NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Gray Court, 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
21 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Gray Court, South Carolina since 1851, 2 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Helene in 2024. Since 1950, 85 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 4 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 2
- Tropical storms
- 19
- Tornadoes
- 85
- 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 Gray Court
The strongest storm to pass near Gray Court was an unnamed storm in 1893, a Category 1 hurricane with 83 mph winds when its centre passed 71 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was Hugo in 1989, whose centre came within 61 miles. The record near Gray Court begins with an unnamed storm in 1859; the most recent system was Helene in 2024, a tropical storm 62 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1900s, with 4 systems. Of the 21 systems, 2 have come since 2000. Of the 246 South Carolina cities on this site, 69% have more hurricanes within 75 miles than Gray Court. The strongest of the 85 tornadoes within 25 miles was an F4 on March 31, 1973; its path came within 24 miles, and it killed 7 people. Of the 85, 7 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 39 have come since 2000. April has had the most tornadoes, 13. The most recent tornado was on December 29, 2024. Gray Court has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 58% of the 246 South Carolina cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 94 times since 1984, with stones up to 2 inches (hen egg size). Gray Court has more hail reports within 10 miles than 69% of the 246 South Carolina cities.
Compare Gray Court's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Gray Court
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | HeleneSep 27 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2018 | MichaelOct 11 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1989 | HugoSep 22 | 61 mi | Category 1 (76 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1965 | Unnamed 1965 stormJun 16 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1959 | GracieSep 30 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1952 | AbleAug 31 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 28 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1946 | Unnamed 1946 stormOct 9 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormJul 15 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 3 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormJun 14 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormSep 23 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1906 | Unnamed 1906 stormSep 18 | overhead | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormOct 11 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormSep 28 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 3 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 28 | 71 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 24 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJun 22 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 11 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormSep 17 | 6 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 Gray Court: 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 Gray Court
By decade
- 2020s15
- 2010s11
- 2000s13
- 1990s19
- 1980s6
- 1970s8(3 EF3+)
- 1960s10
- 1950s3(1 EF3+)
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 31, 1973 | F4 | 24 mi | 22.6 mi | 7 / 30 |
| May 10, 1952 | F3 | 14 mi | 22.7 mi | 2 / 4 |
| Dec 13, 1973 | F3 | 23 mi | 10.7 mi | 0 / 3 |
| May 27, 1973 | F3 | 20 mi | 60.2 mi | 0 / 40 |
| Apr 25, 2020 | EF2 | 21 mi | 5.47 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 8, 2017 | EF2 | 11 mi | 22.28 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jan 13, 2005 | F2 | 7 mi | 12 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Feb 21, 1997 | F2 | 24 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 4, 1989 | F2 | 21 mi | 2 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 4, 1989 | F2 | 24 mi | 5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 28, 1984 | F2 | 5 mi | 10 mi | 0 / 43 |
| May 23, 1980 | F2 | 15 mi | 2.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 85, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Gray Court
The Storm Prediction Center has 94 hail reports within 10 miles of Gray Court since 1984, made on 69 separate days. Of these, 39 were 1 inch across or larger, and 2 reached 2 inches. The largest size, 2 inches (hen egg size), was reported on 2 days, most recently March 1, 2017. The most recent report is from May 9, 2023. May has the most reports, 21.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Gray Court
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Laurens, SC, 9 miles southeast of Gray Court at 589 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 91°F and low of 70°F; January is the coolest, at 53°F and 30°F. March is the wettest at 4.7 inches of precipitation on average and October the driest at 3.3 inches; the year adds up to 46.8 inches over 73 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 48% of the year's precipitation (22.4 of 46.8 inches); the other six months are wetter. September has brought the most of the 21 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (9); a normal September there has highs of 84°F and 3.6 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 80 nights a year. Snowfall averages 1.3 inches a year, most of it in January. That 46.8 inches is more than at 27 of the 78 South Carolina stations used on this site (35%). Fountain Inn, 7 miles northwest, has its own station (Greenville, SC): 50.6 inches a year, 3.8 more than here, and a July average high of 87°F against 91°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 53 | 30 | 4.2 | 7 | 0.5 |
| Feb | 57 | 33 | 4.0 | 7 | 0.4 |
| Mar | 65 | 39 | 4.7 | 7 | 0.2 |
| Apr | 74 | 47 | 3.6 | 6 | 0.0 |
| May | 81 | 58 | 3.4 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 88 | 66 | 4.2 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 91 | 70 | 3.6 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 89 | 68 | 4.1 | 6 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 84 | 62 | 3.6 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 74 | 49 | 3.3 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Nov | 64 | 38 | 3.6 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Dec | 56 | 33 | 4.5 | 7 | 0.2 |
| Year | 73 | 49 | 46.8 | 73 | 1.3 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Laurens, SC (589 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 Gray Court
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 154 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Gray Court: 145 thunderstorm wind reports, 5 flash floods, 3 floods and 1 heavy rain event. They killed 2 people and injured 1, and the NWS estimated $1.6 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 92 mph, on June 16, 2009. January has had the most flash floods, 2 of 5. Of the 241 South Carolina cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 55 have had fewer than Gray Court.
June 16, 2009: thunderstorm wind 3 miles from the centre of Gray Court — 1 killed, $1.2 million damage.
NWS: “NWS survey found an area of extensive straight line wind damage. The damage began near Gray Court, but winds intensified significantly along West Main St in the city of Laurens, mainly in areas from Todd Ave to Laurens High School.”
July 9, 2013: heavy rain event 7 miles from the centre of Gray Court — 1 killed.
NWS: “A tree fell in saturated soil, possibly due to gusty winds, across highway 76. A vehicle later collided with the tree, killing the passenger.”
June 27, 2001: thunderstorm wind 10 miles from the centre of Gray Court — 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
Laurens County, which includes Gray Court, has been named in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1977, 9 of them major disasters (by incident: 10 hurricanes, 3 ice storms, 2 biological emergencies, 2 severe storms). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Helene, on September 29, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Laurens County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for strong wind; Relatively Moderate for tornadoes and lightning; Relatively Low for hurricanes, hail, inland flooding and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $27.1 million a year, the 26th highest of 46 South Carolina counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $10.8 million (40%), 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.