NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Johnston, 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
43 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Johnston, South Carolina since 1851, 2 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Elsa in 2021. Since 1950, 74 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 4 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 2
- Tropical storms
- 41
- Tornadoes
- 74
- EF3 or stronger
- 4
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
4 deaths in all
What the records show for Johnston
The strongest storm to pass near Johnston was an unnamed storm in 1893, a Category 1 hurricane with 87 mph winds when its centre passed 39 miles away. The record near Johnston begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Elsa in 2021, a tropical storm 43 miles away. The 1850s and the 1880s were the busiest decades, with 6 systems each. Of the 43 systems, 5 have come since 2000. Of the 246 South Carolina cities on this site, 69% have more hurricanes within 75 miles than Johnston. The highest rating among the 74 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3, reached 4 times; the most recent, on May 7, 1998, came within 10 miles. The deadliest, an F2 on March 13, 1955, killed 2 people. Of the 74, 10 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 47 have come since 2000. May has had the most tornadoes, 19. The most recent tornado was on May 12, 2025. Of the 246 South Carolina cities, 65% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Johnston. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 68 times since 1976, with stones up to 2.75 inches (baseball size). Johnston has more hail reports within 10 miles than 52% of the 246 South Carolina cities.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Johnston
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | ElsaJul 8 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2019 | NestorOct 20 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2018 | MichaelOct 11 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2018 | FlorenceSep 16 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2006 | AlbertoJun 14 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1998 | EarlSep 3 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1995 | AllisonJun 6 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1989 | HugoSep 22 | 67 mi | Category 1 (87 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1985 | BobJul 25 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1979 | DavidSep 5 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1970 | AlmaMay 26 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1965 | Unnamed 1965 stormJun 16 | overhead | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1964 | CleoAug 30 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1959 | GracieSep 30 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1956 | FlossySep 26 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1952 | AbleAug 31 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 28 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (60 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1946 | Unnamed 1946 stormOct 9 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormOct 20 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1935 | Unnamed 1935 stormSep 5 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 1 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1927 | Unnamed 1927 stormOct 3 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormJul 15 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 3 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormJun 14 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1906 | Unnamed 1906 stormSep 18 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 15 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormSep 18 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 3 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 28 | 39 mi | Category 1 (87 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 24 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 10 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJul 1 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJun 22 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormOct 12 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 11 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 4 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormSep 17 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1856 | Unnamed 1856 stormSep 1 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1854 | Unnamed 1854 stormSep 9 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormOct 10 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormAug 27 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1851 | Unnamed 1851 stormAug 24 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 3 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Johnston: 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 Johnston
By decade
- 2020s9
- 2010s13
- 2000s25
- 1990s18(3 EF3+)
- 1970s5(1 EF3+)
- 1960s2
- 1950s2
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 7, 1998 | F3 | 13 mi | 12 mi | 1 / 9 |
| Nov 22, 1992 | F3 | 13 mi | 67 mi | 1 / 9 |
| May 7, 1998 | F3 | 10 mi | 5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Dec 13, 1973 | F3 | 25 mi | 17.7 mi | 0 / 26 |
| Mar 13, 1955 | F2 | 7 mi | 9.9 mi | 2 / 10 |
| Apr 5, 2022 | EF2 | 17 mi | 5.68 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Mar 3, 2019 | EF2 | 17 mi | 5.05 mi | 0 / 7 |
| May 24, 2017 | EF2 | 21 mi | 12.1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 5, 2017 | EF2 | 1 mi | 7.2 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Apr 19, 2015 | EF2 | 15 mi | 19.54 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Feb 24, 2012 | EF2 | 25 mi | 9.19 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 28, 2010 | EF2 | 20 mi | 5.01 mi | 0 / 1 |
The strongest 12 of 74, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Johnston
The Storm Prediction Center has 68 hail reports within 10 miles of Johnston since 1976, made on 44 separate days. Of these, 32 were 1 inch across or larger, and 2 reached 2 inches. The largest, 2.75 inches (baseball size), fell on May 29, 2017. The most recent report is from June 25, 2025. May has the most reports, 30.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Johnston
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Johnston 4 SW, SC, 5 miles southwest of Johnston at 629 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 93°F and low of 69°F; January is the coolest, at 55°F and 33°F. June is the wettest at 5.1 inches of precipitation on average and October the driest at 3.0 inches; the year adds up to 48.4 inches over 72 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 52% of the year's precipitation (25.0 of 48.4 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 43 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (15); a normal September there has highs of 86°F and 4.0 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 81 days a year, almost all from April to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 66 nights a year. Snowfall averages 1.0 inches a year, most of it in January. That 48.4 inches is more than at 38 of the 78 South Carolina stations used on this site (49%). Batesburg, 14 miles east, has its own station (Saluda, SC): 47.0 inches a year, 1.4 less than here, and the same July average high, 93°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" | Snow in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 55 | 33 | 4.2 | 7 | 0.5 |
| Feb | 59 | 35 | 3.9 | 6 | 0.1 |
| Mar | 67 | 41 | 4.5 | 7 | 0.2 |
| Apr | 76 | 49 | 3.2 | 6 | 0.0 |
| May | 83 | 57 | 3.2 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Jun | 90 | 65 | 5.1 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 93 | 69 | 4.6 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 91 | 68 | 5.0 | 7 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 86 | 62 | 4.0 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Oct | 76 | 51 | 3.0 | 4 | 0.0 |
| Nov | 66 | 40 | 3.3 | 5 | 0.0 |
| Dec | 58 | 35 | 4.4 | 7 | 0.2 |
| Year | 75 | 50 | 48.4 | 72 | 1.0 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Johnston 4 SW, SC (629 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 Johnston
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 141 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Johnston: 136 thunderstorm wind reports, 2 heavy rain events, 2 lightning strikes and 1 flash flood. They killed 0 people and injured 4, and the NWS estimated $429,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 86 mph, on April 5, 2017.
July 6, 2016: lightning strike 6 miles from the centre of Johnston — 4 injured.
July 31, 2011: thunderstorm wind 5 miles from the centre of Johnston — $210,000 damage.
NWS: “Saluda Standard-Sentinel reported a home at 624 Duncan Road severely damaged from an intense microburst and numerous trees down around the area over southern part of the county near Ridge Springs.”
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
Edgefield County, which includes Johnston, has been named in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1977, 8 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 Edgefield County a Very Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Low for hurricanes, tornadoes, hail, strong wind, lightning and heat waves; Very Low for inland flooding. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $6.8 million a year, the 44th highest of 46 South Carolina counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $3.2 million (47%), 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 Johnston
- Ridge Spring, SC8 mi
- Edgefield, SC9 mi
- Trenton, SC10 mi
- Batesburg, SC14 mi
- Saluda, SC14 mi
- Graniteville, SC18 mi
- Leesville, SC20 mi
- Warrenville, SC20 mi
- Aiken, SC21 mi
- North Augusta, SC22 mi
- Wagener, SC25 mi
- Gilbert, SC25 mi
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