, and 14 vehicles were totally destroyed. In addition, ten people were injured, primarily in damaged homes or trapped in vehicles on which trees fell. One of the businesses destroyed was the popular Davis's Barbeque on Georgia Highway 108. The restaurant was completely blown away, including the 20-foot white columns that stood in front of the restaurant. Three of the injuries in the county occurred in new mobile homes behind the Barbeque restaurant when their homes were flattened by the winds and other debris from the restaurant. One of the children injured, a 4-year old girl, was found by a nearby pond. The Refuge Baptist Church suffered extensive damage and was left in shambles. The historic Big Canoe chapel was also among the structures suffering damage. The steeple and all of the windows were lost from the church along with other structural damage to both the exterior and interior walls. Numerous trees were uprooted and many power lines were damaged along the path. Thirty people had to be put up in shelters and at least 6000 people were left without power for an extended period. Pickens county was the hardest hit of five counties declared in a state of emergency by the governor. | |||||||||||
| 38.7 | 1973-12-13 | 3 | 34°18'N / 83°52'W | 34°18'N / 83°42'W | 9.50 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 21 | 2.5M | 0 | Hall |
| 38.7 | 1985-04-05 | 2 | 34°30'N / 84°36'W | 34°33'N / 84°31'W | 5.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Pickens |
| 39.7 | 1974-04-03 | 2 | 35°20'N / 83°49'W | 35°23'N / 83°35'W | 13.60 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Swain |
| 39.8 | 1970-04-02 | 3 | 34°14'N / 84°11'W | 34°19'N / 84°08'W | 6.50 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Forsyth |
| 41.1 | 1966-12-10 | 2 | 34°35'N / 83°20'W | 0.50 Mile | 500 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Stephens | |
| 42.3 | 1974-04-03 | 4 | 34°46'N / 84°46'W | 34°48'N / 84°42'W | 4.70 Miles | 200 Yards | 1 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Murray |
| 42.6 | 1952-02-29 | 2 | 34°22'N / 83°35'W | 34°22'N / 83°25'W | 9.40 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 3 | 250K | 0 | Banks |
| 43.3 | 1989-04-04 | 2 | 34°26'N / 83°27'W | 34°21'N / 83°27'W | 5.00 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Banks |
| 43.9 | 1989-05-05 | 2 | 34°33'N / 83°19'W | 34°38'N / 83°14'W | 6.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 15 | 2.5M | 0 | Stephens |
| 44.1 | 1973-11-21 | 2 | 34°34'N / 83°17'W | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Stephens | |||
| 44.3 | 2002-11-11 | 2 | 34°21'N / 84°35'W | 34°23'N / 84°28'W | 6.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 1.8M | 0 | Cherokee |
| Brief Description: A National Weather Service disaster survey team and the Cherokee county Emergency Manager Director observed a 6-mile long path of damage, beginning near Beasley Gap in northwest Cherokee county, then continuing east-northeast toward the town of Worley Crossroads on the Pickens county border. While much of the damage along the path was determined as straight line wind damage with speeds of at least 70 mph, there was definite indication of a multi-segmented tornado. The most significant tornado damage occurred on Salacoa Road near Beasley Gap, where the tornado damage was classified as F2. The damage path was approximately 627 yards wide at its widest point, but the tornadic portion of this damage was limited to around 100 yards wide. Two homes were completely destroyed, three were severely damaged, and six were moderately damaged. Numerous trees and power lines were down along and near the damage path as well. Some livestock was also killed during the event. Cherokee county was one of five counties declared in a state of emergency by the governor. | |||||||||||
| 44.5 | 1973-12-13 | 2 | 35°11'N / 84°39'W | 0.80 Mile | 880 Yards | 0 | 3 | 250K | 0 | Polk | |
| 44.6 | 1974-03-21 | 2 | 35°00'N / 84°45'W | 0.80 Mile | 300 Yards | 0 | 7 | 250K | 0 | Polk | |
| 44.8 | 1965-04-26 | 2 | 34°15'N / 84°20'W | 0.50 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Cherokee | |
| 45.3 | 1989-05-05 | 2 | 34°38'N / 83°14'W | 34°42'N / 83°12'W | 4.50 Miles | 73 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Oconee |
| 45.4 | 1985-04-05 | 2 | 34°14'N / 84°21'W | 34°14'N / 84°17'W | 3.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Cherokee |
| 45.8 | 1976-05-14 | 2 | 34°15'N / 83°33'W | 34°20'N / 83°30'W | 6.50 Miles | 160 Yards | 0 | 2 | 250K | 0 | Banks |
| 46.4 | 1974-04-03 | 3 | 35°16'N / 84°38'W | 35°19'N / 84°33'W | 6.10 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 50 | 250K | 0 | Mcminn |
| 46.6 | 1989-04-04 | 2 | 34°10'N / 84°00'W | 34°09'N / 83°57'W | 3.30 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Hall |
| 47.2 | 1977-03-30 | 2 | 34°33'N / 84°51'W | 34°36'N / 84°40'W | 11.00 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Gordon |
| 47.2 | 1976-05-14 | 2 | 34°15'N / 83°34'W | 34°15'N / 83°33'W | 1.90 Miles | 160 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Jackson |
| 47.5 | 1974-04-03 | 3 | 35°13'N / 84°42'W | 35°16'N / 84°38'W | 5.40 Miles | 500 Yards | 1 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Polk |
| 47.8 | 1986-02-06 | 3 | 35°14'N / 84°39'W | 35°18'N / 84°39'W | 2.00 Miles | 270 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Polk |
| 47.8 | 1986-02-06 | 3 | 35°18'N / 84°39'W | 35°17'N / 84°36'W | 3.00 Miles | 270 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Mcminn |
| 48.3 | 1974-04-03 | 3 | 35°14'N / 84°42'W | 35°15'N / 84°40'W | 2.70 Miles | 350 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Polk |
| 49.6 | 1952-02-29 | 2 | 35°18'N / 84°40'W | 35°27'N / 84°28'W | 15.30 Miles | 587 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Mcminn |
| 49.9 | 1974-04-03 | 4 | 34°36'N / 84°56'W | 34°46'N / 84°46'W | 14.90 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 15 | 2.5M | 0 | Murray |
| 49.9 | 1966-05-01 | 2 | 34°12'N / 83°34'W | 1.00 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Jackson | |
* The information on this page is based on the global volcano database, the U.S. earthquake database of 1638-1985, and the U.S. Tornado and Weather Extremes database of 1950-2010.