Sumter, SC Tornado History — 84 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Sumter, SC had?
Sumter has had 84 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 1 strong to violent (EF3+) tornado.
When was the most recent tornado near Sumter?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Sumter was an EF1 on May 30, 2025.
When is tornado season in Sumter?
September is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Sumter, with 23 on record. April through June account for 27 of the 84 tornadoes on record near Sumter.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Sumter
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 31 total, averaging 1.6 per year over this window.
What storm spotters reported near Sumter
One local storm report has been filed within 25 miles of Sumter and since confirmed into the NOAA archive, the earliest on May 30, 2025 and the most recent on May 30, 2025. It is already counted in the Sumter totals above; quoted below is the narrative the reporting office filed at the time.
A National Weather Service Storm Survey team confirmed an EF1 tornado in Clarendon County that occurred within a wide swath of damaging winds... extending from Swansea (CAE)
Source: National Weather Service and trained-spotter local storm reports, relayed by the NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
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 Sumter
3 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Sumter since 1950, across 3 events. 50 injuries have been reported across all events. 2007 was the deadliest year on record near Sumter.
The deadliest single event was an EF3 on April 15, 2007, which caused 1 fatality along a 19.0-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Sumter
What the record shows near Sumter
The 2000s were the busiest decade near Sumter, with 24 of the 84 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 14 so far. The Sumter record runs from the 1950s to today.
Of the tornadoes rated near Sumter, 68 reached EF0 or EF1 and 14 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near Sumter is rated EF3, of which 1 is logged. A further 2 near Sumter are unrated — events NOAA logged before a damage survey assigned a scale.
Across the last 20 years Sumter has averaged 1.6 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 31 in total. 2020 was the busiest of them with 8, and 5 of those years passed with none at all.