Laurens County, South Carolina Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1859, 22 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Laurens County, South Carolina — about one every 7.6 years. Of those, 1 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Claudette (2021), which passed 30 miles away on 20 June 2021.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentClaudette (2021) — 30 mi away, 20 June 2021
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1949) — 52 kt (60 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1906) — 3.5 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles12 of 22
- Peak monthSeptember — 10 storms (45% of all)
- Most active year1959 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1880s and 1910s — 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 | 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 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claudette (2021) | 20 Jun 2021 | 30.4 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Michael (2018) | 11 Oct 2018 | 31.7 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Florence (2018) | 16 Sep 2018 | 9.3 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Jeanne (2004) | 28 Sep 2004 | 5.3 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Danny (1997) | 24 Jul 1997 | 7.2 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Babe (1977) | 8 Sep 1977 | 18.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Abby (1968) | 8 Jun 1968 | 16.9 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Cleo (1964) | 30 Aug 1964 | 16.6 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Gracie (1959) | 30 Sep 1959 | 44.9 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Arlene (1959) | 2 Jun 1959 | 48.7 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 28 Aug 1949 | 16.0 mi | TS / TD | 51 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 9 Oct 1947 | 47.6 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 15 Jul 1916 | 13.0 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 3 Aug 1915 | 33.6 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1913) | 4 Sep 1913 | 25.8 mi | TS / TD | 23 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1906) | 18 Sep 1906 | 3.5 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1903) | 16 Sep 1903 | 43.7 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 4 Oct 1893 | 35.4 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1889) | 24 Sep 1889 | 26.4 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 22 Jun 1886 | 19.0 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 11 Sep 1882 | 5.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1859) | 17 Sep 1859 | 5.0 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 | 46.5 mi | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1965) | Post-tropical | 16 Jun 1965 | 45.5 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | Post-tropical | 11 Aug 1928 | 13.1 mi | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | Post-tropical | 14 Jun 1912 | 23.8 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1907) | Post-tropical | 23 Sep 1907 | 45.1 mi | 35 kt |
How Laurens 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, Laurens County, South Carolina ranks #732 — more exposed than 66.8% of them. Within South Carolina it ranks #42 of 46, against a state average of 44.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1949) passed 16 miles away on 28 August 1949 as a tropical storm, reaching 52 kt (60 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Gracie (1959) passed 45 miles away on 30 September 1959 as a hurricane, reaching 51 kt (59 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1916) passed 13 miles away on 15 July 1916 as a tropical storm, reaching 48 kt (55 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Michael (2018) passed 32 miles away on 11 October 2018 as a tropical storm, reaching 45 kt (52 mph) while within 50 miles.
21 of the 22 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 7.6 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 22 storms spread over the 167 years from 1859 to 2025. 2 separate years 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 4 years since the last one; 10 of the 19 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Laurens County, South Carolina?
1 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Laurens County, South Carolina at hurricane strength since 1859. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 22.
When was the last hurricane in Laurens County, South Carolina?
Gracie (1959), on 30 September 1959, passing 45 miles away — 67 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Claudette (2021) in 2021.
What was the strongest storm to affect Laurens County, South Carolina?
Unnamed Storm (1949), which reached 52 kt (60 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 16 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Laurens County, South Carolina?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 7.6 years — 22 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
Laurens County, South Carolina borders or sits close to 7 other counties with a published storm record. Newberry County, South Carolina has 32 on record.