NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Dorchester, 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
90 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Dorchester, South Carolina since 1851, 19 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Debby in 2024. Since 1950, 84 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 3 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 19
- Tropical storms
- 71
- Tornadoes
- 84
- EF3 or stronger
- 3
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
1 deaths in all
What the records show for Dorchester
The strongest storm to pass near Dorchester was an unnamed storm in 1893, a Category 3 hurricane with 121 mph winds when its centre passed 53 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1878, whose centre came within 8 miles. The record near Dorchester begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Debby in 2024, a tropical storm 38 miles away. Of the 90 systems, 18 have come since 2000. Dorchester has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 79% of the 246 South Carolina cities on this site. The highest rating among the 84 tornadoes within 25 miles is EF3, reached 3 times; the most recent, on April 5, 2022, came within 23 miles. The deadliest, an F2 on May 10, 1998, killed 1 person. Of the 84, 3 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 51 have come since 2000. April and May have had the most tornadoes, 19 each. The most recent tornado was on September 27, 2024. Dorchester has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 55% of the 246 South Carolina cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 57 times since 1963, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Of the 246 South Carolina cities, 59% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Dorchester.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Dorchester
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | DebbyAug 8 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2023 | IdaliaAug 31 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2022 | IanSep 30 | 71 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2022 | ColinJul 2 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2021 | ElsaJul 8 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2021 | DannyJun 28 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2020 | BerthaMay 27 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2019 | NestorOct 20 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2018 | FlorenceSep 16 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2016 | MatthewOct 8 | 50 mi | Category 1 (90 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2016 | HermineSep 2 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2016 | ColinJun 7 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2013 | AndreaJun 7 | overhead | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2012 | BerylMay 30 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2007 | BarryJun 3 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2004 | GastonAug 29 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2004 | CharleyAug 14 | 59 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2002 | KyleOct 11 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1998 | EarlSep 4 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1996 | JosephineOct 8 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1995 | AllisonJun 6 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1989 | HugoSep 22 | 18 mi | Category 3 (110 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1988 | ChrisAug 28 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1985 | KateNov 22 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1985 | BobJul 25 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1981 | DennisAug 19 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1979 | DavidSep 5 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1976 | Unnamed 1976 stormSep 15 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1976 | DottieAug 21 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1972 | AgnesJun 21 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1970 | AlmaMay 26 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1966 | AlmaJun 10 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1964 | DoraSep 13 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | BrendaJul 29 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1959 | GracieSep 29 | 20 mi | Category 2 (105 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1959 | CindyJul 9 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1957 | Unnamed 1957 stormJun 9 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1956 | FlossySep 26 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1954 | Unnamed 1954 stormJul 10 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1952 | AbleAug 31 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormSep 24 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1946 | Unnamed 1946 stormOct 8 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormSep 17 | overhead | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormOct 20 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1941 | Unnamed 1941 stormOct 8 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1940 | Unnamed 1940 stormAug 11 | 72 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1935 | Unnamed 1935 stormSep 5 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 2 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormSep 18 | 31 mi | Category 1 (82 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1927 | Unnamed 1927 stormOct 3 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 30 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 17 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormJul 14 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 16 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1913 | Unnamed 1913 stormOct 9 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1911 | Unnamed 1911 stormAug 28 | 67 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1910 | Unnamed 1910 stormOct 19 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1908 | Unnamed 1908 stormOct 23 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormSep 29 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormJun 29 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1906 | Unnamed 1906 stormSep 18 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1904 | Unnamed 1904 stormSep 14 | 69 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 15 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormSep 18 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1898 | Unnamed 1898 stormAug 31 | 73 mi | Category 1 (78 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormSep 29 | 13 mi | Category 1 (93 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormOct 9 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormSep 27 | 12 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 13 | 53 mi | Category 3 (121 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 28 | 42 mi | Category 1 (93 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormJun 16 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 10 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJul 1 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormOct 12 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormAug 25 | 38 mi | Category 2 (101 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormOct 12 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormSep 9 | 74 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormSep 12 | 8 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 4 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 28 | 33 mi | Category 1 (91 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1873 | Unnamed 1873 stormSep 20 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormOct 6 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 28 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 19 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1867 | Unnamed 1867 stormJun 22 | 44 mi | Category 1 (78 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1856 | Unnamed 1856 stormSep 1 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1854 | Unnamed 1854 stormSep 9 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormOct 10 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormAug 28 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1851 | Unnamed 1851 stormAug 24 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 3 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Dorchester: 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 Dorchester
By decade
- 2020s17(2 EF3+)
- 2010s14
- 2000s20(1 EF3+)
- 1990s8
- 1980s3
- 1970s7
- 1960s11
- 1950s4
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 5, 2022 | EF3 | 23 mi | 34.49 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF3 | 25 mi | 5.74 mi | 0 / 6 |
| Mar 15, 2008 | EF3 | 17 mi | 10.11 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 10, 1998 | F2 | 16 mi | 10.5 mi | 1 / 7 |
| Sep 3, 1998 | F2 | 24 mi | 7 mi | 0 / 9 |
| Mar 8, 1998 | F2 | 16 mi | 5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 4, 1978 | F2 | 20 mi | 41.2 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Sep 26, 2024 | EF1 | 19 mi | 33.4 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 6, 2024 | EF1 | 23 mi | 3.88 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Sep 17, 2020 | EF1 | 14 mi | 0.6 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF1 | 9 mi | 2.29 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF1 | 12 mi | 17.33 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 84, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Dorchester
The Storm Prediction Center has 57 hail reports within 10 miles of Dorchester since 1963, made on 45 separate days. Of these, 24 were 1 inch across or larger, and none reached 2 inches. The largest size, 1.75 inches (golf ball size), was reported on 5 days, most recently June 21, 2008. The most recent report is from May 19, 2025. May has the most reports, 18.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Dorchester
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Walterboro 1 SW, SC, 23 miles southwest of Dorchester at 56 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 35°F. August is the wettest at 7.2 inches of precipitation on average and November the driest at 3.1 inches; the year adds up to 51.5 inches over 74 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 57% of the year's precipitation (29.4 of 51.5 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 90 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (29); a normal September there has highs of 84°F and 4.6 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 67 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 44 nights a year. That 51.5 inches is more than at 57 of the 78 South Carolina stations used on this site (73%). Ridgeville, 10 miles southeast, has its own station (Charleston International Airport, SC): 52.7 inches a year, 1.2 more than here, and the same July average high, 91°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58 | 35 | 4.0 | 6 |
| Feb | 62 | 38 | 3.7 | 6 |
| Mar | 69 | 44 | 3.5 | 6 |
| Apr | 76 | 50 | 3.6 | 5 |
| May | 83 | 60 | 3.6 | 6 |
| Jun | 87 | 68 | 5.6 | 8 |
| Jul | 91 | 71 | 5.2 | 8 |
| Aug | 89 | 70 | 7.2 | 9 |
| Sep | 84 | 65 | 4.6 | 7 |
| Oct | 76 | 53 | 3.7 | 4 |
| Nov | 68 | 42 | 3.1 | 4 |
| Dec | 61 | 38 | 3.7 | 6 |
| Year | 75 | 53 | 51.5 | 74 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Walterboro 1 SW, SC (56 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 Dorchester
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 211 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Dorchester: 194 thunderstorm wind reports, 8 flash floods, 5 floods, 3 lightning strikes and 1 heavy rain event. They killed 0 people and injured 3, and the NWS estimated $415,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 105 mph, on April 13, 2020. August has had the most flash floods, 4 of 8. Of the 241 South Carolina cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 103 have had fewer than Dorchester.
July 28, 2006: thunderstorm wind 5 miles from the centre of Dorchester — 1 injured, $10,000 damage.
July 20, 2023: thunderstorm wind 5 miles from the centre of Dorchester — 1 injured.
NWS: “Dorchester County Emergency Management reported a downed tree and power lines which fell in the roadway at the intersection of Wire Road and Zion Road. Two vehicles collided with the downed tree and one person was injured.”
May 19, 2025: thunderstorm wind 9 miles from the centre of Dorchester — 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
Dorchester County, which includes Dorchester, has been named in 26 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1989, 12 of them major disasters (by incident: 15 hurricanes, 3 tropical storms, 2 biological emergencies, 2 ice storms). The latest major disaster declaration was Tropical Storm Debby, on September 29, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Dorchester County a Relatively Moderate rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for hurricanes and lightning; Relatively Moderate for tornadoes and inland flooding; Relatively Low for hail, coastal flooding, strong wind and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $175.8 million a year, the 5th highest of 46 South Carolina counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $84.5 million (48%), 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.
Cities near Dorchester
- Harleyville, SC7 mi
- Ridgeville, SC10 mi
- Saint George, SC10 mi
- Cottageville, SC12 mi
- Holly Hill, SC13 mi
- Summerville, SC17 mi
- Eutawville, SC18 mi
- Cross, SC19 mi
- Bowman, SC20 mi
- Ladson, SC20 mi
- Walterboro, SC23 mi
- Hanahan, SC23 mi
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