NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Central, 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
14 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Central, South Carolina since 1851, 0 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Helene in 2024. Since 1950, 105 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 4 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 0
- Tropical storms
- 14
- Tornadoes
- 105
- EF3 or stronger
- 4
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
1 deaths in all
What the records show for Central
None of the 14 tropical systems was at hurricane strength as it passed Central; the strongest was an unnamed storm in 1949, a tropical storm with 58 mph winds when its centre passed 33 miles away. The record near Central begins with an unnamed storm in 1859; the most recent system was Helene in 2024, a tropical storm 32 miles away. The 1880s and the 1900s were the busiest decades, with 3 systems each. Of the 14 systems, 3 have come since 2000. Of the 246 South Carolina cities on this site, 95% have more tropical storms and hurricanes within 75 miles than Central. The highest rating among the 105 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3 or EF3, reached 4 times; the most recent, on April 13, 2020, came within 2 miles. Of the 105, 8 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 55 have come since 2000. April has had the most tornadoes, 22. The most recent tornado was on May 3, 2025. Central has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 84% of the 246 South Carolina cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 101 times since 1969, with stones up to 2.75 inches (baseball size). Central has more hail reports within 10 miles than 72% of the 246 South Carolina cities.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Central
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | HeleneSep 27 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2020 | ZetaOct 29 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 3 |
| 2018 | MichaelOct 11 | 75 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 28 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormJul 15 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormJun 14 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormSep 23 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormOct 11 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormSep 28 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 3 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 24 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJun 22 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 11 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormSep 17 | 34 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 Central: 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 Central
By decade
- 2020s18(1 EF3+)
- 2010s13
- 2000s24
- 1990s25(1 EF3+)
- 1980s7
- 1970s12(2 EF3+)
- 1960s4
- 1950s2
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF3 | 2 mi | 16.71 mi | 1 / 5 |
| Mar 27, 1994 | F3 | 16 mi | 28 mi | 0 / 37 |
| Apr 8, 1974 | F3 | 22 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 27, 1973 | F3 | 20 mi | 60.2 mi | 0 / 40 |
| Mar 23, 2022 | EF2 | 9 mi | 6.25 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 25, 2020 | EF2 | 25 mi | 5.47 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF2 | 17 mi | 7.97 mi | 0 / 8 |
| Oct 8, 2017 | EF2 | 3 mi | 8.42 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 26, 2008 | EF2 | 5 mi | 5.48 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jan 7, 1998 | F2 | 11 mi | 1.5 mi | 0 / 4 |
| Sep 16, 1996 | F2 | 8 mi | 6 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Jun 26, 1994 | F2 | 16 mi | 12 mi | 0 / 1 |
The strongest 12 of 105, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Central
The Storm Prediction Center has 101 hail reports within 10 miles of Central since 1969, made on 76 separate days. Of these, 51 were 1 inch across or larger, and one reached 2 inches. The largest, 2.75 inches (baseball size), fell on April 29, 1991. The most recent report is from May 2, 2025. May has the most reports, 36.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Central
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Clemson Univ, SC, 6 miles southwest of Central at 800 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 91°F and low of 69°F; January is the coolest, at 53°F and 33°F. August is the wettest at 5.3 inches of precipitation on average and September and October the driest at 3.8 inches; the year adds up to 52.6 inches over 80 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 48% of the year's precipitation (25.1 of 52.6 inches); the other six months are wetter. September has brought the most of the 14 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (6); a normal September there has highs of 84°F and 3.8 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 55 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 57 nights a year. Snowfall averages 2.2 inches a year, most of it in January and February. That 52.6 inches is more than at 64 of the 78 South Carolina stations used on this site (82%). Liberty, 6 miles northeast, has its own station (Pickens, SC): 56.7 inches a year, 4.1 more than here, and a July average high of 90°F against 91°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 53 | 33 | 4.9 | 7 | 0.8 |
| Feb | 57 | 35 | 4.4 | 7 | 0.8 |
| Mar | 65 | 41 | 4.8 | 7 | 0.3 |
| Apr | 73 | 48 | 4.2 | 7 | 0.0 |
| May | 81 | 57 | 4.1 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 88 | 65 | 4.2 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 91 | 69 | 4.1 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 90 | 68 | 5.3 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 84 | 62 | 3.8 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 74 | 50 | 3.8 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Nov | 64 | 40 | 3.9 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Dec | 56 | 34 | 5.1 | 7 | 0.3 |
| Year | 73 | 50 | 52.6 | 80 | 2.2 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Clemson Univ, SC (800 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 Central
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 171 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Central: 150 thunderstorm wind reports, 14 flash floods, 3 floods, 3 lightning strikes and 1 heavy rain event. They killed 1 person and injured 2, and the NWS estimated $2.5 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 81 mph, on June 2, 1997. August has had the most flash floods, 6 of 14. Of the 241 South Carolina cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 161 have had fewer than Central.
August 6, 2013: flash flood 4 miles from the centre of Central — 1 killed, $50,000 damage.
NWS: “A car was swept away by flood waters on Silver Creek Road. The car and it's occupant, a 23 year old male, were found separately downstream.”
June 5, 2011: thunderstorm wind 4 miles from the centre of Central — 1 injured.
July 10, 2012: thunderstorm wind 6 miles from the centre of Central — 1 injured.
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
Pickens County, which includes Central, has been named in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1977, 9 of them major disasters (by incident: 11 hurricanes, 3 fires, 3 severe storms, 2 biological emergencies). The latest major disaster declaration was Severe Winter Storm, on April 7, 2026. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Pickens County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for lightning; Relatively Moderate for inland flooding and strong wind; Relatively Low for hurricanes, tornadoes, hail and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $37.1 million a year, the 20th highest of 46 South Carolina counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $23.5 million (63%), 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 Central
- Clemson, SCunder 1 mi
- Liberty, SC6 mi
- Pendleton, SC6 mi
- Six Mile, SC8 mi
- Seneca, SC10 mi
- Pickens, SC13 mi
- Easley, SC13 mi
- West Union, SC14 mi
- Salem, SC15 mi
- Townville, SC15 mi
- Sunset, SC16 mi
- Walhalla, SC16 mi
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