NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Ware Shoals, 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
22 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Ware Shoals, South Carolina since 1851, 2 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Helene in 2024. Since 1950, 82 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 4 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 2
- Tropical storms
- 20
- Tornadoes
- 82
- EF3 or stronger
- 4
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
9 deaths in all
What the records show for Ware Shoals
The strongest storm to pass near Ware Shoals was an unnamed storm in 1893, a Category 1 hurricane with 85 mph winds when its centre passed 73 miles away. The closest pass by a hurricane was Hugo in 1989, whose centre came within 72 miles. The record near Ware Shoals begins with an unnamed storm in 1859; the most recent system was Helene in 2024, a tropical storm 55 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1900s, with 4 systems. Of the 22 systems, 3 have come since 2000. Of the 246 South Carolina cities on this site, 69% have more hurricanes within 75 miles than Ware Shoals. The highest rating among the 82 tornadoes within 25 miles is F4, reached 2 times; the most recent, on December 13, 1973, came within 20 miles. The deadliest, an F4 on March 31, 1973, killed 7 people. Of the 82, 3 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 46 have come since 2000. April has had the most tornadoes, 17. The most recent tornado was on May 12, 2025. Ware Shoals has more tornadoes within 25 miles than 52% of the 246 South Carolina cities. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 71 times since 1985, with stones up to 2.75 inches (baseball size). Ware Shoals has more hail reports within 10 miles than 54% of the 246 South Carolina cities.
Compare Ware Shoals's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Ware Shoals
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | HeleneSep 27 | 55 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2018 | MichaelOct 11 | 37 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2018 | FlorenceSep 16 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1989 | HugoSep 22 | 72 mi | Category 1 (78 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1965 | Unnamed 1965 stormJun 16 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1964 | CleoAug 30 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1959 | GracieSep 30 | 59 mi | Tropical storm (55 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 28 | 3 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1946 | Unnamed 1946 stormOct 9 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormJul 15 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (48 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 3 | 44 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormJun 14 | 17 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormSep 23 | 42 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1906 | Unnamed 1906 stormSep 18 | 14 mi | Tropical storm (41 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormOct 11 | 47 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormSep 28 | 43 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 3 | 35 mi | Tropical storm (47 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 28 | 73 mi | Category 1 (85 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 24 | 28 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJun 22 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 11 | overhead | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormSep 17 | 2 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
Strength is the sustained wind on the track at the closest point, which is not the wind felt in Ware Shoals: 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 Ware Shoals
By decade
- 2020s11
- 2010s14
- 2000s21
- 1990s16
- 1980s5
- 1970s7(4 EF3+)
- 1960s4
- 1950s4
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 31, 1973 | F4 | 9 mi | 22.6 mi | 7 / 30 |
| Dec 13, 1973 | F4 | 20 mi | 1 mi | 2 / 0 |
| Dec 13, 1973 | F3 | 19 mi | 17.7 mi | 0 / 26 |
| Dec 13, 1973 | F3 | 10 mi | 10.7 mi | 0 / 3 |
| May 3, 2021 | EF2 | 13 mi | 29.35 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Oct 8, 2017 | EF2 | 17 mi | 22.28 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 10, 2009 | EF2 | 18 mi | 6.71 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Jan 13, 2005 | F2 | 6 mi | 12 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Nov 15, 1989 | F2 | 14 mi | 0.7 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Mar 28, 1984 | F2 | 14 mi | 10 mi | 0 / 43 |
| Apr 13, 1980 | F2 | 20 mi | 33.4 mi | 0 / 5 |
| Nov 21, 1973 | F2 | 24 mi | 0.3 mi | 0 / 0 |
The strongest 12 of 82, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Ware Shoals
The Storm Prediction Center has 71 hail reports within 10 miles of Ware Shoals since 1985, made on 49 separate days. Of these, 33 were 1 inch across or larger, and 4 reached 2 inches. The largest size, 2.75 inches (baseball size), was reported on 2 days, most recently March 15, 2008. The most recent report is from June 26, 2018. March has the most reports, 19.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Ware Shoals
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Greenwood Co Airport, SC, 12 miles southeast of Ware Shoals at 631 feet. July is the warmest, with an average high of 90°F and low of 69°F; January is the coolest, at 53°F and 32°F. March is the wettest at 4.2 inches of precipitation on average and April the driest at 2.8 inches; the year adds up to 42.0 inches over 68 days with at least a tenth of an inch. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 49% of the year's precipitation (20.5 of 42.0 inches); the other six months are wetter. September has brought the most of the 22 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (10); a normal September there has highs of 83°F and 3.4 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 60 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 58 nights a year. That 42.0 inches is more than at 1 of the 78 South Carolina stations used on this site (1%). Honea Path, 9 miles west, has its own station (W Pelzer, SC): 48.0 inches a year, 6.0 more than here, and the same July average high, 90°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | Days ≥ 0.1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 53 | 32 | 3.9 | 6 |
| Feb | 57 | 35 | 3.6 | 6 |
| Mar | 65 | 41 | 4.2 | 7 |
| Apr | 73 | 48 | 2.8 | 5 |
| May | 81 | 57 | 3.0 | 5 |
| Jun | 87 | 65 | 3.7 | 6 |
| Jul | 90 | 69 | 3.8 | 7 |
| Aug | 89 | 68 | 3.3 | 6 |
| Sep | 83 | 62 | 3.4 | 5 |
| Oct | 74 | 49 | 3.0 | 4 |
| Nov | 63 | 39 | 3.3 | 5 |
| Dec | 56 | 34 | 4.0 | 7 |
| Year | 73 | 50 | 42.0 | 68 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Greenwood Co Airport, SC (631 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 Ware Shoals
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 113 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Ware Shoals: 108 thunderstorm wind reports, 3 flash floods, 1 flood and 1 heavy rain event. They killed 1 person and injured 1, and the NWS estimated $129,000 in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 75 mph, on August 23, 2007.
July 9, 2013: heavy rain event 8 miles from the centre of Ware Shoals — 1 killed.
July 19, 1998: thunderstorm wind in Ware Shoals — 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
Laurens County, which includes Ware Shoals, has been named in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1977, 9 of them major disasters (by incident: 10 hurricanes, 3 ice storms, 2 biological emergencies, 2 severe storms). The latest major disaster declaration was Hurricane Helene, on September 29, 2024. FEMA's National Risk Index gives Laurens County a Relatively Low rating for natural hazard risk overall; by hazard: Relatively High for strong wind; Relatively Moderate for tornadoes and lightning; Relatively Low for hurricanes, hail, inland flooding and heat waves. It models the county's expected loss from all 18 hazards it covers at $27.1 million a year, the 26th highest of 46 South Carolina counties; of the hazards above, the largest share, $10.8 million (40%), is from inland flooding.
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.