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NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database

Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Blackville, 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

65 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Blackville, South Carolina since 1851, 6 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Idalia in 2023. Since 1950, 102 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 9 of them rated EF3 or stronger.

Hurricanes
6

within 75 mi, since 1851

Tropical storms
59

below hurricane strength

Tornadoes
102

within 25 mi, since 1950

EF3 or stronger
9

3 deaths in all

What the records show for Blackville

The strongest storm to pass near Blackville was Hugo in 1989, a Category 1 hurricane with 94 mph winds when its centre passed 55 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1893, whose centre came within 9 miles. The record near Blackville begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Idalia in 2023, a tropical storm 51 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1890s, with 7 systems, 3 of them at hurricane strength. Of the 65 systems, 9 have come since 2000. Blackville has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 52% of the 246 South Carolina cities on this site. The highest rating among the 102 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3 or EF3, reached 9 times; the most recent, on April 5, 2022, came within 22 miles. The deadliest, an EF3 on April 13, 2020, killed 2 people. Of the 102, 7 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 54 have come since 2000. April has had the most tornadoes, 27. The most recent tornado was on March 16, 2025. Blackville has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 83% of the 246 South Carolina cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 60 times since 1960, with stones up to 2.75 inches (baseball size). Of the 246 South Carolina cities, 55% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Blackville.

Compare Blackville's storm record with another city →

Tropical storms and hurricanes near Blackville

Tropical systems that passed within 75 miles of Blackville, South Carolina, newest first
YearStormClosestStrength when closestPeak
2023IdaliaAug 3151 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 4
2021ElsaJul 8overheadTropical storm (46 mph)Category 1
2019NestorOct 203 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
2018MichaelOct 1153 miTropical storm (53 mph)Category 5
2018FlorenceSep 1616 miTropical storm (43 mph)Category 4
2016HermineSep 257 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 1
2013AndreaJun 751 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
2012BerylMay 3066 miTropical storm (39 mph)Tropical storm
2006AlbertoJun 1473 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1998EarlSep 330 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 2
1996JosephineOct 869 miTropical storm (52 mph)Tropical storm
1995AllisonJun 630 miTropical storm (40 mph)Category 1
1989HugoSep 2255 miCategory 1 (94 mph)Category 5
1988ChrisAug 2840 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1985KateNov 2244 miTropical storm (56 mph)Category 3
1985BobJul 2536 miTropical storm (61 mph)Category 1
1979DavidSep 520 miTropical storm (66 mph)Category 5
1976Unnamed 1976 stormSep 1557 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1972AgnesJun 2159 miTropical storm (40 mph)Category 1
1970AlmaMay 2627 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 1
1965Unnamed 1965 stormJun 1642 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1964DoraSep 1348 miTropical storm (69 mph)Category 4
1964CleoAug 3044 miTropical storm (43 mph)Category 4
1959GracieSep 2926 miCategory 1 (87 mph)Category 4
1959CindyJul 972 miTropical storm (39 mph)Category 1
1956FlossySep 2628 miTropical storm (49 mph)Category 1
1952AbleAug 3126 miTropical storm (66 mph)Category 2
1947Unnamed 1947 stormSep 2442 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
1946Unnamed 1946 stormOct 819 miTropical storm (47 mph)Category 2
1945Unnamed 1945 stormSep 1752 miTropical storm (61 mph)Category 4
1944Unnamed 1944 stormOct 2036 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 4
1941Unnamed 1941 stormOct 845 miTropical storm (44 mph)Category 3
1935Unnamed 1935 stormSep 52 miTropical storm (56 mph)Category 5
1929Unnamed 1929 stormOct 12 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 4
1927Unnamed 1927 stormOct 334 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
1924Unnamed 1924 stormSep 3042 miTropical storm (63 mph)Category 1
1924Unnamed 1924 stormSep 1665 miTropical storm (40 mph)Category 1
1916Unnamed 1916 stormJul 1458 miTropical storm (60 mph)Category 3
1915Unnamed 1915 stormAug 333 miTropical storm (43 mph)Category 1
1913Unnamed 1913 stormOct 954 miTropical storm (40 mph)Category 1
1912Unnamed 1912 stormJun 1469 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1911Unnamed 1911 stormAug 2874 miTropical storm (56 mph)Category 2
1906Unnamed 1906 stormSep 1850 miTropical storm (55 mph)Category 1
1902Unnamed 1902 stormJun 152 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1901Unnamed 1901 stormSep 1825 miTropical storm (40 mph)Category 1
1898Unnamed 1898 stormAug 3166 miTropical storm (66 mph)Category 1
1896Unnamed 1896 stormSep 2939 miCategory 1 (93 mph)Category 3
1894Unnamed 1894 stormOct 950 miTropical storm (71 mph)Category 3
1894Unnamed 1894 stormSep 2762 miCategory 1 (81 mph)Category 3
1893Unnamed 1893 stormOct 451 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 4
1893Unnamed 1893 stormAug 289 miCategory 1 (92 mph)Category 3
1893Unnamed 1893 stormJun 1673 miTropical storm (55 mph)Category 1
1889Unnamed 1889 stormSep 2462 miTropical storm (52 mph)Category 2
1888Unnamed 1888 stormSep 1017 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1886Unnamed 1886 stormJul 118 miTropical storm (56 mph)Category 2
1886Unnamed 1886 stormJun 2260 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 2
1885Unnamed 1885 stormOct 122 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
1878Unnamed 1878 stormSep 1260 miCategory 1 (81 mph)Category 2
1877Unnamed 1877 stormOct 46 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 3
1873Unnamed 1873 stormSep 2072 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 1
1856Unnamed 1856 stormSep 112 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 3
1854Unnamed 1854 stormSep 93 miTropical storm (67 mph)Category 3
1852Unnamed 1852 stormOct 1027 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 2
1852Unnamed 1852 stormAug 272 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 3
1851Unnamed 1851 stormAug 245 miTropical storm (56 mph)Category 3

Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Blackville: 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 Blackville

By decade

  • 2020s17(7 EF3+)
  • 2010s10
  • 2000s27(1 EF3+)
  • 1990s21
  • 1980s7(1 EF3+)
  • 1970s10
  • 1960s7
  • 1950s3
Strongest tornadoes near Blackville, South Carolina
DateRatingDistancePathKilled / injured
Apr 13, 2020EF31 mi35.68 mi2 / 7
Apr 5, 2022EF318 mi34.49 mi0 / 0
Apr 5, 2022EF322 mi13.28 mi0 / 1
Apr 13, 2020EF37 mi5.37 mi0 / 0
Apr 13, 2020EF32 mi1.39 mi0 / 0
Apr 13, 2020EF38 mi8.49 mi0 / 0
Apr 13, 2020EF37 mi37.88 mi0 / 0
Apr 10, 2009EF318 mi14.57 mi0 / 14
Apr 23, 1983F310 mi33 mi0 / 6
Sep 22, 2000F219 mi4.8 mi1 / 5
Jan 9, 2024EF215 mi2.14 mi0 / 0
Apr 19, 2019EF223 mi10.6 mi0 / 0

The strongest 12 of 102, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.

Hail in Blackville

The Storm Prediction Center has 60 hail reports within 10 miles of Blackville since 1960, made on 48 separate days. Of these, 26 were 1 inch across or larger, and one reached 2 inches. The largest, 2.75 inches (baseball size), fell on July 14, 1985. The most recent report is from May 22, 2020. May has the most reports, 17.

Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.

Weather by month in Blackville

The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Blackville 3 W, SC, 3 miles west of Blackville at 317 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 91°F and low of 71°F; January is the coolest, at 57°F and 36°F. June is the wettest at 5.3 inches of precipitation on average and November the driest at 2.5 inches; the year adds up to 46.2 inches over 71 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 54% of the year's precipitation (24.8 of 46.2 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 65 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (24); a normal September there has highs of 84°F and 4.8 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 63 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 39 nights a year. That 46.2 inches is more than at 23 of the 78 South Carolina stations used on this site (29%). Denmark, 9 miles east, has its own station (Bamberg, SC): 48.8 inches a year, 2.6 more than here, and the same July average high, 91°F.

Monthly climate normals 1991–2020 at Blackville 3 W, SC
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. inDays ≥ 0.1"
Jan57363.65
Feb61383.77
Mar68443.96
Apr76513.35
May83603.06
Jun88675.38
Jul91714.47
Aug89705.17
Sep84644.85
Oct76532.74
Nov66432.54
Dec59383.96
Year755346.271

Averages for 1991–2020 at Blackville 3 W, SC (317 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.

South Carolina weather by month, station by station →

Floods, thunderstorm wind and lightning near Blackville

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 150 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Blackville: 140 thunderstorm wind reports, 3 flash floods, 3 floods, 3 heavy rain events and 1 lightning strike. They killed 0 people and injured 1, and the NWS estimated $2.2 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 90 mph, on January 4, 2023.

  • June 19, 2000: thunderstorm wind 1 mile from the centre of Blackville — 1 injured.

    NWS: “EOC reported trees down on homes.”

  • August 11, 2023: lightning strike 9 miles from the centre of Blackville — $2.0 million 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

Barnwell County, which includes Blackville, has been named in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1977, 12 of them major disasters (by incident: 13 hurricanes, 4 severe storms, 3 ice storms, 3 tropical storms). The latest major disaster declaration was Tropical Storm Debby, on September 29, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Barnwell County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Moderate for hurricanes and tornadoes; Relatively Low for hail, inland flooding, strong wind, lightning and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $8.4 million a year, the 40th highest of 46 South Carolina counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $2.4 million (28%), 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 Blackville