South Carolina sees a moderate amount of severe weather each year, with 1,304 confirmed tornadoes, 6,599 hailstorm events and 15,851 damaging-wind events recorded by the National Weather Service since 1950., and averages 17.4 tornadoes per year over the 75-year record. The interactive map below plots every significant severe-weather event in South Carolina from the official NOAA Storm Events Database (1950 through September 2025).

Use the map to find your county, click any marker for the date, magnitude, and casualty details of that event, and switch between tornadoes, hail and wind using the chips. For the national view across all 50 states, see our NOAA Storm Reports interactive map. For tornado tracks specifically, see the US Tornado Tracks map; for hail size and frequency, the US Hailstorms map.

South Carolina Severe Weather by the Numbers (1950–2025)

• 1,304 tornadoes recorded between 1950 and 2025
• 231 violent tornadoes rated F2/EF2 or stronger
• 66 direct tornado deaths and 1,432 direct injuries
• 6,599 hailstorm events recorded by the NWS
• 15,851 damaging-wind events on record
• 17.4 tornadoes per year on average across the 75-year record
• April is the peak severe-weather month, accounting for roughly 18.4% of South Carolina tornadoes
• 302 total direct deaths from all severe-weather event types tracked by the NWS

When South Carolina Severe Weather Happens

South Carolina tornado activity is heavily concentrated in spring. March, April, May and June account for 51% of all South Carolina tornadoes, with April alone responsible for roughly 18.4%.

• April: 240 tornadoes (18.4%) — peak month
• September: 185 tornadoes (14.2%)
• May: 178 tornadoes (13.7%)
• March: 144 tornadoes (11%)
• August: 112 tornadoes (8.6%)
• June: 99 tornadoes (7.6%)

Top 10 South Carolina Counties by Tornado Frequency

Tornado activity in South Carolina is geographically broad, but a handful of counties have logged many times the state average. The combination of population density (more spotters and damage reports), county land area and local climatology drives the rankings below.

The Deadliest Tornadoes in South Carolina History

South Carolina has lost 66 lives to tornadoes since the National Weather Service began systematic tornado record-keeping in 1950. The single deadliest event killed 7 people in Abbeville County in 1973, rated F4 on the Fujita scale.

South Carolina Tornado Strength Distribution

Most South Carolina tornadoes are weak: roughly 82% are rated F0/EF0 or F1/EF1. Violent tornadoes (F2+/EF2+) account for around 18.1% of rated tornadoes in the state.

• F0/EF0 (weak): 534 tornadoes — 41.8% of rated events
• F1/EF1: 512 tornadoes — 40.1% of rated events
• F2/EF2 (strong): 169 tornadoes — 13.2% of rated events
• F3/EF3: 46 tornadoes — 3.6% of rated events
• F4/EF4 (violent): 16 tornadoes — 1.3% of rated events

Record-Setting Severe Weather in South Carolina

Largest hailstone: 4.50 inches in diameter, observed in Florence County near Florence on May 25, 2000. The three largest hailstones on record in South Carolina measured 4.50″, 4.50″, 4.50″.

Highest measured wind gust: 80 knots (92 mph) recorded in Beaufort County near Hilton Head Is Arpt on June 12, 2009. Most damaging-wind events in South Carolina are estimated rather than measured because anemometers are sparse across the rural areas where supercells most often produce destructive thunderstorm winds.

How South Carolina Compares Nationally

South Carolina ranks 24th nationally for tornado frequency, in the middle of the pack of US states by severe-weather activity.

• Tornadoes (top 5): Texas (9,908), Kansas (4,890), Oklahoma (4,856), Florida (3,779), Iowa (3,417).
• South Carolina tornado total: 1,304 — ranked 24th nationally.
• South Carolina hail total: 6,599 hail events on record since 1950.
• South Carolina wind total: 15,851 damaging-wind events on record since 1950.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes does South Carolina have on average per year?

South Carolina averages 17.4 tornadoes per year over the 1950–2025 period. Counts vary widely year to year, but the long-term mean over 75 years of NWS records is a reliable benchmark for typical activity.

What was the deadliest tornado in South Carolina history?

The March 31, 1973 tornado, rated F4 on the Fujita scale, killed 7 people and injured 30 in Abbeville County. It remains the single deadliest tornado in the South Carolina modern record.

Where in South Carolina are tornadoes most common?

The single county with the most tornadoes on record is Orangeburg County with 75 events. The three most active counties overall are Orangeburg, Charleston, Horry.

How does South Carolina compare to its neighbors?

South Carolina shares a severe-weather climate with North Carolina, Georgia. Severe storms regularly cross state lines, so the same supercells, hail cores and wind events often appear in South Carolina’s neighbors’ records on the same date.

How recent is the data on this map?

The map and statistics on this page are pulled from NOAA’s official Storm Events Database, which currently runs from January 1950 through September 2025. New records typically appear in the database within 30–90 days of the event date, once damage surveys and ratings are complete.

Compare South Carolina to Neighboring States

Severe weather doesn’t stop at state lines. The same supercell systems that produce South Carolina tornadoes regularly cross into neighboring states. Compare South Carolina’s storm history to its land neighbors:

• North Carolina severe storm history — ranked 20th nationally
• Georgia severe storm history — ranked 15th nationally, Dixie Alley state with frequent overnight tornadoes

Explore the national NOAA Storm Reports map · US Tornado Tracks map · US Hailstorms map