Marion County, South Carolina Hurricane History
Since 1851, 61 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Marion County, South Carolina — about one every 2.9 years. Of those, 11 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Chantal (2025), which passed 15 miles away on 6 July 2025.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentChantal (2025) — 15 mi away, 6 July 2025
- Strongest stormHazel (1954) — 115 kt (132 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1867) — 1.6 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)Unnamed Storm (1893) — 23.1 miles
- Passes within 25 miles21 of 61
- Peak monthSeptember — 21 storms (34% of all)
- Most active year1893 — 3 storms
- Most active decade1890s and 2000s — 7 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi2
- Record span1851–2025
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 21 | 11 | 2 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 5 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chantal (2025) | 6 Jul 2025 | 14.9 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Debby (2024) | 8 Aug 2024 | 43.0 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Idalia (2023) | 31 Aug 2023 | 48.0 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Ian (2022) | 30 Sep 2022 | 6.1 mi | TS / TD | 57 kt |
| Colin (2022) | 2 Jul 2022 | 32.2 mi | TS / TD | 31 kt |
| Florence (2018) | 15 Sep 2018 | 25.3 mi | TS / TD | 57 kt |
| Matthew (2016) | 8 Oct 2016 | 45.2 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Hermine (2016) | 3 Sep 2016 | 33.5 mi | TS / TD | 51 kt |
| Ana (2015) | 10 May 2015 | 33.7 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Andrea (2013) | 7 Jun 2013 | 17.9 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Beryl (2012) | 30 May 2012 | 37.2 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Hanna (2008) | 6 Sep 2008 | 42.3 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Gaston (2004) | 29 Aug 2004 | 4.5 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Charley (2004) | 14 Aug 2004 | 42.3 mi | Cat 1 | 65 kt |
| Bonnie (2004) | 13 Aug 2004 | 45.2 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Kyle (2002) | 11 Oct 2002 | 46.9 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Allison (2001) | 13 Jun 2001 | 4.3 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Helene (2000) | 23 Sep 2000 | 37.8 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Gordon (1994) | 21 Nov 1994 | 25.5 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1994) | 20 Jul 1994 | 33.1 mi | TS / TD | 24 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1987) | 8 Sep 1987 | 49.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Kate (1985) | 22 Nov 1985 | 27.9 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1981) | 4 Jul 1981 | 37.4 mi | TD | — |
| Unnamed Storm (1976) | 15 Sep 1976 | 24.0 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Agnes (1972) | 21 Jun 1972 | 8.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Alma (1970) | 26 May 1970 | 45.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1964) | 23 Jul 1964 | 30.0 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Cindy (1959) | 10 Jul 1959 | 42.4 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Arlene (1959) | 2 Jun 1959 | 42.9 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Hazel (1954) | 15 Oct 1954 | 45.0 mi | Cat 4 | 115 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1952) | 28 Aug 1952 | 9.0 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 13 Sep 1949 | 32.2 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | 17 Sep 1945 | 36.5 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | 19 Sep 1928 | 19.2 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1924) | 17 Sep 1924 | 38.5 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1920) | 23 Sep 1920 | 42.9 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 16 May 1916 | 18.4 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1913) | 10 Oct 1913 | 28.8 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1906) | 18 Sep 1906 | 47.8 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1904) | 14 Sep 1904 | 6.0 mi | Cat 1 | 64 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 18 Sep 1901 | 36.5 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 13 Jul 1901 | 21.8 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1899) | 31 Oct 1899 | 21.8 mi | Cat 1 | 82 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1896) | 29 Sep 1896 | 42.7 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 9 Oct 1894 | 24.2 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1894) | 27 Sep 1894 | 23.8 mi | Cat 1 | 64 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 13 Oct 1893 | 23.1 mi | Cat 2 | 95 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 4 Oct 1893 | 40.8 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 16 Jun 1893 | 30.2 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1887) | 20 Oct 1887 | 37.1 mi | TS / TD | 31 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 1 Jul 1886 | 27.0 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1885) | 25 Aug 1885 | 32.6 mi | Cat 1 | 80 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1878) | 12 Sep 1878 | 43.1 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1877) | 4 Oct 1877 | 45.7 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1874) | 29 Sep 1874 | 21.1 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1867) | 23 Jun 1867 | 1.6 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1856) | 1 Sep 1856 | 3.1 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1854) | 9 Sep 1854 | 46.9 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1852) | 10 Oct 1852 | 10.2 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1852) | 28 Aug 1852 | 30.0 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1851) | 25 Aug 1851 | 16.3 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 15 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nestor (2019) | Post-tropical | 20 Oct 2019 | 42.5 mi | 40 kt |
| Bonnie (2016) | Remnant low | 30 May 2016 | 49.3 mi | 25 kt |
| Alberto (2006) | Post-tropical | 14 Jun 2006 | 45.5 mi | 35 kt |
| Gordon (2000) | Post-tropical | 19 Sep 2000 | 18.2 mi | 22 kt |
| Earl (1998) | Post-tropical | 4 Sep 1998 | 8.4 mi | 47 kt |
| Josephine (1996) | Post-tropical | 8 Oct 1996 | 21.1 mi | 45 kt |
| Allison (1995) | Post-tropical | 6 Jun 1995 | 12.7 mi | 37 kt |
| Abby (1968) | Remnant low | 10 Jun 1968 | 37.4 mi | 25 kt |
| Dora (1964) | Post-tropical | 13 Sep 1964 | 34.6 mi | 60 kt |
How Marion 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, Marion County, South Carolina ranks #113 — more exposed than 94.9% of them. Within South Carolina it ranks #12 of 46, against a state average of 44.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 4 Hazel (1954) passed 45 miles away on 15 October 1954 as a hurricane, reaching 115 kt (132 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 3 Unnamed Storm (1893) passed 23 miles away on 13 October 1893 as a hurricane, reaching 100 kt (115 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1899) passed 22 miles away on 31 October 1899 as a hurricane, reaching 95 kt (109 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1885) passed 33 miles away on 25 August 1885 as a hurricane, reaching 83 kt (96 mph) while within 50 miles.
55 of the 61 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 2.9 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 61 storms spread over the 175 years from 1851 to 2025. 9 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 17 years, between 1928 and 1945. It has been 0 years since the last one; 49 of the 49 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Marion County, South Carolina?
11 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Marion County, South Carolina at hurricane strength since 1851. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 61.
When was the last hurricane in Marion County, South Carolina?
Ian (2022), on 30 September 2022, passing 6 miles away — 4 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Chantal (2025) in 2025.
What was the strongest storm to affect Marion County, South Carolina?
Hazel (1954), which reached 115 kt (132 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 45 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Marion County, South Carolina?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 2.9 years — 61 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
Marion County, South Carolina borders or sits close to 5 other counties with a published storm record. Georgetown County, South Carolina has 70 on record.