NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Ridgeland, 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
99 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Ridgeland, South Carolina since 1851, 21 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Debby in 2024. Since 1950, 54 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 1 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 21
- Tropical storms
- 78
- Tornadoes
- 54
- EF3 or stronger
- 1
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
6 deaths in all
What the records show for Ridgeland
The strongest storm to pass near Ridgeland was Gracie in 1959, a Category 4 hurricane with 130 mph winds when its centre passed 21 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1896, whose centre came within 3 miles. The record near Ridgeland begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Debby in 2024, a tropical storm 35 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1880s, with 10 systems, 2 of them at hurricane strength. Of the 99 systems, 16 have come since 2000. Ridgeland has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 82% of the 246 South Carolina cities on this site. The strongest of the 54 tornadoes within 25 miles was an EF4 on April 13, 2020; its path came within 20 miles, and it killed 5 people. Of the 54, 2 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 36 have come since 2000. June has had the most tornadoes, 15. The most recent tornado was on July 10, 2025. Of the 246 South Carolina cities, 96% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Ridgeland. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 24 times since 1973, with stones up to 1.75 inches (golf ball size). Of the 246 South Carolina cities, 97% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Ridgeland.
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Tropical storms and hurricanes near Ridgeland
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | DebbyAug 6 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2023 | IdaliaAug 30 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2022 | ColinJul 1 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2021 | ElsaJul 8 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2021 | DannyJun 28 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2020 | EtaNov 12 | 72 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2019 | NestorOct 20 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2016 | MatthewOct 8 | 39 mi | Category 2 (98 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2016 | JuliaSep 14 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2016 | HermineSep 2 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2016 | ColinJun 7 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2013 | AndreaJun 7 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2012 | BerylMay 30 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2007 | BarryJun 3 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2004 | CharleyAug 14 | 74 mi | Category 1 (76 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2002 | KyleOct 11 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1998 | EarlSep 3 | 31 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1996 | JosephineOct 8 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1995 | AllisonJun 6 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1989 | HugoSep 22 | 70 mi | Category 3 (125 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1988 | ChrisAug 28 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1985 | KateNov 22 | 16 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1985 | BobJul 25 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1981 | DennisAug 19 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1979 | DavidSep 5 | 7 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1976 | Unnamed 1976 stormSep 15 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1976 | DottieAug 20 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1976 | Unnamed 1976 stormMay 24 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1970 | AlmaMay 25 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1968 | AbbyJun 7 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1966 | AlmaJun 10 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1964 | DoraSep 13 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1964 | CleoAug 29 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | BrendaJul 29 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1959 | GracieSep 29 | 21 mi | Category 4 (130 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1957 | Unnamed 1957 stormJun 9 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1956 | FlossySep 26 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1954 | Unnamed 1954 stormJul 10 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1953 | FlorenceSep 27 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1952 | AbleAug 31 | 17 mi | Category 1 (87 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormOct 15 | 48 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormSep 24 | 7 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1946 | Unnamed 1946 stormOct 8 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormSep 17 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormOct 20 | overhead | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1941 | Unnamed 1941 stormOct 8 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1940 | Unnamed 1940 stormAug 11 | 24 mi | Category 1 (85 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1935 | Unnamed 1935 stormSep 5 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1932 | Unnamed 1932 stormSep 15 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 1 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormSep 18 | 28 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1927 | Unnamed 1927 stormOct 3 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 30 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 16 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormJun 27 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormOct 4 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 16 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 3 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1911 | Unnamed 1911 stormAug 28 | 20 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1910 | Unnamed 1910 stormOct 19 | 39 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormSep 29 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormJun 29 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1906 | Unnamed 1906 stormOct 21 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 15 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormSep 18 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1898 | Unnamed 1898 stormAug 31 | 18 mi | Category 1 (77 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormSep 29 | 3 mi | Category 2 (97 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormOct 9 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormSep 27 | 20 mi | Category 1 (91 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 13 | 63 mi | Category 3 (121 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 28 | 12 mi | Category 2 (100 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormJun 16 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (54 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormOct 11 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (72 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 10 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJul 1 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormOct 12 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormAug 31 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormAug 25 | 44 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1884 | Unnamed 1884 stormSep 11 | 51 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormOct 11 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1881 | Unnamed 1881 stormAug 28 | 55 mi | Category 2 (99 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1880 | Unnamed 1880 stormSep 9 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormOct 11 | 65 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormSep 12 | 33 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 4 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 28 | 38 mi | Category 1 (87 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1873 | Unnamed 1873 stormSep 19 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormOct 6 | 23 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 29 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 19 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1868 | Unnamed 1868 stormOct 5 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1867 | Unnamed 1867 stormJun 22 | 68 mi | Category 1 (81 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormAug 14 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1856 | Unnamed 1856 stormSep 1 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1854 | Unnamed 1854 stormSep 9 | 29 mi | Category 1 (84 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1853 | Unnamed 1853 stormOct 21 | 75 mi | Category 1 (92 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormOct 10 | 32 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormAug 27 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1851 | Unnamed 1851 stormAug 24 | 66 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 3 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Ridgeland: 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 Ridgeland
By decade
- 2020s13(1 EF3+)
- 2010s4
- 2000s19
- 1990s6
- 1980s5
- 1970s5
- 1960s1
- 1950s1
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF4 | 20 mi | 23.73 mi | 5 / 60 |
| Mar 15, 2008 | EF2 | 17 mi | 0.5 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Mar 15, 2008 | EF2 | 16 mi | 7 mi | 0 / 5 |
| May 3, 1975 | F2 | 13 mi | 5.4 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Oct 27, 1972 | F2 | 22 mi | 1 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 12, 1974 | F1 | 20 mi | 2 mi | 1 / 3 |
| Jun 14, 2023 | EF1 | 23 mi | 7.04 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 7, 2021 | EF1 | 18 mi | 0.63 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 7, 2021 | EF1 | 21 mi | 0.13 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Jul 7, 2021 | EF1 | 20 mi | 1.95 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Sep 17, 2020 | EF1 | 23 mi | 2.66 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF1 | 25 mi | 1.44 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 54, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Ridgeland
The Storm Prediction Center has 24 hail reports within 10 miles of Ridgeland since 1973, made on 19 separate days. Of these, 11 were 1 inch across or larger, and none reached 2 inches. The largest size, 1.75 inches (golf ball size), was reported on 4 days, most recently March 27, 2011. The most recent report is from August 2, 2012. March and May have the most reports, 5 each.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Ridgeland
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Beaufort Mcas, SC, 15 miles east of Ridgeland at 37 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 92°F and low of 75°F; January is the coolest, at 60°F and 40°F. August is the wettest at 6.5 inches of precipitation on average and May and November the driest at 2.5 inches; the year adds up to 45.1 inches over 68 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 61% of the year's precipitation (27.4 of 45.1 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 99 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (29); a normal September there has highs of 86°F and 4.0 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 73 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 17 nights a year. That 45.1 inches is more than at 12 of the 78 South Carolina stations used on this site (15%). Yemassee, 15 miles northeast, has its own station (Yemassee 1 N, SC): 53.7 inches a year, 8.6 more than here, and a July average high of 90°F against 92°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60 | 40 | 2.9 | 5 |
| Feb | 64 | 43 | 2.9 | 5 |
| Mar | 70 | 49 | 3.1 | 6 |
| Apr | 77 | 56 | 3.1 | 4 |
| May | 84 | 64 | 2.5 | 5 |
| Jun | 89 | 71 | 5.0 | 8 |
| Jul | 92 | 75 | 5.6 | 8 |
| Aug | 90 | 74 | 6.5 | 8 |
| Sep | 86 | 70 | 4.0 | 6 |
| Oct | 78 | 59 | 3.8 | 4 |
| Nov | 69 | 48 | 2.5 | 4 |
| Dec | 63 | 43 | 3.2 | 5 |
| Year | 77 | 58 | 45.1 | 68 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Beaufort Mcas, SC (37 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 Ridgeland
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 216 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Ridgeland: 202 thunderstorm wind reports, 13 flash floods and 1 lightning strike. They killed 0 people and injured 2, and the NWS estimated $310,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 75 mph, on June 19, 2015. May has had the most flash floods, 6 of 13. Of the 241 South Carolina cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 147 have had fewer than Ridgeland.
August 5, 2016: lightning strike 1 mile from the centre of Ridgeland — 2 injured.
NWS: “The Jasper County 911 Call Center reported 2 pedestrians injured by lightning in Ridgeland.”
August 6, 2024: flash flood 10 miles from the centre of Ridgeland — $100,000 damage.
NWS: “Jasper County Emergency Management reported Langfordville Road collapsed over Beaverdam Branch, washing a car and occupant downstream. An adult female was rescued from the floodwaters without injury.”
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 Ridgeland's ZIP code 29936 have filed 61 claims with the National Flood Insurance Program since 1980, and were paid $1.7 million for buildings and contents, in the dollars of each year. The most came from Hurricane Irma in 2017: 18 claims (30% of all) and $419,000, then Hurricane Matthew in 2016 with 17. The year with the most claims was 2016, with 22. 74% 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, 62 have fewer than Ridgeland.
| Event | Claims | Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Irma2017 | 18 | $419,000 |
| Hurricane Matthew2016 | 17 | $723,000 |
Jasper County, which includes Ridgeland, has been named in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1977, 9 of them major disasters (by incident: 15 hurricanes, 3 tropical storms, 2 biological emergencies, 1 drought). The latest major disaster declaration was Tropical Storm Debby, on September 29, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Jasper County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for hurricanes; Relatively Low for tornadoes, coastal flooding, strong wind, lightning and heat waves; Very Low for hail and inland flooding. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $28.8 million a year, the 23rd highest of 46 South Carolina counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $21.5 million (75%), 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 Ridgeland
- Okatie, SC13 mi
- Seabrook, SC14 mi
- Yemassee, SC15 mi
- Hardeeville, SC16 mi
- Beaufort, SC16 mi
- Port Royal, SC18 mi
- Bluffton, SC18 mi
- Clyo, GA20 mi
- Rincon, GA20 mi
- Springfield, GA22 mi
- Varnville, SC23 mi
- Estill, SC24 mi
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