Columbia, SC Tornado History — 112 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Columbia, SC had?
Columbia has had 112 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 5 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Columbia?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Columbia was an EF1 on June 9, 2025.
When is tornado season in Columbia?
March is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Columbia, with 19 on record. April through June account for 27 of the 112 tornadoes on record near Columbia.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Columbia
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 48 total, averaging 2.4 per year over this window.
Preliminary tornado reports near Columbia since December 29, 2025
This is a preliminary report, not confirmed tornadoes. It has not yet been through an NWS damage survey, and is 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.
Public reported video of a tornadic waterspout over Lake Murray near the Saluda Dam associated with a severe thunderstorm and strong velocity couplet from KCAE radar. T (CAE)
Within 25 miles of Columbia. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.
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 Columbia
3 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Columbia since 1950, across 3 events. 103 injuries have been reported across all events. 2004 was the deadliest year on record near Columbia.
The deadliest single event was an F2 on September 27, 2004, which caused 1 fatality along a 2.0-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Columbia
What the record shows near Columbia
The 1990s were the busiest decade near Columbia, with 26 of the 112 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 22 so far. The Columbia record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Columbia, 85 reached EF0 or EF1 and 26 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Columbia is rated EF3, of which 5 are logged. A further 1 near Columbia is unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Columbia has averaged 2.4 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 48 in total. 2024 was the busiest of them with 8, and 5 of those years passed with none at all.