Marlboro County, South Carolina Hurricane History
Since 1851, 46 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Marlboro County, South Carolina — about one every 3.8 years. Of those, 3 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Chantal (2025), which passed 33 miles away on 6 July 2025.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentChantal (2025) — 33 mi away, 6 July 2025
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1893) — 90 kt (104 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1893) — 1.2 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles26 of 46
- Peak monthSeptember — 14 storms (30% of all)
- Most active year1893 — 2 storms
- Most active decade2020s — 5 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1851–2025
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 10 | 4 | 14 | 8 | 1 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 5 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chantal (2025) | 6 Jul 2025 | 33.0 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Debby (2024) | 8 Aug 2024 | 34.1 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Elsa (2021) | 8 Jul 2021 | 17.6 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Claudette (2021) | 21 Jun 2021 | 11.4 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Bertha (2020) | 27 May 2020 | 46.0 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Andrea (2013) | 7 Jun 2013 | 23.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Gaston (2004) | 30 Aug 2004 | 24.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Allison (2001) | 13 Jun 2001 | 41.0 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Helene (2000) | 23 Sep 2000 | 2.5 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Danny (1997) | 24 Jul 1997 | 25.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Gordon (1994) | 21 Nov 1994 | 35.3 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1994) | 20 Jul 1994 | 43.6 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Bob (1985) | 25 Jul 1985 | 48.6 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1981) | 4 Jul 1981 | 45.4 mi | TD | — |
| Babe (1977) | 9 Sep 1977 | 32.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1976) | 15 Sep 1976 | 10.2 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Agnes (1972) | 21 Jun 1972 | 32.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Alma (1970) | 26 May 1970 | 12.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1964) | 23 Jul 1964 | 10.4 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Cindy (1959) | 10 Jul 1959 | 5.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Arlene (1959) | 2 Jun 1959 | 23.0 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1952) | 28 Aug 1952 | 4.1 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 13 Sep 1949 | 33.0 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | 18 Sep 1945 | 6.9 mi | TS / TD | 49 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1935) | 6 Sep 1935 | 17.2 mi | TS / TD | 46 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1920) | 23 Sep 1920 | 40.0 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1913) | 10 Oct 1913 | 8.3 mi | TS / TD | 31 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1913) | 4 Sep 1913 | 35.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1904) | 14 Sep 1904 | 10.2 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | 16 Jun 1902 | 18.6 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | 13 Jul 1901 | 3.1 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1899) | 31 Oct 1899 | 39.3 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1896) | 29 Sep 1896 | 11.7 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 13 Oct 1893 | 49.5 mi | Cat 2 | 90 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 4 Oct 1893 | 1.2 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 10 Sep 1888 | 17.7 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1887) | 20 Oct 1887 | 14.0 mi | TS / TD | 31 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 1 Jul 1886 | 11.2 mi | TS / TD | 42 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1885) | 13 Oct 1885 | 27.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1878) | 12 Sep 1878 | 24.2 mi | TS / TD | 57 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1877) | 4 Oct 1877 | 7.2 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1867) | 23 Jun 1867 | 28.2 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1856) | 1 Sep 1856 | 39.4 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1854) | 9 Sep 1854 | 6.9 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1852) | 10 Oct 1852 | 42.8 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1851) | 25 Aug 1851 | 24.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 13 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ian (2022) | Post-tropical | 1 Oct 2022 | 15.6 mi | 43 kt |
| Nestor (2019) | Post-tropical | 20 Oct 2019 | 14.1 mi | 40 kt |
| Alberto (2006) | Post-tropical | 14 Jun 2006 | 7.3 mi | 35 kt |
| Gordon (2000) | Post-tropical | 19 Sep 2000 | 17.4 mi | 22 kt |
| Earl (1998) | Post-tropical | 4 Sep 1998 | 32.9 mi | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1965) | Post-tropical | 16 Jun 1965 | 13.3 mi | 35 kt |
| Flossy (1956) | Post-tropical | 26 Sep 1956 | 47.9 mi | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | Post-tropical | 24 Sep 1947 | 33.0 mi | 37 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1924) | Post-tropical | 30 Sep 1924 | 45.6 mi | 58 kt |
How Marlboro 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, Marlboro County, South Carolina ranks #246 — more exposed than 88.9% of them. Within South Carolina it ranks #23 of 46, against a state average of 44.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 2 Unnamed Storm (1893) passed 50 miles away on 13 October 1893 as a hurricane, reaching 90 kt (104 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1899) passed 39 miles away on 31 October 1899 as a hurricane, reaching 81 kt (93 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1896) passed 12 miles away on 29 September 1896 as a hurricane, reaching 75 kt (86 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1904) passed 10 miles away on 14 September 1904 as a tropical storm, reaching 64 kt (74 mph) while within 50 miles.
40 of the 46 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 46 storms spread over the 175 years from 1851 to 2025. 5 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 15 years, between 1920 and 1935. It has been 0 years since the last one; 40 of the 40 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Marlboro County, South Carolina?
3 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Marlboro County, South Carolina at hurricane strength since 1851. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 46.
When was the last hurricane in Marlboro County, South Carolina?
Unnamed Storm (1899), on 31 October 1899, passing 39 miles away — 127 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Chantal (2025) in 2025.
What was the strongest storm to affect Marlboro County, South Carolina?
Unnamed Storm (1893), which reached 90 kt (104 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 50 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Marlboro County, South Carolina?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 3.8 years — 46 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
Marlboro County, South Carolina borders or sits close to 8 other counties with a published storm record. Florence County, South Carolina has 62 on record.