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Mount Pleasant, SC Tornado History — 71 Tornadoes Since 1950

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

How many tornadoes has Mount Pleasant, SC had?

Mount Pleasant has had 71 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 1 violent (EF3+) tornado.

When was the most recent tornado near Mount Pleasant?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Mount Pleasant was an EF0 on September 27, 2024.

When is tornado season in Mount Pleasant?

September is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Mount Pleasant, with 16 on record. Spring through early summer (April–June) generally sees the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
71
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
1
1.4% of total
Peak Month
September
16 on record
Per Year Avg
0.9
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near Mount Pleasant

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 27 total, averaging 1.4 per year over this window.

2026 0+2 prelim
2025 0
2024 7
2023 3
2022 1
2021 1
2020 3
2019 0
2018 0
2017 4
2016 0
2015 1
2014 1
2013 0
2012 1
2011 0
2010 0
2009 1
2008 4
2007 0

Striped bars mark preliminary reports not yet confirmed by NWS survey — excluded from the confirmed counts.

Preliminary tornado reports near Mount Pleasant 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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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.

Preliminary August 8, 2026
2 ENE Folly Beach, Charleston County, SC
Preliminary August 1, 2026
Folly Beach, Charleston County, SC

Within 25 miles of Mount Pleasant. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 2
1960s 10
1970s 7
1980s 3
1990s 5
2000s 22
2010s 7
2020s 15

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 35
EF1 31
EF2 4
EF3 1

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 0
Feb 1
Mar 6
Apr 11
May 12
Jun 8
Jul 5
Aug 11
Sep 16
Oct 0
Nov 1
Dec 0

Casualties on Record Near Mount Pleasant

1 fatality has been recorded within 25 miles of Mount Pleasant since 1950, across 1 event. 35 injuries have been reported across all events. 1998 was the deadliest year on record.

The deadliest single event was a F2 on May 10, 1998, which caused 1 fatality along a 10.5-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near Mount Pleasant

Deadliest Tornado
F2 on May 10, 1998 — 1 fatality, 10.5 mi path, 670 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
F1 on May 12, 1974 — est. ~$2.8M (NOAA damage class, pre-1996 estimate).
Widest Tornado
EF2 on May 11, 2008 — 1,760 yards wide.
Longest Path
EF2 on May 11, 2008 — 12.0 mile track.
Most Recent
EF0 on September 27, 2024.

About Tornadoes in Mount Pleasant

This overview was written April 23, 2026. The tornado counts and notable-event figures elsewhere on this page reflect the latest data and may differ from this summary.

Mount Pleasant, South Carolina has experienced 71 documented tornadoes within a 25-mile radius since 1950, according to the NOAA Storm Prediction Center. The area's tornado activity has varied considerably by decade, with the 2000s recording the highest count at 22 events, followed by 15 tornadoes in the 2020s through late 2024. Earlier decades saw more modest numbers, ranging from just 2 tornadoes in the 1950s to 10 in the 1960s.

The vast majority of tornadoes near Mount Pleasant have been relatively weak on the Enhanced Fujita scale. Of the 71 recorded events, 35 were rated EF0 and 31 were rated EF1, meaning they produced wind speeds below 111 mph. Only four tornadoes reached EF2 intensity, and a single tornado achieved EF3 strength. This distribution reflects the typical pattern across much of the United States, where weaker tornadoes far outnumber violent ones.

September stands out as the peak month for tornado activity in the Mount Pleasant area, with 16 events recorded during that month since 1950. This late-summer peak differs from the spring maximum seen in many inland regions and likely reflects the influence of tropical systems and their remnants along the South Carolina coast. The area's deadliest tornado occurred on May 10, 1998, when an F2-rated storm resulted in one fatality and traveled 10.5 miles with a maximum width of 670 yards. The costliest event took place on May 12, 1974, when an F1 tornado caused $2,750,000 in property damage despite its relatively short 1.5-mile path.

The widest and longest tornado on record near Mount Pleasant was an EF2 that struck on May 11, 2008, carving a 12-mile path with a maximum width of 1,760 yards and causing $1,200,000 in damage. Most recently, an EF0 tornado touched down on September 27, 2024, traveling 2 miles with no reported fatalities or property damage.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has Mount Pleasant, SC had?
Since 1950, 71 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of Mount Pleasant. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near Mount Pleasant?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of Mount Pleasant was a F2 on May 10, 1998, which caused 1 fatality.
When is tornado season in Mount Pleasant?
September is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Mount Pleasant, with 16 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 Mount Pleasant?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Mount Pleasant was an EF0 on September 27, 2024.
How do I get tornado warnings for Mount Pleasant?
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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