South Carolina recorded 1,213 tornadoes from 1950 through 2024, an average of 16 a year, in NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center database. They killed 66 people. The busiest year was 2004, with 86.
Tornadoes per 1,000 square miles since 1950: none under 10 10 to 25 25 to 50 50 to 75 75 to 100 over 100. Tap a county for its history.
Tornadoes by year
The rise since the 1990s is mostly better detection of weak tornadoes, not a jump in strong ones.
Tornado season in South Carolina
April is the peak, with 215 tornadoes since 1950 (18% of the total).
How strong
| Rating | Estimated 3-second gust | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| F0 / EF0 | Light damage: 65 to 85 mph (EF scale) | 525 |
| F1 / EF1 | Moderate: 86 to 110 mph | 481 |
| F2 / EF2 | Considerable: 111 to 135 mph | 156 |
| F3 / EF3 | Severe: 136 to 165 mph | 37 |
| F4 / EF4 | Devastating: 166 to 200 mph | 11 |
| F5 / EF5 | Incredible: over 200 mph | 0 |
| EF-U | Unknown: no damage to rate (mostly since 2016) | 3 |
The deadliest tornadoes in South Carolina
| Date | Rating | Deaths in South Carolina | Counties |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 31, 1973 | F4 | 7 | Abbeville County, Greenwood County |
| March 28, 1984 | F4 | 7 | Marlboro County |
| May 26, 1974 | F1 | 6 | Georgetown County |
| March 28, 1984 | F4 | 5 | Fairfield County |
| April 13, 2020 | EF4 | 5 | Hampton County |
| September 29, 1963 | F2 | 3 | Dillon County |
| November 16, 2011 | EF2 | 3 | York County |
| May 10, 1952 | F3 | 2 | Greenville County, Spartanburg County |
| March 13, 1955 | F2 | 2 | Saluda County |
| December 13, 1973 | F4 | 2 | Greenwood County |
Counties with the most tornadoes
| County | Tornadoes since 1950 | Per 1,000 sq mi | Strongest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orangeburg County | 76 | 67 | EF3 |
| Horry County | 60 | 52 | F3 |
| Charleston County | 60 | 59 | F3 |
| Lexington County | 46 | 61 | F3 |
| Richland County | 43 | 56 | EF3 |
| Aiken County | 42 | 39 | EF3 |
| Berkeley County | 40 | 33 | EF3 |
| Greenville County | 39 | 49 | F3 |
| Newberry County | 39 | 60 | EF3 |
| Spartanburg County | 38 | 46 | F4 |
| Anderson County | 38 | 50 | F3 |
| Clarendon County | 37 | 53 | EF2 |
| Florence County | 35 | 44 | F2 |
| Colleton County | 34 | 32 | EF2 |
| Pickens County | 34 | 66 | EF3 |
Big counties collect more tornadoes simply because they are big. By area, the most tornado-dense counties are Calhoun County (69 per 1,000 sq mi), Orangeburg County (67 per 1,000 sq mi), Pickens County (66 per 1,000 sq mi), Bamberg County (63 per 1,000 sq mi), Lexington County (61 per 1,000 sq mi).
Every county in South Carolina
Staying safe
When a tornado warning is issued, act at once. Go to a basement, storm shelter or safe room. With none, use a small windowless room on the lowest floor, as far from outside walls as you can, and cover your head and neck. Mobile homes and cars are not safe places to ride out a tornado: leave early for a sturdy building or shelter. Read the full tornado safety guide and the National Weather Service advice linked below.
Sources
- NOAA Storm Prediction Center: Severe Weather Database, tornadoes 1950 to 2024 (public domain)
- NOAA Storm Prediction Center: The Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF scale)
- National Weather Service: Tornado safety
Sources last checked 1 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How many tornadoes does South Carolina get a year?
About 16 on average from 1950 to 2024; recent years run higher because weak tornadoes are better detected.
When is tornado season in South Carolina?
April has had the most. Spring is the main season, with a second, smaller peak in late fall in the South.
What was the deadliest tornado in South Carolina?
March 31, 1973: 7 deaths in South Carolina.