Saluda County, South Carolina Hurricane History
Since 1851, 39 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Saluda County, South Carolina — about one every 4.5 years. Of those, 3 were at hurricane strength at their closest approach. The most recent was Elsa (2021), which passed 48 miles away on 8 July 2021.
Storm tracks within 50 miles
How strong they get
Key facts
- Most recentElsa (2021) — 48 mi away, 8 July 2021
- Strongest stormUnnamed Storm (1893) — 77 kt (89 mph) at its strongest within 50 miles
- Closest pass on recordUnnamed Storm (1893) — 4.2 miles
- Closest major hurricane (Cat 3+)None on record
- Passes within 25 miles11 of 39
- Peak monthSeptember — 11 storms (28% of all)
- Most active year1893 — 2 storms
- Most active decade1880s — 5 storms
- Major hurricanes (Cat 3+) within 50 mi0
- Record span1851–2021
When storms arrive
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 11 | 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 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
Every tropical or subtropical cyclone within 50 miles
| Storm | Closest approach | Distance | Status | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elsa (2021) | 8 Jul 2021 | 48.2 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Claudette (2021) | 20 Jun 2021 | 7.4 mi | TS / TD | 28 kt |
| Michael (2018) | 11 Oct 2018 | 6.7 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Florence (2018) | 16 Sep 2018 | 11.0 mi | TS / TD | 32 kt |
| Alberto (2006) | 14 Jun 2006 | 38.7 mi | TS / TD | 33 kt |
| Jeanne (2004) | 28 Sep 2004 | 33.0 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Allison (2001) | 13 Jun 2001 | 41.6 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Helene (2000) | 23 Sep 2000 | 25.9 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Danny (1997) | 24 Jul 1997 | 32.4 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Jerry (1995) | 28 Aug 1995 | 41.1 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Chris (1988) | 29 Aug 1988 | 36.5 mi | TS / TD | 25 kt |
| Agnes (1972) | 21 Jun 1972 | 35.0 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Abby (1968) | 8 Jun 1968 | 31.7 mi | TS / TD | 27 kt |
| Cleo (1964) | 30 Aug 1964 | 13.5 mi | TS / TD | 29 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1964) | 23 Jul 1964 | 44.1 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Gracie (1959) | 30 Sep 1959 | 39.7 mi | TS / TD | 55 kt |
| Arlene (1959) | 2 Jun 1959 | 14.8 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Able (1952) | 31 Aug 1952 | 48.4 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1949) | 28 Aug 1949 | 38.9 mi | TS / TD | 52 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1947) | 9 Oct 1947 | 50.0 mi | TS / TD | 20 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1946) | 9 Oct 1946 | 22.2 mi | TS / TD | 37 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1935) | 5 Sep 1935 | 47.9 mi | TS / TD | 48 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1916) | 15 Jul 1916 | 34.4 mi | TS / TD | 47 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1915) | 3 Aug 1915 | 7.3 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1906) | 18 Sep 1906 | 24.2 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1903) | 16 Sep 1903 | 33.6 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1902) | 15 Jun 1902 | 46.2 mi | TS / TD | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 4 Oct 1893 | 4.2 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1893) | 28 Aug 1893 | 36.7 mi | Cat 1 | 75 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1889) | 24 Sep 1889 | 14.9 mi | TS / TD | 45 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1887) | 20 Oct 1887 | 36.9 mi | TS / TD | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1886) | 22 Jun 1886 | 15.7 mi | TS / TD | 39 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1885) | 12 Oct 1885 | 46.2 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1882) | 11 Sep 1882 | 40.2 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1877) | 4 Oct 1877 | 43.2 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1859) | 17 Sep 1859 | 40.8 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1854) | 9 Sep 1854 | 44.2 mi | TS / TD | 57 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1852) | 27 Aug 1852 | 45.5 mi | TS / TD | 40 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1851) | 24 Aug 1851 | 45.9 mi | TS / TD | 50 kt |
Post-tropical and extratropical passes
A further 8 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 | 12.5 mi | 30 kt |
| Fay (2020) | Remnant low | 7 Jul 2020 | 48.8 mi | 20 kt |
| Nestor (2019) | Post-tropical | 20 Oct 2019 | 47.6 mi | 40 kt |
| Marco (1990) | Post-tropical | 13 Oct 1990 | 17.4 mi | 15 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1965) | Post-tropical | 16 Jun 1965 | 9.6 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1928) | Post-tropical | 11 Aug 1928 | 20.6 mi | 30 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1912) | Post-tropical | 14 Jun 1912 | 24.1 mi | 35 kt |
| Unnamed Storm (1908) | Post-tropical | 23 Oct 1908 | 43.8 mi | 30 kt |
How Saluda 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, Saluda County, South Carolina ranks #345 — more exposed than 84.4% of them. Within South Carolina it ranks #30 of 46, against a state average of 44.7 storms per county.
Notable storms
- Cat 1 Unnamed Storm (1893) passed 37 miles away on 28 August 1893 as a hurricane, reaching 77 kt (89 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Gracie (1959) passed 40 miles away on 30 September 1959 as a hurricane, reaching 61 kt (70 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1854) passed 44 miles away on 9 September 1854 as a tropical storm, reaching 58 kt (67 mph) while within 50 miles.
- TS / TD Unnamed Storm (1949) passed 39 miles away on 28 August 1949 as a tropical storm, reaching 52 kt (60 mph) while within 50 miles.
37 of the 39 storms made a documented landfall somewhere along their track.
How often to expect a storm
A return interval of 4.5 years does not mean storms arrive on a schedule. It is simply 39 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 19 years, between 1916 and 1935. It has been 4 years since the last one; 12 of the 33 gaps in this record were longer than that.
Common questions
How many hurricanes have hit Saluda County, South Carolina?
3 tropical cyclones have passed within 50 miles of Saluda County, South Carolina at hurricane strength since 1851. Counting all tropical cyclones — including tropical storms and depressions — the total is 39.
When was the last hurricane in Saluda County, South Carolina?
Gracie (1959), on 30 September 1959, passing 40 miles away — 67 years ago. The most recent tropical cyclone of any strength was Elsa (2021) in 2021.
What was the strongest storm to affect Saluda County, South Carolina?
Unnamed Storm (1893), which reached 77 kt (89 mph) while within 50 miles; its closest approach was 37 miles.
How often do hurricanes hit Saluda County, South Carolina?
On average, one tropical cyclone passes within 50 miles every 4.5 years — 39 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
Saluda County, South Carolina borders or sits close to 5 other counties with a published storm record. Lexington County, South Carolina has 39 on record.