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Greenwood, SC Tornado History — 75 Tornadoes Since 1950

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

How many tornadoes has Greenwood, SC had?

Greenwood has had 75 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 7 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near Greenwood?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Greenwood was an EF0 on May 12, 2025.

When is tornado season in Greenwood?

May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Greenwood, with 14 on record. April through June account for 28 of the 75 tornadoes on record near Greenwood.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
75
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
7
9.3% of total
Peak Month
May
14 on record
Per Year Avg
1.0
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Greenwood

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 25 total, averaging 1.3 per year over this window.

2026 0
2025 1
2024 0
2023 2
2022 0
2021 1
2020 2
2019 1
2018 1
2017 5
2016 0
2015 0
2014 0
2013 0
2012 0
2011 1
2010 1
2009 5
2008 4
2007 1

What storm spotters reported near Greenwood

One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Greenwood and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on May 12, 2025 and the most recent on May 12, 2025. It is already counted in the Greenwood totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.

EF0° May 12, 2025
3 NE Calhoun Falls, Abbeville County, SC
A brief and weak EF-0 tornado touched down along Old Calhoun Falls Road near Mud Creek Road. The tornado moved northeast... paralleling Old Calhoun Falls Road... before (GSP)

Source: National Weather Service and trained-spotter local storm reports, relayed by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 2
1960s 3
1970s 8
1980s 5
1990s 16
2000s 26
2010s 9
2020s 6

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 29
EF1 28
EF2 11
EF3 5
EF4 2

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 9
Feb 1
Mar 13
Apr 13
May 14
Jun 1
Jul 3
Aug 3
Sep 4
Oct 3
Nov 7
Dec 4

Casualties on Record Near Greenwood

11 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Greenwood since 1950, across 4 events. 199 injuries have been reported across all events. 1973 was the deadliest year on record near Greenwood.

The deadliest single event was an F4 on March 31, 1973, which caused 7 fatalities along a 22.6-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Greenwood

Deadliest Tornado
F4 on March 31, 1973 — 7 fatalities, 22.6 mi path, 200 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
F2 on March 28, 1984 — est. ~$27.5M (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
EF3 on March 15, 2008 — 1,320 yards wide.
Longest Path
F3 on November 22, 1992 — 67.0 mile track.
Most Recent
EF0 on May 12, 2025.

What the record shows near Greenwood

The 2000s were the busiest decade near Greenwood, with 26 of the 75 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 6 so far. The Greenwood record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Greenwood, 57 reached EF0 or EF1 and 18 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Greenwood is rated EF4, of which 2 are logged.

Across the last 20 years Greenwood has averaged 1.3 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 25 in total. 2009 was the busiest of them with 5, and 8 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Greenwood, SC had?
Since 1950, 75 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Greenwood. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Greenwood?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Greenwood was an F4 on March 31, 1973, which caused 7 fatalities.
When is tornado season in Greenwood?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Greenwood, with 14 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.
Has Greenwood been hit by an EF4 or EF5 tornado?
Within 25 miles of Greenwood, there have been 0 EF5 and 2 EF4 tornadoes recorded since 1950. EF4 and EF5 tornadoes are the most destructive ratings on the Enhanced Fujita scale, with winds above 166 mph.
When was the most recent tornado near Greenwood?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Greenwood was an EF0 on May 12, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Greenwood?
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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