Storms near Charleston County
The record holds 83 tropical cyclones whose tracks passed within 50 km of Charleston County, South Carolina between 1852 and 2025. The busiest month is September, with 27 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.
- 83storms within 50 km
- 4major (category 3 to 5) near here
- 28at 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 Charleston County?
| Category near here | Storms | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical depression | 12 | 14% |
| Tropical storm | 40 | 48% |
| Category 1 | 17 | 20% |
| Category 2 | 7 | 8% |
| Category 3 | 2 | 2% |
| Category 4 | 2 | 2% |
| 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).
Charleston County storms over time
The 2020s only run to 2025, 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 | 2 |
| 1860s | 4 |
| 1870s | 4 |
| 1880s | 4 |
| 1890s | 6 |
| 1900s | 7 |
| 1910s | 5 |
| 1920s | 3 |
| 1940s | 4 |
| 1950s | 5 |
| 1960s | 3 |
| 1970s | 7 |
| 1980s | 7 |
| 1990s | 2 |
| 2000s | 5 |
| 2010s | 7 |
| 2020s | 8 |
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 | 10 |
| Aug | 16 |
| Sep | 27 |
| Oct | 13 |
| Nov | 3 |
| Dec | 0 |
Strongest storms near Charleston County
- Hugo (1989)10 September 1989 to 25 September 1989, Category 4 (120 kt) near here, peak Category 5 (140 kt), 918 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 July 1916 (North Atlantic)11 July 1916 to 15 July 1916, peak Category 3 (100 kt), 960 hPa
- Unnamed storm of October 1899 (North Atlantic)26 October 1899 to 4 November 1899, peak Category 2 (95 kt)
Most recent storms near Charleston County
- Chantal (2025)4 July 2025 to 7 July 2025, peak Tropical storm (50 kt), 1,002 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
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 Charleston County
- Matthew (2016)28 September 2016 to 10 October 2016, peak Category 5 (145 kt), 934 hPa
- Hugo (1989)10 September 1989 to 25 September 1989, peak Category 5 (140 kt), 918 hPa
- Ian (2022)22 September 2022 to 1 October 2022, peak Category 5 (140 kt), 937 hPa
- Florence (2018)30 August 2018 to 18 September 2018, peak Category 4 (130 kt), 937 hPa
- Charley (2004)9 August 2004 to 15 August 2004, peak Category 4 (125 kt), 947 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