Storms near Beaufort County
The record holds 81 tropical cyclones whose tracks passed within 50 km of Beaufort County, South Carolina between 1852 and 2024. The busiest month is September, with 24 of them. The strongest, measured where each came closest to the place, reached category 4 strength. 3 of the storms have no wind speed in the record.
- 81storms within 50 km
- 5major (category 3 to 5) near here
- 22at 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 Beaufort County?
| Category near here | Storms | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical depression | 17 | 21% |
| Tropical storm | 39 | 48% |
| Category 1 | 10 | 12% |
| Category 2 | 7 | 9% |
| Category 3 | 4 | 5% |
| Category 4 | 1 | 1% |
| Category 5 | 0 | 0% |
| Unknown intensity | 3 | 4% |
The agency behind most of the intensity figures here is the NOAA National Hurricane Center (HURDAT2, Atlantic).
Beaufort County storms over time
The 2020s only run to 2024, so that bar is for a shorter period. This place's record starts in 1852, and records before the satellite era (about the 1960s) are far less complete.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| 1850s | 3 |
| 1860s | 5 |
| 1870s | 4 |
| 1880s | 4 |
| 1890s | 7 |
| 1900s | 5 |
| 1910s | 5 |
| 1920s | 4 |
| 1940s | 5 |
| 1950s | 6 |
| 1960s | 4 |
| 1970s | 8 |
| 1980s | 6 |
| 1990s | 1 |
| 2000s | 3 |
| 2010s | 7 |
| 2020s | 4 |
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 | 4 |
| Jun | 10 |
| Jul | 6 |
| Aug | 19 |
| Sep | 24 |
| Oct | 15 |
| Nov | 3 |
| Dec | 0 |
Strongest storms near Beaufort County
- 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
- Unnamed storm of September 1896 (North Atlantic)22 September 1896 to 30 September 1896, peak Category 3 (110 kt), 960 hPa
Most recent storms near Beaufort County
- Debby (2024)2 August 2024 to 10 August 2024, Tropical storm (45 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
- Colin (2022)1 July 2022 to 2 July 2022, peak Tropical storm (35 kt), 1,011 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.
A storm that came near several counties counts in each one, so county counts add up to more than the state's.
Notable storms near Beaufort County
- David (1979)25 August 1979 to 8 September 1979, peak Category 5 (150 kt), 924 hPa
- Matthew (2016)28 September 2016 to 10 October 2016, peak Category 5 (145 kt), 934 hPa
- Cleo (1964)20 August 1964 to 11 September 1964, peak Category 4 (130 kt), 938 hPa
- Gracie (1959)20 September 1959 to 2 October 1959, peak Category 4 (115 kt), 951 hPa
- Idalia (2023)26 August 2023 to 8 September 2023, peak Category 3 (105 kt), 945 hPa
- Alma (1966)5 June 1966 to 14 June 1966, peak Category 3 (100 kt), 970 hPa