NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Blacksburg, 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
25 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Blacksburg, South Carolina since 1851, 2 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Debby in 2024. Since 1950, 99 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 5 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 2
- Tropical storms
- 23
- Tornadoes
- 99
- EF3 or stronger
- 5
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
7 deaths in all
What the records show for Blacksburg
The strongest storm to pass near Blacksburg was an unnamed storm in 1893, a Category 1 hurricane with 78 mph winds when its centre passed 47 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was Hugo in 1989, whose centre came within 13 miles. The record near Blacksburg begins with an unnamed storm in 1859; the most recent system was Debby in 2024, a tropical storm 73 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1900s, with 4 systems. Of the 25 systems, 4 have come since 2000. Of the 246 South Carolina cities on this site, 69% have more hurricanes within 75 miles than Blacksburg. The highest rating among the 99 tornadoes within 25 miles is F4, reached 2 times; the most recent, on May 5, 1989, came within 21 miles. The deadliest, an F4 on May 5, 1989, killed 4 people. Of the 99, 8 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 47 have come since 2000. May has had the most tornadoes, 24. The most recent tornado was on December 29, 2024. Blacksburg has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 78% of the 246 South Carolina cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 103 times since 1976, with stones up to 2 inches (hen egg size). Blacksburg has more hail reports within 10 miles than 73% of the 246 South Carolina cities.
Compare Blacksburg's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Blacksburg
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | DebbyAug 8 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2020 | ZetaOct 29 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2018 | MichaelOct 11 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2006 | AlbertoJun 14 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1989 | HugoSep 22 | 13 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1985 | BobJul 25 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1979 | DavidSep 5 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1965 | Unnamed 1965 stormJun 16 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1959 | GracieSep 30 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1952 | AbleAug 31 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 28 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1927 | Unnamed 1927 stormOct 3 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormJul 15 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 3 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormJun 14 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormSep 23 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1906 | Unnamed 1906 stormSep 18 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormOct 11 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormSep 28 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 4 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 28 | 47 mi | Category 1 (78 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 24 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJun 22 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 11 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormSep 17 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Blacksburg: 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 Blacksburg
By decade
- 2020s14
- 2010s12
- 2000s21
- 1990s26(2 EF3+)
- 1980s8(2 EF3+)
- 1970s12(1 EF3+)
- 1960s4
- 1950s2
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 5, 1989 | F4 | 25 mi | 14 mi | 4 / 52 |
| May 5, 1989 | F4 | 21 mi | 15 mi | 2 / 35 |
| Aug 16, 1994 | F3 | 21 mi | 30 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 27, 1994 | F3 | 24 mi | 18.5 mi | 0 / 2 |
| May 27, 1973 | F3 | 14 mi | 60.2 mi | 0 / 40 |
| Feb 6, 2020 | EF2 | 6 mi | 8.66 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 23, 2017 | EF2 | 13 mi | 4.86 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jan 11, 2012 | EF2 | 23 mi | 3.8 mi | 0 / 10 |
| May 9, 2008 | EF2 | 20 mi | 18.21 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 16, 1994 | F2 | 13 mi | 10 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Aug 16, 1994 | F2 | in town | 4 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 27, 1994 | F2 | 10 mi | 45.4 mi | 0 / 13 |
The strongest 12 of 99, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Blacksburg
The Storm Prediction Center has 103 hail reports within 10 miles of Blacksburg since 1976, made on 77 separate days. Of these, 53 were 1 inch across or larger, and 5 reached 2 inches. The largest size, 2 inches (hen egg size), was reported on 4 days, most recently April 25, 2020. The most recent report is from May 20, 2025. June has the most reports, 32.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Blacksburg
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Ninety Nine Is, SC, 6 miles south of Blacksburg at 500 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 88°F and low of 66°F; January is the coolest, at 51°F and 27°F. August is the wettest at 4.7 inches of precipitation on average and October the driest at 3.1 inches; the year adds up to 45.3 inches over 67 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 50% of the year's precipitation (22.6 of 45.3 inches). September has brought the most of the 25 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (9); a normal September there has highs of 81°F and 3.6 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 34 days a year, almost all from June to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 93 nights a year. That 45.3 inches is more than at 14 of the 78 South Carolina stations used on this site (18%). Grover, NC, 5 miles north, has its own station (Shelby 2 NW, NC): 50.5 inches a year, 5.2 more than here, and a July average high of 91°F against 88°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 51 | 27 | 3.7 | 6 |
| Feb | 55 | 29 | 3.3 | 6 |
| Mar | 63 | 35 | 4.4 | 7 |
| Apr | 72 | 43 | 3.7 | 6 |
| May | 78 | 53 | 3.6 | 5 |
| Jun | 84 | 62 | 4.1 | 6 |
| Jul | 88 | 66 | 3.7 | 6 |
| Aug | 86 | 65 | 4.7 | 5 |
| Sep | 81 | 58 | 3.6 | 5 |
| Oct | 72 | 46 | 3.1 | 4 |
| Nov | 62 | 34 | 3.4 | 5 |
| Dec | 54 | 29 | 4.0 | 6 |
| Year | 70 | 45 | 45.3 | 67 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Ninety Nine Is, SC (500 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 Blacksburg
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 182 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Blacksburg: 165 thunderstorm wind reports, 8 flash floods, 4 heavy rain events, 4 lightning strikes and 1 flood. They killed 1 person and injured 12, and the NWS estimated $1.1 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 81 mph, on May 2, 2003. June has had the most flash floods, 2 of 8. Of the 241 South Carolina cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 103 have had fewer than Blacksburg.
May 26, 2022: thunderstorm wind 9 miles from the centre of Blacksburg — 1 killed, $100,000 damage.
March 15, 1996: thunderstorm wind 9 miles from the centre of Blacksburg — 4 injured, $10,000 damage.
July 5, 2022: thunderstorm wind 10 miles from the centre of Blacksburg — 4 injured, $10,000 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
Cherokee County, which includes Blacksburg, has been named in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1977, 10 of them major disasters (by incident: 11 hurricanes, 4 ice storms, 2 biological emergencies, 2 severe storms). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Helene, on September 29, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Cherokee County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Moderate for tornadoes, strong wind and lightning; Relatively Low for hurricanes, hail, inland flooding and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $23.4 million a year, the 28th highest of 46 South Carolina counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $11.9 million (51%), 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.