NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Bennettsville, 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
73 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Bennettsville, South Carolina since 1851, 10 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Chantal in 2025. Since 1950, 68 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 7 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 10
- Tropical storms
- 63
- Tornadoes
- 68
- EF3 or stronger
- 7
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
21 deaths in all
What the records show for Bennettsville
The strongest storm to pass near Bennettsville was Hazel in 1954, a Category 3 hurricane with 120 mph winds when its centre passed 68 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1896, whose centre came within 5 miles. The record near Bennettsville 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 73 systems, 13 have come since 2000. Bennettsville has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 61% of the 246 South Carolina cities on this site. The highest rating among the 68 tornadoes within 25 miles is F4, reached 4 times; the most recent, on March 28, 1984, came within 8 miles. The deadliest, an F4 on March 28, 1984, killed 7 people. Of the 68, 4 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 32 have come since 2000. September has had the most tornadoes, 17. The most recent tornado was on May 14, 2024. Of the 246 South Carolina cities, 77% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Bennettsville. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 52 times since 1962, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Of the 246 South Carolina cities, 64% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Bennettsville.
Compare Bennettsville's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Bennettsville
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | ChantalJul 6 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2024 | DebbyAug 8 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2022 | IanOct 1 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2021 | ElsaJul 8 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2021 | ClaudetteJun 21 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2019 | NestorOct 20 | overhead | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2018 | MichaelOct 11 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2018 | FlorenceSep 15 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2016 | HermineSep 3 | 75 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2015 | AnaMay 10 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2013 | AndreaJun 7 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | HannaSep 6 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2006 | AlbertoJun 14 | 1 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1998 | EarlSep 4 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1996 | JosephineOct 8 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1996 | FranSep 6 | 67 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1995 | AllisonJun 6 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1989 | HugoSep 22 | 66 mi | Category 1 (87 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1985 | KateNov 22 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1985 | BobJul 25 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1984 | DianaSep 14 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1979 | DavidSep 5 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1976 | Unnamed 1976 stormSep 15 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1972 | Unnamed 1972 stormJul 12 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1972 | AgnesJun 21 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1970 | AlmaMay 26 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1965 | Unnamed 1965 stormJun 16 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1959 | CindyJul 9 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1956 | FlossySep 26 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1954 | HazelOct 15 | 68 mi | Category 3 (120 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1952 | AbleAug 31 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1952 | Unnamed 1952 stormAug 28 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormSep 24 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormSep 18 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormOct 20 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1935 | Unnamed 1935 stormSep 6 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 2 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormSep 19 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1927 | Unnamed 1927 stormOct 3 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 30 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1920 | Unnamed 1920 stormSep 23 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormJul 14 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 16 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1913 | Unnamed 1913 stormOct 10 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormJun 14 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1906 | Unnamed 1906 stormSep 18 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1904 | Unnamed 1904 stormSep 14 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 16 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormJul 13 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormOct 31 | 41 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormSep 29 | 5 mi | Category 1 (85 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormOct 9 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormSep 27 | 68 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 13 | 50 mi | Category 2 (100 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 4 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 28 | 60 mi | Category 1 (78 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormJun 16 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 24 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 10 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJul 1 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormOct 12 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormAug 25 | 74 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 11 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormSep 12 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 4 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 29 | 58 mi | Category 1 (78 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1867 | Unnamed 1867 stormJun 23 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormSep 17 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1856 | Unnamed 1856 stormSep 1 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1854 | Unnamed 1854 stormSep 9 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormOct 10 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormAug 28 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1851 | Unnamed 1851 stormAug 25 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Bennettsville: 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 Bennettsville
By decade
- 2020s5
- 2010s10
- 2000s17
- 1990s8
- 1980s10(4 EF3+)
- 1970s6
- 1960s8(2 EF3+)
- 1950s4(1 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 28, 1984 | F4 | in town | 17 mi | 7 / 100 |
| Mar 28, 1984 | F4 | 6 mi | 40 mi | 4 / 395 |
| Apr 8, 1957 | F4 | 7 mi | 121.4 mi | 4 / 70 |
| Mar 28, 1984 | F4 | 8 mi | 7 mi | 0 / 24 |
| May 20, 1980 | F3 | 21 mi | 10.7 mi | 0 / 26 |
| Apr 18, 1969 | F3 | 2 mi | 77.3 mi | 0 / 3 |
| Aug 29, 1964 | F3 | 15 mi | 21.9 mi | 0 / 15 |
| May 15, 1976 | F2 | 24 mi | 10.1 mi | 3 / 4 |
| Sep 29, 1963 | F2 | 25 mi | 85.8 mi | 3 / 12 |
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF2 | 23 mi | 0.19 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 9, 1976 | F2 | 17 mi | 6.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 15, 1976 | F2 | 24 mi | 12.8 mi | 0 / 4 |
The strongest 12 of 68, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Bennettsville
The Storm Prediction Center has 52 hail reports within 10 miles of Bennettsville since 1962, made on 46 separate days. Of these, 22 were 1 inch across or larger, and none reached 2 inches. The largest size, 1.75 inches (golf ball size), was reported on 7 days, most recently June 19, 2014. The most recent report is from May 2, 2025. June has the most reports, 13.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Bennettsville
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Mccoll 3 NNW, SC, 8 miles northeast of Bennettsville at 190 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 92°F and low of 71°F; January is the coolest, at 55°F and 34°F. September is the wettest at 4.7 inches of precipitation on average and October the driest at 2.7 inches; the year adds up to 41.6 inches over 66 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 55% of the year's precipitation (22.9 of 41.6 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 73 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (28); a normal September there has highs of 84°F and 4.7 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 62 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 54 nights a year. That 41.6 inches is more than at 0 of the 78 South Carolina stations used on this site (0%). Cheraw, 13 miles west, has its own station (Cheraw, SC): 48.8 inches a year, 7.2 more than here, and a July average high of 91°F against 92°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 55 | 34 | 3.4 | 5 |
| Feb | 60 | 37 | 3.2 | 6 |
| Mar | 67 | 43 | 3.0 | 6 |
| Apr | 76 | 51 | 2.9 | 5 |
| May | 83 | 59 | 3.0 | 5 |
| Jun | 89 | 67 | 4.4 | 6 |
| Jul | 92 | 71 | 4.2 | 7 |
| Aug | 90 | 69 | 3.7 | 6 |
| Sep | 84 | 64 | 4.7 | 6 |
| Oct | 75 | 53 | 2.7 | 4 |
| Nov | 66 | 42 | 3.2 | 5 |
| Dec | 58 | 37 | 3.2 | 5 |
| Year | 74 | 52 | 41.6 | 66 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Mccoll 3 NNW, SC (190 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 Bennettsville
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 159 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Bennettsville: 145 thunderstorm wind reports, 7 flash floods, 4 heavy rain events and 3 floods. They killed 0 people and injured 1, and the NWS estimated $4.4 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 105 mph, on April 13, 2020. August has had the most flash floods, 4 of 7. Of the 241 South Carolina cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 88 have had fewer than Bennettsville.
April 27, 2010: thunderstorm wind 6 miles from the centre of Bennettsville — 1 injured, $55,000 damage.
NWS: “A 40 x 60 foot section of roof was blown off a large metal warehouse of a Flakeboard MDF Plant on Highway 912. A trailer was blown off its foundation at the plant.”
October 8, 2016: flash flood 9 miles from the centre of Bennettsville — $3.0 million damage.
April 13, 2020: thunderstorm wind 9 miles from the centre of Bennettsville — $300,000 damage.
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 Bennettsville's ZIP code 29512 have filed 21 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1985, and were paid $373,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Hurricane Florence in 2018: 10 claims (48% of all) and $210,000. 86% 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, 25 have fewer than Bennettsville.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Florence2018 | 10 | $210,000 |
Marlboro County, which includes Bennettsville, has been named in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1984, 12 of them major disasters (by incident: 15 hurricanes, 3 severe storms, 2 biological emergencies, 2 tropical storms). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Ian, on November 21, 2022. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Marlboro County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Moderate for hurricanes, tornadoes, strong wind and lightning; Relatively Low for hail, inland flooding and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $11.4 million a year, the 35th highest of 46 South Carolina counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $3.2 million (29%), 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.