McCormick County, South Carolina Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1852, 29 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of McCormick County, South Carolina — about one every 6.0 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Helene (2024), which passed 49 miles away on 27 September 2024.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentHelene (2024) — 49 mi away, 27 September 2024
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1949) — 54 kt (62 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1903) — 0.9 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles15 of 29
- Peak monthSeptember — 10 storms (34% of all)
- Most active year2018 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1880s — 4 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1852–2024
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helene (2024) | 27 Sep 2024 | 48.8 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Claudette (2021) | 20 Jun 2021 | 9.0 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Michael (2018) | 11 Oct 2018 | 17.3 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Florence (2018) | 16 Sep 2018 | 18.7 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Jeanne (2004) | 28 Sep 2004 | 13.0 mi | TS / TD | 21 kt |
| Allison (2001) | 13 Jun 2001 | 46.4 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Helene (2000) | 23 Sep 2000 | 33.9 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Danny (1997) | 24 Jul 1997 | 35.0 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Jerry (1995) | 28 Aug 1995 | 8.3 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Agnes (1972) | 20 Jun 1972 | 42.5 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Abby (1968) | 8 Jun 1968 | 2.9 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Cleo (1964) | 30 Aug 1964 | 17.2 mi | TS / TD | 31 kt |
| Arlene (1959) | 2 Jun 1959 | 17.5 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 28 Aug 1949 | 8.5 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 9 Oct 1947 | 17.7 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1946) | 9 Oct 1946 | 49.1 mi | TS / TD | 39 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1933) | 7 Sep 1933 | 36.0 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | 11 Aug 1928 | 6.3 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 3 Aug 1915 | 36.5 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1906) | 18 Sep 1906 | 47.5 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1903) | 16 Sep 1903 | 0.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1896) | 8 Jul 1896 | 47.0 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 3 Oct 1893 | 9.5 mi | TS / TD | 41 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1889) | 24 Sep 1889 | 7.3 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1887) | 20 Oct 1887 | 48.1 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 22 Jun 1886 | 9.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 11 Sep 1882 | 25.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1859) | 17 Sep 1859 | 29.7 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1852) | 27 Aug 1852 | 44.4 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 | 13.7 mi | 30 kt |
| Fay (2020) | Remnant low | 7 Jul 2020 | 41.3 mi | 20 kt |
| Marco (1990) | Post-tropical | 12 Oct 1990 | 25.9 mi | 15 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1965) | Post-tropical | 16 Jun 1965 | 18.4 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | Post-tropical | 14 Jun 1912 | 20.5 mi | 35 kt |
Storms that came back
1 named storm in this record passed McCormick County, South Carolina more than once.
- Helene — 2 passes (2000, 2024)
How McCormick 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, McCormick County, South Carolina ranks #548 — more exposed than 75.2% of them. Within South Carolina it ranks #35 of 46, against a state average of 44.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1949) passed 8 miles away on 28 August 1949 as a tropical storm, reaching 54 kt (62 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Helene (2024) passed 49 miles away on 27 September 2024 as a tropical storm, reaching 50 kt (58 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Michael (2018) passed 17 miles away on 11 October 2018 as a tropical storm, reaching 47 kt (54 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1889) passed 7 miles away on 24 September 1889 as a tropical storm, reaching 45 kt (52 mph) while within 50 miles.
28 of the 29 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 6.0 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 29 storms spread over the 174 years from 1852 to 2025. 1 separate year saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while decades have gone by with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 23 years, between 1859 and 1882. It has been 1 year since the last one; 24 of the 27 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit McCormick County, South Carolina?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of McCormick County, South Carolina while at hurricane strength. 29 tropical cyclones have passed within that distance since 1852, all of them as tropical storms or depressions. The strongest was Unnamed Storm (1949).
When was the last tropical cyclone in McCormick County, South Carolina?
Helene (2024), on 27 September 2024, passing 49 miles away — 2 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of McCormick County, South Carolina at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect McCormick County, South Carolina?
Unnamed Storm (1949), which reached 54 kt (62 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 8 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach McCormick County, South Carolina?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 6.0 years — 29 storms over the 174 years from 1852 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
McCormick County, South Carolina borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Edgefield County, South Carolina has 34 on record.