NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Alcolu, 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
82 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Alcolu, South Carolina since 1851, 13 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Chantal in 2025. Since 1950, 88 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 1 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 13
- Tropical storms
- 69
- Tornadoes
- 88
- EF3 or stronger
- 1
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
3 deaths in all
What the records show for Alcolu
The strongest storm to pass near Alcolu was an unnamed storm in 1893, a Category 3 hurricane with 114 mph winds when its centre passed 55 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1896, whose centre came within 7 miles. The record near Alcolu begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Chantal in 2025, a tropical storm 62 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1890s, with 8 systems, 5 of them at hurricane strength. Of the 82 systems, 18 have come since 2000. Alcolu has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 67% of the 246 South Carolina cities on this site. The strongest of the 88 tornadoes within 25 miles was an EF3 on April 15, 2007; its path came within 14 miles, and it killed 1 person. Of the 88, 7 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 46 have come since 2000. September has had the most tornadoes, 23. The most recent tornado was on May 30, 2025. Alcolu has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 66% of the 246 South Carolina cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 51 times since 1971, with stones up to 4.25 inches. Of the 246 South Carolina cities, 66% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Alcolu.
Compare Alcolu's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Alcolu
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | ChantalJul 6 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2024 | DebbyAug 8 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2023 | IdaliaAug 31 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2022 | IanSep 30 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2022 | ColinJul 2 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2021 | ElsaJul 8 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2020 | BerthaMay 27 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2019 | NestorOct 20 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2018 | FlorenceSep 15 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2016 | MatthewOct 8 | 64 mi | Category 1 (84 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2016 | HermineSep 2 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2013 | AndreaJun 7 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2012 | BerylMay 30 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2007 | BarryJun 3 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2006 | AlbertoJun 14 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2004 | GastonAug 29 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2004 | CharleyAug 14 | 67 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2002 | KyleOct 11 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1998 | EarlSep 4 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1996 | JosephineOct 8 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1995 | AllisonJun 6 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1989 | HugoSep 22 | 15 mi | Category 2 (96 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1985 | KateNov 22 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1985 | BobJul 25 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1979 | DavidSep 5 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1976 | Unnamed 1976 stormSep 15 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1976 | DottieAug 21 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1972 | AgnesJun 21 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1970 | AlmaMay 26 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1965 | Unnamed 1965 stormJun 16 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1964 | DoraSep 13 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | BrendaJul 29 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1959 | GracieSep 29 | 42 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1959 | CindyJul 9 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1956 | FlossySep 26 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1952 | AbleAug 31 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1952 | Unnamed 1952 stormAug 28 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormSep 24 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1946 | Unnamed 1946 stormOct 9 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormSep 17 | 1 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormOct 20 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1941 | Unnamed 1941 stormOct 8 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1935 | Unnamed 1935 stormSep 5 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 2 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormSep 18 | 44 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1927 | Unnamed 1927 stormOct 3 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 30 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 17 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormJul 14 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 16 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1913 | Unnamed 1913 stormOct 9 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormJun 14 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1910 | Unnamed 1910 stormOct 20 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1908 | Unnamed 1908 stormOct 23 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormJun 29 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1906 | Unnamed 1906 stormSep 18 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1904 | Unnamed 1904 stormSep 14 | 48 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 16 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormSep 18 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormJul 13 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormOct 31 | 67 mi | Category 2 (105 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormSep 29 | 7 mi | Category 1 (90 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormOct 9 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormSep 27 | 34 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 13 | 55 mi | Category 3 (114 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 4 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 28 | 53 mi | Category 1 (85 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormJun 16 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 10 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJul 1 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormOct 12 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormAug 25 | 55 mi | Category 2 (97 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormSep 12 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 4 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 28 | 46 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1873 | Unnamed 1873 stormSep 20 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1867 | Unnamed 1867 stormJun 22 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1856 | Unnamed 1856 stormSep 1 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1854 | Unnamed 1854 stormSep 9 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormOct 10 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormAug 28 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1851 | Unnamed 1851 stormAug 24 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 3 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Alcolu: 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 Alcolu
By decade
- 2020s16
- 2010s10
- 2000s20(1 EF3+)
- 1990s16
- 1980s7
- 1970s7
- 1960s10
- 1950s2
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 15, 2007 | EF3 | 14 mi | 19.04 mi | 1 / 5 |
| Aug 28, 1988 | F2 | 9 mi | 0.8 mi | 1 / 1 |
| Apr 22, 1958 | F2 | 15 mi | 17.7 mi | 1 / 1 |
| Apr 5, 2022 | EF2 | 4 mi | 2.76 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 19, 2019 | EF2 | 15 mi | 2.91 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 15, 2008 | EF2 | 22 mi | 14.08 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 7, 2004 | F2 | 14 mi | 4 mi | 0 / 3 |
| Sep 16, 1996 | F2 | 18 mi | 1.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 4, 1978 | F2 | 11 mi | 41.2 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Mar 12, 1967 | F2 | 23 mi | 11.7 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 29, 1963 | F2 | 8 mi | 5.4 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 30, 2025 | EF1 | 16 mi | 9.99 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 88, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Alcolu
The Storm Prediction Center has 51 hail reports within 10 miles of Alcolu since 1971, made on 42 separate days. Of these, 21 were 1 inch across or larger, and 2 reached 2 inches. The largest, 4.25 inches, fell on April 16, 2011. The most recent report is from May 14, 2025. May has the most reports, 19.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Alcolu
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Manning, SC, 5 miles south of Alcolu at 85 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 91°F and low of 71°F; January is the coolest, at 55°F and 35°F. July is the wettest at 6.2 inches of precipitation on average and November the driest at 3.6 inches; the year adds up to 55.8 inches over 88 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 56% of the year's precipitation (31.0 of 55.8 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 82 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (27); a normal September there has highs of 83°F and 5.4 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 75 days a year, almost all from April to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 47 nights a year. Snowfall averages 0.5 inches a year, most of it in January. That 55.8 inches is more than at 72 of the 78 South Carolina stations used on this site (92%). Turbeville, 12 miles northeast, has its own station (Cades 4 W, SC): 52.7 inches a year, 3.1 less than here, and a July average high of 93°F against 91°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 55 | 35 | 4.0 | 8 | 0.4 |
| Feb | 59 | 37 | 4.5 | 8 | 0.1 |
| Mar | 67 | 43 | 4.0 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Apr | 75 | 51 | 3.8 | 7 | 0.0 |
| May | 82 | 59 | 4.3 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 88 | 67 | 6.0 | 9 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 91 | 71 | 6.2 | 9 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 89 | 70 | 6.0 | 9 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 83 | 64 | 5.4 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 75 | 53 | 3.8 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Nov | 65 | 43 | 3.6 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Dec | 58 | 37 | 4.2 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Year | 74 | 52 | 55.8 | 88 | 0.5 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Manning, SC (85 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 Alcolu
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 145 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Alcolu: 132 thunderstorm wind reports and 13 flash floods. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $18.5 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 98 mph, on November 16, 2011. October has had the most flash floods, 9 of 13. Of the 241 South Carolina cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 147 have had fewer than Alcolu.
October 4, 2015: flash flood 5 miles from the centre of Alcolu — $11.0 million damage.
NWS: “Several streets flooded in town. Meadowfield Apartments in Summerton also experiencing flooding.”
October 10, 2015: flash flood 7 miles from the centre of Alcolu — $2.0 million damage.
October 10, 2015: flash flood 6 miles from the centre of Alcolu — $1.5 million damage.
NWS: “Clarendon County dispatch reported I-95 has been closed again both northbound and southbound between mile markers 98 and 135 due to flooding.”
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
Clarendon County, which includes Alcolu, has been named in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1989, 12 of them major disasters (by incident: 15 hurricanes, 3 ice storms, 2 biological emergencies, 2 severe storms). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Ian, on November 21, 2022. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Clarendon County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for hurricanes and lightning; Relatively Moderate for strong wind and heat waves; Relatively Low for tornadoes, hail and inland flooding. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $23.4 million a year, the 29th highest of 46 South Carolina counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $11.3 million (48%), is from hurricanes.
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.