NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Murrells Inlet, 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
115 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Murrells Inlet, South Carolina since 1851, 37 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Chantal in 2025. Since 1950, 55 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 0 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 37
- Tropical storms
- 78
- Tornadoes
- 55
- EF3 or stronger
- 0
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
6 deaths in all
What the records show for Murrells Inlet
The strongest storm to pass near Murrells Inlet was Helene in 1958, a Category 4 hurricane with 138 mph winds when its centre passed 44 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1899, whose centre came within 2 miles. The record near Murrells Inlet begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Chantal in 2025, a tropical storm 2 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1900s, with 10 systems, 3 of them at hurricane strength. Of the 115 systems, 24 have come since 2000. Murrells Inlet has more hurricanes within 75 miles than any other of the 246 South Carolina cities on this site. The highest rating among the 55 tornadoes within 25 miles is F2 or EF2, reached 7 times; the most recent, on April 13, 2020, came within 3 miles. The deadliest, an F1 on May 26, 1974, killed 6 people. Of the 55, 7 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 30 have come since 2000. September has had the most tornadoes, 15. The most recent tornado was on September 27, 2024. Of the 246 South Carolina cities, 94% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Murrells Inlet. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 85 times since 1992, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Murrells Inlet has more hail reports within 10 miles than 65% of the 246 South Carolina cities.
Compare Murrells Inlet's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Murrells Inlet
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | ChantalJul 6 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2024 | DebbyAug 8 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2023 | IdaliaAug 31 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2022 | IanSep 30 | 11 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2022 | ColinJul 2 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2020 | IsaiasAug 4 | 18 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2020 | BerthaMay 27 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2019 | DorianSep 5 | 51 mi | Category 2 (107 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2018 | FlorenceSep 15 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2016 | MatthewOct 8 | 5 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2016 | HermineSep 3 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2016 | ColinJun 7 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2015 | AnaMay 10 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2014 | ArthurJul 3 | 61 mi | Category 1 (93 mph) | Category 2 |
| 2013 | AndreaJun 7 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2012 | BerylMay 30 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | HannaSep 6 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2008 | CristobalJul 19 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2007 | BarryJun 3 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2006 | ErnestoSep 1 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2005 | OpheliaSep 14 | 74 mi | Category 1 (83 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2004 | GastonAug 29 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2004 | CharleyAug 14 | 6 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2002 | KyleOct 11 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1999 | IreneOct 17 | 71 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1999 | FloydSep 16 | 53 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1998 | EarlSep 4 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1998 | BonnieAug 26 | 72 mi | Category 3 (115 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1996 | JosephineOct 8 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1996 | FranSep 5 | 60 mi | Category 3 (115 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1996 | BerthaJul 12 | 52 mi | Category 2 (102 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1996 | ArthurJun 19 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1995 | AllisonJun 6 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1989 | HugoSep 22 | 65 mi | Category 3 (122 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1985 | KateNov 22 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1984 | DianaSep 13 | 52 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1982 | Unnamed 1982 stormJun 19 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1981 | DennisAug 20 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1976 | Unnamed 1976 stormSep 15 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1976 | DottieAug 21 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1975 | HallieOct 26 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1972 | Unnamed 1972 stormJul 12 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1972 | AgnesJun 21 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1970 | Unnamed 1970 stormAug 17 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1968 | GladysOct 20 | 66 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1967 | Unnamed 1967 stormJun 17 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1966 | AlmaJun 11 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (61 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1964 | DoraSep 13 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1961 | Unnamed 1961 stormSep 14 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1960 | DonnaSep 12 | 55 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | BrendaJul 29 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1959 | CindyJul 9 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1958 | HeleneSep 27 | 44 mi | Category 4 (138 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1956 | Unnamed 1956 stormOct 17 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1956 | FlossySep 26 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1955 | DianeAug 17 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1954 | HazelOct 15 | 23 mi | Category 4 (132 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1952 | Unnamed 1952 stormAug 28 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormSep 24 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1946 | Unnamed 1946 stormJul 6 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormSep 17 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormJun 25 | 57 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormOct 20 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormAug 1 | 55 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1941 | Unnamed 1941 stormOct 8 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormSep 15 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormSep 18 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 30 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 17 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1920 | Unnamed 1920 stormSep 23 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormSep 6 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormJul 14 | 46 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 16 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1913 | Unnamed 1913 stormOct 8 | 38 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1910 | Unnamed 1910 stormOct 20 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1910 | Unnamed 1910 stormAug 28 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1908 | Unnamed 1908 stormOct 23 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1908 | Unnamed 1908 stormJul 30 | 73 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormSep 29 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormJun 29 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1906 | Unnamed 1906 stormSep 17 | 21 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1904 | Unnamed 1904 stormNov 4 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1904 | Unnamed 1904 stormSep 14 | 15 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormSep 18 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormJul 13 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1900 | Unnamed 1900 stormOct 12 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormOct 31 | 2 mi | Category 2 (109 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormSep 29 | 72 mi | Category 1 (89 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormOct 9 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormSep 27 | 16 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 13 | 11 mi | Category 3 (112 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormJun 16 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormOct 11 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJul 1 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormAug 25 | 4 mi | Category 1 (94 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1883 | Unnamed 1883 stormSep 11 | 29 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormOct 12 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1881 | Unnamed 1881 stormSep 9 | 58 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormSep 9 | 40 mi | Category 1 (78 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormSep 12 | 66 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1876 | Unnamed 1876 stormSep 17 | 70 mi | Category 1 (91 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 28 | 16 mi | Category 1 (84 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1873 | Unnamed 1873 stormSep 20 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1872 | Unnamed 1872 stormOct 24 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormOct 7 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 29 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 20 | 75 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1868 | Unnamed 1868 stormOct 5 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1867 | Unnamed 1867 stormJun 22 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1863 | Unnamed 1863 stormSep 18 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1857 | Unnamed 1857 stormSep 12 | 46 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1856 | Unnamed 1856 stormSep 1 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormOct 10 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormAug 28 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1851 | Unnamed 1851 stormAug 25 | 56 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 Murrells Inlet: 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 Murrells Inlet
By decade
- 2020s11
- 2010s9
- 2000s10
- 1990s6
- 1980s3
- 1970s7
- 1960s5
- 1950s4
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF2 | 3 mi | 4.56 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 11, 2002 | F2 | 21 mi | 1.2 mi | 0 / 8 |
| Jul 6, 2001 | F2 | 13 mi | 4 mi | 0 / 39 |
| Nov 7, 1995 | F2 | 18 mi | 5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 2, 1985 | F2 | 25 mi | 5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 4, 1979 | F2 | 21 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 12, 1965 | F2 | 18 mi | 15 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 26, 1974 | F1 | 5 mi | 3 mi | 6 / 1 |
| Dec 17, 2023 | EF1 | 9 mi | 2.35 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Oct 11, 2020 | EF1 | 21 mi | 0.3 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF1 | 18 mi | 11 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF1 | 25 mi | 4.76 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 55, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Murrells Inlet
The Storm Prediction Center has 85 hail reports within 10 miles of Murrells Inlet since 1992, made on 40 separate days. Of these, 63 were 1 inch across or larger, and none reached 2 inches. The largest size, 1.75 inches (golf ball size), was reported on 8 days, most recently March 20, 2018. The most recent report is from April 23, 2025. May has the most reports, 32.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Murrells Inlet
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Brookgreen Gardens, SC, 5 miles southwest of Murrells Inlet at 20 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 88°F and low of 72°F; January is the coolest, at 57°F and 37°F. September is the wettest at 7.1 inches of precipitation on average and November the driest at 3.0 inches; the year adds up to 55.3 inches over 75 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 58% of the year's precipitation (32.2 of 55.3 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 115 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (42); a normal September there has highs of 83°F and 7.1 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 39 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 32 nights a year. That 55.3 inches is more than at 70 of the 78 South Carolina stations used on this site (90%). Myrtle Beach, 11 miles northeast, has its own station (Conway, SC): 55.2 inches a year, 0.1 less than here, and a July average high of 91°F against 88°F.
Sea level at the Springmaid Pier tide gauge, 9 miles from Murrells Inlet, has risen 1.32 ± 0.09 inches per decade from 1957 to 2025, NOAA's linear trend; at that pace it is 13.2 inches in a hundred years. That is faster than at 78 of the 144 U.S. gauges with a NOAA trend.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 57 | 37 | 3.7 | 6 |
| Feb | 59 | 39 | 3.4 | 6 |
| Mar | 66 | 44 | 4.1 | 6 |
| Apr | 74 | 52 | 3.5 | 5 |
| May | 80 | 61 | 3.8 | 6 |
| Jun | 86 | 68 | 4.9 | 8 |
| Jul | 88 | 72 | 6.0 | 9 |
| Aug | 87 | 71 | 6.1 | 8 |
| Sep | 83 | 66 | 7.1 | 6 |
| Oct | 76 | 56 | 5.1 | 5 |
| Nov | 66 | 45 | 3.0 | 5 |
| Dec | 59 | 39 | 4.6 | 6 |
| Year | 73 | 54 | 55.3 | 75 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Brookgreen Gardens, SC (20 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 Murrells Inlet
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 103 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Murrells Inlet: 59 thunderstorm wind reports, 22 flash floods, 11 lightning strikes, 9 floods and 2 heavy rain events. They killed 0 people and injured 7, and the NWS estimated $3.0 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 81 mph, on July 27, 1998. Of the 241 South Carolina cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 200 have had fewer than Murrells Inlet.
June 15, 2016: lightning strike 1 mile from the centre of Murrells Inlet — 4 injured.
NWS: “Lightning injured four people at the Taqueria las Comadres restaurant. Three of them had to be hospitalized.”
June 28, 2009: lightning strike 2 miles from the centre of Murrells Inlet — 1 injured, $300,000 damage.
NWS: “Lightning struck the Garden City Baptist Church early Sunday morning June 28th, setting it on fire. Half the church was burning, along with part of another building, before the fire fighters arrived.”
July 7, 2008: lightning strike 8 miles from the centre of Murrells Inlet — 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
Flood insurance policyholders in Murrells Inlet's ZIP code 29576 have filed 3,064 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1979, and were paid $90.5 million for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Hurricane Hugo in 1989: 1,086 claims (35% of all) and $52.1 million, then Hurricane Matthew in 2016 with 433 and Hurricane Ian in 2022 with 307. 87% 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, 107 have fewer than Murrells Inlet.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Hugo1989 | 1,086 | $52.1 million |
| Hurricane Matthew2016 | 433 | $11.4 million |
| Hurricane Ian2022 | 307 | $13.6 million |
| Flooding1987 | 264 | $1.9 million |
| Hurricane Floyd1999 | 185 | $509,000 |
| Hurricane Fran1996 | 172 | $63,000 |
Georgetown County, which includes Murrells Inlet, has been named in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1989, 16 of them major disasters (by incident: 17 hurricanes, 3 severe storms, 3 tropical storms, 2 biological emergencies). The latest major disaster declaration was Tropical Storm Debby, on September 29, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Georgetown County a Relatively Moderate rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Very High for hurricanes; Relatively High for coastal flooding and lightning; Relatively Moderate for inland flooding and heat waves; Relatively Low for tornadoes, hail and strong wind. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $90.2 million a year, the 10th highest of 46 South Carolina counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $63.6 million (70%), 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).
Murrells Inlet in the notable storm records: Hurricane Matthew (2016)
What counts as a pass, the distances and the sources: how this storm history is built.
Cities near Murrells Inlet
- Surfside Beach, SC5 mi
- Pawleys Island, SC9 mi
- Myrtle Beach, SC11 mi
- Conway, SC18 mi
- Georgetown, SC21 mi
- Hemingway, SC24 mi
- North Myrtle Beach, SC27 mi
- Longs, SC29 mi
- Aynor, SC30 mi
- Johnsonville, SC30 mi
- Little River, SC31 mi
- Galivants Ferry, SC31 mi
All South Carolina cities →All hurricanes since 1851 →Compare Murrells Inlet with another place →