Tornadoes · United States · South Carolina
Tornadoes in Orangeburg County, South Carolina
76 tornadoes have crossed Orangeburg County since 1950, 1st of the 46 counties in South Carolina with a tornado on record, an average of 1.0 a year. They have killed 2 people and injured 30. None was rated F4 or above.
The rating scale
Tracks are drawn in the color of the rating. The United States rated tornadoes on Ted Fujita’s F scale until 31 January 2007 and on the Enhanced Fujita scale after it. Both run from 0 to 5, and both rate the damage rather than measure the wind: the speeds are what that damage is taken to imply.
F0 / EF040 to 72 mph on the F scale, 65 to 85 mph on the EF scale
Light damage. Surface peeled off some roofs, gutters and siding damaged, branches broken, shallow-rooted trees pushed over.
F1 / EF173 to 112 mph on the F scale, 86 to 110 mph on the EF scale
Moderate damage. Roofs badly stripped, mobile homes overturned or badly damaged, exterior doors lost, windows broken.
F2 / EF2113 to 157 mph on the F scale, 111 to 135 mph on the EF scale
Considerable damage. Roofs torn off well-built houses, frame homes shifted on their foundations, mobile homes destroyed, large trees snapped or uprooted, cars lifted off the ground.
F3 / EF3158 to 206 mph on the F scale, 136 to 165 mph on the EF scale
Severe damage. Whole stories of well-built houses destroyed, large buildings badly damaged, trains overturned, trees debarked, heavy cars lifted and thrown.
F4 / EF4207 to 260 mph on the F scale, 166 to 200 mph on the EF scale
Devastating damage. Well-built houses leveled, structures with weak foundations moved some distance, cars thrown and large missiles generated.
F5 / EF5261 to 318 mph on the F scale, over 200 mph on the EF scale
Incredible damage. Strong frame houses swept off their foundations, car-sized missiles thrown more than 100 meters, steel-reinforced concrete badly damaged, high-rise buildings deformed.
Unrated
The survey recorded a tornado but could not put a number on it, most often because it crossed open country and damaged nothing a rating can be read from.
Now
- Tornadoes
- 76
- Deaths
- 2
- Injuries
- 30
- F4 and above
- 0
- Worst on record
- EF3, April 13, 2020
The deadliest in Orangeburg County
The strongest
- EF3, Barnwell, Aiken and Orangeburg counties, South CarolinaApril 13, 2020
- EF3, Barnwell, Orangeburg and Calhoun counties, South CarolinaApril 13, 2020
- EF3, Allendale, Bamberg and Orangeburg counties, South CarolinaApril 5, 2022
- F3, Barnwell, Bamberg and Orangeburg counties, South CarolinaApril 23, 1983
- EF3, Orangeburg County, South CarolinaMarch 15, 2008
- F3, Orangeburg County, South CarolinaDecember 10, 2004
- EF2, Orangeburg County, South CarolinaApril 19, 2019
- EF2, Orangeburg and Calhoun counties, South CarolinaApril 13, 2020
- F2, Orangeburg County, South CarolinaMarch 8, 1998
- F2, Orangeburg County, South CarolinaMay 15, 1976
Every year with a tornado
The 40 years of the 76 in the record with a tornado in Orangeburg County. Each year links to every tornado in South Carolina that year.
| Year | Tornadoes | Deaths | Injuries | Strongest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5 | EF1 | ||
| 2023 | 1 | EF1 | ||
| 2022 | 3 | EF3 | ||
| 2021 | 1 | EF1 | ||
| 2020 | 4 | 2 | 7 | EF3 |
| 2019 | 4 | EF2 | ||
| 2018 | 3 | EF0 | ||
| 2017 | 2 | EF1 | ||
| 2014 | 2 | EF0 | ||
| 2013 | 1 | EF1 | ||
| 2012 | 2 | EF1 | ||
| 2010 | 1 | EF0 | ||
| 2008 | 1 | EF3 | ||
| 2007 | 1 | EF0 | ||
| 2006 | 3 | F0 | ||
| 2004 | 2 | 1 | F3 | |
| 2003 | 1 | F0 | ||
| 1999 | 1 | F0 | ||
| 1998 | 3 | F2 | ||
| 1996 | 3 | F0 | ||
| 1995 | 3 | 3 | F1 | |
| 1994 | 2 | F1 | ||
| 1983 | 3 | 8 | F3 | |
| 1982 | 1 | F0 | ||
| 1981 | 2 | F1 | ||
| 1980 | 1 | F1 | ||
| 1979 | 1 | F1 | ||
| 1978 | 3 | F2 | ||
| 1977 | 1 | 7 | F1 | |
| 1976 | 2 | 3 | F2 | |
| 1973 | 1 | F1 | ||
| 1972 | 1 | F1 | ||
| 1971 | 1 | F1 | ||
| 1965 | 2 | F1 | ||
| 1964 | 1 | F0 | ||
| 1963 | 2 | 1 | F2 | |
| 1962 | 1 | F1 | ||
| 1961 | 2 | F1 | ||
| 1959 | 1 | F0 | ||
| 1953 | 1 | F1 |
Every tornado that crossed Orangeburg County
76 tornadoes, newest first.
| Date | Time | Rating | Where | Path (mi) | Width (yd) | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 27, 2024 | 4:56 AM EDT | EF0 | Orangeburg | 1.5 | 180 | |||
| September 27, 2024 | 4:17 AM EDT | EF0 | Orangeburg | 17.0 | 800 | |||
| September 26, 2024 | 1:15 AM EDT | EF0 | Orangeburg | 13.8 | 500 | |||
| September 26, 2024 | 12:33 AM EDT | EF1 | Orangeburg | 33.4 | 800 | |||
| September 26, 2024 | 10:39 AM EDT | EF1 | Orangeburg | 13.4 | 1,100 | |||
| January 4, 2023 | 10:40 AM EST | EF1 | Lexington | 6.6 | 50 | |||
| April 5, 2022 | 6:03 PM EDT | EF3 | Allendale | 34.5 | 500 | |||
| April 5, 2022 | 5:07 PM EDT | EF0 | Orangeburg | 0.8 | 200 | |||
| April 5, 2022 | 4:53 PM EDT | EF0 | Orangeburg | 1.0 | 50 | |||
| August 17, 2021 | 5:40 PM EDT | EF1 | Orangeburg | 0.9 | 50 | |||
| September 17, 2020 | 9:49 AM EDT | EF0 | Orangeburg | 0.2 | 100 | |||
| April 13, 2020 | 6:25 AM EDT | EF2 | Orangeburg | 10.2 | 700 | |||
| April 13, 2020 | 5:43 AM EDT | EF3 | Barnwell | 35.7 | 770 | 2 | 7 | |
| April 13, 2020 | 5:21 AM EDT | EF3 | Barnwell | 37.9 | 800 | |||
| April 19, 2019 | 2:01 PM EDT | EF1 | Orangeburg | 7.8 | 400 | |||
| April 19, 2019 | 1:48 PM EDT | EF2 | Orangeburg | 10.6 | 300 | |||
| March 3, 2019 | 6:03 PM EST | EF0 | Orangeburg | 0.2 | 25 | |||
| February 12, 2019 | 6:48 PM EST | EF1 | Orangeburg | 0.6 | 125 | |||
| October 10, 2018 | 11:48 PM EDT | EF0 | Orangeburg | 7.7 | 50 | |||
| October 10, 2018 | 11:28 PM EDT | EF0 | Orangeburg | 6.3 | 25 | |||
| October 10, 2018 | 11:17 PM EDT | EF0 | Orangeburg | 1.3 | 25 | |||
| May 4, 2017 | 9:01 PM EDT | EF1 | Orangeburg | 3.1 | 150 | |||
| January 21, 2017 | 4:09 PM EST | EF1 | Orangeburg | 5.5 | 400 | |||
| September 7, 2014 | 2:27 PM EDT | EF0 | Orangeburg | 0.4 | 30 | $6,000 | ||
| June 9, 2014 | 10:17 PM EDT | EF0 | Orangeburg | 1.9 | 75 | |||
| June 4, 2013 | 3:29 PM EDT | EF1 | Orangeburg | 2.3 | 220 | $340,000 | ||
| May 29, 2012 | 10:03 PM EDT | EF1 | Orangeburg | 1.5 | 60 | $20,000 | ||
| May 14, 2012 | 5:50 PM EDT | EF0 | Orangeburg | 3.2 | 60 | $10,000 | ||
| August 6, 2010 | 7:19 PM EDT | EF0 | Orangeburg | 6.2 | 40 | $6,000 | ||
| March 15, 2008 | 7:29 PM EDT | EF3 | Orangeburg | 10.1 | 1,320 | |||
| April 15, 2007 | 9:37 AM EDT | EF0 | Orangeburg | 6.2 | 50 | $1,000 | ||
| May 7, 2006 | 1:23 PM EDT | F0 | Orangeburg | 12.0 | 60 | |||
| January 13, 2006 | 9:02 PM EST | F0 | Orangeburg | 0.3 | 50 | $10,000 | ||
| January 13, 2006 | 8:25 PM EST | F0 | Orangeburg | 0.3 | 50 | |||
| December 10, 2004 | 4:50 AM EST | F3 | Orangeburg | 1.5 | 80 | 1 | ||
| September 7, 2004 | 12:45 PM EDT | F0 | Orangeburg | 0.5 | 100 | |||
| April 25, 2003 | 10:42 AM EDT | F0 | Orangeburg | 5.0 | 60 | |||
| February 19, 1999 | 1:07 PM EST | F0 | Orangeburg | 0.5 | 20 | |||
| September 3, 1998 | 2:20 PM EDT | F0 | Orangeburg | 0.5 | 50 | |||
| March 8, 1998 | 1:50 PM EST | F2 | Orangeburg | 5.0 | 100 | $220,000 | ||
| March 8, 1998 | 1:20 PM EST | F2 | Orangeburg | 1.3 | 80 | $80,000 | ||
| March 7, 1996 | 11:30 AM EST | F0 | Orangeburg | 0.1 | 30 | $10,000 | ||
| January 2, 1996 | 7:20 PM EST | F0 | Orangeburg | 0.3 | 50 | |||
| January 2, 1996 | 7:10 PM EST | F0 | Orangeburg | 0.5 | 50 | $30,000 | ||
| November 7, 1995 | 3:37 PM EST | F1 | Orangeburg | 3.0 | 250 | 3 | $50,000 to $500,000 | |
| November 7, 1995 | 3:33 PM EST | F0 | Orangeburg | 0.1 | 50 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| January 14, 1995 | 8:25 AM EST | F0 | Orangeburg | 0.1 | 20 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| September 18, 1994 | 1:15 PM EDT | F1 | Orangeburg | 0.1 | 30 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| August 16, 1994 | 11:20 AM EDT | F1 | Orangeburg | 0.1 | 50 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| July 3, 1983 | 7:30 PM EDT | F1 | Orangeburg | 0.5 | 30 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| April 23, 1983 | 8:20 PM EST | F3 | Barnwell | 33.0 | 200 | 6 | $500,000 to $5 million | |
| April 8, 1983 | 2:00 PM EST | F1 | Orangeburg | 4.8 | 17 | 2 | $50,000 to $500,000 | |
| July 13, 1982 | 3:00 PM EDT | F0 | Orangeburg | 0.1 | 20 | $50 to $500 | ||
| July 26, 1981 | 7:00 PM EDT | F1 | Orangeburg | 0.3 | 30 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| April 20, 1981 | 4:00 PM EST | F1 | Orangeburg | 0.3 | 20 | $50 to $500 | ||
| July 23, 1980 | 5:15 PM EDT | F1 | Clarendon | 16.3 | 60 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| April 13, 1979 | 4:07 PM EST | F1 | Orangeburg | 2.8 | 17 | $50,000 to $500,000 | ||
| July 25, 1978 | 5:00 PM EDT | F1 | Orangeburg | 1.0 | 20 | $50 to $500 | ||
| July 25, 1978 | 5:00 PM EDT | F2 | Orangeburg | 0.1 | 10 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| June 25, 1978 | 6:30 PM EDT | F1 | Orangeburg | 0.2 | 23 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| December 5, 1977 | 6:55 PM EST | F1 | Orangeburg | 9.8 | 130 | 7 | $500,000 to $5 million | |
| May 15, 1976 | 2:20 AM EDT | F2 | Orangeburg | 3.8 | 40 | 3 | $50,000 to $500,000 | |
| March 16, 1976 | 10:00 AM EST | F1 | Orangeburg | 0.1 | 30 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| May 24, 1973 | 7:00 PM EDT | F1 | Barnwell | 27.8 | 33 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| March 21, 1972 | 12:30 AM EST | F1 | Orangeburg | 3.8 | 77 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| March 3, 1971 | 11:40 AM EST | F1 | Orangeburg | 5.6 | 40 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| July 23, 1965 | 7:15 PM GMT-4 | F1 | Orangeburg | 0.5 | 50 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| May 24, 1965 | 3:00 PM GMT-4 | F0 | Orangeburg | 0.1 | 10 | under $50 | ||
| April 8, 1964 | 1:12 PM GMT-5 | F0 | Orangeburg | 0.1 | 10 | $50 to $500 | ||
| September 28, 1963 | 7:30 PM GMT-4 | F2 | Orangeburg | 0.5 | 100 | 1 | $5,000 to $50,000 | |
| August 20, 1963 | 2:30 PM GMT-4 | F1 | Orangeburg | 0.3 | 30 | $5,000 to $50,000 | ||
| July 24, 1962 | 5:00 PM GMT-4 | F1 | Orangeburg | 1.0 | 80 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| November 23, 1961 | 12:45 PM GMT-5 | F1 | Orangeburg | 0.3 | 13 | $500 to $5,000 | ||
| February 24, 1961 | 8:00 PM GMT-5 | F0 | Orangeburg | 0.5 | 37 | under $50 | ||
| April 29, 1959 | 7:30 PM GMT-4 | F0 | Orangeburg | 0.2 | 17 | under $50 | ||
| June 1, 1953 | 5:30 PM GMT-4 | F1 | Orangeburg | 3.0 | 67 | $5,000 to $50,000 |
Nearby
Warnings in force in Orangeburg CountyThe forecast for Orangeburg CountyThe live radar over Orangeburg CountyEvery county in South Carolina
What this means
Ratings are the survey's, read off the damage rather than measured; the rating scale is above. Tornado counts rise through the record as reporting improved, so a year in the 1950s is not comparable with one today except for the strongest tornadoes, which were always noticed.
Sources
NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database, 1950-2025, the official record kept by NOAA's Storm Prediction Center.