Lee County, South Carolina Hurricane History
Since 1851, 51 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Lee County, South Carolina — about one every 3.4 years. Of those, 5 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Debby (2024), which passed 6 miles away on 8 August 2024.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentDebby (2024) — 6 mi away, 8 August 2024
- Strongest stormHugo (1989) — 85 kt (98 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1994) — 1.2 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles30 of 51
- Peak monthSeptember — 16 storms (31% of all)
- Most active year1959 — 3 storms
- Most active decade1970s — 6 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1851–2024
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 9 | 16 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debby (2024) | 8 Aug 2024 | 5.8 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Elsa (2021) | 8 Jul 2021 | 14.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Claudette (2021) | 21 Jun 2021 | 25.6 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Bertha (2020) | 27 May 2020 | 4.9 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Florence (2018) | 16 Sep 2018 | 38.7 mi | TS / TD | 44 kt |
| Andrea (2013) | 7 Jun 2013 | 31.7 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Gaston (2004) | 29 Aug 2004 | 46.8 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Allison (2001) | 13 Jun 2001 | 22.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Helene (2000) | 23 Sep 2000 | 7.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Danny (1997) | 24 Jul 1997 | 39.1 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Gordon (1994) | 21 Nov 1994 | 26.1 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1994) | 20 Jul 1994 | 1.2 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Hugo (1989) | 22 Sep 1989 | 24.1 mi | Cat 1 | 80 kt |
| Chris (1988) | 29 Aug 1988 | 46.4 mi | TS / TD | 24 kt |
| Bob (1985) | 25 Jul 1985 | 18.0 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1981) | 4 Jul 1981 | 18.1 mi | TD | — |
| David (1979) | 5 Sep 1979 | 28.6 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Babe (1977) | 9 Sep 1977 | 44.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1976) | 15 Sep 1976 | 24.7 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Dottie (1976) | 21 Aug 1976 | 47.7 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Agnes (1972) | 21 Jun 1972 | 22.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Alma (1970) | 26 May 1970 | 7.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1964) | 23 Jul 1964 | 5.0 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Gracie (1959) | 30 Sep 1959 | 45.2 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Cindy (1959) | 9 Jul 1959 | 1.2 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Arlene (1959) | 2 Jun 1959 | 13.0 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Able (1952) | 31 Aug 1952 | 37.2 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1952) | 28 Aug 1952 | 42.6 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | 17 Sep 1945 | 14.0 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1935) | 5 Sep 1935 | 14.3 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1927) | 3 Oct 1927 | 28.6 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 14 Jul 1916 | 22.4 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1913) | 9 Oct 1913 | 3.0 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1906) | 18 Sep 1906 | 27.9 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1904) | 14 Sep 1904 | 47.4 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | 16 Jun 1902 | 14.5 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 13 Jul 1901 | 40.8 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1896) | 29 Sep 1896 | 14.7 mi | Cat 1 | 78 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 4 Oct 1893 | 18.7 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 28 Aug 1893 | 40.6 mi | Cat 1 | 72 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 10 Sep 1888 | 8.0 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1887) | 20 Oct 1887 | 4.7 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 1 Jul 1886 | 14.9 mi | TS / TD | 44 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1885) | 12 Oct 1885 | 18.9 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1878) | 12 Sep 1878 | 14.0 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1877) | 4 Oct 1877 | 8.0 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1856) | 1 Sep 1856 | 28.9 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1854) | 9 Sep 1854 | 17.2 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1852) | 10 Oct 1852 | 35.7 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1852) | 28 Aug 1852 | 42.8 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1851) | 24 Aug 1851 | 17.9 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 16 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sally (2020) | Post-tropical | 18 Sep 2020 | 31.6 mi | 30 kt |
| Nestor (2019) | Post-tropical | 20 Oct 2019 | 9.4 mi | 40 kt |
| Alberto (2006) | Post-tropical | 14 Jun 2006 | 24.1 mi | 35 kt |
| Gordon (2000) | Post-tropical | 19 Sep 2000 | 28.1 mi | 23 kt |
| Earl (1998) | Post-tropical | 4 Sep 1998 | 35.8 mi | 45 kt |
| Allison (1995) | Post-tropical | 6 Jun 1995 | 41.2 mi | 35 kt |
| Marco (1990) | Post-tropical | 13 Oct 1990 | 44.2 mi | 15 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1965) | Post-tropical | 16 Jun 1965 | 23.9 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1924) | Post-tropical | 30 Sep 1924 | 42.7 mi | 57 kt |
How Lee 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, Lee County, South Carolina ranks #196 — more exposed than 91.1% of them. Within South Carolina it ranks #19 of 46, against a state average of 44.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 2 Hugo (1989) passed 24 miles away on 22 September 1989 as a hurricane, reaching 85 kt (98 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1896) passed 15 miles away on 29 September 1896 as a hurricane, reaching 77 kt (89 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1893) passed 41 miles away on 28 August 1893 as a hurricane, reaching 73 kt (84 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1878) passed 14 miles away on 12 September 1878 as a tropical storm, reaching 66 kt (76 mph) while within 50 miles.
43 of the 51 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 3.4 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 51 storms spread over the 175 years from 1851 to 2025. 7 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while decades have gone by with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 21 years, between 1856 and 1877. It has been 1 year since the last one; 32 of the 42 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Lee County, South Carolina?
5 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Lee County, South Carolina at hurricane strength since 1851. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 51.
When was the last hurricane in Lee County, South Carolina?
Hugo (1989), on 22 September 1989, passing 24 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 Lee County, South Carolina?
Hugo (1989), which reached 85 kt (98 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 24 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Lee County, South Carolina?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 3.4 years — 51 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
Lee County, South Carolina borders or sits close to 4 other counties with a published storm record. Florence County, South Carolina has 62 on record.