Newberry County, South Carolina Hurricane History
Since 1859, 32 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Newberry County, South Carolina — about one every 5.2 years. Of those, 3 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Claudette (2021), which passed 12 miles away on 20 June 2021.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentClaudette (2021) — 12 mi away, 20 June 2021
- Strongest stormHugo (1989) — 75 kt (86 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1889) — 0.7 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles10 of 32
- Peak monthSeptember — 13 storms (41% of all)
- Most active year1893 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1880s — 5 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1859–2021
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 13 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claudette (2021) | 20 Jun 2021 | 11.8 mi | TS / TD | 29 kt |
| Michael (2018) | 11 Oct 2018 | 11.2 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Florence (2018) | 16 Sep 2018 | 29.6 mi | TS / TD | 29 kt |
| Alberto (2006) | 14 Jun 2006 | 43.3 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Jeanne (2004) | 28 Sep 2004 | 25.4 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Helene (2000) | 23 Sep 2000 | 39.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Danny (1997) | 24 Jul 1997 | 14.8 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Hugo (1989) | 22 Sep 1989 | 44.4 mi | Cat 1 | 70 kt |
| Chris (1988) | 29 Aug 1988 | 31.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| David (1979) | 5 Sep 1979 | 48.9 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Babe (1977) | 8 Sep 1977 | 33.8 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Abby (1968) | 8 Jun 1968 | 40.1 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Cleo (1964) | 30 Aug 1964 | 10.8 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1964) | 23 Jul 1964 | 48.2 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Gracie (1959) | 30 Sep 1959 | 26.6 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Arlene (1959) | 2 Jun 1959 | 27.5 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Able (1952) | 31 Aug 1952 | 40.4 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 28 Aug 1949 | 40.5 mi | TS / TD | 51 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1927) | 3 Oct 1927 | 48.9 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 15 Jul 1916 | 13.5 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 3 Aug 1915 | 6.9 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1913) | 4 Sep 1913 | 45.3 mi | TS / TD | 24 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1906) | 18 Sep 1906 | 5.7 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1903) | 16 Sep 1903 | 48.3 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 4 Oct 1893 | 15.7 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 28 Aug 1893 | 35.6 mi | Cat 1 | 73 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1889) | 24 Sep 1889 | 0.7 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1887) | 20 Oct 1887 | 46.8 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 22 Jun 1886 | 11.6 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1885) | 12 Oct 1885 | 49.9 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 11 Sep 1882 | 28.7 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1859) | 17 Sep 1859 | 30.9 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 7 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 | 27.1 mi | 30 kt |
| Marco (1990) | Post-tropical | 13 Oct 1990 | 33.0 mi | 15 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1965) | Post-tropical | 16 Jun 1965 | 25.8 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1946) | Post-tropical | 9 Oct 1946 | 26.4 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | Post-tropical | 11 Aug 1928 | 13.7 mi | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | Post-tropical | 14 Jun 1912 | 3.1 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1908) | Post-tropical | 23 Oct 1908 | 34.8 mi | 30 kt |
How Newberry 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, Newberry County, South Carolina ranks #479 — more exposed than 78.3% of them. Within South Carolina it ranks #33 of 46, against a state average of 44.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Hugo (1989) passed 44 miles away on 22 September 1989 as a hurricane, reaching 75 kt (86 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1893) passed 36 miles away on 28 August 1893 as a hurricane, reaching 75 kt (86 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Gracie (1959) passed 27 miles away on 30 September 1959 as a hurricane, reaching 61 kt (70 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1949) passed 41 miles away on 28 August 1949 as a tropical storm, reaching 51 kt (59 mph) while within 50 miles.
29 of the 32 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 5.2 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 32 storms spread over the 167 years from 1859 to 2025. 4 separate years 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 4 years since the last one; 11 of the 27 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Newberry County, South Carolina?
3 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Newberry County, South Carolina at hurricane strength since 1859. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 32.
When was the last hurricane in Newberry County, South Carolina?
Hugo (1989), on 22 September 1989, passing 44 miles away — 37 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Claudette (2021) in 2021.
What was the strongest storm to affect Newberry County, South Carolina?
Hugo (1989), which reached 75 kt (86 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 44 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Newberry County, South Carolina?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 5.2 years — 32 storms over the 167 years from 1859 to 2025, the end of the HURDAT2 record. That is a historical average, not a schedule or a forecast.
Nearby counties
Newberry County, South Carolina borders or sits close to 7 other counties with a published storm record. Richland County, South Carolina has 44 on record.