Storms near Lancaster County
The record holds 48 tropical cyclones whose tracks passed within 50 km of Lancaster County, South Carolina between 1851 and 2024. The busiest month is September, with 17 of them. The strongest, measured where each came closest to the place, reached category 2 strength. 1 of the storms have no wind speed in the record.
- 48storms within 50 km
- 0major (category 3 to 5) near here
- 5at category 1 strength or more
A storm counts once, however many times it came close. The category is the storm's strongest point within 50 km, which can be weaker than its peak elsewhere.
How strong were the storms near Lancaster County?
| Category near here | Storms | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Tropical depression | 11 | 23% |
| Tropical storm | 31 | 65% |
| Category 1 | 3 | 6% |
| Category 2 | 2 | 4% |
| Category 3 | 0 | 0% |
| Category 4 | 0 | 0% |
| Category 5 | 0 | 0% |
| Unknown intensity | 1 | 2% |
The agency behind most of the intensity figures here is the NOAA National Hurricane Center (HURDAT2, Atlantic).
Lancaster County storms over time
The 2020s only run to 2024, so that bar is for a shorter period. This place's record starts in 1851, and records before the satellite era (about the 1960s) are far less complete.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| 1850s | 3 |
| 1860s | 2 |
| 1870s | 2 |
| 1880s | 6 |
| 1890s | 3 |
| 1900s | 3 |
| 1910s | 4 |
| 1920s | 1 |
| 1930s | 1 |
| 1950s | 5 |
| 1960s | 2 |
| 1970s | 3 |
| 1980s | 3 |
| 1990s | 2 |
| 2000s | 3 |
| 2010s | 1 |
| 2020s | 4 |
Earlier decades hold fewer storms partly because they were harder to see. Before weather satellites (about the 1960s) many storms that stayed at sea went unrecorded, so compare decades with care.
Show the numbers
| Period | Count |
|---|---|
| Jan | 0 |
| Feb | 0 |
| Mar | 0 |
| Apr | 0 |
| May | 2 |
| Jun | 4 |
| Jul | 9 |
| Aug | 8 |
| Sep | 17 |
| Oct | 8 |
| Nov | 0 |
| Dec | 0 |
Strongest storms near Lancaster County
- Unnamed storm of September 1896 (North Atlantic)22 September 1896 to 30 September 1896, Category 2 (85 kt) near here, peak Category 3 (110 kt), 960 hPa
- Hugo (1989)10 September 1989 to 25 September 1989, Category 2 (85 kt) near here, peak Category 5 (140 kt), 918 hPa
- Unnamed storm of August 1893 (North Atlantic)15 August 1893 to 2 September 1893, Category 1 (75 kt) near here, peak Category 3 (105 kt), 954 hPa
- Able (1952)18 August 1952 to 3 September 1952, Category 1 (65 kt) near here, peak Category 2 (85 kt), 983 hPa
- Gracie (1959)20 September 1959 to 2 October 1959, Category 1 (65 kt) near here, peak Category 4 (115 kt), 951 hPa
Most recent storms near Lancaster County
- Debby (2024)2 August 2024 to 10 August 2024, Tropical storm (40 kt) near here, peak Category 1 (70 kt), 980 hPa
- Elsa (2021)30 June 2021 to 10 July 2021, Tropical storm (45 kt) near here, peak Category 1 (75 kt), 991 hPa
- Claudette (2021)17 June 2021 to 23 June 2021, peak Tropical storm (40 kt), 1,003 hPa
Many of these storms killed people and destroyed homes. The figures are the official record's, and this page says nothing about their human cost.
A storm that came near several counties counts in each one, so county counts add up to more than the state's.
Notable storms near Lancaster County
- Gracie (1959)20 September 1959 to 2 October 1959, peak Category 4 (115 kt), 951 hPa