Aiken, SC Tornado History — 81 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Aiken, SC had?
Aiken has had 81 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 5 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Aiken?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Aiken was an EF1 on May 12, 2025.
When is tornado season in Aiken?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Aiken, with 18 on record. April through June account for 38 of the 81 tornadoes on record near Aiken.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Aiken
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 34 total, averaging 1.7 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Aiken since December 29, 2025
These are 2 preliminary reports, not confirmed tornadoes. They have not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and are not counted in the confirmed totals above.
Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete. Ratings are omitted until a survey assigns one.
Confirmed records above are complete through December 29, 2025. NOAA publishes the confirmed archive annually, so tornadoes after that date appear here first and move into the totals above once finalized.
Aiken County EM relayed a report of two downed trees. One near the interaction of Coleman Bridge Road and Quail Run Road... the other near the intersection of Coleman B (CAE)
Storm Spotters reported tornado northwest on Barnwell along 278. Radar confirmed debris as well. (CAE)
Within 25 miles of Aiken. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
What storm spotters reported near Aiken
One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Aiken and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on May 11, 2025 and the most recent on May 11, 2025. It is already counted in the Aiken totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.
A National Weather Service Storm Survey team confirmed a brief high end EF-1 tornado with winds up to 105 mph in Langley... SC that occurred around 330 am. The tornado (CAE)
Source: National Weather Service and trained-spotter local storm reports, relayed by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
Tornadoes by Decade
Tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita Rating
F0–F5 ratings (pre-2007) are grouped with their EF equivalents. The Enhanced Fujita scale replaced the original Fujita scale in February 2007.
Tornadoes by Month
Casualties on Record Near Aiken
3 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Aiken since 1950, across 2 events. 91 injuries have been reported across all events. 1955 was the deadliest year on record near Aiken.
The deadliest single event was an F2 on March 13, 1955, which caused 2 fatalities along a 9.9-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Aiken
What the record shows near Aiken
The 2000s were the busiest decade near Aiken, with 25 of the 81 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 7 so far. The Aiken record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Aiken, 54 reached EF0 or EF1 and 27 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Aiken is rated EF3, of which 5 are logged.
Across the last 20 years Aiken has averaged 1.7 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 34 in total. 2008 was the busiest of them with 10, and 6 of those years passed with none at all.