Goose Creek

Population 52,010 (2025)

57 tropical storms and hurricanes have passed within 50 miles of Goose Creek since 1851; the strongest at closest approach was an unnamed storm in 1893 (Category 3).

Hazard fingerprint for Goose Creek Tornado: 47th percentile. Tropical: 99th percentile. Wildfire: 75th percentile. Flood: 49th percentile. Hail & wind: 79th percentile. Heat: 62th percentile. Cold: 34th percentile. Winter: 25th percentile. TORTROPFIREFLOODSEVEREHEATCOLDWINTER

Hazard fingerprint Each spoke is this county’s percentile among U.S. counties where that hazard occurs. How it is computed

2026
  • Tornado damage paths within 25 miles since 195089
  • Tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles since 1851, wider where stronger124
  • Wildfire burn scars within 25 miles since 198426
  • Major flood years since 1978, Berkeley County6

At a glance

Tornado paths within 25 miles, tropical cyclone tracks within 100 miles and wildfire perimeters within 25 miles of the city centre. Storm events, flood insurance claims and disaster declarations are for Berkeley County. Earthquakes within 50 miles, volcanoes within 100 miles and smoke days are measured from the city centre; river and tide gauges, tsunami and landslide records and the drought index are for Berkeley County.

Tropical cyclones within 50 mi

57

17 at hurricane strength since 1851

Details

Large wildfires within 25 mi

26

Largest: Unnamed, 2004

Details

Flood insurance claims

619

Berkeley County

$8.8 million paid since 1979

Details

Tornadoes since 1950, within 25 mi

89

2 rated F3/EF3 or stronger

Details

Strongest tornado

F3

September 11, 1960, 8.8 mile path

Strongest tropical cyclone

Cat. 3

Hurricane (unnamed), 1893, 29.5 miles away

Largest earthquake within 50 mi

4.8magnitude

June 12, 1912, 6.6 miles away

Details

Federal disaster declarations

30

Most recent: Severe Winter Storm, 2026

Details

Tornadoes

About one tornado a year since 1950, 2 of them rated F3/EF3 or stronger.

Strongest

September 11, 1960

F3, 8.8 mile path

100 yards wide.

Deadliest

May 10, 1998

1 killed, F2

7 injured along the whole path.

Most recent

Friday, September 27, 2024

EF0, 2.0 mile path

2 years ago.

Tornadoes by decade, within 25 miles Doppler radar era² 1950s: 3 3 1960s: 14 14 1970s: 7 7 1980s: 3 3 1990s: 10 10 2000s: 30 30 2010s: 7 7 2020s: 15 15 1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
Recorded tornadoes per decade. The 2020s are incomplete.
Tornadoes by month J: 0 F: 1 M: 7 A: 14 M: 17 17 J: 12 J: 6 A: 12 S: 17 O: 0 N: 2 D: 1 JFMAMJJASOND
By month of occurrence, all years.

Every recorded tornado

Tornadoes within 25 miles since 1950
Sep 27, 2024EF02.09000
Sep 27, 2024EF02.112500
Sep 27, 2024EF02.09000
Aug 6, 2024EF13.915020
Aug 5, 2024EF10.77500
Aug 5, 2024EF03.820000
Aug 30, 2023EF11.910000
Aug 30, 2023EF02.710000
Aug 30, 2023EF00.05020
Sep 9, 2022EF00.712500
Jul 8, 2021EF10.815000
May 20, 2020EF10.830000
Apr 13, 2020EF00.920000
Apr 13, 2020EF35.740060
Apr 13, 2020EF12.315000
Sep 11, 2017EF00.69000
Sep 11, 2017EF00.15500
Sep 11, 2017EF10.43000
Sep 11, 2017EF01.56000
Dec 23, 2015EF00.210000
Sep 24, 2015EF26.888000
Apr 16, 2011EF17.912000
Jun 27, 2009EF00.24000
Jun 29, 2008EF00.51,00000
Jun 21, 2008EF00.37510
May 11, 2008EF212.01,76000
Mar 15, 2008EF11.213500
Mar 15, 2008EF10.618070
Mar 15, 2008EF12.24000
Jun 13, 2006F00.715010
Jun 13, 2006F00.210000
Jun 13, 2006F01.53000
Jun 13, 2006F01.03000
May 20, 2006F00.11000
May 14, 2006F11.817500
May 14, 2006F00.12500
Apr 26, 2006F110.020000
Apr 26, 2006F10.14000
Apr 26, 2006F00.18000
Apr 8, 2006F00.25000
Apr 8, 2006F00.25000
Apr 8, 2006F02.65000
May 30, 2005F14.03000
Sep 7, 2004F00.54000
Aug 12, 2004F13.010000
May 6, 2003F13.07500
Sep 28, 2002F00.52500
Jul 15, 2002F00.63000
May 4, 2002F00.12000
May 4, 2002F00.22500
Aug 3, 2000F00.12000
Jul 23, 2000F00.14000
Apr 28, 1999F13.010000
Sep 3, 1998F27.043090
May 10, 1998F210.567071
Mar 14, 1997F10.23000
Mar 14, 1997F10.13000
Nov 7, 1995F01.53300
Nov 7, 1995F00.52300
May 15, 1995F00.23000
Jun 7, 1994F00.12000
Aug 29, 1990F01.010000
Jul 26, 1986F00.23030
Feb 27, 1984F00.310000
Jun 27, 1982F11.03000
Sep 4, 1979F02.06000
Jun 21, 1976F10.22700
May 18, 1976F11.05310
Mar 8, 1976F10.51010
May 12, 1974F11.530020
Mar 12, 1974F10.33000
May 25, 1970F10.51000
Jun 7, 1968F00.11000
May 7, 1967F00.32000
Sep 19, 1966F00.31300
Sep 19, 1966F11.22000
Sep 19, 1966F10.11300
Aug 7, 1966F12.01300
Apr 13, 1966F00.11000
Jul 5, 1965F10.42000
Jun 11, 1965F00.11000
Aug 29, 1964F10.56700
Aug 29, 1964F21.06720
Jul 18, 1963F00.21700
Apr 12, 1961F12.56700
Sep 11, 1960F38.8100100
May 22, 1957F02.01000
May 31, 1953F14.320000
Apr 27, 1950F10.73700
  1. Injuries and deaths are for the tornado’s whole path, which may extend beyond this area.
  2. Weak tornadoes were under-recorded before Doppler radar coverage became national in the early 1990s, so earlier decades read low. Ratings use the Fujita scale before February 2007 and the Enhanced Fujita scale after.

Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, 1950 to 2025.

Hurricanes and tropical storms

57 passed within 50 miles since 1851; 17 at hurricane strength, 3 as major hurricanes.

Strongest within 50 miles

October 13, 1893

Unnamed storm, Category 3

29.5 miles at closest approach, winds near 121 mph.

Most recent

July 6, 2025

Chantal, Tropical storm

67.5 miles at closest approach.

Tropical cyclones within 50 miles by decade 50s: 3 60s: 1 70s: 5 80s: 2 90s: 5 00s: 5 10s: 4 20s: 3 30s: 0 40s: 3 50s: 3 60s: 3 70s: 2 80s: 4 90s: 0 00s: 3 10s: 6 6 20s: 5 50s60s70s80s90s00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s00s10s20s
Storms within 50 miles, by decade. Records before about 1900 miss storms that never reached land or ships.

Every storm within 100 miles

Tropical cyclones within 100 miles
Chantal202567.5Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Debby202421.5Subtropical storm46Category 1
Idalia20239.6Tropical storm58Category 4
Ian202248.8Category 182Category 5
Colin20225.6Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Elsa202173.8Tropical storm46Category 1
Danny202155.0Tropical storm41Tropical storm
Eta202070.9Tropical storm46Category 4
Isaias202054.4Category 192Category 1
Bertha202015.4Tropical storm49Tropical storm
Nestor201971.4Post-tropical46Tropical storm
Dorian201967.3Category 2110Category 5
Florence201841.8Tropical storm55Category 4
Matthew201624.5Category 189Category 5
Julia201675.7Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Hermine201611.1Tropical storm58Category 1
Colin201647.0Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Ana201588.1Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Arthur201495.1Category 192Category 2
Andrea201326.1Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Beryl20122.4Tropical storm43Tropical storm
Hanna200862.5Tropical storm69Category 1
Barry200713.5Post-tropical46Tropical storm
Ernesto200676.7Tropical storm69Category 1
Gaston200423.7Category 175Category 1
Charley200435.3Category 181Category 4
Kyle200222.5Tropical storm40Category 1
Irene199980.4Category 181Category 2
Floyd199993.0Category 2104Category 4
Earl199831.7Post-tropical46Category 2
Josephine19965.6Post-tropical52Tropical storm
Arthur199694.6Tropical storm41Tropical storm
Allison199534.4Post-tropical40Category 1
Hugo198911.0Category 3117Category 5
Kate198521.0Tropical storm55Category 3
Bob198540.6Tropical storm63Category 1
Isidore198468.7Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Diana198497.4Category 3115Category 4
Unnamed198258.1Subtropical storm69Tropical storm
Dennis198138.8Tropical storm54Category 1
David197956.7Tropical storm67Category 5
Unnamed197621.1Subtropical storm40Tropical storm
Dottie19760.6Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed197671.4Subtropical storm48Tropical storm
Hallie197571.8Tropical storm44Tropical storm
Unnamed197266.6Subtropical storm40Tropical storm
Agnes197260.0Tropical storm40Category 1
Alma197051.0Tropical storm46Category 1
Gladys196887.3Category 186Category 2
Unnamed196786.3Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Alma196633.8Tropical storm55Category 3
Unnamed196599.6Post-tropical40Tropical storm
Dora196411.9Tropical storm69Category 4
Ginny196383.2Category 186Category 2
Donna196081.0Category 2100Category 4
Brenda196022.4Tropical storm69Tropical storm
Gracie195940.6Category 3113Category 4
Cindy195918.6Tropical storm58Category 1
Helene195884.3Category 4150Category 4
Unnamed195760.1Tropical storm43Category 1
Unnamed195680.4Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Flossy195632.6Post-tropical52Category 1
Hazel195477.6Category 4132Category 4
Unnamed195456.3Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Florence195397.3Post-tropical46Category 3
Able195246.3Category 175Category 2
Unnamed195288.4Tropical storm49Tropical storm
Unnamed194790.2Category 2104Category 2
Unnamed194733.5Post-tropical46Tropical storm
Unnamed194694.8Tropical storm49Category 2
Unnamed194670.0Post-tropical40Category 1
Unnamed194526.5Tropical storm60Category 4
Unnamed194582.0Category 175Category 2
Unnamed194442.4Tropical storm58Category 4
Unnamed19415.3Tropical storm40Category 3
Unnamed194064.1Category 298Category 2
Unnamed193573.7Tropical storm55Category 5
Unnamed193263.9Post-tropical46Category 1
Unnamed192972.0Post-tropical58Category 4
Unnamed19288.8Category 179Category 5
Unnamed192731.5Tropical storm54Tropical storm
Unnamed192427.2Post-tropical64Category 1
Unnamed192411.0Tropical storm41Category 1
Unnamed192368.7Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed191695.9Tropical storm58Tropical storm
Unnamed191688.6Tropical storm52Tropical storm
Unnamed191622.7Category 187Category 3
Unnamed19169.6Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed191318.4Tropical storm51Category 1
Unnamed191163.8Category 298Category 2
Unnamed191023.7Tropical storm69Category 4
Unnamed190833.2Post-tropical40Tropical storm
Unnamed190741.2Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed190732.9Tropical storm61Tropical storm
Unnamed190673.2Category 178Category 3
Unnamed190636.9Tropical storm69Category 1
Unnamed190447.4Category 181Category 1
Unnamed190275.2Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed190130.5Tropical storm40Category 1
Unnamed190067.7Post-tropical40Tropical storm
Unnamed189962.3Category 2109Category 2
Unnamed189877.1Category 186Category 1
Unnamed189639.7Category 192Category 3
Unnamed189416.9Tropical storm69Category 3
Unnamed189411.7Category 179Category 3
Unnamed189329.5Category 3121Category 3
Unnamed189399.6Tropical storm46Category 4
Unnamed189366.1Category 194Category 3
Unnamed18939.8Tropical storm56Category 1
Unnamed188986.2Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed188853.9Tropical storm69Category 2
Unnamed188859.7Tropical storm40Tropical storm
Unnamed188651.8Tropical storm54Category 2
Unnamed188574.6Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed188597.8Tropical storm60Category 1
Unnamed188582.3Tropical storm46Tropical storm
Unnamed188514.9Category 2101Category 2
Unnamed188381.7Category 2104Category 3
Unnamed188238.6Tropical storm69Category 4
Unnamed188051.9Category 175Category 1
Unnamed187869.9Tropical storm52Category 1
Unnamed187816.9Category 184Category 2
Unnamed187776.6Tropical storm46Category 3
Unnamed187410.2Category 190Category 1
Unnamed187322.8Tropical storm61Category 1
Unnamed187125.7Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed187198.6Tropical storm69Category 1
Unnamed187134.8Tropical storm46Category 3
Unnamed187153.4Tropical storm69Category 3
Unnamed186859.9Tropical storm46Category 1
Unnamed186719.1Category 181Category 1
Unnamed186068.9Tropical storm54Category 3
Unnamed185799.1Category 2104Category 2
Unnamed185648.7Tropical storm58Category 3
Unnamed185477.4Tropical storm63Category 3
Unnamed185371.3Category 192Category 2
Unnamed185238.7Tropical storm58Category 2
Unnamed185238.9Tropical storm46Category 3
Unnamed185161.6Tropical storm49Category 3
  1. Tropical storms and hurricanes (34 kt or more, still tropical) at closest approach. Post-tropical remnants with gale-force winds are listed but not counted. Direct: track within 50 miles; near: within 100 miles. Distance is measured to the county boundary for counties and to the city centre for cities, using positions interpolated hourly between HURDAT2 fixes.

National Hurricane Center HURDAT2, 1851 to 2025.

Wildfire and smoke

26 large fires burned within 25 miles since 1984.

Largest

March 18, 2004

Unnamed Fire, 13,428 acres

16.7 miles from the city centre.

Most recent

May 19, 2019

Unnamed Fire

1,189 acres in total.

Acres burned by large fires within 25 miles, cumulative 1990: 7111991: 1,7011997: 5,7381999: 1,0782002: 2,4452003: 3,7212004: 18,8392005: 22,9942008: 1,0932011: 3,0862017: 3,0262018: 3,4662019: 1,189 69,087 acres 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Running total of acres burned (line) and each year’s acres (bars).

Every large fire

Large wildfires since 1984
Unnamed201916.71,189
Calestown201822.4601
Cumbee Fire201818.41,669
Unnamed201824.71,196
Turn Table Fire201721.91,868
Bullhead201715.11,158
Sandridge Road201124.11,389
Rifle201120.21,697
Unnamed20082.81,093
Unnamed200519.3826
Unnamed200518.82,595
Unnamed200512.68,555
Unnamed200515.611,018
Unnamed200424.41,241
Unnamed200415.61,960
Biggin200412.3506
Unnamed200416.713,428
Unnamed200420.91,704
Little Hellhole200313.23,721
Big Ocean200221.1539
Monkey Face200223.61,906
Brick Church19999.01,078
Murrell199723.95,124
Little Hellhole199714.7614
Mills Bay199115.61,701
Rx Burn 1199024.4711
  1. Large fires mapped by the Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity program since 1984: 1,000 acres or more in the West, 500 or more in the East. Prescribed burns are excluded. Acres here are the part of each perimeter inside this place.

Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity (USGS and U.S. Forest Service), 1984 to 2026.

Smoke overhead

Smokiest year

2023: 33 days

Heavy smoke on 5 days in 2023, the most of any year.

Last 10 years

6.7 days a year

Medium or heavy smoke, 2016 to 2025.

2025

6 days

Medium or heavy smoke. 24 so far in 2026.

Days with medium or heavy smoke overhead, by year 2011: 15 2012: 2 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 1 2016: 0 2017: 0 2018: 3 2019: 1 2020: 1 2021: 10 2022: 9 2023: 33 33 2024: 4 2025: 6 201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Days each year on which a satellite-traced plume of medium or heavy smoke covered the city centre, 2011 to 2025.
  1. A smoke day is a date on which a smoke plume traced by NOAA Hazard Mapping System analysts from satellite imagery covered this place's point (the county's population centre or the city centre). Counts here are of medium or heavy smoke. Since 2018 analysts have often drawn light smoke as one area over most of the continent, so light-smoke counts are not comparable from year to year. The plumes show smoke anywhere in the air above, not air quality at the ground, and smoke hidden by cloud is missed.

NOAA Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, 2011 to 2026, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Floods and flood insurance

619 federal flood insurance claims since 1979, with $8.8 million paid.

Flood insurance figures are for Berkeley County, the county that contains Goose Creek.

Federal flood insurance claims by year 1979: 6 1981: 5 1987: 10 1989: 69 1995: 5 1998: 11 1999: 6 2002: 7 2004: 5 2008: 21 2013: 11 2015: 179 179 2016: 110 2017: 41 2018: 10 2020: 6 2021: 26 2022: 5 2023: 6 2024: 40 1979199820132020
Claims per year since 1979. Years with fewer than five claims are not shown.

Most claims in one year

2015: 179 claims

$2.5 million paid.

2nd most

2016: 110 claims

$2.8 million paid.

3rd most

1989: 69 claims

$334,000 paid.

Claims by ZIP code

Flood insurance claims by ZIP code
29410247$3.4 million
29445116$953,000
29461103$2.0 million
2949241$176,000
2945040$1.1 million
2948620$233,000
2945617$247,000
294077$0
294066$81,000

Flood events since 1996

  • Flash Flood74
  • Flood6
  • Heavy Rain3
  • Coastal Flood1

1 death recorded in flood events since 1996.

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).

OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026. NOAA Storm Events through 2026.

River crests

River gauges in Berkeley County, the county that contains Goose Creek.

Most severe crest

July 26, 1916

Santee River near Jamestown, 33.00 ft

23.00 feet above the 10.0 ft flood stage; major flooding by today’s categories.

Most recent moderate or major crest

October 5, 2024

Santee River near Jamestown, 23.94 ft

Major flooding.

Highest river crests above flood stage
Jul 26, 1916Santee River near Jamestown33.00+23.00Major
Apr 15, 1936Santee River near Jamestown32.00+22.00Major
Aug 26, 1928Santee River near Jamestown30.00+20.00Major
Oct 10, 1929Santee River near Jamestown29.80+19.80Major
Oct 5, 2024Santee River near Jamestown23.94+13.94Major
Feb 14, 2020Santee River near Jamestown23.37+13.37Major
Mar 28, 2003Santee River near Jamestown22.84+12.84Major
Jan 6, 2016Santee River near Jamestown22.82+12.82Major
Sep 26, 1945Santee River near Jamestown22.80+12.80Major
Oct 10, 2015Santee River near Jamestown22.13+12.13Major
Oct 5, 2015French Quarter Creek near Huger16.00+5.50Major
Aug 8, 2024French Quarter Creek near Huger13.41+2.91Major
Mar 9, 1987Santee River near Jamestown21.87+11.87Moderate
Feb 10, 1998Santee River near Jamestown21.67+11.67Moderate
Mar 23, 1975Santee River near Jamestown21.28+11.28Moderate
Jan 18, 1993Santee River near Jamestown20.81+10.81Moderate
Nov 3, 1990Santee River near Jamestown20.62+10.62Moderate
Mar 1, 1995Santee River near Jamestown20.61+10.61Moderate
Mar 29, 1944Santee River near Jamestown20.60+10.60Moderate
Oct 24, 1964Santee River near Jamestown20.50+10.50Moderate
Feb 13, 2010Santee River near Jamestown19.83+9.83Moderate
Mar 6, 1979Santee River near Jamestown19.67+9.67Moderate
Jan 18, 2024Santee River near Jamestown19.61+9.61Moderate
Oct 9, 1989Santee River near Jamestown19.41+9.41Moderate
Apr 5, 1980Santee River near Jamestown19.20+9.20Moderate

River gauges

River gauges and their highest listed crests
French Quarter Creek near Huger10.516.00 ftOct 5, 20152
Lake Marion77.076.76 ftDec 19, 20090
Santee River near Jamestown10.033.00 ftJul 26, 191610
  1. Crests are the highest and the recent crests the National Weather Service lists for each river gauge in the county that has a flood stage, not every flood. Flood categories use each gauge's current flood stages; crests from before levees, dams or channel changes may not be comparable. Crests measured on an old datum are left out of the rankings.

NOAA National Water Prediction Service gauge records, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Drought

In severe drought or worse for 90 of 1,581 months since 1895 (6%); the longest spell lasted 11 months.

The drought index is for Berkeley County, the county that contains Goose Creek.

90

Months in severe drought or worse since 1895

32

Months in extreme drought

6%

Share of all months, severe or worse

21

Drought reports to the Weather Service since 1996

Lowest reading

February 2012

−5.43, extreme drought

Longest severe spell

11 months

July 1954 to May 1955.

Latest month

September 2026

−4.76, extreme drought

Months in severe drought or worse, by year 1895: 0 1896: 0 1897: 0 1898: 0 1899: 0 1900: 0 1901: 0 1902: 0 1903: 0 1904: 0 1905: 0 1906: 0 1907: 0 1908: 0 1909: 0 1910: 0 1911: 4 1912: 0 1913: 0 1914: 0 1915: 0 1916: 0 1917: 0 1918: 0 1919: 0 1920: 1 1921: 0 1922: 0 1923: 0 1924: 0 1925: 3 1926: 0 1927: 9 9 1928: 1 1929: 0 1930: 0 1931: 3 1932: 5 1933: 0 1934: 2 1935: 4 1936: 0 1937: 0 1938: 0 1939: 0 1940: 0 1941: 0 1942: 2 1943: 1 1944: 2 1945: 4 1946: 0 1947: 0 1948: 0 1949: 0 1950: 1 1951: 1 1952: 1 1953: 0 1954: 6 1955: 5 1956: 0 1957: 0 1958: 0 1959: 0 1960: 0 1961: 0 1962: 0 1963: 0 1964: 0 1965: 0 1966: 0 1967: 0 1968: 0 1969: 0 1970: 0 1971: 0 1972: 0 1973: 0 1974: 0 1975: 0 1976: 0 1977: 0 1978: 1 1979: 0 1980: 0 1981: 4 1982: 0 1983: 1 1984: 0 1985: 2 1986: 0 1987: 0 1988: 0 1989: 0 1990: 0 1991: 0 1992: 0 1993: 0 1994: 0 1995: 0 1996: 0 1997: 0 1998: 0 1999: 0 2000: 0 2001: 3 2002: 7 2003: 0 2004: 0 2005: 0 2006: 0 2007: 2 2008: 1 2009: 0 2010: 0 2011: 6 2012: 4 2013: 0 2014: 0 2015: 0 2016: 0 2017: 0 2018: 0 2019: 0 2020: 0 2021: 0 2022: 0 2023: 0 2024: 0 2025: 0 18951905191519251935194519551965197519851995200520152025
Months each year with a Palmer index of −3 or lower, 1895 to 2025. Twelve means the whole year.
  1. The Palmer Drought Severity Index is computed by NOAA each month from the county's average temperature and precipitation, relative to the county's own climate. Zero is normal; -3 or lower is severe drought and -4 or lower extreme drought. It describes the long-term balance of moisture, not water supply or crop losses.

NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, 1895 to September 2026, issued October 6, 2026.

Earthquakes and tsunamis

7 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles since 1900; the largest was magnitude 4.8 in 1912.

18

Magnitude 3+ within 50 miles since 1973

7

Magnitude 4+ within 50 miles since 1900

0

Magnitude 5+ within 50 miles since 1900

Largest within 50 miles

June 12, 1912

Magnitude 4.8

Near Charleston, South Carolina; 6.6 miles away.

Most recent, magnitude 3 or more

September 27, 2021

Magnitude 3.3

South Carolina; 9.1 miles away.

Earthquakes of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles, by year 1973: 0 1974: 1 1975: 0 1976: 0 1977: 1 1978: 0 1979: 0 1980: 0 1981: 0 1982: 0 1983: 1 1984: 0 1985: 0 1986: 0 1987: 0 1988: 1 1989: 0 1990: 1 1991: 0 1992: 1 1993: 0 1994: 0 1995: 1 1996: 0 1997: 0 1998: 0 1999: 1 2000: 0 2001: 0 2002: 3 3 2003: 2 2004: 1 2005: 0 2006: 0 2007: 0 2008: 1 2009: 1 2010: 0 2011: 0 2012: 0 2013: 0 2014: 1 2015: 0 2016: 0 2017: 0 2018: 0 2019: 0 2020: 0 2021: 1 2022: 0 2023: 0 2024: 0 2025: 0 19731978198319881993199820032008201320182023
Per year, 1973 to 2025.

Every earthquake of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles

Earthquakes of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles
Nov 11, 20024.041.01.526 km SSE of Kiawah Island, South Carolina
Aug 21, 19924.18.94.01 km SSE of Centerville, South Carolina
Nov 22, 19744.710.211.210 km SSW of Ladson, South Carolina
Feb 3, 19724.439.51.210 km ESE of Bowman, South Carolina
Aug 3, 19594.47.90.62 km N of Sangaree, South Carolina
Sep 22, 19144.26.6—Near North Charleston, South Carolina
Jun 12, 19124.86.6—Near Charleston, South Carolina
  1. Earthquakes of magnitude 2.5 or more in the USGS Comprehensive Catalog since 1900. Within 50 miles means the epicentre lies within 50 miles of the city centre.
  2. Small earthquakes were under-recorded before the modern seismic networks of the 1970s and are still missed in remote areas, so early decades read low. Magnitudes are as the catalogue reports them and mix scales (moment, local and body-wave).

USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, 1900 to present, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Tsunamis

Tsunami records for Berkeley County.

On record

1 tsunami

Since 1886.

Tsunamis recorded here
Sep 1, 1886Charleston, SC, M7.3—10
  1. Places where NOAA's Global Historical Tsunami Database records a tsunami's water arriving, with the greatest height it reached above sea level at the time. Only tsunamis NOAA rates probable or definite are counted. Heights from eyewitness accounts and tide gauges are mixed, and older events are less completely recorded.

NOAA NCEI/WDS Global Historical Tsunami Database, retrieved October 30, 2026.

Severe weather and other events

1,128 events in the National Weather Service record for Berkeley County, 1,017 of them since 1996.

181

Hail reports, 1 inch or larger

5

Hail, 2 inches or larger

399

Damaging gusts, 58 mph+

36

Winter weather events since 1996

13

Heat events since 1996

6

Cold events since 1996

Largest hail

August 2, 2012

2.50 inches

Strongest measured or estimated gust

June 19, 2007

90 mph

More event types since 1996

Other Storm Events types since 1996
Storm surge and tide200Sep 11, 2017
Lightning2615Aug 15, 2025

Costliest events since 1996

  1. May 10, 1998Tornado$5.0 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    After two brief earler touchdowns in Dorchester County, the supercell crossed Interstate 26 into Berkeley County where the most extensive damage occurred. There were 442 homes damaged (17 destroyed, 113 major damage, and the remainder had minor damage. Areas hardest hit were Frankie Lane and Royale Road, where numerous mobile homes were located. There was a 90 year old female who was injured severely when her mobile home was flipped and throuwn more than 40 feet. She died several hours later. Several eye witnesses reported seeing vortices rotating around the main funnel. This fact was born out by the damage pattern in several areas.

  2. Sep 3, 1998Tornado$2.8 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Seventy-three (73) homes were damaged, fourteen mobile homes destroyed and seven (7) homes destroyed. The Fairlawn sobdivision, just southeast of Moncks corner was hardest hit.

  3. Sep 27, 2024Tropical Storm, Inland Berkeley$1.5 million
    National Weather Service narrative

    Strong winds associated with Helene produced scattered trees down across the entire county. Berkeley County Emergency Management reported at least 4 homes with minor damage across the entire county. The peak wind gust in the county during the event was 44 mph at the Berkeley County Airport (KMKS).

  4. Oct 4, 2015Flash Flood$648,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    An emergency manager, law enforcement and the Coast Guard reported several roads closed and swift water rescues being made due to flooding between Huger, SC and Cainhoy, SC. Swift water rescues were underway in the Cainhoy area where cars were also reported floating in high water during early morning hours of October 4th. The Coast Guard released a video of an aerial rescue of a woman and infant child from a flooded house in Huger during the late morning hours of October 4th. The video also depicted widespread flooding of structures in the surrounding area. The intersection of Highway 41 and Highway 402 was also reported closed due to flooding.

  5. Oct 4, 2015Flash Flood$648,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Social media users posted photos and videos of Gross Avenue washed out with water overrunning the remaining road surface between Farrell Street and Hickory Hill Drive.

  6. Oct 3, 2015Flash Flood$648,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Law enforcement and Naval Weapons Station personnel reported several road closures due to flooding around the Goose Creek area. Roads closed due to flooding included Old Tom Road and Pulaski Street to Von Steuben Street on the Naval Weapons Station, Highway 17A at the intersection with Gants Road, Old Mount Holly Road near Lowes, the 300 block of Anita Drive and Cypress Gardens Road at the intersection with U.S. Highway 52. Knee deep water was also reported at the intersection of Bridgetown Road and Springhall Drive and five feet of water was reported in a structure in College Park, resulting in occupants having to move to the second floor.

  7. Oct 4, 2015Flash Flood$648,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Law enforcement reported several roads closed due to flooding. Roads closed included Jedburg Road at a bridge between Riley Lane and Ernies Way, Old Whitesville Road and Cypress Gardens road from Old Highway 52 to the boat landing. Rising water was also reported on the Interstate 26 on and off ramps at College Park Road. A tree was also reported down across Old Highway 52 near the Berkeley Country Club.

  8. Oct 3, 2015Flash Flood$648,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Law enforcement reported flood waters in homes on Lindy Creek Road.

  9. Oct 3, 2015Flash Flood$648,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Law enforcement and social media indicated several roads and bridges closed due to flooding from St Stephen to Moncks Corner. Ongoing rescues were also being reported from homes along Whitesville Road with many surrounding roads closed due to flooding during the early morning hours of October 4th. Additional roads closed included Highway 17A near Wadboo Creek where water was overflowing the road and Highway 45 near St Stephen where the road was washed out. A bridge on Spring Grove Road was damaged due to flooding near the intersection of Potato Hill Lane. A bridge was also damaged on Gravel Hill Road due to flooding. Another bridge on Betsy Hole Road was flooded and possibly…

  10. Oct 3, 2015Flash Flood$648,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Law enforcement reported roads closed due to flooding in the College Park and Sangaree area. Roads closed included Oxford Road where water was flowing over a bridge, Trinity Place and Highway 78 at the intersection with Bell Wright Road.

  1. Storm Events records before 1996 cover only tornadoes, thunderstorm wind and hail. Damage figures are as reported by the National Weather Service at the time, not adjusted for inflation.

NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, 1950 to 2026, issued October 26, 2026.

Weather records

From Charleston International Airport, 6.8 miles from the city centre, with records from 1937.

All-time high
105°FAug 1, 1999
All-time low
6°FJan 21, 1985
Warmest night
83°FAug 4, 2011
Coldest day
20°FDec 23, 1989
Wettest day
11.50 inOct 3, 2015
Snowiest day
6.0 inDec 23, 1989
Hottest year
1990mean 69.3°F
Coldest year
1940mean 62.6°F
Wettest year
201574.89 in
Driest year
195430.31 in
Snowiest season
8.0 in1989-90
Average monthly high and low temperature and precipitation, last 30 years, Charleston International Airport 32°F 61° 39° 2.7 Jan 65° 42° 3.1 Feb 71° 48° 3.2 Mar 78° 55° 3.2 Apr 84° 63° 3.4 May 89° 71° 5.8 Jun 91° 74° 7.0 Jul 90° 73° 7.2 Aug 86° 68° 6.0 Sep 78° 58° 3.9 Oct 70° 47° 2.4 Nov 63° 42° 3.5 Dec Precipitation, inches
Average daily high and low by month, and average monthly precipitation, over the last 30 years.
Days reaching 95°F per year 1976: 2 1977: 27 1978: 8 1979: 19 1980: 22 1981: 22 1982: 6 1983: 24 1984: 5 1985: 7 1986: 30 1987: 25 1988: 10 1989: 17 1990: 27 1991: 10 1992: 6 1993: 26 1994: 5 1995: 20 1996: 8 1997: 2 1998: 24 1999: 17 2000: 16 2001: 1 2002: 19 2003: 1 2004: 8 2005: 9 2006: 12 2007: 16 2008: 11 2009: 5 2010: 18 2011: 36 36 2012: 11 2013: 7 2014: 25 2015: 18 2016: 32 2017: 9 2018: 8 2019: 23 2020: 11 2021: 2 2022: 9 2023: 22 2024: 20 2025: 16 19761986199620062016
Days reaching 95°F each complete year, last 50 years. Thirty-year average: 13.9.
Snowfall by winter 1976: 1.3 in 1977: 0.4 in 1978: 1.8 in 1979: 1.3 in 1980: 3.8 in 1981: 0.0 in 1982: 0.0 in 1983: 0.0 in 1984: 0.0 in 1985: 0.5 in 1986: 0.0 in 1987: 0.4 in 1988: 0.9 in 1989: 8.0 in 8.0 1990: 0.0 in 1991: 0.0 in 1992: 0.0 in 1993: 0.0 in 1994: 0.0 in 1995: 0.0 in 1996: 0.0 in 1997: 0.0 in 1998: 0.0 in 1999: 2.0 in 2000: 0.0 in 2001: 0.0 in 2002: 0.0 in 2003: 0.0 in 2004: 0.0 in 2005: 0.0 in 2006: 0.0 in 2007: 0.0 in 2008: 0.0 in 2009: 3.4 in 2010: 0.2 in 2011: 0.0 in 2012: 0.0 in 2013: 0.0 in 2014: 0.0 in 2015: 0.0 in 2016: 0.0 in 2017: 5.3 in 2018: 0.0 in 2019: 0.0 in 2020: 0.0 in 2021: 0.0 in 2022: 0.0 in 2023: 0.0 in 2024: 2.5 in 2025: 1.1 in 19761986199620062016
Total snowfall each winter (July to June), last 50 winters.

Median first snow

January 25

Earliest: December 11, 1958

Median last snow

January 27

Latest: March 11, 1960

64 of 89 winters had no measurable snow.

Station Charleston International Airport (USW00013880), 39 ft elevation, 6.8 miles from the city centre. Daily records from 1937 to October 27, 2026; 100.0% of days in the last 30 years are complete. Records at a single station can differ from a city’s official threaded record, which may combine several stations.

NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily.

Federal disaster declarations

30 since 1953. The most recent: Severe Winter Storm, January 23, 2026.

Declarations for Berkeley County.

Federal disaster declarations
Jan 23, 2026Winter StormSevere Winter StormEmergencyEM-3632-SC
Sep 29, 2024Tropical StormTropical Storm DebbyMajor disasterDR-4835-SC
Sep 29, 2024HurricaneHurricane HeleneMajor disasterDR-4829-SC
Sep 26, 2024Tropical StormHurricane HeleneEmergencyEM-3619-SC
Aug 5, 2024Tropical StormHurricane DebbyEmergencyEM-3606-SC
Aug 31, 2023HurricaneHurricane IdaliaEmergencyEM-3597-SC
Nov 21, 2022HurricaneHurricane IanMajor disasterDR-4677-SC
Sep 29, 2022HurricaneHurricane IanEmergencyEM-3585-SC
May 1, 2020Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line WindsMajor disasterDR-4542-SC
Mar 27, 2020BiologicalCovid-19 PandemicMajor disasterDR-4492-SC
Mar 13, 2020BiologicalCovid-19EmergencyEM-3470-SC
Sep 30, 2019HurricaneHurricane DorianMajor disasterDR-4464-SC
Sep 1, 2019HurricaneHurricane DorianEmergencyEM-3421-SC
Sep 16, 2018HurricaneHurricane FlorenceMajor disasterDR-4394-SC
Sep 10, 2018HurricaneHurricane FlorenceEmergencyEM-3400-SC
Oct 16, 2017HurricaneHurricane IrmaMajor disasterDR-4346-SC
Sep 7, 2017HurricaneHurricane IrmaEmergencyEM-3386-SC
Oct 11, 2016HurricaneHurricane MatthewMajor disasterDR-4286-SC
Oct 6, 2016HurricaneHurricane MatthewEmergencyEM-3378-SC
Oct 5, 2015FloodSevere Storms and FloodingMajor disasterDR-4241-SC
Oct 3, 2015Severe StormSevere Storms and FloodingEmergencyEM-3373-SC
Mar 12, 2014Severe Ice StormSevere Winter StormMajor disasterDR-4166-SC
Feb 12, 2014Severe Ice StormSevere Winter StormEmergencyEM-3369-SC
Sep 10, 2005HurricaneHurricane Katrina EvacuationEmergencyEM-3233-SC
Oct 7, 2004HurricaneTropical Storm FrancesMajor disasterDR-1566-SC
Sep 15, 2004Severe StormTropical Storm GastonMajor disasterDR-1547-SC
Jan 31, 2000Severe StormSevere Winter StormMajor disasterDR-1313-SC
Sep 21, 1999HurricaneHurricane Floyd Major Disaster DeclarationsMajor disasterDR-1299-SC
Sep 15, 1999HurricaneHurricane Floyd Emergency DeclarationsEmergencyEM-3145-SC
Sep 22, 1989HurricaneHurricane HugoMajor disasterDR-843-SC

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).

OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries, retrieved October 30, 2026. Statewide declarations are not listed.

Sources and vintage

Every number on this page comes from these public records.

  • Tornadoes NOAA Storm Prediction Center severe weather database, through 2025.
  • Tropical cyclones NOAA National Hurricane Center HURDAT2 (Atlantic; Northeast and Central Pacific), through 2025.
  • Wildfire USGS/USFS Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity, through 2026.
  • Storm events NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, through 2026.
  • Flood insurance OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims v3, refreshed August 4, 2026.
  • Declarations OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries v2, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Weather records NOAA NCEI Global Historical Climatology Network Daily, station USW00013880.
  • River crests NOAA National Weather Service, National Water Prediction Service river gauges, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Drought NOAA NCEI nClimDiv county Palmer Drought Severity Index, through September 2026.
  • Smoke NOAA NESDIS Hazard Mapping System smoke analysis, retrieved October 30, 2026.
  • Tsunamis NOAA NCEI/WDS Global Historical Tsunami Database.
  • Earthquakes USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog (ComCat), retrieved October 30, 2026.

Joins, thresholds and known limits are set out in the methodology. Found an error? Report it. Page built October 30, 2026.