NHC HURDAT2 · SPC Tornado Database
Hurricanes and Tornadoes That Hit Waterloo, 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
29 tropical systems have passed within 75 miles of Waterloo, South Carolina since 1851, 2 of them at hurricane strength; the most recent was Helene in 2024. Since 1950, 77 tornadoes have touched down within 25 miles, 6 of them rated EF3 or stronger.
- Hurricanes
- 2
- Tropical storms
- 27
- Tornadoes
- 77
- EF3 or stronger
- 6
within 75 mi, since 1851
below hurricane strength
within 25 mi, since 1950
11 deaths in all
What the records show for Waterloo
The strongest storm to pass near Waterloo was an unnamed storm in 1893, a Category 1 hurricane with 85 mph winds when its centre passed 62 miles away. The record near Waterloo begins with an unnamed storm in 1851; the most recent system was Helene in 2024, a tropical storm 63 miles away. The busiest decade was the 1900s, with 5 systems. Of the 29 systems, 3 have come since 2000. Of the 246 South Carolina cities on this site, 69% have more hurricanes within 75 miles than Waterloo. The highest rating among the 77 tornadoes within 25 miles is F4, reached 2 times; the most recent, on December 13, 1973, came within 11 miles. The deadliest, an F4 on March 31, 1973, killed 7 people. Of the 77, 5 had paths within 5 miles of the city centre, and 43 have come since 2000. April has had the most tornadoes, 15. The most recent tornado was on January 27, 2024. Of the 246 South Carolina cities, 58% have more tornadoes within 25 miles than Waterloo. Hail has been reported within 10 miles 52 times since 1987, with stones up to 2.75 inches (baseball size). Of the 246 South Carolina cities, 64% have more hail reports within 10 miles than Waterloo.
Compare Waterloo's storm record with another city →
Tropical storms and hurricanes near Waterloo
| Year | Storm | Closest | Strength when closest | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | HeleneSep 27 | 63 mi | Tropical storm (53 mph) | Category 4 |
| 2018 | MichaelOct 11 | 27 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 5 |
| 2018 | FlorenceSep 16 | 60 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1989 | HugoSep 22 | 67 mi | Category 1 (79 mph) | Category 5 |
| 1965 | Unnamed 1965 stormJun 16 | 38 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1964 | CleoAug 30 | 64 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1959 | GracieSep 30 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (58 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1952 | AbleAug 31 | 68 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1949 | Unnamed 1949 stormAug 28 | 13 mi | Tropical storm (59 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1946 | Unnamed 1946 stormOct 9 | 50 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1916 | Unnamed 1916 stormJul 15 | 24 mi | Tropical storm (51 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1915 | Unnamed 1915 stormAug 3 | 33 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1912 | Unnamed 1912 stormJun 14 | 9 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1907 | Unnamed 1907 stormSep 23 | 52 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1906 | Unnamed 1906 stormSep 18 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (43 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormOct 11 | 57 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1902 | Unnamed 1902 stormJun 15 | 75 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1901 | Unnamed 1901 stormSep 28 | 53 mi | Tropical storm (40 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormOct 3 | 26 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 4 |
| 1893 | Unnamed 1893 stormAug 28 | 62 mi | Category 1 (85 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1889 | Unnamed 1889 stormSep 24 | 18 mi | Tropical storm (52 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1886 | Unnamed 1886 stormJun 22 | 15 mi | Tropical storm (45 mph) | Category 2 |
| 1885 | Unnamed 1885 stormOct 12 | 75 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Tropical storm |
| 1882 | Unnamed 1882 stormSep 11 | 10 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1877 | Unnamed 1877 stormOct 4 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1859 | Unnamed 1859 stormSep 17 | 11 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 1 |
| 1854 | Unnamed 1854 stormSep 9 | 73 mi | Tropical storm (64 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1852 | Unnamed 1852 stormAug 27 | 70 mi | Tropical storm (46 mph) | Category 3 |
| 1851 | Unnamed 1851 stormAug 24 | 75 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 Waterloo: 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 Waterloo
By decade
- 2020s10
- 2010s12
- 2000s21(1 EF3+)
- 1990s15
- 1980s6
- 1970s7(5 EF3+)
- 1960s3
- 1950s3
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Killed / injured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 31, 1973 | F4 | 10 mi | 22.6 mi | 7 / 30 |
| Dec 13, 1973 | F4 | 11 mi | 1 mi | 2 / 0 |
| Dec 13, 1973 | F3 | 22 mi | 17.3 mi | 1 / 5 |
| Mar 15, 2008 | EF3 | 20 mi | 27.51 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Dec 13, 1973 | F3 | 12 mi | 17.7 mi | 0 / 26 |
| Dec 13, 1973 | F3 | 3 mi | 10.7 mi | 0 / 3 |
| Mar 28, 1984 | F2 | 20 mi | 23 mi | 1 / 38 |
| May 3, 2021 | EF2 | 9 mi | 29.35 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Oct 8, 2017 | EF2 | 15 mi | 22.28 mi | 0 / 0 |
| Apr 10, 2009 | EF2 | 19 mi | 6.71 mi | 0 / 2 |
| Jan 13, 2005 | F2 | 6 mi | 12 mi | 0 / 1 |
| Nov 15, 1989 | F2 | 7 mi | 0.7 mi | 0 / 1 |
The strongest 12 of 77, by rating and then by deaths. Ratings before February 2007 are on the original Fujita scale.
Hail in Waterloo
The Storm Prediction Center has 52 hail reports within 10 miles of Waterloo since 1987, made on 44 separate days. Of these, 26 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 November 8, 2025. March has the most reports, 12.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather reports, data through 2025.
Weather by month in Waterloo
The nearest NOAA station with 1991–2020 climate normals is Greenwood 8NE, SC, 6 miles southeast of Waterloo at 530 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. June and December are the wettest at 4.6 inches of precipitation on average and October the driest at 3.1 inches; the year adds up to 47.5 inches. June to November, the hurricane season months, bring 50% of the year's precipitation (23.6 of 47.5 inches). September has brought the most of the 29 tropical systems that passed within 75 miles (11); a normal September there has highs of 84°F and 4.1 inches of precipitation. Highs reach 90°F on about 56 days a year, almost all from May to September. Lows fall below freezing on about 54 nights a year. That 47.5 inches is more than at 32 of the 78 South Carolina stations used on this site (41%). Hodges, 9 miles west, has its own station (Greenwood Co Airport, SC): 42.0 inches a year, 5.5 less than here, and the same July average high, 90°F.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 54 | 33 | 4.2 |
| Feb | 57 | 35 | 3.8 |
| Mar | 65 | 41 | 4.5 |
| Apr | 73 | 49 | 3.3 |
| May | 81 | 58 | 3.5 |
| Jun | 87 | 67 | 4.6 |
| Jul | 90 | 70 | 3.8 |
| Aug | 89 | 69 | 4.3 |
| Sep | 84 | 63 | 4.1 |
| Oct | 74 | 52 | 3.1 |
| Nov | 64 | 40 | 3.7 |
| Dec | 56 | 35 | 4.6 |
| Year | 73 | 51 | 47.5 |
Averages for 1991–2020 at Greenwood 8NE, SC (530 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 Waterloo
Since 1996, the National Weather Service has logged 121 flood, rain, thunderstorm wind and lightning events that began within 10 miles of Waterloo: 112 thunderstorm wind reports, 7 flash floods and 2 lightning strikes. None is recorded as killing or injuring anyone; the NWS estimated $1.0 million in property and crop damage. The strongest thunderstorm gust on record here was 81 mph, on December 9, 2009. July has had the most flash floods, 4 of 7. Of the 241 South Carolina cities on this site with a flash flood on record, 88 have had fewer than Waterloo.
July 9, 2013: lightning strike 1 mile from the centre of Waterloo — $300,000 damage.
NWS: “Lightning started a fire at a 4000 square foot home that completely destroyed the structure.”
April 24, 1999: thunderstorm wind 7 miles from the centre of Waterloo — $250,000 damage.
July 31, 2010: lightning strike 10 miles from the centre of Waterloo — $100,000 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
Laurens County, which includes Waterloo, 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.