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Aiken, SC Tornado History — 81 Tornadoes Since 1950

South Carolina · 25-mile radius · NOAA Storm Prediction Center

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

Tornadoes Since 1950
81
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
5
6.2% of total
Peak Month
May
18 on record
Per Year Avg
1.1
Across 76 years

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.

2026 0
2025 1
2024 0
2023 1
2022 1
2021 1
2020 3
2019 2
2018 0
2017 3
2016 0
2015 3
2014 0
2013 0
2012 1
2011 1
2010 2
2009 2
2008 10
2007 3

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.

EF1° May 12, 2025
1 E Burnettown, Aiken County, SC
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

1950s 4
1960s 5
1970s 8
1980s 2
1990s 18
2000s 25
2010s 12
2020s 7

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.

EF0 30
EF1 24
EF2 22
EF3 5

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 2
Feb 10
Mar 17
Apr 16
May 18
Jun 4
Jul 0
Aug 3
Sep 5
Oct 0
Nov 5
Dec 1

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

Deadliest Tornado
F2 on March 13, 1955 — 2 fatalities, 9.9 mi path, 133 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
EF3 on April 10, 2009 — $6.0M in reported property damage.
Widest Tornado
EF2 on March 15, 2008 — 1,760 yards wide.
Longest Path
F1 on May 8, 1978 — 38.6 mile track.
Most Recent
EF1 on May 12, 2025.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Aiken, SC had?
Since 1950, 81 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Aiken. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Aiken?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Aiken was an F2 on March 13, 1955, which caused 2 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Aiken?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Aiken, with 18 tornadoes on record. Tornadoes can occur any time of year, but spring months (April–June) generally see the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
When was the most recent tornado near Aiken?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Aiken was an EF1 on May 12, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Aiken?
Vortex delivers real-time tornado warnings, severe thunderstorm alerts, and SPC outlook updates for any US location via push notification and phone call. Alerts are sourced directly from the National Weather Service and updated within seconds of issuance.

Official Resources

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