NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Nichols, 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
98 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Nichols, South Carolina since 1851, 18 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Chantal in 2025. Since 1950, 75 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 3 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 18
- Tropical storms
- 80
- Tornadoes
- 75
- EF3 or stronger
- 3
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
3 deaths in all
What the records show for Nichols
The strongest storm to pass near Nichols was Hazel in 1954, a Category 3 hurricane with 128 mph winds when its centre passed 32 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1899, whose centre came within 7 miles. The record near Nichols begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Chantal in 2025, a tropical storm 20 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1880s, with 9 systems, 5 of them at hurricane strength. Of the 98 systems, 22 have come since 2000. Nichols has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 78% of the 246 South Carolina cities on this site. The strongest of the 75 tornadoes within 25 miles was an F4 on November 7, 1995; its path came within 14 miles. The deadliest, an F2 on September 29, 1963, killed 3 people. Of the 75, one had a path within 5 miles of the city centre, and 34 have come since 2000. September has had the most tornadoes, 16. The most recent tornado was on September 27, 2024. Of the 246 South Carolina cities, 63% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Nichols. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 50 times since 1974, with stones up to 2.75 inches (baseball size). Of the 246 South Carolina cities, 67% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Nichols.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Nichols
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | ChantalJul 6 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2024 | DebbyAug 8 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2023 | IdaliaAug 31 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2022 | IanSep 30 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2022 | ColinJul 2 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2021 | ElsaJul 8 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2021 | ClaudetteJun 21 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2020 | IsaiasAug 4 | 39 mi | Category 1 (90 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2019 | NestorOct 20 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2018 | FlorenceSep 15 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2016 | MatthewOct 8 | 48 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2016 | HermineSep 3 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2015 | AnaMay 10 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2013 | AndreaJun 7 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2012 | BerylMay 30 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2008 | HannaSep 6 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2007 | BarryJun 3 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2006 | ErnestoSep 1 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2006 | AlbertoJun 14 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2004 | GastonAug 29 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2004 | CharleyAug 14 | 35 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2002 | KyleOct 11 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1999 | FloydSep 16 | 69 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1998 | EarlSep 4 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1996 | JosephineOct 8 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1996 | FranSep 6 | 50 mi | Category 2 (97 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1996 | BerthaJul 12 | 68 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1995 | AllisonJun 6 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1985 | KateNov 22 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1984 | DianaSep 13 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1982 | Unnamed 1982 stormJun 19 | 71 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1981 | DennisAug 20 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1976 | Unnamed 1976 stormSep 15 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1972 | Unnamed 1972 stormJul 12 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1972 | AgnesJun 21 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1970 | AlmaMay 26 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1967 | Unnamed 1967 stormJun 18 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1965 | Unnamed 1965 stormJun 16 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1964 | DoraSep 13 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | BrendaJul 29 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1959 | CindyJul 9 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1956 | FlossySep 26 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1955 | DianeAug 17 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1954 | HazelOct 15 | 32 mi | Category 3 (128 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1952 | Unnamed 1952 stormAug 28 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormSep 24 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1946 | Unnamed 1946 stormJul 6 | 56 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormSep 18 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormOct 20 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormAug 2 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1935 | Unnamed 1935 stormSep 6 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 2 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormSep 19 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 30 | overhead | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 17 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1920 | Unnamed 1920 stormSep 23 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormSep 6 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (49 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormJul 14 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 16 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1913 | Unnamed 1913 stormOct 10 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1913 | Unnamed 1913 stormSep 3 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (39 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormJun 14 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1910 | Unnamed 1910 stormOct 20 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1908 | Unnamed 1908 stormOct 23 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormJun 29 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1906 | Unnamed 1906 stormSep 17 | 59 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1904 | Unnamed 1904 stormSep 14 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 16 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormSep 18 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormJul 13 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1899 | Unnamed 1899 stormOct 31 | 7 mi | Category 1 (94 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormSep 29 | 49 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormOct 9 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormSep 27 | 25 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 13 | 8 mi | Category 2 (105 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 4 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormJun 16 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormOct 11 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 10 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJul 1 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormOct 12 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormAug 25 | 29 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1883 | Unnamed 1883 stormSep 11 | 38 mi | Category 1 (94 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormOct 12 | 73 mi | Category 1 (74 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1881 | Unnamed 1881 stormSep 9 | 58 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormSep 9 | 74 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormSep 12 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 4 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 29 | 13 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1873 | Unnamed 1873 stormSep 20 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (66 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormOct 7 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1867 | Unnamed 1867 stormJun 23 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1857 | Unnamed 1857 stormSep 12 | 66 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1856 | Unnamed 1856 stormSep 1 | overhead | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1854 | Unnamed 1854 stormSep 9 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormOct 10 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormAug 28 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1851 | Unnamed 1851 stormAug 25 | 18 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 Nichols: 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 Nichols
By decade
- 2020s13
- 2010s7
- 2000s14
- 1990s14(1 EF3+)
- 1980s10(1 EF3+)
- 1970s4
- 1960s11(1 EF3+)
- 1950s2
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 7, 1995 | F4 | 14 mi | 0.7 mi | 0 / 1 |
| May 20, 1980 | F3 | 21 mi | 10.7 mi | 0 / 26 |
| Nov 24, 1967 | F3 | 17 mi | 3.3 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Sep 29, 1963 | F2 | 22 mi | 85.8 mi | 3 / 12 |
| Nov 14, 2008 | EF2 | 19 mi | 1.49 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Nov 7, 1995 | F2 | 24 mi | 0.7 mi | 0 / 122 |
| Nov 7, 1995 | F2 | 22 mi | 5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 2, 1985 | F2 | 19 mi | 5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 28, 1984 | F2 | 12 mi | 16 mi | 0 / 8 |
| Jun 7, 1983 | F2 | 19 mi | 6 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jun 10, 1982 | F2 | in town | 6 mi | 0 / 16 |
| Dec 7, 1968 | F2 | 13 mi | 0.3 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 75, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Nichols
The Storm Prediction Center has 50 hail reports within 10 miles of Nichols since 1974, made on 37 separate days. Of these, 31 were 1 inch across or larger, and 2 reached 2 inches. The largest size, 2.75 inches (baseball size), was reported on 2 days, most recently April 7, 2022. The most recent report is from April 22, 2023. May has the most reports, 23.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Nichols
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Mullins, SC, 8 miles west of Nichols at 110 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 90°F and low of 70°F; January is the coolest, at 54°F and 33°F. August is the wettest at 6.2 inches of precipitation on average and January and April the driest at 3.5 inches; the year adds up to 53.3 inches over 80 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 58% of the year's precipitation (30.7 of 53.3 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 98 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (36); a normal September there has highs of 83°F and 5.9 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 50 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 52 nights a year. That 53.3 inches is more than at 67 of the 78 South Carolina stations used on this site (86%). Lake View, 11 miles north, has its own station (Dillon, SC): 48.7 inches a year, 4.6 less than here, and a July average high of 92°F against 90°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 54 | 33 | 3.5 | 6 |
| Feb | 58 | 35 | 3.6 | 7 |
| Mar | 65 | 40 | 3.8 | 6 |
| Apr | 74 | 49 | 3.5 | 6 |
| May | 81 | 58 | 4.2 | 7 |
| Jun | 86 | 67 | 5.3 | 8 |
| Jul | 90 | 70 | 4.6 | 8 |
| Aug | 88 | 69 | 6.2 | 8 |
| Sep | 83 | 63 | 5.9 | 6 |
| Oct | 74 | 52 | 4.9 | 5 |
| Nov | 64 | 41 | 3.8 | 5 |
| Dec | 57 | 36 | 4.0 | 7 |
| Year | 73 | 51 | 53.3 | 80 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Mullins, SC (110 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 Nichols
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 100 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Nichols: 82 thunderstorm wind reports, 10 flash floods, 6 floods and 2 lightning strikes. They killed 0 people and injured 11, and the NWS estimated $1.8 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 109 mph, on August 10, 2007. August has had the most flash floods, 3 of 10. Of the 241 South Carolina cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 123 have had fewer than Nichols.
August 10, 2007: thunderstorm wind 4 miles from the centre of Nichols — 9 injured, $1.0 million damage.
NWS: “A storm survey concluded that the damage examined was the result of straight line winds. A north-south swath of damage was found crossing SC Highway 9 near Duford.”
July 8, 2016: thunderstorm wind 2 miles from the centre of Nichols — 2 injured, $2,000 damage.
NWS: “A tree was reported down on Pleasantdale Road. A motorcycle hit the downed tree, injuring two riders.”
October 8, 2016: flash flood 6 miles from the centre of Nichols — $200,000 damage.
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 Nichols's ZIP code 29581 have filed 128 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1979, and were paid $7.4 million for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Hurricane Florence in 2018: 75 claims (59% of all) and $4.6 million, then Hurricane Matthew in 2016 with 34. 88% 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, 81 have fewer than Nichols.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Florence2018 | 75 | $4.6 million |
| Hurricane Matthew2016 | 34 | $2.5 million |
Horry County, which includes Nichols, has been named in 34 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1989, 16 of them major disasters (by incident: 18 hurricanes, 4 fires, 3 ice storms, 3 tropical storms). The latest major disaster declaration was Tropical Storm Debby, on September 29, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Horry County a Relatively High rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Very High for hurricanes; Relatively High for tornadoes, coastal flooding, strong wind and lightning; Relatively Moderate for inland flooding and heat waves; Relatively Low for hail. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $290.4 million a year, the 2nd highest of 46 South Carolina counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $200.5 million (69%), 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 Nichols
- Mullins, SC8 mi
- Green Sea, SC9 mi
- Lake View, SC11 mi
- Galivants Ferry, SC14 mi
- Aynor, SC14 mi
- Loris, SC16 mi
- Marion, SC16 mi
- Tabor City, NC17 mi
- Chadbourn, NC18 mi
- Fairmont, NC20 mi
- Dillon, SC21 mi
- Latta, SC22 mi
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