NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Edisto Island, 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
107 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Edisto Island, South Carolina since 1851, 31 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Debby in 2024. Since 1950, 47 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 0 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 31
- Tropical storms
- 76
- Tornadoes
- 47
- EF3 or stronger
- 0
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
1 deaths in all
What the records show for Edisto Island
The strongest storm to pass near Edisto Island was Hugo in 1989, a Category 4 hurricane with 138 mph winds when its centre passed 35 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1928, whose centre came within 3 miles. The record near Edisto Island begins with an unnamed storm in 1852; the most recent system was Debby in 2024, a tropical storm 45 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1880s, with 10 systems, 2 of them at hurricane strength. Of the 107 systems, 21 have come since 2000. Edisto Island has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 93% of the 246 South Carolina cities on this site. The highest rating among the 47 tornadoes within 25 miles is F2 or EF2, reached 4 times; the most recent, on April 13, 2020, came within 4 miles. The deadliest, an F2 on September 3, 1998, killed 1 person. Of the 47, 7 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 36 have come since 2000. September has had the most tornadoes, 10. The most recent tornado was on September 27, 2024. Of the 246 South Carolina cities, 98% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Edisto Island. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 15 times since 1971, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Of the 246 South Carolina cities, 98% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Edisto Island.
Compare Edisto Island's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Edisto Island
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | DebbyAug 6 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2023 | IdaliaAug 31 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2022 | IanSep 30 | 70 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2022 | ColinJul 2 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2021 | DannyJun 28 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2020 | EtaNov 13 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2020 | IsaiasAug 3 | 62 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2020 | BerthaMay 27 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2019 | DorianSep 5 | 72 mi | Category 3 (115 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2018 | FlorenceSep 16 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2016 | MatthewOct 8 | 17 mi | Category 1 (94 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2016 | JuliaSep 14 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2016 | HermineSep 2 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2016 | ColinJun 7 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2013 | AndreaJun 7 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2012 | BerylMay 30 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | HannaSep 6 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2007 | BarryJun 3 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2004 | GastonAug 29 | 49 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2004 | CharleyAug 14 | 39 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2002 | KyleOct 11 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1998 | EarlSep 3 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1996 | JosephineOct 8 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1995 | AllisonJun 6 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1989 | HugoSep 22 | 35 mi | Category 4 (138 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1988 | ChrisAug 28 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1985 | KateNov 22 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1985 | BobJul 25 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1984 | IsidoreSep 29 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1982 | Unnamed 1982 stormJun 18 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1981 | DennisAug 19 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1979 | DavidSep 5 | 44 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1976 | Unnamed 1976 stormSep 15 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1976 | DottieAug 20 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1976 | Unnamed 1976 stormMay 24 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1975 | HallieOct 26 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1970 | AlmaMay 26 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1966 | AlmaJun 10 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1964 | DoraSep 13 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1964 | CleoAug 29 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1963 | GinnyOct 25 | 66 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1960 | BrendaJul 29 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1959 | GracieSep 29 | 6 mi | Category 4 (132 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1959 | CindyJul 9 | 52 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1957 | Unnamed 1957 stormJun 9 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1956 | FlossySep 26 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1954 | Unnamed 1954 stormJul 10 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1953 | FlorenceSep 27 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1952 | AbleAug 31 | 20 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormOct 15 | 56 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormSep 24 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormSep 17 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormOct 20 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1941 | Unnamed 1941 stormOct 8 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1940 | Unnamed 1940 stormAug 11 | 31 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormSep 15 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormSep 18 | 3 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1927 | Unnamed 1927 stormOct 3 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 30 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 16 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormJun 27 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormOct 4 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormJul 14 | 52 mi | Category 2 (109 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 16 | overhead | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1913 | Unnamed 1913 stormOct 8 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1911 | Unnamed 1911 stormAug 28 | 29 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1910 | Unnamed 1910 stormOct 19 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1908 | Unnamed 1908 stormOct 23 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormSep 29 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormJun 29 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1906 | Unnamed 1906 stormOct 20 | 52 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1906 | Unnamed 1906 stormSep 18 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1904 | Unnamed 1904 stormSep 14 | 75 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormSep 18 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1900 | Unnamed 1900 stormOct 12 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1898 | Unnamed 1898 stormAug 31 | 42 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormSep 29 | 36 mi | Category 2 (96 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormOct 9 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormSep 27 | 13 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 13 | 30 mi | Category 3 (121 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 28 | 50 mi | Category 2 (99 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormJun 16 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormJun 18 | 75 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormOct 11 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 10 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJul 1 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormAug 31 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormAug 25 | 10 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1884 | Unnamed 1884 stormSep 12 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormOct 12 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1881 | Unnamed 1881 stormAug 27 | 73 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormSep 9 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormOct 11 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormSep 12 | 4 mi | Category 1 (91 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 28 | 7 mi | Category 1 (90 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1873 | Unnamed 1873 stormSep 20 | 4 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormOct 6 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 28 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 19 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1868 | Unnamed 1868 stormOct 5 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1867 | Unnamed 1867 stormJun 22 | 30 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormAug 14 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1856 | Unnamed 1856 stormSep 1 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1854 | Unnamed 1854 stormSep 9 | 66 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1853 | Unnamed 1853 stormOct 21 | 55 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormOct 10 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormAug 28 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Edisto Island: 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 Edisto Island
By decade
- 2020s18
- 2010s6
- 2000s12
- 1990s6
- 1980s3
- 1970s1
- 1960s1
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 3, 1998 | F2 | 8 mi | 18 mi | 1 / 4 |
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF2 | 4 mi | 1.16 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 24, 2015 | EF2 | 20 mi | 6.85 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 11, 2008 | EF2 | 12 mi | 12 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 27, 2024 | EF1 | 8 mi | 2.49 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 5, 2024 | EF1 | 4 mi | 0.56 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Aug 5, 2024 | EF1 | 2 mi | 2.89 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 7, 2021 | EF1 | 2 mi | 1.12 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 7, 2021 | EF1 | 25 mi | 0.63 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 20, 2020 | EF1 | 17 mi | 0.77 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF1 | 12 mi | 0.3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF1 | 8 mi | 1.25 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 47, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Edisto Island
The Storm Prediction Center has 15 hail reports within 10 miles of Edisto Island since 1971, made on 13 separate days. Of these, 8 were 1 inch across or larger, and none reached 2 inches. The largest size, 1.75 inches (golf ball size), was reported on 2 days, most recently March 20, 2018. The most recent report is from March 20, 2018. June has the most reports, 7.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Edisto Island
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Edisto Is Middleton Plantation, SC, 5 miles north of Edisto Island at 12 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 90°F and low of 74°F; January is the coolest, at 59°F and 40°F. August is the wettest at 7.5 inches of precipitation on average and November the driest at 2.6 inches; the year adds up to 52.1 inches over 70 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 60% of the year's precipitation (31.4 of 52.1 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 107 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (35); a normal September there has highs of 85°F and 5.2 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 74 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 16 nights a year. That 52.1 inches is more than at 62 of the 78 South Carolina stations used on this site (79%). Ravenel, 18 miles north, has its own station (Charleston International Airport, SC): 52.7 inches a year, 0.6 more than here, and a July average high of 91°F against 90°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 59 | 40 | 3.6 | 5 |
| Feb | 63 | 43 | 2.9 | 5 |
| Mar | 69 | 48 | 3.9 | 5 |
| Apr | 76 | 56 | 3.6 | 5 |
| May | 83 | 64 | 2.8 | 5 |
| Jun | 88 | 71 | 5.2 | 7 |
| Jul | 90 | 74 | 6.6 | 8 |
| Aug | 90 | 74 | 7.5 | 8 |
| Sep | 85 | 69 | 5.2 | 6 |
| Oct | 78 | 60 | 4.3 | 4 |
| Nov | 68 | 49 | 2.6 | 5 |
| Dec | 61 | 43 | 3.9 | 7 |
| Year | 76 | 58 | 52.1 | 70 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Edisto Is Middleton Plantation, SC (12 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 Edisto Island
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 63 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Edisto Island: 55 thunderstorm wind reports, 4 flash floods, 2 floods, 1 heavy rain event and 1 lightning strike. They killed 0 people and injured 2, and the NWS estimated $2.0 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 70 mph, on June 17, 2016.
January 2, 2006: thunderstorm wind 4 miles from the centre of Edisto Island — 2 injured, $5,000 damage.
NWS: “Thunderstorm winds knocked down several trees just west of Switzerland. Also, a large limb broke off a tree and landed on a car in Ridgeland.”
October 3, 2015: flash flood 8 miles from the centre of Edisto Island — $729,000 damage.
October 3, 2015: flash flood 4 miles from the centre of Edisto Island — $729,000 damage.
NWS: “Law enforcement reported Point Of Pines Road impassable due to flooding.”
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 Edisto Island's ZIP code 29438 have filed 647 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1979, and were paid $4.4 million for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Hurricane Matthew in 2016: 303 claims (47% of all) and $2.9 million, then Hurricane Irma in 2017 with 70 and Hurricane Hugo in 1989 with 49. 78% 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, 93 have fewer than Edisto Island.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Matthew2016 | 303 | $2.9 million |
| Hurricane Irma2017 | 70 | $625,000 |
| Hurricane Hugo1989 | 49 | $127,000 |
| Hurricane Floyd1999 | 28 | $21,000 |
| October severe storms2015 | 22 | $89,000 |
| Flooding1987 | 18 | $49,000 |
Charleston County, which includes Edisto Island, has been named in 27 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1977, 12 of them major disasters (by incident: 16 hurricanes, 3 severe storms, 2 biological emergencies, 2 tropical storms). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Ian, on November 21, 2022. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Charleston County a Relatively High rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Very High for hurricanes and coastal flooding; Relatively High for lightning; Relatively Moderate for tornadoes, inland flooding, strong wind and heat waves; Relatively Low for hail. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $499.8 million a year, the highest of 46 South Carolina counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $281.3 million (56%), 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 Edisto Island
- Wadmalaw Island, SC11 mi
- Hollywood, SC12 mi
- Ravenel, SC18 mi
- Saint Helena Island, SC18 mi
- Johns Island, SC18 mi
- Beaufort, SC23 mi
- Port Royal, SC24 mi
- Seabrook, SC25 mi
- Charleston, SC25 mi
- Charleston Afb, SC29 mi
- North Charleston, SC29 mi
- Cottageville, SC31 mi
All South Carolina cities →All hurricanes since 1851 →Compare Edisto Island with another place →