Richland County, South Carolina Hurricane History
Since 1851, 44 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Richland County, South Carolina — about one every 4.0 years. Of those, 5 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Debby (2024), which passed 44 miles away on 8 August 2024.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentDebby (2024) — 44 mi away, 8 August 2024
- Strongest stormHugo (1989) — 80 kt (92 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordAlberto (2006) — 1.4 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles24 of 44
- Peak monthSeptember — 14 storms (32% of all)
- Most active year1959 — 3 storms
- Most active decade1880s — 5 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1851–2024
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
Activity by decade
| 1850s | 1860s | 1870s | 1880s | 1890s | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debby (2024) | 8 Aug 2024 | 43.6 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Elsa (2021) | 8 Jul 2021 | 11.2 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Claudette (2021) | 21 Jun 2021 | 20.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Bertha (2020) | 27 May 2020 | 34.1 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Michael (2018) | 11 Oct 2018 | 37.0 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Florence (2018) | 16 Sep 2018 | 29.7 mi | TS / TD | 39 kt |
| Alberto (2006) | 14 Jun 2006 | 1.4 mi | TS / TD | 34 kt |
| Allison (2001) | 13 Jun 2001 | 25.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Helene (2000) | 23 Sep 2000 | 3.4 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Danny (1997) | 24 Jul 1997 | 37.5 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1994) | 21 Jul 1994 | 34.3 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Hugo (1989) | 22 Sep 1989 | 20.2 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Chris (1988) | 29 Aug 1988 | 12.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Bob (1985) | 25 Jul 1985 | 21.1 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| David (1979) | 5 Sep 1979 | 7.1 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Agnes (1972) | 21 Jun 1972 | 25.4 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Alma (1970) | 26 May 1970 | 28.9 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1964) | 23 Jul 1964 | 10.7 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Gracie (1959) | 30 Sep 1959 | 8.2 mi | TS / TD | 58 kt |
| Cindy (1959) | 9 Jul 1959 | 34.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Arlene (1959) | 2 Jun 1959 | 4.9 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Able (1952) | 31 Aug 1952 | 3.3 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1945) | 17 Sep 1945 | 46.6 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1935) | 5 Sep 1935 | 12.3 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1927) | 3 Oct 1927 | 11.5 mi | TS / TD | 38 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 14 Jul 1916 | 8.9 mi | TS / TD | 51 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 3 Aug 1915 | 37.2 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1913) | 9 Oct 1913 | 32.5 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1906) | 18 Sep 1906 | 2.0 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | 16 Jun 1902 | 11.5 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1896) | 29 Sep 1896 | 40.4 mi | Cat 1 | 78 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 4 Oct 1893 | 16.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 28 Aug 1893 | 10.2 mi | Cat 1 | 73 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1889) | 24 Sep 1889 | 40.2 mi | TS / TD | 44 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1888) | 10 Sep 1888 | 19.3 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1887) | 20 Oct 1887 | 10.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 1 Jul 1886 | 35.2 mi | TS / TD | 46 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1885) | 12 Oct 1885 | 6.0 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1878) | 12 Sep 1878 | 45.8 mi | TS / TD | 60 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1877) | 4 Oct 1877 | 10.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1856) | 1 Sep 1856 | 40.4 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1854) | 9 Sep 1854 | 7.6 mi | TS / TD | 53 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1852) | 27 Aug 1852 | 40.0 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1851) | 24 Aug 1851 | 25.4 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 10 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 8 most recent.
| Storm | Status | Closest approach | Distance | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sally (2020) | Post-tropical | 18 Sep 2020 | 7.5 mi | 30 kt |
| Nestor (2019) | Post-tropical | 20 Oct 2019 | 18.5 mi | 40 kt |
| Marco (1990) | Post-tropical | 13 Oct 1990 | 6.2 mi | 15 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1965) | Post-tropical | 16 Jun 1965 | 13.6 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | Post-tropical | 24 Sep 1947 | 49.9 mi | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1946) | Post-tropical | 9 Oct 1946 | 8.9 mi | 32 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1944) | Post-tropical | 20 Oct 1944 | 32.2 mi | 50 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1929) | Post-tropical | 2 Oct 1929 | 17.4 mi | 50 kt |
How Richland 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, Richland County, South Carolina ranks #263 — more exposed than 88.1% of them. Within South Carolina it ranks #26 of 46, against a state average of 44.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Hugo (1989) passed 20 miles away on 22 September 1989 as a hurricane, reaching 80 kt (92 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1896) passed 40 miles away on 29 September 1896 as a hurricane, reaching 77 kt (89 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1893) passed 10 miles away on 28 August 1893 as a hurricane, reaching 77 kt (89 mph) while within 50 miles.
- Cat 1 Gracie (1959) passed 8 miles away on 30 September 1959 as a hurricane, reaching 73 kt (84 mph) while within 50 miles.
40 of the 44 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 4.0 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 44 storms spread over the 175 years from 1851 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 21 years, between 1856 and 1877. It has been 1 year since the last one; 28 of the 38 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Richland County, South Carolina?
5 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Richland County, South Carolina at hurricane strength since 1851. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 44.
When was the last hurricane in Richland County, South Carolina?
Hugo (1989), on 22 September 1989, passing 20 miles away — 37 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Debby (2024) in 2024.
What was the strongest storm to affect Richland County, South Carolina?
Hugo (1989), which reached 80 kt (92 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 20 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Richland County, South Carolina?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 4.0 years — 44 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
Richland County, South Carolina borders or sits close to 6 other counties with a published storm record. Sumter County, South Carolina has 52 on record.