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Hurricane Hugo approaching South Carolina as a Category 4 hurricane on September 21, 1989
The list of South Carolina hurricanes includes tropical or subtropical cyclones that have affected the U.S. state of South Carolina. Since 1851, 130 tropical or subtropical cyclones have either directly or indirectly affected South Carolina, with the most recent being Helene in 2024.
September 10, 1888 – A tropical storm crossed through the state.
September 24, 1889 – A tropical storm crossed through the state.
June 16, 1893 – A tropical storm crossed through the state.
August 27, 1893 – The devastating Sea Islands Hurricane struck the Sea Islands region of Georgia and South Carolina, causing major damage. An estimated 1,000–2,000 people were killed between both states.
October 4, 1893 – A tropical storm crossed through the state.
October 13, 1893 – A Category 3 hurricane made landfall near McClellanville, causing major damage. 15 deaths were reported.
October 10, 1894 – After impacting Georgia, a hurricane entered southwestern South Carolina briefly as a Category 1, later impacting other portions of the state as a tropical storm.
July 8, 1896 – A tropical depression affected northwestern parts of the state.
September 29, 1896 – The Cedar Key hurricane passed through South Carolina as a Category 2 hurricane, producing significant damage. Seven deaths were reported.
September 5–6, 1935 – The 1935 Labor Day hurricane crossed through the state as a tropical storm.
August 11, 1940 – The 1940 South Carolina hurricane made landfall near Hilton Head Island as a Category 2 hurricane. A storm tide of 13 feet (4.0 m) was measured along the coast, while up to 10.84 inches (275 mm) of rain fell in Beaufort. In total, 35 deaths were reported.
October 8, 1941 – A tropical storm crossed through the state.
October 20, 1944 – A tropical storm crossed through the state.
September 17–18, 1945 – A tropical storm crossed through the state.
October 9, 1946 – A tropical storm crossed through the state.
October 15, 1954 – Hurricane Hazel made landfall near the North Carolina and South Carolina border as a Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h), causing major damage. Tides of 10–11 ft (3.0–3.4 m) were reported along the coastline, destroying hundreds of buildings. One death was reported.
June 2, 1959 – Tropical Storm Arlene briefly entered the state as a tropical depression, dissipating shortly thereafter.
July 9–10, 1959 – Hurricane Cindy made landfall near McClellanville as a Category 1 hurricane on July 9, producing relatively minor damage. However, up to 9.79 inches (249 mm) of rain fell in Winnsboro, and one death was reported.
September 29-30, 1959 – Hurricane Gracie made landfall near Edisto Island as a Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h) on September 29, causing major damage. Water levels of 8.14 feet (2.48 m) were observed in Charleston Harbor, while wind gusts estimated near 150 mph (240 km/h) occurred in coastal Beaufort, Colleton and Charleston counties. In total, 10 deaths were reported.
July 29, 1960 – Tropical Storm Brenda closely paralleled the South Carolina coastline, bringing heavy rain.
September 5, 1977 – The disturbance that became Hurricane Clara formed as a tropical depression near Charleston, moving out to sea shortly after.
September 8–9, 1977 – Hurricane Babe impacted northern portions of the state as a tropical depression. Up to 7.05 in (179 mm) of rain fell in Caesars Head.
September 5, 1979 – Hurricane David entered southern South Carolina briefly as a Category 1 hurricane, before weakening to a tropical storm as it passed through central and northern portions of the state. Wind gusts of up to 70 mph (110 km/h) were observed in Hilton Head Island.
July 25, 1985 – Hurricane Bob made landfall near Beaufort as a Category 1 hurricane, bringing heavy rain and strong winds. Up to 7.79 in (198 mm) of rain fell in Myrtle Beach.
November 22, 1985 – Hurricane Kate crossed through the state as a tropical storm. Up to 6.56 in (167 mm) of rain fell in Hampton.
August 15, 1986 – The disturbance that became Hurricane Charley passed through the state, bringing minor rainfall.
September 22, 1989 – Hurricane Hugo made landfall on Sullivan's Island as a Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h). Much of the state received damaging winds, while coastal areas also suffered a devastating storm surge, with water levels reaching 20.2 ft (6.2 m) along Seewee Bay south of McClellanville. In total, 13 direct deaths were reported, and to date, Hugo remains the most recent major hurricane to impact the state.
August 17, 1994 – Tropical Storm Beryl crossed through far western South Carolina as a tropical depression. Up to 17.45 in (443 mm) of rain fell near Lake Jocassee.
November 21, 1994 – Hurricane Gordon entered the state briefly as a tropical depression, quickly dissipating thereafter.
July 24, 1997 – Hurricane Danny crossed through the state as a tropical depression. Several tornadoes touched down as a result of the storm, one of which resulted in a death in Lexington County.
August 13, 2004 – Tropical Storm Bonnie crossed through the state as a tropical depression. Up to 6.07 in (154 mm) of rain fell in Loris.
August 14, 2004 – Hurricane Charley made landfall near Cape Romain, and later in North Myrtle Beach, both times as a Category 1 hurricane. The storm produced moderate flooding and wind damage, and one indirect death was reported.
August 29, 2004 – Hurricane Gaston made landfall near Awendaw as a Category 1 hurricane, bringing heavy rain and strong winds. A wind gust of 81 mph (130 km/h) was observed in Isle of Palms.
September 28, 2004 – Hurricane Jeanne crossed through the state as a tropical depression.
June 14, 2006 – Tropical Storm Alberto crossed through the state as a tropical depression, producing heavy rain and multiple tornadoes.
September 6, 2008 – Hurricane Hanna made landfall near the North Carolina and South Carolina border as a tropical storm.
May 30, 2012 – Tropical Storm Beryl crossed through the state as a tropical storm. One death was reported.
June 7, 2013 – Tropical Storm Andrea crossed through the state as a tropical storm. Up to 4.9 in (120 mm) of rain fell near Cordova, and one death was reported after a surfer drowned in Horry County.
September 2–3, 2016 – Hurricane Hermine crossed through the state as a tropical storm. Up to 10.72 in (272 mm) of rain fell in Murrells Inlet, and one death was reported.
October 8, 2016 – Hurricane Matthew made landfall near Cape Romain as a Category 1 hurricane, producing major flooding and strong winds. Over 600,000 people lost power in the state, and in total, five deaths were reported.
September 15–17, 2018 – Hurricane Florence crossed through the state as a tropical storm, causing major flooding. Up to 23.63 in (600 mm) of rain fell near Loris, and four deaths were reported.
October 11, 2018 – Hurricane Michael crossed through the state as a tropical storm, producing multiple weak tornadoes.
October 20, 2019 – The extratropical remnants of Tropical Storm Nestor crossed through the state. Three indirect traffic related deaths were reported as a result of the hazardous conditions.
May 27, 2020 – Tropical Storm Bertha made landfall near Isle of Palms as a tropical storm. One death was reported in Myrtle Beach after an individual drowned as a result of rip currents.
July 8, 2020 – A tropical disturbance crossed through the state, later moving offshore and becoming Tropical Storm Fay. Up to 12.75 in (324 mm) of rain fell near Hunting Island State Park.
September 18, 2020 – The extratropical remnants of Hurricane Sally impacted the state, producing several tornadoes.
September 30, 2022 – Hurricane Ian made landfall near Georgetown as a Category 1 hurricane. Up to 8.14 in (207 mm) of rain fell in Charleston, and over 210,000 people lost power in the state.
August 31, 2023 – Hurricane Idalia crossed through the state as a tropical storm, producing flooding and multiple tornadoes.
August 8, 2024 – Hurricane Debby made landfall near Bulls Bay as a tropical storm, producing significant flooding and several tornadoes.
September 27, 2024 – Hurricane Helene passed near western South Carolina as a tropical storm, bringing flooding, high winds, and several tornadoes. Wind gusts reached 75 mph (121 km/h) in Beaufort, and up to 21.66 in (550 mm) of rain fell in Rocky Bottom. In total, 51 deaths were reported.
Listed by month
South Carolina hurricanes by month
Month
Number of storms
May
6
June
17
July
15
August
21
September
43
October
25
November
3
Deadly storms
The following is a list of tropical cyclones with 10 or more known deaths in the state.
^ Rappaport, Edward N.; Partagás, José Fernández; Beven, Jack (April 22, 1997). "Appendix 1. Cyclones with 25+ Deaths". The Deadliest Atlantic Tropical Cyclones, 1492-1996 (Report). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
"Sea Islands Overwhelmed: Steadily the List of Cyclone Victims Grows. Coroner's Estimate Over 750 Dead". The New York Times. September 3, 1893. ProQuest95079845.
"August 11, 1940 Hurricane" (PDF). South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. 1984-12-01. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
Grady Norton, U.S. Weather Bureau (January 1953). "Hurricanes of the 1952 Season" (PDF). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2011-01-11.
"South Carolina Impacts from Hurricane Hazel". National Weather Service Office Wilmington, North Carolina. Wilmington, North Carolina: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. October 15, 2014. Archived from the original on September 13, 2015. Retrieved September 23, 2015.
Roth, David M; Hydrometeorological Prediction Center (October 3, 2008). "Hurricane Cindy rainfall page". Tropical Cyclone Point Maxima. United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved June 10, 2012.
^ "Hurricane Gracie: Sep 29, 1959" (PDF). National Weather Service Office Charleston, South Carolina. Charleston, South Carolina: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 2019-09-29. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
^ Lawrence, Miles B. (November 15, 1989). Hurricane Hugo (PDF) (Preliminary Report). Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 11, 2018. Retrieved April 10, 2020 – via National Weather Service.
David M. Roth. "Tropical Storm Beryl — August 14–18, 1994". Tropical Cyclone Point Maxima. Weather Prediction Center (Report). United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved July 2, 2017.
Pasch, Richard J (August 21, 1997). Preliminary Report: Hurricane Danny (PDF) (Report). United States National Hurricane Center. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
Richard J. Pasch; Daniel P. Brown; Eric S. Blake (September 15, 2011) . "Hurricane Charley Tropical Cyclone Report" (PDF). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved September 23, 2022.
Stewart, Stacy R (April 3, 2017). Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Matthew (PDF) (Technical report). United States National Hurricane Center. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 5, 2017. Retrieved April 5, 2017.
Stacy Stewart and Robbie Berg (May 30, 2019). Hurricane Florence (AL062018) (PDF) (Report). Tropical Cyclone Report. National Hurricane Center. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 2, 2019. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
Beven, John; Berg, Robbie; Hagen, Andrew (May 17, 2019). Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Michael (PDF) (Report). National Hurricane Center. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 29, 2020. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
Bucci, Lisa; Alaka, Laura; Hagen, Andrew; Delgao, Sandy; Beven, Jack (April 3, 2023). Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Ian (PDF) (Report). National Hurricane Center. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 3, 2023. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
"Sea Islands Overwhelmed: Steadily the List of Cyclone Victims Grows. Coroner's Estimate Over 750 Dead". The New York Times. September 3, 1893. ProQuest95079845.
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