NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Cope, 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 Cope, South Carolina since 1851, 9 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Debby in 2024. Since 1950, 124 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 8 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 9
- Tropical storms
- 64
- Tornadoes
- 124
- EF3 or stronger
- 8
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
4 deaths in all
What the records show for Cope
The strongest storm to pass near Cope was an unnamed storm in 1885, a Category 2 hurricane with 102 mph winds when its centre passed 73 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1893, whose centre came within 8 miles. The record near Cope begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Debby in 2024, a tropical storm 61 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1890s, with 7 systems, 3 of them at hurricane strength. Of the 73 systems, 12 have come since 2000. Cope has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 59% of the 246 South Carolina cities on this site. The highest rating among the 124 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3 or EF3, reached 8 times; the most recent, on April 5, 2022, came within 9 miles. The deadliest, an EF3 on April 13, 2020, killed 2 people. Of the 124, 9 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 69 have come since 2000. April has had the most tornadoes, 31. The most recent tornado was on September 27, 2024. Cope is tied for the most tornadoes within 25 miles among the 246 South Carolina cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 62 times since 1975, with stones up to 2.75 inches (baseball size). Of the 246 South Carolina cities, 52% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Cope.
Compare Cope's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Cope
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | DebbyAug 8 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2023 | IdaliaAug 31 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2022 | ColinJul 2 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2021 | ElsaJul 8 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2019 | NestorOct 20 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2018 | MichaelOct 11 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2018 | FlorenceSep 16 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2016 | HermineSep 2 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2013 | AndreaJun 7 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2012 | BerylMay 30 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2007 | BarryJun 3 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2006 | AlbertoJun 14 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1998 | EarlSep 3 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1996 | JosephineOct 8 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1995 | AllisonJun 6 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1989 | HugoSep 22 | 39 mi | Category 2 (96 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1988 | ChrisAug 28 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1985 | KateNov 22 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1985 | BobJul 25 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1979 | DavidSep 5 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1976 | Unnamed 1976 stormSep 15 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1976 | DottieAug 21 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1972 | AgnesJun 21 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1970 | AlmaMay 26 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1965 | Unnamed 1965 stormJun 16 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1964 | DoraSep 13 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1964 | CleoAug 30 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1959 | GracieSep 29 | 9 mi | Category 1 (90 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1959 | CindyJul 9 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1956 | FlossySep 26 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1952 | AbleAug 31 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormSep 24 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1946 | Unnamed 1946 stormOct 9 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormSep 17 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormOct 20 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1941 | Unnamed 1941 stormOct 8 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1935 | Unnamed 1935 stormSep 5 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 1 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormSep 18 | 67 mi | Category 1 (82 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1927 | Unnamed 1927 stormOct 3 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 30 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 16 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormJul 14 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 16 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 3 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1913 | Unnamed 1913 stormOct 9 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormJun 14 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1908 | Unnamed 1908 stormOct 23 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1906 | Unnamed 1906 stormSep 18 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 15 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormSep 18 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1898 | Unnamed 1898 stormAug 31 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormSep 29 | 24 mi | Category 1 (93 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormOct 9 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormSep 27 | 47 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 4 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 28 | 8 mi | Category 1 (91 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormJun 16 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 24 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 10 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJul 1 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJun 22 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormOct 12 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormAug 25 | 73 mi | Category 2 (102 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormSep 12 | 43 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 4 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 28 | 69 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1873 | Unnamed 1873 stormSep 20 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1856 | Unnamed 1856 stormSep 1 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1854 | Unnamed 1854 stormSep 9 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormOct 10 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormAug 27 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1851 | Unnamed 1851 stormAug 24 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 3 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Cope: 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 Cope
By decade
- 2020s24(5 EF3+)
- 2010s21
- 2000s24(2 EF3+)
- 1990s22
- 1980s8(1 EF3+)
- 1970s13
- 1960s8
- 1950s4
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF3 | 11 mi | 35.68 mi | 2 / 7 |
| Apr 5, 2022 | EF3 | 9 mi | 34.49 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF3 | 15 mi | 5.37 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF3 | 17 mi | 1.39 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF3 | 15 mi | 37.88 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 15, 2008 | EF3 | 11 mi | 10.11 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Dec 10, 2004 | F3 | 16 mi | 1.5 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Apr 23, 1983 | F3 | 5 mi | 33 mi | 0 / 6 |
| Oct 22, 1990 | F2 | 19 mi | 0.1 mi | 1 / 4 |
| Apr 22, 1958 | F2 | 24 mi | 17.7 mi | 1 / 1 |
| Jan 9, 2024 | EF2 | 6 mi | 2.14 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF2 | 12 mi | 10.23 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 124, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Cope
The Storm Prediction Center has 62 hail reports within 10 miles of Cope since 1975, made on 47 separate days. Of these, 30 were 1 inch across or larger, and one reached 2 inches. The largest, 2.75 inches (baseball size), fell on May 17, 1998. The most recent report is from July 31, 2023. May has the most reports, 28.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Cope
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Bamberg, SC, 6 miles southwest of Cope at 156 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 91°F and low of 71°F; January is the coolest, at 58°F and 37°F. July is the wettest at 5.5 inches of precipitation on average and November the driest at 2.8 inches; the year adds up to 48.8 inches over 74 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 54% of the year's precipitation (26.4 of 48.8 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 73 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (26); a normal September there has highs of 84°F and 4.4 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 38 nights a year. That 48.8 inches is more than at 42 of the 78 South Carolina stations used on this site (54%). Cordova, 6 miles northeast, has its own station (Orangeburg Municipal Airport, SC): 43.8 inches a year, 5.0 less than here, and a July average high of 92°F against 91°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58 | 37 | 3.7 | 7 |
| Feb | 62 | 39 | 3.5 | 6 |
| Mar | 69 | 45 | 4.4 | 6 |
| Apr | 77 | 52 | 3.1 | 5 |
| May | 83 | 60 | 3.9 | 6 |
| Jun | 88 | 68 | 5.2 | 8 |
| Jul | 91 | 71 | 5.5 | 8 |
| Aug | 89 | 71 | 5.4 | 8 |
| Sep | 84 | 65 | 4.4 | 6 |
| Oct | 75 | 54 | 3.1 | 4 |
| Nov | 65 | 44 | 2.8 | 4 |
| Dec | 59 | 39 | 3.8 | 6 |
| Year | 75 | 54 | 48.8 | 74 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Bamberg, SC (156 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 Cope
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 192 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Cope: 170 thunderstorm wind reports, 14 flash floods, 6 heavy rain events and 2 floods. They killed 3 people and injured 0, and the NWS estimated $843,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 110 mph, on June 20, 2019. November 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 Cope.
November 7, 2024: flood 8 miles from the centre of Cope — 2 killed.
May 29, 2012: thunderstorm wind 9 miles from the centre of Cope — 1 killed, $4,000 damage.
April 6, 2011: thunderstorm wind 9 miles from the centre of Cope — $500,000 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 Cope's ZIP code 29038 have filed 10 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1995, and were paid $430,000 for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. 10% 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, 0 have fewer than Cope.
Orangeburg County, which includes Cope, has been named in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1977, 16 of them major disasters (by incident: 15 hurricanes, 3 floods, 3 ice storms, 3 severe storms). The latest major disaster declaration was Severe Storms and Flooding, on January 10, 2025. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Orangeburg County a Relatively Moderate rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for hurricanes, strong wind and lightning; Relatively Moderate for tornadoes, hail, inland flooding and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $44.3 million a year, the 16th highest of 46 South Carolina counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $14.8 million (34%), 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.