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Tornado in Florence County, South Carolina
35 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 35 tornado events in Florence County, South Carolina, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 24 years.
September is the busiest month, with 8 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 6 events against 12 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 2.7% of the 1,319 tornado events recorded in South Carolina; its 4.4 per 100 square miles compares with 4.4 statewide.
By rating: 11 at (E)F0, 17 at (E)F1, 7 at (E)F2, 0 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with South Carolina
| Measure | Florence County | South Carolina | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 35 | 1,319 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 4.4 | 4.4 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 2.6 | 2.5 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 67 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | September | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
1Feb
0Mar
4Apr
4May
4Jun
4Jul
4Aug
3Sep
8Oct
0Nov
2Dec
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 35 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Sep 2020 | Tornado | EF0 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Sep 2020 | Tornado | EF0 | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2019 | Tornado | EF0 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jul 2013 | Tornado | EF1 | $88K | — | — | 9 | County |
| 15 Mar 2008 | Tornado | EF1 | $605K | — | — | 3 | County |
| 11 Jul 2007 | Tornado | EF1 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 2006 | Tornado | F2 | $1.3M | — | — | — | County |
| 14 May 2006 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Sep 2004 | Tornado | F1 | $20K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Sep 2004 | Tornado | F0 | $2K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 May 1999 | Tornado | F1 | $60K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Apr 1999 | Tornado | F0 | $6K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Jun 1998 | Tornado | F0 | $80K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Jun 1998 | Tornado | F0 | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Sep 1996 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Sep 1996 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Nov 1995 | Tornado | F2 | $200K | — | — | 4 | County |
| 24 Sep 1994 | Tornado | F1 | $500K | — | — | 11 | County |
| 23 Jul 1983 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Jun 1983 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 May 1981 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | 6 | County |
| 8 Jun 1980 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | 2 | County |
| 3 Aug 1973 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Nov 1968 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Mar 1967 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Mar 1967 | Tornado | F2 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Apr 1966 | Tornado | F2 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Mar 1965 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Dec 1964 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Aug 1964 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Aug 1964 | Tornado | F1 | $30 | — | — | — | County |
| 29 Sep 1963 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Jul 1963 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Apr 1962 | Tornado | F0 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jan 1953 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | — | 2 | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Florence County had?
35 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 Florence County?
17 Sep 2020 (Tornado, EF0). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Florence County?
The tornado of 14 May 2006, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $1.3M.
How does Florence County compare with South Carolina for tornado?
4.4 events per 100 square miles against 4.4 statewide; the county holds 35 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.