James Island

Every recorded tornado

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.

Every storm within 100 miles

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.

Every large fire

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

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.

Flood insurance figures are for Charleston County, the county that contains James Island.

Claims by ZIP code

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 Charleston County, the county that contains James Island.

River gauges

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.

High tide flooding

Tide gauges in Charleston County.

1. High tide flooding days are days on which a NOAA tide gauge recorded water at or above NOAA's minor flood threshold, set from the gauge's tide range, counted by meteorological year (May to April). These are the counts in NOAA's annual high tide flooding reports; they are not National Weather Service flood stages. Years with less than 80 percent of data are left out.

NOAA CO-OPS high tide flooding counts, through April 2026, retrieved October 30, 2026.

The drought index is for Charleston County, the county that contains James Island.

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.

Every earthquake of magnitude 4 or more within 50 miles

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 Charleston County.

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.

Mapped landslides

Landslides mapped in Charleston County.

Mapped by NASA (1).

1. Landslides mapped in the USGS compilation of landslide inventories across the United States (version 3.0, 2025), rated probable or better. The compilation joins inventories made by federal and state agencies for different purposes and areas, so the number mapped in a county reflects how closely it has been surveyed as much as how often its slopes fail. An area with few records may simply not have been mapped. Deaths are as recorded in the inventories; a slide listed in two inventories is counted once.

USGS Landslide Inventories across the United States, version 3.0, retrieved October 27, 2026.

More event types since 1996

Costliest events since 1996

1. Aug 29, 2004Tropical Storm, Charleston$16.6 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   The center of Tropical Storm Gaston came ashore near Bulls Bay with sustained 70 mph winds around 930 am on August 29th. The center moved through northern Charleston county into eastern Berkeley county that afternoon. Maximum wind gusts were 81 mph at the Isle of Palms, 73 mph at the East Cooper Airport in Mount Pleasant, 59 mph at Pineville, 55 mph at the Charleston Airport, 51 mph at Folly Beach, and 48 mph in Downtown Charleston. Wind damage occurred in Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester counties with the most widespread and significant damage occurring in northern Charleston county and in Berkeley county. The winds knocked down numerous trees and large limbs resulting in…

2. Mar 23, 2011Wildfire, Charleston$2.0 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   The South Carolina Forestry Commission reported a large wildfire started on March 23 in northern Charleston County, 5 miles north-northeast of McClellanville, South Carolina. The wildfire was fully contained on March 25. The wildfire burned 2600 acres over the 3 day period, resulting in the destruction of 16 non-residential structures, evacuation of the Germantown and Santee Communities, the opening of a shelter at the St. James-Santee Elementary School, and the closure of Highway 17 from Highway 45 north to the Charleston/Georgetown County line. Damages as a result of the wildfire were estimated between 1.5 and 2 million dollars.

3. Sep 24, 2015Tornado$1.5 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   A National Weather Service storm survey team confirmed a tornado on Johns Island. The tornado touched down near Cane Slash Road where one home had a portion of its roof ripped off. The tornado then tracked to the north-northwest and crossed Maybank Highway and Brownswood Road, causing minor damage to a few homes and extensive damage to trees. The tornado then tracked further north-northwest and caused the most significant damage along its path on Sonny Boy Lane, where damage to two homes was consistent with a high end EF-2 tornado. At one home, only a small portion of the roof was left intact as the rest of the roof and most of the exterior walls of the well built brick home were…

4. May 11, 2008Tornado$1.2 million
   National Weather Service narrative

   A confirmed EF-2 Tornado initially touched down along Bears Bluff Road on Wadmalaw Island, where minor damage was observed. The damage at the initial touchdown location was confined to several trees getting sheared off near the base or twisted to the ground. ||The Tornado then traveled east and crossed the Maybank Highway on Wadmalaw Island where major damage was observed. The majority of the damage occurred on the 4800 block of Maybank Highway, where nearly all the trees in the path of the Tornado were twisted to the ground or sheared off near the base. Numerous homes were damaged as the Tornado ripped through, with many sustaining roof and shingle damage. In fact, two homes had…

5. Aug 28, 2012Flash Flood$750,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   The College of Charleston Emergency Manager reports that twenty three buildings on campus have sustained damage from flash flooding. Flood waters are still in place across much of the campus.

6. Oct 3, 2015Flash Flood$729,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   Law enforcement reported the Kiawah Island Main Gate closed to entry traffic due to flooding.

7. Oct 3, 2015Flash Flood$729,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   The Charleston County 911 Call Center reported a water rescue near Spinnaker Beachhouses and Pelican Watch Villas.

8. Oct 3, 2015Flash Flood$729,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   Law enforcement reported Von Ohsen Road closed at the intersection Dunmeyer Hill Road due to flooding. The intersection of Highway 78 and Owens Drive was also closed due to flooding.

9. Oct 3, 2015Flash Flood$729,000
   National Weather Service narrative

   Law enforcement reported Point Of Pines Road impassable due to flooding.

10. Oct 3, 2015Flash Flood$729,000
    National Weather Service narrative

    Law enforcement reported several road closures near Ladson and Hanahan. The intersection of Highway 78, Interstate 26 and Ingleside Boulevard was closed with standing water estimated around 6 feet deep. Yeamans Hall Boulevard near Murray Avenue was also blocked off due to standing water around 2 feet deep. The 3400 block of Mountainbrook Avenue crossing Pepperdam Creek was blocked off due to standing water that was 2 feet deep and approximately 50 yards wide. Swift water rescues also started at the 7700 block of Palmetto Commerce Parkway around 1154 pm on the 3rd, then occurred throughout the Ladson area into the early overnight hours on the 4th.

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.

All-time high

104°F2 times, most recently Jun 2, 1985

All-time low

7°FFeb 14, 1899

Warmest night

86°F2 times, most recently Aug 1, 1999

Coldest day

21°FDec 23, 1989

Wettest day

10.38 inJun 11, 1973

Snowiest day

3.2 inFeb 13, 1899

Hottest year

1998mean 70.4°F

Coldest year

1901mean 64.3°F

Wettest year

194574.87 in

Driest year

200027.63 in

Snowiest season

3.9 in1898-99

Station Dwtn Charleston (USW00013782), 10 ft elevation, 2.8 miles from the city centre. Daily records from 1893 to October 27, 2026; 99.6% 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.

Declarations for Charleston County.

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.

• 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 USW00013782.
• River crests NOAA National Weather Service, National Water Prediction Service river gauges, retrieved October 30, 2026.
• Tide gauges NOAA CO-OPS high tide flooding counts, 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.
• Landslides USGS Landslide Inventories across the United States, version 3.0 (2025).
• 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.