NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Catawba, 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
41 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Catawba, South Carolina since 1851, 3 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Debby in 2024. Since 1950, 62 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 4 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 3
- Tropical storms
- 38
- Tornadoes
- 62
- EF3 or stronger
- 4
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
9 deaths in all
What the records show for Catawba
The strongest storm to pass near Catawba was an unnamed storm in 1896, a Category 1 hurricane with 86 mph winds when its centre passed 63 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was Hugo in 1989, whose centre came within 8 miles. The record near Catawba begins with an unnamed storm in 1854; the most recent system was Debby in 2024, a tropical storm 38 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1880s, with 6 systems. Of the 41 systems, 5 have come since 2000. Of the 246 South Carolina cities on this site, 55% have more hurricanes within 75 miles than Catawba. The highest rating among the 62 tornadoes within 25 miles is F4, reached 2 times; the most recent, on May 5, 1989, came within 14 miles. The deadliest, an F4 on April 8, 1957, killed 4 people. Of the 62, one had a path within 5 miles of the city centre, and 23 have come since 2000. May has had the most tornadoes, 15. The most recent tornado was on December 29, 2024. Of the 246 South Carolina cities, 85% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Catawba. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 89 times since 1985, with stones up to 2.5 inches (tennis ball size). Catawba has more hail reports within 10 miles than 67% of the 246 South Carolina cities.
Compare Catawba's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Catawba
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | DebbyAug 8 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2021 | ElsaJul 8 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2019 | NestorOct 20 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2018 | MichaelOct 11 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2006 | AlbertoJun 14 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1989 | HugoSep 22 | 8 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1985 | BobJul 25 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1979 | DavidSep 5 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1970 | AlmaMay 26 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1965 | Unnamed 1965 stormJun 16 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1959 | GracieSep 30 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1952 | AbleAug 31 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1952 | Unnamed 1952 stormAug 28 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 28 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1946 | Unnamed 1946 stormOct 9 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormSep 18 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormOct 20 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1935 | Unnamed 1935 stormSep 5 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 2 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1927 | Unnamed 1927 stormOct 3 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormJul 15 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 3 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1913 | Unnamed 1913 stormOct 10 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormJun 14 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormSep 23 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1906 | Unnamed 1906 stormSep 18 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormOct 11 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 16 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormSep 29 | 63 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 4 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 28 | 11 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 24 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 10 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJul 1 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJun 22 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormOct 12 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 11 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormSep 12 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 4 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormSep 17 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1854 | Unnamed 1854 stormSep 9 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 3 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Catawba: 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 Catawba
By decade
- 2020s5
- 2010s10
- 2000s8
- 1990s13(2 EF3+)
- 1980s9(1 EF3+)
- 1970s8
- 1960s4
- 1950s5(1 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 8, 1957 | F4 | 24 mi | 121.4 mi | 4 / 70 |
| May 5, 1989 | F4 | 14 mi | 13 mi | 1 / 6 |
| Mar 27, 1994 | F3 | 23 mi | 18.5 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Oct 18, 1990 | F3 | 17 mi | 12 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Nov 16, 2011 | EF2 | 10 mi | 5.8 mi | 3 / 5 |
| Apr 15, 1994 | F2 | 19 mi | 3 mi | 1 / 4 |
| May 5, 2020 | EF2 | 18 mi | 13.98 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 7, 2004 | F2 | 14 mi | 3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 10, 1992 | F2 | 20 mi | 3.4 mi | 0 / 18 |
| Mar 6, 1983 | F2 | 23 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 9 |
| May 28, 1973 | F2 | 20 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 28, 1973 | F2 | 25 mi | 9.6 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 62, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Catawba
The Storm Prediction Center has 89 hail reports within 10 miles of Catawba since 1985, made on 59 separate days. Of these, 42 were 1 inch across or larger, and 5 reached 2 inches. The largest size, 2.5 inches (tennis ball size), was reported on 2 days, most recently April 9, 2011. The most recent report is from May 8, 2025. April has the most reports, 25.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Catawba
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Winthrop Univ, SC, 9 miles northwest of Catawba at 650 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 91°F and low of 70°F; January is the coolest, at 54°F and 33°F. June is the wettest at 4.1 inches of precipitation on average and October the driest at 2.9 inches; the year adds up to 42.6 inches over 70 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 50% of the year's precipitation (21.2 of 42.6 inches). September has brought the most of the 41 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (14); a normal September there has highs of 84°F and 3.6 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 56 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 51 nights a year. That 42.6 inches is more than at 2 of the 78 South Carolina stations used on this site (3%). Fort Lawn, 10 miles south, has its own station (Chester 1 SE, SC): 46.0 inches a year, 3.4 more than here, and a July average high of 90°F against 91°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 54 | 33 | 3.6 | 6 |
| Feb | 58 | 35 | 3.1 | 6 |
| Mar | 66 | 42 | 3.9 | 7 |
| Apr | 75 | 50 | 3.7 | 6 |
| May | 81 | 59 | 3.5 | 6 |
| Jun | 88 | 67 | 4.1 | 6 |
| Jul | 91 | 70 | 3.6 | 6 |
| Aug | 89 | 69 | 3.7 | 6 |
| Sep | 84 | 63 | 3.6 | 5 |
| Oct | 74 | 51 | 2.9 | 5 |
| Nov | 64 | 41 | 3.3 | 5 |
| Dec | 56 | 35 | 3.6 | 6 |
| Year | 73 | 51 | 42.6 | 70 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Winthrop Univ, SC (650 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 Catawba
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 141 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Catawba: 119 thunderstorm wind reports, 13 flash floods, 7 floods, 1 heavy rain event and 1 lightning strike. They killed 1 person and injured 1, and the NWS estimated $1.7 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 92 mph, on April 20, 2024. Of the 241 South Carolina cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 147 have had fewer than Catawba.
February 6, 2020: thunderstorm wind 9 miles from the centre of Catawba — 1 killed, $25,000 damage.
June 27, 2026: thunderstorm wind 10 miles from the centre of Catawba — 1 injured, $10,000 damage.
April 20, 2024: thunderstorm wind 10 miles from the centre of Catawba — $1.0 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
York County, which includes Catawba, has been named in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1977, 8 of them major disasters (by incident: 12 hurricanes, 2 biological emergencies, 2 ice storms, 2 severe storms). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Helene, on September 29, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives York County a Relatively Moderate rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for tornadoes, strong wind and lightning; Relatively Moderate for inland flooding; Relatively Low for hurricanes, hail and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $99.2 million a year, the 9th highest of 46 South Carolina counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $51.5 million (52%), 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 Catawba
- Edgemoor, SC5 mi
- Rock Hill, SC9 mi
- Fort Lawn, SC10 mi
- Indian Land, SC11 mi
- Richburg, SC11 mi
- Lancaster, SC12 mi
- Waxhaw, NC12 mi
- Fort Mill, SC13 mi
- Pineville, NC17 mi
- Mc Connells, SC17 mi
- Chester, SC19 mi
- Great Falls, SC19 mi
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