Lancaster County, South Carolina Hurricane History
Since 1854, 45 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Lancaster County, South Carolina — about one every 3.8 years. Of those, 4 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Debby (2024), which passed 24 miles away on 8 August 2024.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentDebby (2024) — 24 mi away, 8 August 2024
- Strongest stormHugo (1989) — 75 kt (86 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1994) — 2.5 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles16 of 45
- Peak monthSeptember — 17 storms (38% of all)
- Most active year1959 — 3 storms
- Most active decade1880s — 6 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1854–2024
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 17 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debby (2024) | 8 Aug 2024 | 23.7 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Elsa (2021) | 8 Jul 2021 | 31.9 mi | TS / TD | 41 kt |
| Claudette (2021) | 21 Jun 2021 | 19.1 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Bertha (2020) | 27 May 2020 | 6.0 mi | TS / TD | 26 kt |
| Michael (2018) | 11 Oct 2018 | 14.0 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Jeanne (2004) | 28 Sep 2004 | 45.6 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Helene (2000) | 23 Sep 2000 | 37.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Danny (1997) | 24 Jul 1997 | 6.0 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1994) | 21 Jul 1994 | 2.5 mi | TS / TD | 18 kt |
| Hugo (1989) | 22 Sep 1989 | 16.9 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Chris (1988) | 29 Aug 1988 | 13.1 mi | TS / TD | 23 kt |
| Bob (1985) | 25 Jul 1985 | 14.0 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| David (1979) | 5 Sep 1979 | 3.4 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Babe (1977) | 8 Sep 1977 | 8.2 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Alma (1970) | 26 May 1970 | 42.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Cleo (1964) | 30 Aug 1964 | 35.5 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1964) | 23 Jul 1964 | 43.7 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Gracie (1959) | 30 Sep 1959 | 30.5 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Cindy (1959) | 9 Jul 1959 | 43.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Arlene (1959) | 2 Jun 1959 | 33.5 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Able (1952) | 31 Aug 1952 | 8.1 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1952) | 28 Aug 1952 | 35.9 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | 18 Sep 1945 | 49.9 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1935) | 5 Sep 1935 | 34.0 mi | TS / TD | 46 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1927) | 3 Oct 1927 | 5.5 mi | TS / TD | 36 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 15 Jul 1916 | 35.1 mi | TS / TD | 49 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 3 Aug 1915 | 32.9 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1913) | 10 Oct 1913 | 43.5 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1913) | 4 Sep 1913 | 25.3 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1906) | 18 Sep 1906 | 46.3 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | 16 Jun 1902 | 30.3 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 13 Jul 1901 | 29.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1896) | 29 Sep 1896 | 48.8 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 4 Oct 1893 | 26.3 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 28 Aug 1893 | 6.0 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1889) | 24 Sep 1889 | 12.4 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 10 Sep 1888 | 35.5 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1887) | 20 Oct 1887 | 41.7 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 22 Jun 1886 | 34.1 mi | TS / TD | 36 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1885) | 12 Oct 1885 | 23.8 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 11 Sep 1882 | 37.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1878) | 12 Sep 1878 | 41.2 mi | TS / TD | 57 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1877) | 4 Oct 1877 | 37.0 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1859) | 17 Sep 1859 | 34.0 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1854) | 9 Sep 1854 | 29.1 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 10 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 8 most recent.
| Storm | Status | Closest approach | Distance | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sally (2020) | Post-tropical | 18 Sep 2020 | 40.9 mi | 30 kt |
| Nestor (2019) | Post-tropical | 20 Oct 2019 | 44.1 mi | 40 kt |
| Alberto (2006) | Post-tropical | 14 Jun 2006 | 26.7 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1965) | Post-tropical | 16 Jun 1965 | 24.0 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1946) | Post-tropical | 9 Oct 1946 | 27.4 mi | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1944) | Post-tropical | 20 Oct 1944 | 49.5 mi | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1929) | Post-tropical | 2 Oct 1929 | 32.7 mi | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | Post-tropical | 11 Aug 1928 | 35.5 mi | 30 kt |
How Lancaster 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, Lancaster County, South Carolina ranks #257 — more exposed than 88.4% of them. Within South Carolina it ranks #24 of 46, against a state average of 44.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Hugo (1989) passed 17 miles away on 22 September 1989 as a hurricane, reaching 75 kt (86 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1896) passed 49 miles away on 29 September 1896 as a hurricane, reaching 75 kt (86 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1893) passed 6 miles away on 28 August 1893 as a hurricane, reaching 73 kt (84 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Gracie (1959) passed 30 miles away on 30 September 1959 as a hurricane, reaching 58 kt (67 mph) while within 50 miles.
41 of the 45 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 3.8 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 45 storms spread over the 172 years from 1854 to 2025. 6 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 18 years, between 1859 and 1877. It has been 1 year since the last one; 28 of the 37 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Lancaster County, South Carolina?
4 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Lancaster County, South Carolina at hurricane strength since 1854. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 45.
When was the last hurricane in Lancaster County, South Carolina?
Hugo (1989), on 22 September 1989, passing 17 miles away — 37 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Debby (2024) in 2024.
What was the strongest storm to affect Lancaster County, South Carolina?
Hugo (1989), which reached 75 kt (86 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 17 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Lancaster County, South Carolina?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 3.8 years — 45 storms over the 172 years from 1854 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Lancaster County, South Carolina borders or sits close to 7 other counties with a published storm record. Kershaw County, South Carolina has 48 on record.