Jasper County, South Carolina Hurricane History
Since 1852, 75 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Jasper County, South Carolina — about one every 2.3 years. Of those, 19 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Debby (2024), which passed 30 miles away on 6 August 2024.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentDebby (2024) — 30 mi away, 6 August 2024
- Strongest stormGracie (1959) — 115 kt (132 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1909) — 2.2 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)Gracie (1959) — 25.0 miles
- Passes within 25 miles37 of 75
- Peak monthSeptember — 23 storms (31% of all)
- Most active year2016 — 4 storms
- Most active decade1880s — 7 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi1
- Record span1852–2024
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 16 | 23 | 15 | 3 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 4 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debby (2024) | 6 Aug 2024 | 30.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Idalia (2023) | 30 Aug 2023 | 9.7 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Colin (2022) | 1 Jul 2022 | 30.5 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Danny (2021) | 29 Jun 2021 | 18.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Matthew (2016) | 8 Oct 2016 | 38.1 mi | Cat 2 | 85 kt |
| Julia (2016) | 14 Sep 2016 | 47.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Hermine (2016) | 2 Sep 2016 | 10.6 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Bonnie (2016) | 30 May 2016 | 46.0 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Andrea (2013) | 7 Jun 2013 | 13.7 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Beryl (2012) | 30 May 2012 | 2.5 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Bonnie (2004) | 13 Aug 2004 | 19.2 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Kyle (2002) | 11 Oct 2002 | 42.5 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Gordon (1994) | 21 Nov 1994 | 15.1 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Chris (1988) | 28 Aug 1988 | 7.1 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Charley (1986) | 15 Aug 1986 | 9.1 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| Kate (1985) | 22 Nov 1985 | 19.4 mi | TS / TD | 49 kt |
| Isabel (1985) | 11 Oct 1985 | 44.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Bob (1985) | 25 Jul 1985 | 26.5 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1981) | 3 Jul 1981 | 28.5 mi | TS / TD | 26 kt |
| David (1979) | 5 Sep 1979 | 6.6 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1976) | 15 Sep 1976 | 18.1 mi | TS / TD | 39 kt |
| Dawn (1972) | 14 Sep 1972 | 43.4 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1971) | 11 Sep 1971 | 5.0 mi | TD | — |
| Alma (1970) | 25 May 1970 | 14.5 mi | TS / TD | 39 kt |
| Alma (1966) | 10 Jun 1966 | 17.4 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Dora (1964) | 13 Sep 1964 | 16.3 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Cleo (1964) | 29 Aug 1964 | 31.9 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Brenda (1960) | 29 Jul 1960 | 25.1 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Gracie (1959) | 29 Sep 1959 | 25.0 mi | Cat 4 | 115 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1957) | 9 Jun 1957 | 35.1 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1954) | 10 Jul 1954 | 41.1 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1953) | 1 Sep 1953 | 39.8 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Able (1952) | 31 Aug 1952 | 21.2 mi | Cat 1 | 78 kt |
| Love (1950) | 22 Oct 1950 | 22.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 15 Oct 1947 | 43.8 mi | Cat 2 | 90 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1946) | 8 Oct 1946 | 39.8 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | 17 Sep 1945 | 15.8 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1944) | 20 Oct 1944 | 2.5 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1941) | 8 Oct 1941 | 21.4 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1940) | 11 Aug 1940 | 19.5 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | 18 Sep 1928 | 30.0 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1927) | 3 Oct 1927 | 36.5 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1924) | 16 Sep 1924 | 7.0 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1923) | 27 Jun 1923 | 29.8 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 16 May 1916 | 29.3 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | 6 Sep 1912 | 47.0 mi | TS / TD | 29 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1911) | 28 Aug 1911 | 15.2 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1910) | 19 Oct 1910 | 38.6 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1909) | 3 Jul 1909 | 2.2 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1907) | 29 Sep 1907 | 23.4 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1907) | 29 Jun 1907 | 44.1 mi | TS / TD | 54 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1904) | 4 Nov 1904 | 16.4 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 18 Sep 1901 | 40.7 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1898) | 31 Aug 1898 | 13.2 mi | Cat 1 | 66 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1896) | 29 Sep 1896 | 19.0 mi | Cat 2 | 85 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 9 Oct 1894 | 14.0 mi | TS / TD | 63 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 27 Sep 1894 | 20.8 mi | Cat 1 | 80 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 28 Aug 1893 | 9.7 mi | Cat 2 | 88 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 16 Jun 1893 | 18.9 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 10 Sep 1888 | 28.3 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 1 Jul 1886 | 39.2 mi | TS / TD | 51 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1885) | 12 Oct 1885 | 42.1 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1885) | 25 Aug 1885 | 45.0 mi | Cat 2 | 90 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1884) | 11 Sep 1884 | 32.3 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 11 Oct 1882 | 46.6 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1881) | 28 Aug 1881 | 49.8 mi | Cat 2 | 85 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1878) | 12 Sep 1878 | 35.4 mi | Cat 1 | 80 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 28 Sep 1874 | 38.1 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1873) | 19 Sep 1873 | 16.1 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 6 Oct 1871 | 20.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 28 Aug 1871 | 2.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1871) | 19 Aug 1871 | 44.2 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1860) | 14 Aug 1860 | 32.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1854) | 9 Sep 1854 | 24.9 mi | Cat 1 | 73 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1852) | 10 Oct 1852 | 33.1 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barry (2007) | Post-tropical | 3 Jun 2007 | 18.4 mi | 40 kt |
| Gordon (2000) | Post-tropical | 18 Sep 2000 | 16.0 mi | 25 kt |
| Earl (1998) | Post-tropical | 3 Sep 1998 | 35.3 mi | 40 kt |
| Josephine (1996) | Post-tropical | 8 Oct 1996 | 21.7 mi | 45 kt |
| Allison (1995) | Post-tropical | 6 Jun 1995 | 31.9 mi | 35 kt |
| Flossy (1956) | Post-tropical | 26 Sep 1956 | 34.2 mi | 42 kt |
| Florence (1953) | Post-tropical | 27 Sep 1953 | 28.0 mi | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | Post-tropical | 24 Sep 1947 | 10.6 mi | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1924) | Post-tropical | 30 Sep 1924 | 16.7 mi | 55 kt |
Storms that came back
2 named storms in this record passed Jasper County, South Carolina more than once.
- Alma — 2 passes (1966, 1970)
- Bonnie — 2 passes (2004, 2016)
How Jasper 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, Jasper County, South Carolina ranks #15 — more exposed than 99.3% of them. Within South Carolina it ranks #2 of 46, against a state average of 44.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 4 Gracie (1959) passed 25 miles away on 29 September 1959 as a hurricane, reaching 115 kt (132 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1854) passed 25 miles away on 9 September 1854 as a hurricane, reaching 95 kt (109 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1947) passed 44 miles away on 15 October 1947 as a hurricane, reaching 90 kt (104 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1893) passed 10 miles away on 28 August 1893 as a hurricane, reaching 90 kt (104 mph) while within 50 miles.
66 of the 75 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 2.3 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 75 storms spread over the 174 years from 1852 to 2025. 8 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 12 years, between 1928 and 1940. It has been 1 year since the last one; 38 of the 62 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Jasper County, South Carolina?
19 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Jasper County, South Carolina at hurricane strength since 1852. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 75.
When was the last hurricane in Jasper County, South Carolina?
Matthew (2016), on 8 October 2016, passing 38 miles away — 10 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Debby (2024) in 2024.
What was the strongest storm to affect Jasper County, South Carolina?
Gracie (1959), which reached 115 kt (132 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 25 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Jasper County, South Carolina?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 2.3 years — 75 storms over the 174 years from 1852 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Jasper County, South Carolina borders or sits close to 4 other counties with a published storm record. Chatham County, Georgia has 83 on record.