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NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database

Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Norway, 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

68 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Norway, South Carolina since 1851, 6 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Debby in 2024. Since 1950, 118 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 9 of them rated EF3 or stronger.

Hurricanes
6

within 75 mi, since 1851

Tropical storms
62

below hurricane strength

Tornadoes
118

within 25 mi, since 1950

EF3 or stronger
9

3 deaths in all

What the records show for Norway

The strongest storm to pass near Norway was Hugo in 1989, a Category 1 hurricane with 94 mph winds when its centre passed 44 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1893, whose centre crossed the city. The record near Norway begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Debby in 2024, a tropical storm 67 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1890s, with 7 systems, 3 of them at hurricane strength. Of the 68 systems, 11 have come since 2000. Norway has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 52% of the 246 South Carolina cities on this site. The highest rating among the 118 tornadoes within 25 miles is F3 or EF3, reached 9 times; the most recent, on April 5, 2022, came within 17 miles. The deadliest, an EF3 on April 13, 2020, killed 2 people. Of the 118, 4 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 64 have come since 2000. April has had the most tornadoes, 30. The most recent tornado was on March 16, 2025. Norway has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 96% of the 246 South Carolina cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 52 times since 1960, with stones up to 2.75 inches (baseball size). Of the 246 South Carolina cities, 64% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Norway.

Compare Norway's storm record with another city →

Tropical storms and hurricanes near Norway

Tropical systems that passed within 75 miles of Norway, South Carolina, newest first
YearStormClosestStrength when closestPeak
2024DebbyAug 867 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 1
2023IdaliaAug 3152 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 4
2022ColinJul 274 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
2021ElsaJul 84 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 1
2019NestorOct 205 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
2018MichaelOct 1155 miTropical storm (52 mph)Category 5
2018FlorenceSep 1611 miTropical storm (44 mph)Category 4
2016HermineSep 256 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 1
2013AndreaJun 745 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
2012BerylMay 3065 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
2006AlbertoJun 1464 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1998EarlSep 331 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 2
1996JosephineOct 866 miTropical storm (52 mph)Tropical storm
1995AllisonJun 629 miTropical storm (40 mph)Category 1
1989HugoSep 2244 miCategory 1 (94 mph)Category 5
1988ChrisAug 2845 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1985KateNov 2244 miTropical storm (55 mph)Category 3
1985BobJul 2528 miTropical storm (60 mph)Category 1
1979DavidSep 512 miTropical storm (64 mph)Category 5
1976Unnamed 1976 stormSep 1550 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1976DottieAug 2172 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1972AgnesJun 2148 miTropical storm (40 mph)Category 1
1970AlmaMay 2621 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 1
1965Unnamed 1965 stormJun 1642 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1964DoraSep 1348 miTropical storm (69 mph)Category 4
1964CleoAug 3054 miTropical storm (43 mph)Category 4
1959GracieSep 2916 miCategory 1 (85 mph)Category 4
1959CindyJul 961 miTropical storm (39 mph)Category 1
1956FlossySep 2628 miTropical storm (49 mph)Category 1
1952AbleAug 3116 miTropical storm (64 mph)Category 2
1947Unnamed 1947 stormSep 2438 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
1946Unnamed 1946 stormOct 926 miTropical storm (45 mph)Category 2
1945Unnamed 1945 stormSep 1745 miTropical storm (60 mph)Category 4
1944Unnamed 1944 stormOct 2029 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 4
1941Unnamed 1941 stormOct 847 miTropical storm (44 mph)Category 3
1935Unnamed 1935 stormSep 55 miTropical storm (56 mph)Category 5
1929Unnamed 1929 stormOct 12 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 4
1927Unnamed 1927 stormOct 324 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
1924Unnamed 1924 stormSep 3039 miTropical storm (63 mph)Category 1
1924Unnamed 1924 stormSep 1663 miTropical storm (40 mph)Category 1
1916Unnamed 1916 stormJul 1448 miTropical storm (60 mph)Category 3
1916Unnamed 1916 stormMay 1674 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1915Unnamed 1915 stormAug 339 miTropical storm (43 mph)Category 1
1913Unnamed 1913 stormOct 943 miTropical storm (40 mph)Category 1
1912Unnamed 1912 stormJun 1467 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1906Unnamed 1906 stormSep 1841 miTropical storm (56 mph)Category 1
1902Unnamed 1902 stormJun 156 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1901Unnamed 1901 stormSep 1828 miTropical storm (40 mph)Category 1
1898Unnamed 1898 stormAug 3174 miTropical storm (68 mph)Category 1
1896Unnamed 1896 stormSep 2933 miCategory 1 (93 mph)Category 3
1894Unnamed 1894 stormOct 950 miTropical storm (70 mph)Category 3
1894Unnamed 1894 stormSep 2757 miCategory 1 (81 mph)Category 3
1893Unnamed 1893 stormOct 449 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 4
1893Unnamed 1893 stormAug 28overheadCategory 1 (91 mph)Category 3
1893Unnamed 1893 stormJun 1671 miTropical storm (56 mph)Category 1
1889Unnamed 1889 stormSep 2463 miTropical storm (52 mph)Category 2
1888Unnamed 1888 stormSep 1012 miTropical storm (40 mph)Tropical storm
1886Unnamed 1886 stormJul 115 miTropical storm (55 mph)Category 2
1886Unnamed 1886 stormJun 2265 miTropical storm (45 mph)Category 2
1885Unnamed 1885 stormOct 123 miTropical storm (46 mph)Tropical storm
1878Unnamed 1878 stormSep 1252 miCategory 1 (79 mph)Category 2
1877Unnamed 1877 stormOct 49 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 3
1873Unnamed 1873 stormSep 2072 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 1
1856Unnamed 1856 stormSep 112 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 3
1854Unnamed 1854 stormSep 97 miTropical storm (66 mph)Category 3
1852Unnamed 1852 stormOct 1025 miTropical storm (58 mph)Category 2
1852Unnamed 1852 stormAug 272 miTropical storm (46 mph)Category 3
1851Unnamed 1851 stormAug 245 miTropical storm (55 mph)Category 3

Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Norway: 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 Norway

By decade

  • 2020s23(6 EF3+)
  • 2010s15
  • 2000s26(2 EF3+)
  • 1990s21
  • 1980s8(1 EF3+)
  • 1970s14
  • 1960s8
  • 1950s3
Strongest tornadoes near Norway, South Carolina
DateRatingDistancePathKilled / injured
Apr 13, 2020EF32 mi35.68 mi2 / 7
Apr 5, 2022EF317 mi34.49 mi0 / 0
Apr 13, 2020EF313 mi5.37 mi0 / 0
Apr 13, 2020EF312 mi1.39 mi0 / 0
Apr 13, 2020EF319 mi8.49 mi0 / 0
Apr 13, 2020EF36 mi37.88 mi0 / 0
Mar 15, 2008EF321 mi10.11 mi0 / 0
Dec 10, 2004F319 mi1.5 mi0 / 1
Apr 23, 1983F312 mi33 mi0 / 6
Oct 22, 1990F222 mi0.1 mi1 / 4
Jan 9, 2024EF211 mi2.14 mi0 / 0
Apr 13, 2020EF220 mi10.23 mi0 / 0

The strongest 12 of 118, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.

Hail in Norway

The Storm Prediction Center has 52 hail reports within 10 miles of Norway since 1960, made on 36 separate days. Of these, 24 were 1 inch across or larger, and one reached 2 inches. The largest, 2.75 inches (baseball size), fell on July 14, 1985. The most recent report is from July 31, 2023. May has the most reports, 22.

Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.

Weather by month in Norway

The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Bamberg, SC, 12 miles southeast of Norway at 156 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 91°F and low of 71°F; January is the coolest, at 58°F and 37°F. July is the wettest at 5.5 inches of precipitation on average and November the driest at 2.8 inches; the year adds up to 48.8 inches over 74 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 54% of the year's precipitation (26.4 of 48.8 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 68 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (24); a normal September there has highs of 84°F and 4.4 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 38 nights a year. That 48.8 inches is more than at 42 of the 78 South Carolina stations used on this site (54%). Neeses, 6 miles north, has its own station (Orangeburg 2, SC): 50.6 inches a year, 1.8 more than here, and a July average high of 93°F against 91°F.

Monthly climate normals 1991–2020 at Bamberg, SC
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. inDays ≥ 0.1"
Jan58373.77
Feb62393.56
Mar69454.46
Apr77523.15
May83603.96
Jun88685.28
Jul91715.58
Aug89715.48
Sep84654.46
Oct75543.14
Nov65442.84
Dec59393.86
Year755448.874

Averages for 1991–2020 at Bamberg, SC (156 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.

South Carolina weather by month, station by station →

Floods, thunderstorm wind and lightning near Norway

Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 142 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Norway: 124 thunderstorm wind reports, 14 flash floods, 2 floods and 2 heavy rain events. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $182,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 100 mph, on June 20, 2019. November has had the most flash floods, 12 of 14. Of the 241 South Carolina cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 161 have had fewer than Norway.

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

Orangeburg County, which includes Norway, has been named in 31 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1977, 16 of them major disasters (by incident: 15 hurricanes, 3 floods, 3 ice storms, 3 severe storms). The latest major disaster declaration was Severe Storms and Flooding, on January 10, 2025. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Orangeburg County a Relatively Moderate rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for hurricanes, strong wind and lightning; Relatively Moderate for tornadoes, hail, inland flooding and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $44.3 million a year, the 16th highest of 46 South Carolina counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $14.8 million (34%), 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 Norway