Florence County, South Carolina Hurricane History
Since 1851, 62 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Florence County, South Carolina — about one every 2.8 years. Of those, 9 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Chantal (2025), which passed 35 miles away on 6 July 2025.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentChantal (2025) — 35 mi away, 6 July 2025
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1893) — 100 kt (115 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordAndrea (2013) — 3.6 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)Unnamed Storm (1893) — 36.3 miles
- Passes within 25 miles17 of 62
- Peak monthSeptember — 21 storms (34% of all)
- Most active year1893 — 3 storms
- Most active decade1890s and 2020s — 7 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi1
- Record span1851–2025
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 11 | 7 | 21 | 9 | 2 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 7 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chantal (2025) | 6 Jul 2025 | 35.0 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Debby (2024) | 8 Aug 2024 | 22.4 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Ian (2022) | 30 Sep 2022 | 25.4 mi | TS / TD | 57 kt |
| Colin (2022) | 2 Jul 2022 | 43.7 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Elsa (2021) | 8 Jul 2021 | 40.9 mi | TS / TD | 41 kt |
| Claudette (2021) | 21 Jun 2021 | 46.8 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Bertha (2020) | 27 May 2020 | 29.4 mi | TS / TD | 29 kt |
| Florence (2018) | 15 Sep 2018 | 29.6 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Hermine (2016) | 3 Sep 2016 | 41.6 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Andrea (2013) | 7 Jun 2013 | 3.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Beryl (2012) | 30 May 2012 | 46.5 mi | TS / TD | 39 kt |
| Gaston (2004) | 29 Aug 2004 | 14.6 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Allison (2001) | 13 Jun 2001 | 6.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Helene (2000) | 23 Sep 2000 | 30.5 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Gordon (1994) | 21 Nov 1994 | 7.1 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1994) | 20 Jul 1994 | 16.1 mi | TS / TD | 23 kt |
| Hugo (1989) | 22 Sep 1989 | 48.0 mi | Cat 1 | 80 kt |
| Kate (1985) | 22 Nov 1985 | 37.0 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Bob (1985) | 25 Jul 1985 | 49.9 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1981) | 4 Jul 1981 | 16.7 mi | TD | — |
| Unnamed Storm (1976) | 15 Sep 1976 | 7.5 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Dottie (1976) | 21 Aug 1976 | 40.1 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Agnes (1972) | 21 Jun 1972 | 5.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Alma (1970) | 26 May 1970 | 29.7 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1964) | 23 Jul 1964 | 25.0 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Cindy (1959) | 9 Jul 1959 | 29.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Arlene (1959) | 2 Jun 1959 | 30.5 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1952) | 28 Aug 1952 | 28.3 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 13 Sep 1949 | 47.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | 17 Sep 1945 | 18.7 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1935) | 5 Sep 1935 | 38.7 mi | TS / TD | 46 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | 19 Sep 1928 | 33.2 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1924) | 17 Sep 1924 | 46.8 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 14 Jul 1916 | 36.1 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 16 May 1916 | 30.6 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1913) | 10 Oct 1913 | 27.6 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1906) | 18 Sep 1906 | 34.7 mi | TS / TD | 57 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1904) | 14 Sep 1904 | 19.0 mi | Cat 1 | 64 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | 16 Jun 1902 | 42.4 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 18 Sep 1901 | 43.7 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 13 Jul 1901 | 34.6 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1899) | 31 Oct 1899 | 41.7 mi | Cat 2 | 88 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1896) | 29 Sep 1896 | 28.6 mi | Cat 1 | 78 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 9 Oct 1894 | 28.4 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 27 Sep 1894 | 28.9 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 13 Oct 1893 | 36.3 mi | Cat 2 | 95 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 4 Oct 1893 | 37.9 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 16 Jun 1893 | 41.7 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 10 Sep 1888 | 37.5 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1887) | 20 Oct 1887 | 27.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 1 Jul 1886 | 14.5 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1885) | 12 Oct 1885 | 49.0 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1885) | 25 Aug 1885 | 45.9 mi | Cat 1 | 82 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1878) | 12 Sep 1878 | 22.4 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1877) | 4 Oct 1877 | 35.0 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 28 Sep 1874 | 34.9 mi | Cat 1 | 72 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1867) | 23 Jun 1867 | 19.8 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1856) | 1 Sep 1856 | 6.6 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1854) | 9 Sep 1854 | 39.5 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1852) | 10 Oct 1852 | 12.2 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1852) | 28 Aug 1852 | 29.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1851) | 25 Aug 1851 | 7.9 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 17 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. Showing the 9 most recent.
| Storm | Status | Closest approach | Distance | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nestor (2019) | Post-tropical | 20 Oct 2019 | 31.6 mi | 40 kt |
| Bonnie (2016) | Remnant low | 30 May 2016 | 43.9 mi | 25 kt |
| Alberto (2006) | Post-tropical | 14 Jun 2006 | 41.7 mi | 35 kt |
| Gordon (2000) | Post-tropical | 19 Sep 2000 | 5.5 mi | 23 kt |
| Earl (1998) | Post-tropical | 4 Sep 1998 | 12.3 mi | 47 kt |
| Josephine (1996) | Post-tropical | 8 Oct 1996 | 38.8 mi | 45 kt |
| Allison (1995) | Post-tropical | 6 Jun 1995 | 19.3 mi | 36 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1965) | Post-tropical | 16 Jun 1965 | 43.3 mi | 35 kt |
| Dora (1964) | Post-tropical | 13 Sep 1964 | 41.6 mi | 60 kt |
How Florence 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, Florence County, South Carolina ranks #102 — more exposed than 95.4% of them. Within South Carolina it ranks #10 of 46, against a state average of 44.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 3 Unnamed Storm (1893) passed 36 miles away on 13 October 1893 as a hurricane, reaching 100 kt (115 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1899) passed 42 miles away on 31 October 1899 as a hurricane, reaching 88 kt (101 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Hugo (1989) passed 48 miles away on 22 September 1989 as a hurricane, reaching 85 kt (98 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1885) passed 46 miles away on 25 August 1885 as a hurricane, reaching 83 kt (96 mph) while within 50 miles.
56 of the 62 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 2.8 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 62 storms spread over the 175 years from 1851 to 2025. 12 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while stretches of a decade or more have passed with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 11 years, between 1856 and 1867. It has been 0 years since the last one; 48 of the 48 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Florence County, South Carolina?
9 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Florence County, South Carolina at hurricane strength since 1851. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 62.
When was the last hurricane in Florence County, South Carolina?
Ian (2022), on 30 September 2022, passing 25 miles away — 4 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Chantal (2025) in 2025.
What was the strongest storm to affect Florence County, South Carolina?
Unnamed Storm (1893), which reached 100 kt (115 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 36 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Florence County, South Carolina?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 2.8 years — 62 storms over the 175 years from 1851 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Florence County, South Carolina borders or sits close to 8 other counties with a published storm record. Clarendon County, South Carolina has 62 on record.