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Tornado in Lancaster County, South Carolina
13 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.
Lancaster County, South Carolina, has 13 tornado events in the NCEI record since 1950, with at least one in 10 different years.
March is the busiest month, with 3 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 5 events against 3 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1% of the 1,319 tornado events recorded in South Carolina; its 2.4 per 100 square miles compares with 4.4 statewide.
By rating: 4 at (E)F0, 5 at (E)F1, 1 at (E)F2, 0 at (E)F3, 2 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5 and 1 unrated. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with South Carolina
| Measure | Lancaster County | South Carolina | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 13 | 1,319 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 2.4 | 4.4 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 1.3 | 2.5 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 0 | 67 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | March | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
0Feb
0Mar
3Apr
2May
2Jun
1Jul
2Aug
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 13 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 May 2020 | Tornado | EF2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2017 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2010 | Tornado | EF0 | $8K | — | — | — | County |
| 12 Jul 2010 | Tornado | EF0 | $65K | — | — | — | County |
| 4 Mar 2008 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Sep 2004 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Sep 1989 | Tornado | F1 | $3K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 1989 | Tornado | F1 | $2.5M | — | — | 1 | County |
| 28 Mar 1984 | Tornado | F4 | $25M | — | — | 5 | County |
| 4 Mar 1977 | Tornado | F1 | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Oct 1969 | Tornado | — | $250 | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Apr 1957 | Tornado | F4 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 1957 | Tornado | F1 | $250K | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Lancaster County had?
13 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 Lancaster County?
5 May 2020 (Tornado, EF2). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Lancaster County?
The tornado of 28 Mar 1984, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $25M.
How does Lancaster County compare with South Carolina for tornado?
2.4 events per 100 square miles against 4.4 statewide; the county holds 13 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.