Greenwood County, South Carolina Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1859, 24 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Greenwood County, South Carolina — about one every 7.0 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Claudette (2021), which passed 11 miles away on 20 June 2021.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentClaudette (2021) — 11 mi away, 20 June 2021
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1949) — 53 kt (61 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordFlorence (2018) — 4.2 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles14 of 24
- Peak monthSeptember — 10 storms (42% of all)
- Most active year2018 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1880s, 1910s and 1940s — 3 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1859–2021
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 4 | 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 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claudette (2021) | 20 Jun 2021 | 10.8 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Michael (2018) | 11 Oct 2018 | 21.4 mi | TS / TD | 46 kt |
| Florence (2018) | 16 Sep 2018 | 4.2 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Jeanne (2004) | 28 Sep 2004 | 11.3 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Helene (2000) | 23 Sep 2000 | 45.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Danny (1997) | 24 Jul 1997 | 19.2 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Jerry (1995) | 28 Aug 1995 | 29.1 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Babe (1977) | 8 Sep 1977 | 40.0 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Abby (1968) | 8 Jun 1968 | 10.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Cleo (1964) | 30 Aug 1964 | 11.8 mi | TS / TD | 29 kt |
| Arlene (1959) | 2 Jun 1959 | 30.9 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 28 Aug 1949 | 14.0 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 9 Oct 1947 | 29.1 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1946) | 9 Oct 1946 | 47.3 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 15 Jul 1916 | 35.9 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 3 Aug 1915 | 32.1 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1913) | 4 Sep 1913 | 46.2 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1906) | 18 Sep 1906 | 27.1 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1903) | 16 Sep 1903 | 20.2 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 3 Oct 1893 | 17.7 mi | TS / TD | 41 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1889) | 24 Sep 1889 | 11.0 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 22 Jun 1886 | 11.2 mi | TS / TD | 39 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 11 Sep 1882 | 17.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1859) | 17 Sep 1859 | 23.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 5 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 | 27.2 mi | 30 kt |
| Marco (1990) | Post-tropical | 13 Oct 1990 | 34.1 mi | 15 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1965) | Post-tropical | 16 Jun 1965 | 31.5 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | Post-tropical | 11 Aug 1928 | 7.9 mi | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | Post-tropical | 14 Jun 1912 | 2.3 mi | 35 kt |
How Greenwood 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, Greenwood County, South Carolina ranks #664 — more exposed than 69.9% of them. Within South Carolina it ranks #38 of 46, against a state average of 44.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1949) passed 14 miles away on 28 August 1949 as a tropical storm, reaching 53 kt (61 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1916) passed 36 miles away on 15 July 1916 as a tropical storm, reaching 47 kt (54 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Michael (2018) passed 21 miles away on 11 October 2018 as a tropical storm, reaching 46 kt (53 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1889) passed 11 miles away on 24 September 1889 as a tropical storm, reaching 45 kt (52 mph) while within 50 miles.
23 of the 24 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 7.0 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 24 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 30 years, between 1916 and 1946. It has been 4 years since the last one; 9 of the 22 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit Greenwood County, South Carolina?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of Greenwood County, South Carolina while at hurricane strength. 24 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 Greenwood County, South Carolina?
Claudette (2021), on 20 June 2021, passing 11 miles away — 5 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of Greenwood County, South Carolina at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect Greenwood County, South Carolina?
Unnamed Storm (1949), which reached 53 kt (61 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 14 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach Greenwood County, South Carolina?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 7.0 years — 24 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
Greenwood County, South Carolina borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Saluda County, South Carolina has 39 on record.