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Tornado in Colleton County, South Carolina
34 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 34 tornado events in Colleton County, South Carolina, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 21 years.
April is the busiest month, with 11 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 18 events against 8 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 2.6% of the 1,319 tornado events recorded in South Carolina; its 3.2 per 100 square miles compares with 4.4 statewide.
By rating: 7 at (E)F0, 25 at (E)F1, 1 at (E)F2, 0 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5 and 1 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with South Carolina
| Measure | Colleton County | South Carolina | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 34 | 1,319 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 3.2 | 4.4 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 8.8 | 2.5 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 67 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | April | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
2Mar
0Apr
11May
7Jun
1Jul
3Aug
4Sep
4Oct
1Nov
1Dec
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 34 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Sep 2024 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 2024 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 2024 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Aug 2024 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jul 2022 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 May 2022 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Apr 2022 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2020 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2020 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2020 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 2020 | Tornado | EF2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2017 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2017 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2017 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Feb 2012 | Tornado | EF1 | $125K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 2007 | Tornado | EF1 | $200K | — | — | 9 | County |
| 15 Apr 2007 | Tornado | EF1 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 2007 | Tornado | EF1 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 2006 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Sep 2004 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2003 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jun 2001 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 1999 | Tornado | F1 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Sep 1998 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 Sep 1998 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Aug 1994 | Tornado | F0 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Apr 1985 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Feb 1984 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 1983 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 May 1976 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Oct 1965 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Nov 1961 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 6 May 1958 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | 1 | County |
| 31 May 1953 | Tornado | — | $3K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Colleton County had?
34 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 Colleton County?
26 Sep 2024 (Tornado, EF1). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Colleton County?
The tornado of 15 Apr 2007, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $200K.
How does Colleton County compare with South Carolina for tornado?
3.2 events per 100 square miles against 4.4 statewide; the county holds 34 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.