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West Columbia, SC Tornado History — 117 Tornadoes Since 1950

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

How many tornadoes has West Columbia, SC had?

West Columbia has had 117 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 6 strong to violent (EF3+) tornadoes.

When was the most recent tornado near West Columbia?

The most recent tornado within 25 miles of West Columbia was an EF1 on June 9, 2025.

When is tornado season in West Columbia?

March is historically the peak month for tornadoes near West Columbia, with 20 on record. April through June account for 27 of the 117 tornadoes on record near West Columbia.

At a Glance

Tornadoes Since 1950
117
Within search radius
Violent (EF3+)
6
5.1% of total
Peak Month
March
20 on record
Per Year Avg
1.5
Across 76 years

Recent Tornado Activity Near West Columbia

The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 49 total, averaging 2.5 per year over this window.

2026 0+1 prelim
2025 2
2024 8
2023 4
2022 2
2021 5
2020 1
2019 7
2018 4
2017 1
2016 1
2015 2
2014 0
2013 1
2012 2
2011 0
2010 3
2009 0
2008 6
2007 0

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

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Preliminary reports are revised, merged, and sometimes withdrawn — historically about 23% are consolidated downward once surveys complete.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

Preliminary March 12, 2026
1 SW Lake Murray Dam, Lexington County, SC
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 West Columbia. Quoted text is the report narrative exactly as filed. Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center preliminary storm reports, updated daily.

Tornadoes by Decade

1950s 2
1960s 7
1970s 7
1980s 9
1990s 29
2000s 20
2010s 21
2020s 22

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 45
EF1 44
EF2 22
EF3 6

Tornadoes by Month

Jan 10
Feb 9
Mar 20
Apr 14
May 7
Jun 6
Jul 3
Aug 16
Sep 10
Oct 5
Nov 12
Dec 5

Casualties on Record Near West Columbia

4 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of West Columbia since 1950, across 4 events. 114 injuries have been reported across all events. 2004 was the deadliest year on record near West Columbia.

The deadliest single event was an F3 on November 22, 1992, which caused 1 fatality along a 67.0-mile track.

Notable Tornadoes Near West Columbia

Deadliest Tornado
F3 on November 22, 1992 — 1 fatality, 67.0 mi path, 400 yd wide.
Costliest Tornado
F3 on August 16, 1994 — 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
EF1 on June 9, 2025.

What the record shows near West Columbia

The 1990s were the busiest decade near West Columbia, with 29 of the 117 confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles; the 2020s have produced 22 so far. The West Columbia record runs from the 1950s to today.

Of the tornadoes rated near West Columbia, 89 reached EF0 or EF1 and 28 reached EF2 or stronger. The most intense on record near West Columbia is rated EF3, of which 6 are logged.

Across the last 20 years West Columbia has averaged 2.5 confirmed tornadoes a year within 25 miles, 49 in total. 2024 was the busiest of them with 8, and 5 of those years passed with none at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many tornadoes has West Columbia, SC had?
Since 1950, 117 tornadoes have been recorded within 25 miles of West Columbia. Data source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
What was the deadliest tornado near West Columbia?
The deadliest tornado on record within 25 miles of West Columbia was an F3 on November 22, 1992, which caused 1 fatality.
When is tornado season in West Columbia?
March is historically the peak month for tornadoes near West Columbia, with 20 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 West Columbia?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of West Columbia was an EF1 on June 9, 2025.
How do I get tornado warnings for West Columbia?
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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