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Hilton Head Island, SC Tornado History — 61 Tornadoes Since 1950

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

How many tornadoes has Hilton Head Island, SC had?

Hilton Head Island has had 61 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950.

When was the most recent tornado near Hilton Head Island?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Hilton Head Island was an EF0 on July 10, 2025.

When is tornado season in Hilton Head Island?

June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Hilton Head Island, with 13 on record. April through June account for 33 of the 61 tornadoes on record near Hilton Head Island.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
61
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
0
0.0% of total
Peak Month
June
13 on record
Per Year Avg
0.8
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Hilton Head Island

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 18 total, averaging 0.9 per year over this window.

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

What storm spotters reported near Hilton Head Island

One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Hilton Head Island and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on July 10, 2025 and the most recent on July 10, 2025. It is already counted in the Hilton Head Island totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.

EF0° July 10, 2025
5 E Port Wentworth, Jasper County, SC
NWS storm survey team determined that an EF0 tornado occurred within the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge between 5:14 PM until 5:16 PM. The tornado had an estimated p (CHS)

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

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 3
1960s 8
1970s 6
1980s 4
1990s 8
2000s 15
2010s 10
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 28
EF1 27
EF2 6

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 0
Feb 0
Mar 0
Apr 9
May 11
Jun 13
Jul 10
Aug 3
Sep 11
Oct 1
Nov 3
Dec 0

Casualties on Record Near Hilton Head Island

1 fatality has been recorded within 25 miles of Hilton Head Island since 1950, across 1 event. 33 injuries have been reported across all events. 1998 was the deadliest year on record near Hilton Head Island.

The deadliest single event was an F2 on September 3, 1998, which caused 1 fatality along a 18.0-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Hilton Head Island

Deadliest Tornado
F2 on September 3, 1998 — 1 fatality, 18.0 mi path, 80 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
EF1 on June 19, 2008 — $3.1M in reported property damage.
Widest Tornado
EF1 on June 11, 2012 — 525 yards wide.
Longest Path
F2 on September 3, 1998 — 18.0 mile track.
Most Recent
EF0 on July 10, 2025.

What the record shows near Hilton Head Island

The 2000s were the busiest decade near Hilton Head Island, with 15 of the 61 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 7 so far. The Hilton Head Island record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near Hilton Head Island, 55 reached EF0 or EF1 and 6 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Hilton Head Island is rated EF2, of which 6 are logged.

Across the last 20 years Hilton Head Island has averaged 0.9 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 18 in total. 2024 was the busiest of them with 4, and 8 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Hilton Head Island, SC had?
Since 1950, 61 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Hilton Head Island. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Hilton Head Island?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Hilton Head Island was an F2 on September 3, 1998, which caused 1 fatality.
When is tornado season in Hilton Head Island?
June is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Hilton Head Island, with 13 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 Hilton Head Island?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Hilton Head Island was an EF0 on July 10, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for Hilton Head Island?
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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