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Flood in Pickens County, South Carolina
38 floods and flash floods events in the NCEI Storm Events record, 1950 to 2026. Event types counted: Flood, Flash Flood, Coastal Flood, Lakeshore Flood.
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 38 flood events in Pickens County, South Carolina, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 17 years.
August is the busiest month, with 7 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 18 events against 20 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.5% of the 2,557 flood events recorded in South Carolina; its 7.6 per 100 square miles compares with 8.5 statewide.
NCEI attributes 2 deaths in the county to floods and flash floods.
Compared with South Carolina
| Measure | Pickens County | South Carolina | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flood events since 1950 | 38 | 2,557 | 183,559 |
| Per 100 square miles | 7.6 | 8.5 | 5.2 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 2.9 | 4.9 | 5.5 |
| Deaths recorded | 2 | 31 | 2,961 |
| Busiest month | August | August | June |
By year
Seasonality
3Feb
4Mar
2Apr
1May
1Jun
5Jul
6Aug
7Sep
5Oct
3Nov
0Dec
1
Recorded events
All 38 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 | Flash Flood | — | $300K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Sep 2024 | Flood | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Sep 2024 | Flash Flood | — | $25K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Jan 2024 | Flash Flood | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Feb 2020 | Flash Flood | — | $1.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Feb 2020 | Flood | — | $500K | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Apr 2019 | Flash Flood | — | $1K | — | — | — | County |
| 16 May 2018 | Flood | — | $500 | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Oct 2015 | Flash Flood | — | $10K | — | — | — | County |
| 10 Aug 2014 | Flash Flood | — | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Aug 2013 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2013 | Flash Flood | — | $50K | — | 1 | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2013 | Flash Flood | — | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2013 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 6 Aug 2013 | Flash Flood | — | $100K | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Jul 2013 | Flash Flood | — | $200K | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Feb 2010 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 1 Mar 2007 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2006 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Jun 2006 | Flash Flood | — | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 23 Aug 2005 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jul 2005 | Flash Flood | — | $400K | — | — | — | County |
| 9 Dec 2004 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Sep 2004 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Sep 2003 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 30 Jul 2003 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Jul 2003 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2003 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 18 Jun 2003 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 19 Mar 2003 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 25 Jul 2001 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Jul 2000 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Jun 1998 | Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 8 Jan 1998 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 Jan 1998 | Flash Flood | — | $50K | — | 1 | 3 | County |
| 26 Oct 1997 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 26 Oct 1997 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
| 28 Feb 1997 | Flash Flood | — | — | — | — | — | County |
Questions and answers
How many flood events has Pickens County had?
38 events in the NCEI Storm Events record between 1950 and 2026. Reporting of floods and flash floods became far more complete after 1996, so early decades undercount.
When was the last recorded flood event in Pickens County?
27 Sep 2024 (Flash Flood). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging flood event recorded in Pickens County?
The flash flood of 6 Feb 2020, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $1.5M.
How does Pickens County compare with South Carolina for flood?
7.6 events per 100 square miles against 8.5 statewide; the county holds 38 of the state's 2,557 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 Flood hub and the county page.