Charleston, South Carolina tornadoes

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33confirmed tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Charleston since NOAA records began in 1950. Most recent: September 27, 2024, EF0.

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Map

Every tornado path within 10 miles

Tornado paths, 1950 to 2025
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(E)F0(E)F1(E)F2(E)F3(E)F4(E)F5Unrated

Each path is a straight line from where the tornado started to where it ended, which is all most NOAA records hold. Tap a path for its details.

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Recent warnings near Charleston

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The record

At a glance

Total33within 10 miles, 1950 to 2025
Per year0.4average since 1950
Peak monthSeptember10 of 33
StrongestF3Sep 11, 1960
Deaths0whole paths, see note
Injuries16whole paths, see note

Deaths and injuries are NOAA's totals for each tornado's whole path, which can run well beyond Charleston.

Seasons

When tornadoes hit here

By month

100 Jan: 0Feb: 1Mar: 2Apr: 5May: 4Jun: 4Jul: 3Aug: 3Sep: 10Oct: 0Nov: 1Dec: 0JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

September is the peak month, with 10 of 33 tornadoes.

By time of day

50 12 AM: 1: 0: 13 AM: 1: 1: 16 AM: 0: 2: 09 AM: 1: 1: 112 PM: 5: 2: 43 PM: 1: 5: 36 PM: 0: 0: 09 PM: 0: 2: 112 AM3 AM6 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PM9 PM

Most often around 12:00 PM. Times as recorded by NOAA, mostly Central Standard Time.

By year, 1950 to 2025

50 1950: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 01960: 1: 1: 0: 0: 1: 1: 4: 0: 0: 01970: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 0: 11980: 0: 0: 1: 0: 1: 0: 1: 0: 0: 01990: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 1: 0: 02000: 0: 0: 2: 0: 0: 1: 5: 0: 1: 12010: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 3: 0: 02020: 0: 0: 0: 0: 2: 019501960197019801990200020102020

The line is the five-year average. Tornadoes before about 1953 were under-reported, and better radar since the 1990s finds more weak ones.

By rating

EF0
20
EF1
10
EF2
2
EF3
1

Ratings before February 2007 use the original F scale; the numbers line up with today's EF scale. Unknown means NOAA could not assign a rating.

The record

Notable tornadoes

Strongest

F3, September 11, 1960

8.8 mile path Longest path

8.8 miles, F3

September 11, 1960, whole path Widest

1,000 yards, EF0

June 29, 2008
Every tornado

All 33 tornadoes, newest first

DateRatingPath lengthWidthDeathsInjuries
Sep 27, 2024EF02.02 mi90 yd00
Aug 5, 2024EF03.84 mi200 yd00
Sep 11, 2017EF00.57 mi90 yd00
Sep 11, 2017EF00.12 mi55 yd00
Sep 11, 2017EF01.46 mi60 yd00
Sep 24, 2015EF26.85 mi880 yd00
Jun 27, 2009EF00.25 mi40 yd00
Jun 29, 2008EF00.5 mi1,000 yd00
Jun 13, 2006F01 mi30 yd00
May 14, 2006F00.1 mi25 yd00
Apr 8, 2006F00.2 mi50 yd00
Apr 8, 2006F00.2 mi50 yd00
Apr 8, 2006F02.6 mi50 yd00
May 30, 2005F14 mi30 yd00
Sep 28, 2002F00.5 mi25 yd00
Jul 15, 2002F00.6 mi30 yd00
Mar 14, 1997F10.1 mi30 yd00
Nov 7, 1995F00.5 mi23 yd00
Jul 26, 1986F00.2 mi30 yd03
Feb 27, 1984F00.3 mi100 yd00
Jun 27, 1982F11 mi30 yd00
Sep 4, 1979F02 mi60 yd00
Mar 8, 1976F10.5 mi10 yd01
May 25, 1970F10.5 mi10 yd00
Sep 19, 1966F11.2 mi20 yd00
Nearby

Charleston and its county

Charleston spans 2 counties, each with its own record since 1950: Charleston County (60 tornadoes) and Berkeley County (40). A county's record counts every tornado inside its borders, while this page counts every path within 10 miles of the city, so the two overlap without matching.

Nearby cities

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Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025. City point and population: US Census Bureau, 2024. Each path is a straight line between NOAA's start and end points.