NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Aiken, SC
Every tropical system within 75 miles since 1851 and every tornado within 25 miles since 1950.
Data: NOAA NHC HURDAT2 and NOAA SPC tornado and hail reports, through 2025 · Updated
52 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Aiken, South Carolina since 1851, 4 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Idalia in 2023. Since 1950, 86 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 6 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 4
- Tropical storms
- 48
- Tornadoes
- 86
- EF3 or stronger
- 6
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
5 deaths in all
What the records show for Aiken
The strongest storm to pass near Aiken was an unnamed storm in 1896, a Category 1 hurricane with 93 mph winds when its centre passed 66 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1893, whose centre came within 34 miles. The record near Aiken begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Idalia in 2023, a tropical storm 74 miles away. The 1850s and the 1880s were the busiest decades, with 6 systems each. Of the 52 systems, 5 have come since 2000. Of the 246 South Carolina cities on this site, 51% have more hurricanes within 75 miles than Aiken. The highest rating among the 86 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3 or EF3, reached 6 times; the most recent, on April 13, 2020, came within 15 miles. The deadliest, an EF3 on April 13, 2020, killed 2 people. Of the 86, 7 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 46 have come since 2000. April and May have had the most tornadoes, 18 each. The most recent tornado was on May 12, 2025. Aiken has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 60% of the 246 South Carolina cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 91 times since 1958, with stones up to 2 inches (hen egg size). Aiken has more hail reports within 10 miles than 67% of the 246 South Carolina cities.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Aiken
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | IdaliaAug 31 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2021 | ElsaJul 8 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2019 | NestorOct 20 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2018 | MichaelOct 11 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2018 | FlorenceSep 16 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1998 | EarlSep 3 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1995 | AllisonJun 6 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1989 | HugoSep 22 | 72 mi | Category 1 (91 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1988 | ChrisAug 28 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1985 | KateNov 22 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1985 | BobJul 25 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1979 | DavidSep 5 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1970 | AlmaMay 26 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1965 | Unnamed 1965 stormJun 16 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1964 | DoraSep 13 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1964 | CleoAug 30 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1959 | GracieSep 30 | 48 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1956 | FlossySep 26 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1952 | AbleAug 31 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 28 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormSep 24 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1946 | Unnamed 1946 stormOct 9 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormOct 20 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1941 | Unnamed 1941 stormOct 8 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1935 | Unnamed 1935 stormSep 5 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 1 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1927 | Unnamed 1927 stormOct 3 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 30 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormJul 15 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 3 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormJun 14 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1906 | Unnamed 1906 stormSep 18 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 15 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormSep 18 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1898 | Unnamed 1898 stormAug 31 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormSep 29 | 66 mi | Category 1 (93 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormOct 9 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 3 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 28 | 34 mi | Category 1 (90 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 24 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 10 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJul 1 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJun 22 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormOct 12 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 11 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 4 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormSep 17 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1856 | Unnamed 1856 stormSep 1 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1854 | Unnamed 1854 stormSep 9 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormOct 10 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormAug 27 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1851 | Unnamed 1851 stormAug 24 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 3 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Aiken: a hurricane's worst winds sit within a few dozen miles of its centre, and inland cities are usually past that.
Tornadoes within 25 miles of Aiken
By decade
- 2020s8(3 EF3+)
- 2010s14
- 2000s24(2 EF3+)
- 1990s17(1 EF3+)
- 1980s4
- 1970s8
- 1960s7
- 1950s4
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF3 | 23 mi | 35.68 mi | 2 / 7 |
| May 7, 1998 | F3 | 12 mi | 12 mi | 1 / 9 |
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF3 | 20 mi | 8.49 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF3 | 15 mi | 37.88 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 10, 2009 | EF3 | 9 mi | 14.57 mi | 0 / 14 |
| Apr 10, 2009 | EF3 | 16 mi | 17.68 mi | 0 / 12 |
| Mar 13, 1955 | F2 | 22 mi | 9.9 mi | 2 / 10 |
| Apr 5, 2022 | EF2 | 22 mi | 5.68 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Mar 3, 2019 | EF2 | 17 mi | 5.05 mi | 0 / 7 |
| Apr 5, 2017 | EF2 | 22 mi | 7.2 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Jan 21, 2017 | EF2 | 25 mi | 13.78 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Apr 19, 2015 | EF2 | in town | 19.54 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 86, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Aiken
The Storm Prediction Center has 91 hail reports within 10 miles of Aiken since 1958, made on 75 separate days. Of these, 46 were 1 inch across or larger, and 2 reached 2 inches. The largest size, 2 inches (hen egg size), was reported on 2 days, most recently September 27, 2011. The most recent report is from July 9, 2025. May has the most reports, 25.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Aiken
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Aiken 5SE, SC, 3 miles south of Aiken at 492 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 93°F and low of 72°F; January is the coolest, at 56°F and 35°F. July is the wettest at 5.6 inches of precipitation on average and October the driest at 2.9 inches; the year adds up to 50.8 inches over 76 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 52% of the year's precipitation (26.4 of 50.8 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 52 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (19); a normal September there has highs of 85°F and 4.1 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 86 days a year, almost all from April to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 51 nights a year. Snowfall averages 0.7 inches a year, most of it in January. That 50.8 inches is more than at 56 of the 78 South Carolina stations used on this site (72%). Beech Island, 12 miles southwest, has its own station (Augusta Bush Field Airport, GA): 44.3 inches a year, 6.5 less than here, and a July average high of 94°F against 93°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56 | 35 | 4.6 | 8 | 0.7 |
| Feb | 60 | 38 | 4.2 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Mar | 68 | 44 | 4.7 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Apr | 76 | 52 | 3.1 | 6 | 0.0 |
| May | 84 | 61 | 3.5 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 89 | 69 | 5.4 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 93 | 72 | 5.6 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 90 | 71 | 5.0 | 8 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 85 | 65 | 4.1 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 77 | 53 | 2.9 | 4 | 0.0 |
| Nov | 67 | 41 | 3.4 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Dec | 59 | 36 | 4.3 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Year | 75 | 53 | 50.8 | 76 | 0.7 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Aiken 5SE, SC (492 ft), from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Normals describe the station; the farther a place is from it, and the bigger the difference in height, the more its weather can differ.
Floods, thunderstorm wind and lightning near Aiken
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 232 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Aiken: 209 thunderstorm wind reports, 12 flash floods, 6 heavy rain events, 3 lightning strikes and 2 floods. They killed 1 person and injured 6, and the NWS estimated $965,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 86 mph, on August 17, 2007. Of the 241 South Carolina cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 142 have had fewer than Aiken.
January 11, 2008: lightning strike 2 miles from the centre of Aiken — 1 killed, 1 injured.
NWS: “Fifty six year old Brenda F. Baker was struck and killed by lightning while she was taking a break at her job.”
February 22, 2003: thunderstorm wind 4 miles from the centre of Aiken — 4 injured, $1,000 damage.
NWS: “Sheriff reported trees down around the county, especially in Aiken, Windsor, and Montmorenci where 4 people were injured who were outside doing a civil war re-enactment.”
April 6, 2022: lightning strike 9 miles from the centre of Aiken — 1 injured.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, events whose starting point is on record, 1996 to June 30, 2026. Damage is the NWS estimate in the dollars of the year, not insured losses, and NWS notes that some reports are unverified.
Flood insurance claims, disaster declarations and FEMA risk ratings
Flood insurance policyholders in Aiken's 2 ZIP codes have filed 11 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1979, and were paid $20,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. 9% of the claims carry the name of a storm or flood event; the rest have no event name. Of the 110 South Carolina cities on this site with 10 or more claims, 5 have fewer than Aiken.
Aiken County, which includes Aiken, has been named in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1977, 10 of them major disasters (by incident: 10 hurricanes, 3 ice storms, 3 severe storms, 2 biological emergencies). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Helene, on September 29, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Aiken County a Relatively Moderate rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for lightning; Relatively Moderate for hurricanes, tornadoes, hail, inland flooding, strong wind and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $47.5 million a year, the 14th highest of 46 South Carolina counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $22.6 million (47%), is from inland flooding.
Claims: FEMA, OpenFEMA Dataset FIMA NFIP Redacted Claims – v3, summed over ZIP codes; payments in the dollars of each year, not adjusted for inflation. Declarations: Disaster Declarations Summaries – v2, by county. Retrieved October 25, 2026. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's OpenFEMA API, but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
Risk ratings: FEMA, National Risk Index county table, December 2025 (v1.20), retrieved October 26, 2026; ratings compare counties nationwide, are meant for planning and are no substitute for a local risk assessment. This product uses the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Risk Index dataset API or downloadable datasets but is not endorsed by FEMA. The Federal Government or FEMA cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from the Agency's website(s).
What counts as a pass, the distances and the sources: how this storm history is built.
Cities near Aiken
- Warrenville, SC6 mi
- New Ellenton, SC8 mi
- Graniteville, SC8 mi
- Windsor, SC11 mi
- Beech Island, SC12 mi
- Trenton, SC14 mi
- North Augusta, SC14 mi
- Jackson, SC15 mi
- Williston, SC18 mi
- Ridge Spring, SC19 mi
- Wagener, SC19 mi
- Augusta, GA20 mi
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