Lexington County, South Carolina Hurricane History
Since 1851, 39 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Lexington County, South Carolina — about one every 4.5 years. Of those, 4 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Elsa (2021), which passed 22 miles away on 8 July 2021.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentElsa (2021) — 22 mi away, 8 July 2021
- Strongest stormGracie (1959) — 81 kt (93 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1946) — 4.7 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles23 of 39
- Peak monthSeptember — 11 storms (28% of all)
- Most active year1886 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1880s — 6 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1851–2021
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elsa (2021) | 8 Jul 2021 | 22.4 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Claudette (2021) | 21 Jun 2021 | 21.7 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Michael (2018) | 11 Oct 2018 | 28.4 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Florence (2018) | 16 Sep 2018 | 20.2 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Alberto (2006) | 14 Jun 2006 | 11.8 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Allison (2001) | 13 Jun 2001 | 24.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Helene (2000) | 23 Sep 2000 | 8.2 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Danny (1997) | 24 Jul 1997 | 44.3 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Hugo (1989) | 22 Sep 1989 | 40.4 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Chris (1988) | 28 Aug 1988 | 9.9 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Bob (1985) | 25 Jul 1985 | 38.7 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| David (1979) | 5 Sep 1979 | 26.6 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Agnes (1972) | 21 Jun 1972 | 20.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Alma (1970) | 26 May 1970 | 42.7 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Cleo (1964) | 30 Aug 1964 | 40.1 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1964) | 23 Jul 1964 | 16.9 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Gracie (1959) | 30 Sep 1959 | 17.6 mi | TS / TD | 62 kt |
| Arlene (1959) | 2 Jun 1959 | 6.0 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Able (1952) | 31 Aug 1952 | 23.2 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1946) | 9 Oct 1946 | 4.7 mi | TS / TD | 36 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1935) | 5 Sep 1935 | 22.1 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1927) | 3 Oct 1927 | 31.1 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 15 Jul 1916 | 28.8 mi | TS / TD | 49 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 3 Aug 1915 | 20.2 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1906) | 18 Sep 1906 | 19.2 mi | TS / TD | 43 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | 15 Jun 1902 | 20.8 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 4 Oct 1893 | 17.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 28 Aug 1893 | 9.9 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1889) | 24 Sep 1889 | 33.8 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 10 Sep 1888 | 33.8 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1887) | 20 Oct 1887 | 13.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 1 Jul 1886 | 43.6 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 22 Jun 1886 | 39.7 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1885) | 12 Oct 1885 | 20.8 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1877) | 4 Oct 1877 | 19.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1856) | 1 Sep 1856 | 43.3 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1854) | 9 Sep 1854 | 18.5 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1852) | 27 Aug 1852 | 34.0 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1851) | 24 Aug 1851 | 27.8 mi | TS / TD | 48 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 | 5.4 mi | 30 kt |
| Fay (2020) | Remnant low | 8 Jul 2020 | 41.0 mi | 20 kt |
| Nestor (2019) | Post-tropical | 20 Oct 2019 | 26.7 mi | 40 kt |
| Marco (1990) | Post-tropical | 13 Oct 1990 | 1.4 mi | 15 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1965) | Post-tropical | 16 Jun 1965 | 18.8 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1944) | Post-tropical | 20 Oct 1944 | 46.3 mi | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1929) | Post-tropical | 2 Oct 1929 | 26.3 mi | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | Post-tropical | 11 Aug 1928 | 46.2 mi | 30 kt |
How Lexington 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, Lexington County, South Carolina ranks #344 — more exposed than 84.4% of them. Within South Carolina it ranks #29 of 46, against a state average of 44.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Gracie (1959) passed 18 miles away on 30 September 1959 as a hurricane, reaching 81 kt (93 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Hugo (1989) passed 40 miles away on 22 September 1989 as a hurricane, reaching 80 kt (92 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1893) passed 10 miles away on 28 August 1893 as a hurricane, reaching 80 kt (92 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1854) passed 18 miles away on 9 September 1854 as a tropical storm, reaching 60 kt (69 mph) while within 50 miles.
35 of the 39 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 4.5 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 39 storms spread over the 175 years from 1851 to 2025. 6 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 4 years since the last one; 16 of the 32 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Lexington County, South Carolina?
4 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Lexington County, South Carolina at hurricane strength since 1851. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 39.
When was the last hurricane in Lexington County, South Carolina?
Hugo (1989), on 22 September 1989, passing 40 miles away — 37 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Elsa (2021) in 2021.
What was the strongest storm to affect Lexington County, South Carolina?
Gracie (1959), which reached 81 kt (93 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 18 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Lexington County, South Carolina?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 4.5 years — 39 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
Lexington County, South Carolina borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Orangeburg County, South Carolina has 57 on record.