North Charleston, South Carolina tornadoes

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23confirmed tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of North 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.

Recent warnings

Recent warnings near North Charleston

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The record

At a glance

Total23within 10 miles, 1950 to 2025
Per year0.3average since 1950
Peak monthSeptember7 of 23
StrongestF3Sep 11, 1960
Deaths1whole paths, see note
Injuries25whole paths, see note

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

Seasons

When tornadoes hit here

By month

70 Jan: 0Feb: 1Mar: 1Apr: 2May: 5Jun: 3Jul: 2Aug: 2Sep: 7Oct: 0Nov: 0Dec: 0JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

September is the peak month, with 7 of 23 tornadoes.

By time of day

40 12 AM: 0: 0: 23 AM: 0: 0: 16 AM: 0: 0: 09 AM: 0: 2: 012 PM: 4: 2: 13 PM: 2: 3: 26 PM: 0: 1: 09 PM: 0: 3: 012 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

30 1950: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 01960: 1: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 2: 0: 0: 01970: 0: 0: 0: 0: 2: 0: 2: 0: 0: 01980: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 1: 0: 0: 01990: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 02000: 0: 0: 2: 0: 0: 0: 3: 0: 0: 12010: 0: 0: 0: 0: 0: 1: 0: 1: 0: 02020: 0: 0: 0: 1: 3: 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
14
EF1
6
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

Deadliest

F2, May 10, 1998

1 deaths, 7 injuries Strongest

F3, September 11, 1960

8.8 mile path Longest path

10.5 miles, F2

May 10, 1998, whole path Widest

880 yards, EF2

September 24, 2015
Every tornado

All 23 tornadoes, newest first

DateRatingPath lengthWidthDeathsInjuries
Sep 27, 2024EF01.96 mi90 yd00
Sep 27, 2024EF02.02 mi90 yd00
Aug 5, 2024EF03.84 mi200 yd00
Aug 30, 2023EF00.03 mi50 yd02
Sep 11, 2017EF01.46 mi60 yd00
Sep 24, 2015EF26.85 mi880 yd00
Jun 27, 2009EF00.25 mi40 yd00
Jun 13, 2006F00.2 mi100 yd00
May 14, 2006F00.1 mi25 yd00
Apr 26, 2006F10.1 mi40 yd00
Sep 28, 2002F00.5 mi25 yd00
May 4, 2002F00.1 mi20 yd00
May 10, 1998F210.5 mi670 yd17
Jul 26, 1986F00.2 mi30 yd03
Feb 27, 1984F00.3 mi100 yd00
Jun 21, 1976F10.2 mi27 yd00
May 18, 1976F11 mi53 yd01
May 12, 1974F11.5 mi300 yd02
Mar 12, 1974F10.3 mi30 yd00
Sep 19, 1966F00.3 mi13 yd00
Apr 13, 1966F00.1 mi10 yd00
Jul 5, 1965F10.4 mi20 yd00
Sep 11, 1960F38.8 mi100 yd010
Nearby

North Charleston and its county

North Charleston spans 3 counties, each with its own record since 1950: Charleston County (60 tornadoes), Dorchester County (22), 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.