High Wind in South Carolina

Events

381

Deaths

6

Injuries

7

Damage

$22 million

• Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in South Carolina, September 3, 19981 death · 13 injured · $3.2 million · F2 · 13 eventsNumerous trees and power lines down. One car was blown off the road near Ridgeland.
• Tornado and Flash Flooding in South Carolina, January 7 to 8, 19981 death · 7 injured · $3.2 million · F2 · 11 eventsA powerful winter storm brought flooding rain, high winds, and a tornado to the Upstate from the evening of the 7th into the early morning of the 8th. Rainfall between 4 and 7 inches during a 2-day period across the mountains and foothills resulted in significant flooding.
• High Wind in South Carolina, April 16, 20071 death · $3.0 million · 60 kt wind · 6 eventsAfter an intense, but relatively brief high wind event affected the mountains and foothills on the evening of the 15th, another widespread damaging high wind event developed during the day of the 16th. However, this particular event included much of the piedmont.
• Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in South Carolina, January 9, 20241 injured · $1.8 million · EF2 · 42 eventsStrong upper level and surface areas of low pressure moved NE into the Midwest, while a cold front along with a secondary weak low, formed and moved through the area.
• High Wind in South Carolina, September 5, 19961 death · 2 injured · $200,000 · 1 eventWinds from hurricane Fran, estimated around 45 mph, caused a fire of 5000 tires in the White Oak community. Downed trees caused power outages, and caused an auto fatality and injury. Evacuation shelters housed 1,139 people. $200,000 was spent for clean-up.
• High Wind in South Carolina, March 7, 20041 death · $120,000 · 60 kt wind · 11 eventsAs the cold front moved rapidly to the east, strong winds developed across the remainder of the Upstate. Numerous trees and power lines were blown down. In Laurens County, a 13-year-old boy drowned when his boat capsized as the strong winds moved over Lake Greenwood.
• High Wind and Strong Wind in South Carolina, January 3, 20221 death · 53 kt wind · 27 eventsAn area of low pressure developed along a frontal boundary near the Deep South/Gulf Coast region on Sunday January 2nd, 2022.
• Flash Flooding and Flooding in South Carolina, October 7 to 8, 2016$8.9 million · 56 kt wind · 36 eventsHurricane Matthew impacted the region on the night of Friday, October 7th and during much of the day on Saturday, October 8th. Tropical Storm force wind gusts were observed across most of the SC Midlands and Central Savannah River Area.
• High Wind in South Carolina, February 4, 20021 death · 50 kt wind · 8 eventsHigh winds, mostly in the form of peak gusts rather than sustained wind, blew down a number of trees and power lines. In northern Spartanburg, the siding was blown off a building at a university. In Rock Hill, a 45 foot wall at a construction site was blown down.
• High Wind in South Carolina, April 6, 20171 death · 50 kt wind · 1 eventWindy conditions were experienced behind a cold frontal passage, with a strong area of low pressure north of the region.
• High Wind in South Carolina, September 5, 19961 injured · $6.5 million · 62 kt wind · 1 eventWinds averaged 50 mph and gusted near 70 mph across Dillon County during the evening as Hurricane Fran passed north off the coast. Combined with 6 inches or rain, widespread damage to trees, structures and agriculture resulted in more debris than was caused by Hugo in 1989.
• High Wind in South Carolina, October 24, 2008$1.5 million · 60 kt wind · 14 eventsA combination of strong onshore flow and a strong jet extending from south southwest to the north northeast into the CSRA/Midlands produced high winds that took down trees and powerlines, damaged boats and docks on lakes, and did property damage.
• Tornado and Flash Flooding in South Carolina, December 17, 2023$210,000 · EF1 · 13 eventsA strong nor'easter brought coastal flooding, strong winds, and flooding. Record rainfall totals and record low barometric pressure for December observed at 4 climate sites.
• High Wind in South Carolina, September 5, 1996$700,000 · 1 eventHurricane Fran grazed Marion County with sustained winds near 50 mph, causing damage described as worse than from Hugo in 1989. Downed trees amounted to 3300 tons of debris and caused power outages to 12000 customers, restored Sep 9.
• Damaging Winds and High Wind in South Carolina, January 9, 2024$156,000 · 60 kt wind · 24 eventsA quasi-linear convective system (QLCS) developed along a strong cold front which pushed through a very high shear (80 knots of effective bulk shear)/low CAPE (500-1000 J/kg MLCAPE) environment across the area and the nearby coastal waters.
• Flash Flooding and High Wind in South Carolina, October 24, 2008$166,000 · 55 kt wind · 18 eventsA strong area of low pressure over the northern Gulf of Mexico along with a warm front off the South Carolina coast created strong gradient winds and uplift within a moist environment that led to heavy convective rainfall.
• High Wind in South Carolina, September 5, 1996$330,000 · 1 eventAs Hurricane passed north off the South Carolina coast, winds around 40 mph caused downed trees and power lines. Rainfall was 2 to 3 inches.
• Flash Flooding and High Wind in South Carolina, February 3 to 4, 1998$100,000 · 21 eventsA strong storm system moved slowly north from the Gulf of Mexico into the Carolinas on the 3rd and 4th.
• Flash Flooding and Flood in South Carolina, September 2, 20161 injured · $56,000 · 50 kt wind · 23 eventsTropical Storm Hermine impacted the region, especially on the 2nd with heavy rain and strong gusty winds. The center of TS Hermine tracked to the NE across S and SE GA during the morning of Sept. 2nd, and across the coastal plain of SC during the afternoon and evening of the 2nd.
• High Wind and Strong Wind in South Carolina, March 12, 2022$104,000 · 55 kt wind · 10 eventsStrong wind gusts occurred ahead of a strong cold front in the early morning hours, as well as behind the front through the afternoon. The strong wind gusts produced scattered wind damage across southeast South Carolina.
• Damaging Winds and High Wind in South Carolina, December 9, 2009$120,000 · 70 kt wind · 7 eventsA small area of damaging gradient winds developed in association with an apparent gravity wave. As the gravity wave moved into more unstable air, a line of severe thunderstorms developed.
• High Wind in South Carolina, September 11, 2017$100,000 · 50 kt wind · 10 eventsAs Tropical Storm Irma moved north/northwest across the Florida Panhandle and southwest Georgia, strong winds developed over western portions of Upstate South Carolina.
• High Wind in South Carolina, January 7, 2009$100,000 · 50 kt wind · 6 eventsStrong winds developed around noon along the I-85 corridor and persisted through the afternoon. Numerous trees were blown onto roads and power lines, resulting in quite a few power outages across the area.
• High Wind in South Carolina, February 14 to 15, 2015$87,000 · 50 kt wind · 8 eventsStrong winds developed immediately ahead of and in the wake of a cold front across the western half of Upstate South Carolina during the late afternoon. The strong winds continued through the evening before dying down.
• High Wind in South Carolina, September 16 to 17, 2004$100,000 · 55 kt wind · 5 eventsHigh winds developed across the mountains and a portion of the foothills during the evening as the remants of Hurricane Ivan moved just west of the area. Numerous trees were blown down, many of which fell on vehicles and structures.

High Wind everywhereEvery kind of event in South Carolina

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24.