States › South Carolina › Fairfield County › Tornado
Tornado in Fairfield County, South Carolina
33 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 33 tornado events in Fairfield County, South Carolina, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 18 years.
May is the busiest month, with 7 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 16 events against 14 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 2.5% of the 1,319 tornado events recorded in South Carolina; its 4.8 per 100 square miles compares with 4.4 statewide.
NCEI attributes 6 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 20 at (E)F0, 9 at (E)F1, 2 at (E)F2, 1 at (E)F3, 1 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with South Carolina
| Measure | Fairfield County | South Carolina | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 33 | 1,319 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 4.8 | 4.4 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 15.9 | 2.5 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 6 | 67 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | May | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
1Feb
1Mar
6Apr
4May
7Jun
1Jul
1Aug
5Sep
2Oct
0Nov
2Dec
3
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 33 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Dec 2024 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Dec 2024 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Dec 2024 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 2024 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 9 May 2024 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2021 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Apr 2018 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Apr 2013 | Tornado | EF0 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 May 2010 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 3 May 2010 | Tornado | EF1 | $5K | $10K | — | — | County |
| 28 Mar 2010 | Tornado | EF0 | — | $4K | — | — | County |
| 4 May 2009 | Tornado | EF0 | $4K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Aug 2008 | Tornado | EF0 | $5K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Apr 2008 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Mar 2008 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 11 Jun 2007 | Tornado | EF0 | $35K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Apr 2006 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Feb 2006 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Sep 2004 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | 1 | 13 | County |
| 7 Sep 2004 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Aug 2004 | Tornado | F1 | $300K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Jul 2000 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Mar 1996 | Tornado | F0 | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Jan 1995 | Tornado | F1 | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Aug 1994 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Aug 1994 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Aug 1994 | Tornado | F2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 4 May 1993 | Tornado | F0 | $50K | $50 | — | — | County |
| 22 Nov 1992 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Nov 1992 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Mar 1984 | Tornado | F3 | $2.5M | — | — | 10 | County |
| 28 Mar 1984 | Tornado | F4 | $25M | — | 5 | 49 | County |
| 6 Mar 1983 | Tornado | F1 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Fairfield County had?
33 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 Fairfield County?
29 Dec 2024 (Tornado, EF0). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Fairfield County?
The tornado of 28 Mar 1984, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $25M; 5 deaths recorded.
How does Fairfield County compare with South Carolina for tornado?
4.8 events per 100 square miles against 4.4 statewide; the county holds 33 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.