Storms near South Carolina
The record holds 168 tropical cyclones whose tracks passed within 50 km of South Carolina between 1851 and 2025. The busiest month is September, with 55 of them. The strongest, measured where each came closest to the place, reached category 4 strength. 5 of the storms have no wind speed in the record.
- 168storms within 50 km
- 9major (category 3 to 5) near here
- 46at category 1 strength or more
A storm counts once, however many times it came close. The category is the storm's strongest point within 50 km, which can be weaker than its peak elsewhere.
How strong were the storms near South Carolina?
| Category near here | Storms | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical depression | 35 | 21% |
| Tropical storm | 82 | 49% |
| Category 1 | 26 | 15% |
| Category 2 | 11 | 7% |
| Category 3 | 6 | 4% |
| Category 4 | 3 | 2% |
| Category 5 | 0 | 0% |
| Unknown intensity | 5 | 3% |
The agency behind most of the intensity figures here is the NOAA National Hurricane Center (HURDAT2, Atlantic).
South Carolina storms over time
The 2020s only run to 2025, so that bar is for a shorter period. This place's record starts in 1851, and records before the satellite era (about the 1960s) are far less complete.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| 1850s | 8 |
| 1860s | 7 |
| 1870s | 6 |
| 1880s | 15 |
| 1890s | 11 |
| 1900s | 10 |
| 1910s | 10 |
| 1920s | 6 |
| 1930s | 2 |
| 1940s | 11 |
| 1950s | 11 |
| 1960s | 8 |
| 1970s | 12 |
| 1980s | 11 |
| 1990s | 8 |
| 2000s | 11 |
| 2010s | 10 |
| 2020s | 11 |
Earlier decades hold fewer storms partly because they were harder to see. Before weather satellites (about the 1960s) many storms that stayed at sea went unrecorded, so compare decades with care.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| Jan | 0 |
| Feb | 0 |
| Mar | 0 |
| Apr | 0 |
| May | 6 |
| Jun | 23 |
| Jul | 19 |
| Aug | 34 |
| Sep | 55 |
| Oct | 28 |
| Nov | 3 |
| Dec | 0 |
Strongest storms near South Carolina
- Hugo (1989)10 September 1989 to 25 September 1989, Category 4 (120 kt) near here, peak Category 5 (140 kt), 918 hPa
- Hazel (1954)5 October 1954 to 18 October 1954, peak Category 4 (115 kt), 938 hPa
- Gracie (1959)20 September 1959 to 2 October 1959, peak Category 4 (115 kt), 951 hPa
- Unnamed storm of September 1893 (North Atlantic)25 September 1893 to 15 October 1893, peak Category 3 (105 kt), 955 hPa
- Unnamed storm of September 1854 (North Atlantic)2 September 1854 to 12 September 1854, peak Category 3 (110 kt), 938 hPa
- Unnamed storm of August 1893 (North Atlantic)15 August 1893 to 2 September 1893, peak Category 3 (105 kt), 954 hPa
Most recent storms near South Carolina
- Chantal (2025)4 July 2025 to 7 July 2025, peak Tropical storm (50 kt), 1,002 hPa
- Helene (2024)23 September 2024 to 28 September 2024, Category 1 (80 kt) near here, peak Category 4 (120 kt), 941 hPa
- Debby (2024)2 August 2024 to 10 August 2024, Tropical storm (50 kt) near here, peak Category 1 (70 kt), 980 hPa
- Idalia (2023)26 August 2023 to 8 September 2023, Tropical storm (60 kt) near here, peak Category 3 (105 kt), 945 hPa
- Ian (2022)22 September 2022 to 1 October 2022, Category 1 (75 kt) near here, peak Category 5 (140 kt), 937 hPa
Many of these storms killed people and destroyed homes. The figures are the official record's, and this page says nothing about their human cost.
South Carolina ranks number 7 among US states and territories for the number of storms.
Notable storms near South Carolina with their own pages
- Hugo (1989)10 September 1989 to 25 September 1989, peak Category 5 (140 kt), 918 hPa
- Hazel (1954)5 October 1954 to 18 October 1954, peak Category 4 (115 kt), 938 hPa
- Gracie (1959)20 September 1959 to 2 October 1959, peak Category 4 (115 kt), 951 hPa
- Fran (1996)23 August 1996 to 10 September 1996, peak Category 3 (105 kt), 946 hPa
- Bertha (1996)5 July 1996 to 17 July 1996, peak Category 3 (100 kt), 960 hPa
- Matthew (2016)28 September 2016 to 10 October 2016, peak Category 5 (145 kt), 934 hPa
- David (1979)25 August 1979 to 8 September 1979, peak Category 5 (150 kt), 924 hPa
- Diana (1984)8 September 1984 to 16 September 1984, peak Category 4 (115 kt), 949 hPa
- Florence (2018)30 August 2018 to 18 September 2018, peak Category 4 (130 kt), 937 hPa
- Helene (2024)23 September 2024 to 28 September 2024, peak Category 4 (120 kt), 941 hPa
- Charley (2004)9 August 2004 to 15 August 2004, peak Category 4 (125 kt), 947 hPa
- Ian (2022)22 September 2022 to 1 October 2022, peak Category 5 (140 kt), 937 hPa
South Carolina counties
Every county that a storm has come near is listed, most storms first. 46 of them have at least 3 storms and their own page.