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Tornado in Barnwell County, South Carolina
25 tornadoes events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Tornado.
NCEI notes that Storm Data is compiled from a variety of sources including the National Weather Service, other federal, state and local agencies, the media and the public; that property and crop damage figures are estimates; and that some events are recorded by NWS forecast zone rather than by county. FEMA notes that NFIP claim records are redacted and aggregated to protect the privacy of policyholders. Storm records through 30 Jun 2026.
Barnwell County, South Carolina, has 25 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 16 different years.
April is the busiest month, with 13 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 11 events against 7 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.9% of the 1,319 tornado events recorded in South Carolina; its 4.6 per 100 square miles compares with 4.4 statewide.
By rating: 10 at (E)F0, 7 at (E)F1, 4 at (E)F2, 4 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with South Carolina
| Measure | Barnwell County | South Carolina | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 25 | 1,319 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 4.6 | 4.4 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 12.1 | 2.5 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 67 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | April | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
2Feb
1Mar
3Apr
13May
2Jun
1Jul
0Aug
0Sep
2Oct
1Nov
0Dec
0
Magnitude distribution
Enhanced Fujita scale wind estimates
- EF0/F0
- 65–85 mph (EF0)
- EF1/F1
- 86–110 mph (EF1)
- EF2/F2
- 111–135 mph (EF2)
- EF3/F3
- 136–165 mph (EF3)
- EF4/F4
- 166–200 mph (EF4)
- EF5/F5
- over 200 mph (EF5)
- Unrated
- no rating recorded
Tornado rating as recorded (Fujita scale before February 2007, Enhanced Fujita after).
Recorded events
All 25 events, most recent first. Magnitude is hail size, tornado rating or wind speed as recorded.
| Date | Event type | Magnitude | Property damage | Crop damage | Deaths | Injuries | Geography |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Mar 2025 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2020 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2020 | Tornado | EF3 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2020 | Tornado | EF3 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2020 | Tornado | EF3 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2020 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 21 Jan 2017 | Tornado | EF2 | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 11 Apr 2009 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Apr 2009 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Mar 2008 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Mar 2008 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Sep 2004 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Sep 2000 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 1999 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 1999 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Apr 1999 | Tornado | F0 | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Oct 1989 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 1 May 1989 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | — | 12 | County |
| 23 Apr 1983 | Tornado | F3 | $2.5M | — | — | 2 | County |
| 18 Feb 1975 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | 5 | County |
| 24 May 1973 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jan 1972 | Tornado | F1 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Apr 1964 | Tornado | F0 | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Apr 1963 | Tornado | F1 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 1952 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Barnwell County had?
25 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of tornadoes became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded tornado event in Barnwell County?
16 Mar 2025 (Tornado, EF0). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Barnwell County?
The tornado of 13 Jan 1972, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $2.5M.
How does Barnwell County compare with South Carolina for tornado?
4.6 events per 100 square miles against 4.4 statewide; the county holds 25 of the state's 1,319 recorded events.
Provenance
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, yearly details files through 30 Jun 2026, public domain. County-recorded events plus zone-recorded events whose forecast zone is named for the county (marked "Forecast zone"). Population and area from the US Census Bureau (2021). Built 1 Oct 2026. See the methodology, the Tornado hub and the county page.