Pickens County, South Carolina Tropical Cyclone History
Since 1859, 13 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Pickens County, South Carolina — about one every 12.8 years. Of those, 0 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Helene (2024), which passed 43 miles away on 27 September 2024.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
Key facts
- Most recentHelene (2024) — 43 mi away, 27 September 2024
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1949) — 50 kt (58 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1906) — 1.5 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles7 of 13
- Peak monthSeptember — 7 storms (54% of all)
- Most active year1859 — 1 storms
- Most active decade1910s and 1990s — 2 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1859–2024
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 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 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helene (2024) | 27 Sep 2024 | 43.1 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Florence (2018) | 17 Sep 2018 | 30.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Danny (1997) | 23 Jul 1997 | 35.2 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Beryl (1994) | 17 Aug 1994 | 17.9 mi | TS / TD | 15 kt |
| Babe (1977) | 8 Sep 1977 | 14.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Abby (1968) | 8 Jun 1968 | 24.7 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 28 Aug 1949 | 32.3 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 15 Jul 1916 | 8.0 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1913) | 4 Sep 1913 | 15.8 mi | TS / TD | 22 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1906) | 18 Sep 1906 | 1.5 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1896) | 8 Jul 1896 | 13.7 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 11 Sep 1882 | 43.2 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1859) | 17 Sep 1859 | 42.4 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cindy (2005) | Post-tropical | 7 Jul 2005 | 19.6 mi | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1911) | Post-tropical | 30 Aug 1911 | 21.6 mi | 28 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1907) | Post-tropical | 23 Sep 1907 | 1.4 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | Post-tropical | 11 Oct 1902 | 4.5 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1901) | Post-tropical | 28 Sep 1901 | 14.9 mi | 35 kt |
How Pickens 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, Pickens County, South Carolina ranks #1,101 — more exposed than 50.1% of them. Within South Carolina it ranks #46 of 46, against a state average of 44.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1949) passed 32 miles away on 28 August 1949 as a tropical storm, reaching 50 kt (58 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Helene (2024) passed 43 miles away on 27 September 2024 as a tropical storm, reaching 45 kt (52 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1916) passed 8 miles away on 15 July 1916 as a tropical storm, reaching 43 kt (49 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1882) passed 43 miles away on 11 September 1882 as a tropical storm, reaching 40 kt (46 mph) while within 50 miles.
12 of the 13 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 12.8 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 13 storms spread over the 167 years from 1859 to 2025. 0 separate years saw more than one storm pass within 50 miles while decades have gone by with none. The longest recorded quiet stretch was 33 years, between 1916 and 1949. It has been 1 year since the last one; 12 of the 12 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
Has a hurricane ever hit Pickens County, South Carolina?
No. No tropical cyclone on record has passed within 50 miles of Pickens County, South Carolina while at hurricane strength. 13 tropical cyclones have passed within that distance since 1859, all of them as tropical storms or depressions. The strongest was Unnamed Storm (1949).
When was the last tropical cyclone in Pickens County, South Carolina?
Helene (2024), on 27 September 2024, passing 43 miles away — 2 years ago. No storm on record has passed within 50 miles of Pickens County, South Carolina at hurricane strength.
What was the strongest storm to affect Pickens County, South Carolina?
Unnamed Storm (1949), which reached 50 kt (58 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 32 miles.
How often does a tropical storm reach Pickens County, South Carolina?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 12.8 years — 13 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
Pickens County, South Carolina borders or sits close to 4 other counties with a published storm record. Anderson County, South Carolina has 22 on record.