NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Varnville, 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
85 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Varnville, South Carolina since 1851, 14 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Debby in 2024. Since 1950, 64 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 3 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 14
- Tropical storms
- 71
- Tornadoes
- 64
- EF3 or stronger
- 3
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
5 deaths in all
What the records show for Varnville
The strongest storm to pass near Varnville was Gracie in 1959, a Category 3 hurricane with 114 mph winds when its centre passed 21 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was an unnamed storm in 1893, whose centre came within 6 miles. The record near Varnville begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Debby in 2024, a tropical storm 57 miles away. The busiest decade was the 2010s, with 8 systems, one of them at hurricane strength. Of the 85 systems, 16 have come since 2000. Varnville has more hurricanes within 75 miles than 68% of the 246 South Carolina cities on this site. The strongest of the 64 tornadoes within 25 miles was an EF4 on April 13, 2020; its path came within 3 miles, and it killed 5 people. Of the 64, 5 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 43 have come since 2000. April has had the most tornadoes, 26. The most recent tornado was on September 26, 2024. Of the 246 South Carolina cities, 83% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Varnville. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 35 times since 1964, with stones up to 2.75 inches (baseball size). Of the 246 South Carolina cities, 87% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Varnville.
Compare Varnville's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Varnville
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | DebbyAug 6 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2023 | IdaliaAug 30 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2022 | ColinJul 1 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2021 | ElsaJul 8 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2021 | DannyJun 28 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2020 | BerthaMay 27 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2019 | NestorOct 20 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2018 | FlorenceSep 16 | 54 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2016 | MatthewOct 8 | 59 mi | Category 2 (97 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2016 | JuliaSep 14 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2016 | HermineSep 2 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 2016 | ColinJun 7 | 74 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2013 | AndreaJun 7 | 22 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2012 | BerylMay 30 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2007 | BarryJun 3 | 40 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 2002 | KyleOct 11 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1998 | EarlSep 3 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1996 | JosephineOct 8 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1995 | AllisonJun 6 | 8 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1989 | HugoSep 22 | 62 mi | Category 3 (110 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1988 | ChrisAug 28 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1985 | KateNov 22 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (56 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1985 | BobJul 25 | 21 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1979 | DavidSep 5 | 1 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1976 | Unnamed 1976 stormSep 15 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1976 | DottieAug 20 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1970 | AlmaMay 26 | 1 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1966 | AlmaJun 10 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1964 | DoraSep 13 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1964 | CleoAug 29 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1960 | BrendaJul 29 | 48 mi | Tropical storm (67 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1959 | GracieSep 29 | 21 mi | Category 3 (114 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1957 | Unnamed 1957 stormJun 9 | 61 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1956 | FlossySep 26 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1954 | Unnamed 1954 stormJul 10 | 67 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1953 | FlorenceSep 27 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1952 | AbleAug 31 | 16 mi | Category 1 (76 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormOct 15 | 71 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1947 | Unnamed 1947 stormSep 24 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1946 | Unnamed 1946 stormOct 8 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1945 | Unnamed 1945 stormSep 17 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1944 | Unnamed 1944 stormOct 20 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1941 | Unnamed 1941 stormOct 8 | 5 mi | Tropical storm (44 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1940 | Unnamed 1940 stormAug 11 | 45 mi | Category 1 (78 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1935 | Unnamed 1935 stormSep 5 | 36 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1929 | Unnamed 1929 stormOct 1 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1928 | Unnamed 1928 stormSep 18 | 43 mi | Category 1 (86 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1927 | Unnamed 1927 stormOct 3 | 30 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 30 | 6 mi | Tropical storm (63 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1924 | Unnamed 1924 stormSep 16 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1923 | Unnamed 1923 stormJun 27 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormMay 16 | 46 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 3 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1913 | Unnamed 1913 stormOct 9 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1911 | Unnamed 1911 stormAug 28 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (68 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1910 | Unnamed 1910 stormOct 19 | 58 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormSep 29 | 49 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormJun 29 | 62 mi | Tropical storm (62 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 15 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormSep 18 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1898 | Unnamed 1898 stormAug 31 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (70 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1896 | Unnamed 1896 stormSep 29 | 11 mi | Category 2 (96 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormOct 9 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (71 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1894 | Unnamed 1894 stormSep 27 | 34 mi | Category 1 (87 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 28 | 6 mi | Category 2 (97 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormJun 16 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1888 | Unnamed 1888 stormSep 10 | 12 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJul 1 | 19 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormOct 12 | 29 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormAug 25 | 57 mi | Category 2 (104 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1884 | Unnamed 1884 stormSep 11 | 69 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormOct 12 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1878 | Unnamed 1878 stormSep 12 | 41 mi | Category 1 (89 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 4 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1874 | Unnamed 1874 stormSep 28 | 53 mi | Category 1 (89 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1873 | Unnamed 1873 stormSep 19 | 34 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormOct 6 | 45 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 29 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1871 | Unnamed 1871 stormAug 19 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (69 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1860 | Unnamed 1860 stormAug 14 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1856 | Unnamed 1856 stormSep 1 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1854 | Unnamed 1854 stormSep 9 | 26 mi | Category 1 (75 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormOct 10 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormAug 27 | 41 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1851 | Unnamed 1851 stormAug 24 | 44 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 Varnville: 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 Varnville
By decade
- 2020s15(3 EF3+)
- 2010s3
- 2000s25
- 1990s8
- 1980s5
- 1970s3
- 1960s3
- 1950s2
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF4 | 3 mi | 23.73 mi | 5 / 60 |
| Apr 5, 2022 | EF3 | 21 mi | 34.49 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 5, 2022 | EF3 | 18 mi | 13.28 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Mar 15, 2008 | EF2 | 14 mi | 18 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 15, 1999 | F2 | 22 mi | 3 mi | 0 / 0 |
| May 3, 1975 | F2 | 22 mi | 5.4 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Sep 26, 2024 | EF1 | 15 mi | 7.78 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 5, 2022 | EF1 | 22 mi | 1.29 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 5, 2022 | EF1 | 17 mi | 3.73 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF1 | 19 mi | 17.33 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF1 | 18 mi | 3.14 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF1 | 12 mi | 1.44 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 64, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Varnville
The Storm Prediction Center has 35 hail reports within 10 miles of Varnville since 1964, made on 29 separate days. Of these, 22 were 1 inch across or larger, and one reached 2 inches. The largest, 2.75 inches (baseball size), fell on May 21, 1964. The most recent report is from April 23, 2025. April has the most reports, 11.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Varnville
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Hampton 1S, SC, 4 miles west of Varnville at 95 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 92°F and low of 72°F; January is the coolest, at 62°F and 39°F. August is the wettest at 5.9 inches of precipitation on average and May the driest at 2.5 inches; the year adds up to 45.5 inches over 77 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 58% of the year's precipitation (26.3 of 45.5 inches); the other six months are drier. September has brought the most of the 85 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (28); a normal September there has highs of 87°F and 4.2 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 70 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 27 nights a year. That 45.5 inches is more than at 18 of the 78 South Carolina stations used on this site (23%). Fairfax, 15 miles northwest, has its own station (Allendale 2 NW, SC): 49.0 inches a year, 3.5 more than here, and the same July average high, 92°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 62 | 39 | 3.8 | 8 |
| Feb | 66 | 42 | 3.1 | 5 |
| Mar | 72 | 47 | 3.8 | 6 |
| Apr | 79 | 54 | 3.3 | 5 |
| May | 86 | 62 | 2.5 | 5 |
| Jun | 90 | 69 | 5.3 | 9 |
| Jul | 92 | 72 | 4.8 | 8 |
| Aug | 91 | 72 | 5.9 | 8 |
| Sep | 87 | 67 | 4.2 | 6 |
| Oct | 79 | 56 | 3.0 | 4 |
| Nov | 70 | 47 | 3.1 | 5 |
| Dec | 64 | 41 | 2.7 | 6 |
| Year | 78 | 56 | 45.5 | 77 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Hampton 1S, SC (95 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 Varnville
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 227 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Varnville: 219 thunderstorm wind reports and 8 flash floods. They killed 0 people and injured 1, and the NWS estimated $282,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 81 mph, on April 3, 2017. July has had the most flash floods, 3 of 8. Of the 241 South Carolina cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 103 have had fewer than Varnville.
November 24, 2004: thunderstorm wind 9 miles from the centre of Varnville — 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
Hampton County, which includes Varnville, has been named in 25 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1977, 10 of them major disasters (by incident: 13 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 Hampton County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively Moderate for hurricanes and strong wind; Relatively Low for tornadoes, lightning and heat waves; Very Low for hail, inland flooding and coastal flooding. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $15.1 million a year, the 33rd highest of 46 South Carolina counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $8.3 million (55%), 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 Varnville
- Hampton, SC5 mi
- Estill, SC13 mi
- Fairfax, SC15 mi
- Yemassee, SC16 mi
- Ruffin, SC17 mi
- Allendale, SC21 mi
- Walterboro, SC23 mi
- Ridgeland, SC23 mi
- Seabrook, SC25 mi
- Clyo, GA26 mi
- Bamberg, SC31 mi
- Branchville, SC32 mi
All South Carolina cities →All hurricanes since 1851 →Compare Varnville with another place →