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Tornado in Calhoun County, South Carolina
28 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.
NCEI records 28 tornado events in Calhoun County, South Carolina, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 18 years.
April is the busiest month, with 8 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 18 events against 7 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 2.1% of the 1,319 tornado events recorded in South Carolina; its 7.3 per 100 square miles compares with 4.4 statewide.
NCEI attributes 1 death in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 11 at (E)F0, 9 at (E)F1, 6 at (E)F2, 0 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5 and 2 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with South Carolina
| Measure | Calhoun County | South Carolina | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 28 | 1,319 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 7.3 | 4.4 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 19.8 | 2.5 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 1 | 67 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | April | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
1Feb
1Mar
2Apr
8May
1Jun
2Jul
0Aug
0Sep
8Oct
1Nov
3Dec
1
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 28 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 Sep 2024 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Sep 2024 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Sep 2024 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Jan 2023 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 2022 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Sep 2020 | Tornado | EF unrated | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Sep 2020 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Sep 2020 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2020 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2020 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2019 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 2018 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Apr 2017 | Tornado | EF2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2015 | Tornado | EF1 | $200K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 11 Jun 2012 | Tornado | EF0 | $16K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Apr 2011 | Tornado | EF1 | $250K | $12K | — | — | County |
| 14 Nov 2008 | Tornado | EF1 | $500K | $20K | — | — | County |
| 15 Mar 2008 | Tornado | EF2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Dec 2004 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 7 Sep 2004 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Sep 2004 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Nov 1995 | Tornado | F2 | $400K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Nov 1995 | Tornado | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jun 1994 | Tornado | F0 | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Oct 1990 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | 1 | 4 | County |
| 21 Mar 1974 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 22 Feb 1971 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Apr 1958 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Calhoun County had?
28 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 Calhoun County?
27 Sep 2024 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Calhoun County?
The tornado of 14 Nov 2008, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $500K and crop damage at $20K.
How does Calhoun County compare with South Carolina for tornado?
7.3 events per 100 square miles against 4.4 statewide; the county holds 28 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.