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Tornado in Saluda County, South Carolina
17 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 17 tornado events in Saluda County, South Carolina, between 1950 and 2026, spread over 11 years.
May is the busiest month, with 4 of the recorded events. The last 20 years account for 8 events against 8 in the 20 years before, a change that reflects reporting practice as much as weather.
The county holds 1.3% of the 1,319 tornado events recorded in South Carolina; its 3.8 per 100 square miles compares with 4.4 statewide.
NCEI attributes 3 deaths in the county to tornadoes.
By rating: 8 at (E)F0, 4 at (E)F1, 4 at (E)F2, 1 at (E)F3, 0 at (E)F4, 0 at (E)F5. Tornadoes before 2007 carry the original Fujita rating.
Compared with South Carolina
| Measure | Saluda County | South Carolina | US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tornado events since 1950 | 17 | 1,319 | 81,281 |
| Per 100 square miles | 3.8 | 4.4 | 2.3 |
| Per 10,000 residents | 9.0 | 2.5 | 2.4 |
| Deaths recorded | 3 | 67 | 6,410 |
| Busiest month | May | April | May |
By year
Seasonality
2Feb
0Mar
3Apr
2May
4Jun
1Jul
0Aug
1Sep
2Oct
0Nov
2Dec
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 17 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Mar 2026 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jan 2024 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Jan 2024 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 17 Aug 2021 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2017 | Tornado | EF1 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 May 2017 | Tornado | EF0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 5 Apr 2017 | Tornado | EF2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 15 Mar 2008 | Tornado | EF2 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 27 Sep 2004 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 16 Sep 2004 | Tornado | F1 | — | — | — | 1 | County |
| 6 May 2003 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 24 Apr 1999 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 2 Jun 1998 | Tornado | F0 | — | — | — | — | County |
| 7 May 1998 | Tornado | F1 | $50K | — | — | — | County |
| 22 Nov 1992 | Tornado | F3 | $2.5M | — | 1 | 9 | County |
| 22 Nov 1992 | Tornado | F2 | $2.5M | — | — | — | County |
| 13 Mar 1955 | Tornado | F2 | $250K | — | 2 | 10 | County |
Questions and answers
How many tornado events has Saluda County had?
17 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 Saluda County?
12 Mar 2026 (Tornado, EF0). Records reach NCEI about 120 days after the month ends.
What was the most damaging tornado event recorded in Saluda County?
The tornado of 22 Nov 1992, with property damage estimated by NCEI at $2.5M; 1 death recorded.
How does Saluda County compare with South Carolina for tornado?
3.8 events per 100 square miles against 4.4 statewide; the county holds 17 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.