Abbeville County, South Carolina Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1859, 23 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Abbeville County, South Carolina — about one every 7.3 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Helene (2024), which passed 44 miles away on 27 September 2024.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentHelene (2024) — 44 mi away, 27 September 2024
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1949) — 53 kt (61 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1882) — 2.6 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles10 of 23
- Peak monthSeptember — 10 storms (43% of all)
- Most active year2018 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1880s — 3 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1859–2024
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helene (2024) | 27 Sep 2024 | 44.2 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Claudette (2021) | 20 Jun 2021 | 20.4 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Michael (2018) | 11 Oct 2018 | 37.5 mi | TS / TD | 46 kt |
| Florence (2018) | 16 Sep 2018 | 19.3 mi | TS / TD | 29 kt |
| Jeanne (2004) | 28 Sep 2004 | 9.4 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Danny (1997) | 24 Jul 1997 | 12.2 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Jerry (1995) | 27 Aug 1995 | 28.6 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Babe (1977) | 8 Sep 1977 | 33.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Abby (1968) | 8 Jun 1968 | 8.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Cleo (1964) | 30 Aug 1964 | 30.4 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Arlene (1959) | 2 Jun 1959 | 41.7 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 28 Aug 1949 | 5.4 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 9 Oct 1947 | 17.9 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 15 Jul 1916 | 40.3 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1913) | 4 Sep 1913 | 36.1 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1906) | 18 Sep 1906 | 31.3 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1903) | 16 Sep 1903 | 20.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1896) | 8 Jul 1896 | 31.6 mi | TS / TD | 31 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 3 Oct 1893 | 28.6 mi | TS / TD | 41 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1889) | 24 Sep 1889 | 29.6 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 22 Jun 1886 | 29.3 mi | TS / TD | 39 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 11 Sep 1882 | 2.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1859) | 17 Sep 1859 | 5.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 7 systems passed within 50 miles after losing tropical characteristics. These are excluded from the counts above because they were no longer tropical cyclones at their closest approach — but several were highly damaging, so they are listed here.
| Storm | Status | Closest approach | Distance | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sally (2020) | Post-tropical | 18 Sep 2020 | 37.6 mi | 30 kt |
| Marco (1990) | Post-tropical | 13 Oct 1990 | 48.4 mi | 15 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1965) | Post-tropical | 16 Jun 1965 | 41.8 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | Post-tropical | 11 Aug 1928 | 21.5 mi | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | Post-tropical | 14 Jun 1912 | 17.0 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1907) | Post-tropical | 23 Sep 1907 | 45.0 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | Post-tropical | 28 Sep 1901 | 38.8 mi | 35 kt |
How Abbeville County, South Carolina compares
Among the 2,208 U.S. counties and county-equivalents that have recorded at least one tropical cyclone within 50 miles, Abbeville County, South Carolina ranks #696 — more exposed than 68.5% of them. Within South Carolina it ranks #39 of 46, against a state average of 44.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1949) passed 5 miles away on 28 August 1949 as a tropical storm, reaching 53 kt (61 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Helene (2024) passed 44 miles away on 27 September 2024 as a tropical storm, reaching 50 kt (58 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Michael (2018) passed 37 miles away on 11 October 2018 as a tropical storm, reaching 46 kt (53 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1916) passed 40 miles away on 15 July 1916 as a tropical storm, reaching 45 kt (52 mph) while within 50 miles.
22 of the 23 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 7.3 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 23 storms spread over the 167 years from 1859 to 2025. 1 separate year saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while decades have gone by with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 31 years, between 1916 and 1947. It has been 1 year since the last one; 21 of the 21 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit Abbeville County, South Carolina?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of Abbeville County, South Carolina while at hurricane strength. 23 tropical cyclones have passed within that distance since 1859, all of them as tropical storms or depressions. The strongest was Unnamed Storm (1949).
When was the last tropical cyclone in Abbeville County, South Carolina?
Helene (2024), on 27 September 2024, passing 44 miles away — 2 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of Abbeville County, South Carolina at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect Abbeville County, South Carolina?
Unnamed Storm (1949), which reached 53 kt (61 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 5 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach Abbeville County, South Carolina?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 7.3 years — 23 storms over the 167 years from 1859 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Abbeville County, South Carolina borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. McCormick County, South Carolina has 29 on record.