Chester County, South Carolina
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 45023 · population 32,263 · 581 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 433 records for Chester County, South Carolina from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 341 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (197 records). The deadliest single record is the April 16, 1994 tornado: 1 death, 4 injuries and $10.0 million in damage in 2025 dollars. FEMA has issued 23 declarations naming the county since 1977, 21 of them for natural hazards; the latest for a natural hazard was “Severe Winter Storm” on January 23, 2026.
The record, 1950 to 2026
Storm records filed for the county each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).
- recorded, no damage figure
- under $100,000
- $100,000 or more
- $1 million or more
- $10 million or more, or a death
- $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
- a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
- a year with a death
- 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
- 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
- Storm records
- 433on 341 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 27 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $92Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 19strongest F2
- FEMA declarations
- 23latest 2026
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); damage converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. Search the record at NCEI. BLS consumer price index.
What hazards hit Chester County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 197 since 1956. 47% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1956 fell in June and July. The rank column places the county among South Carolina's counties by days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land over each hazard's complete period.
| Hazard | Records | Days | First, last | Killed | Injured | Damage | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 197 | 165 | 1956-2026 | 0 | 2 | $876K | 37 of 46 |
| Hail | 94 | 77 | 1963-2025 | 0 | 0 | – | 21 of 46 |
| Winter storms | 46 | 45 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $12M | 9 of 46 |
| Drought | 34 | 34 | 1998-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 8 of 46 |
| Tornadoes | 19 | 17 | 1955-2023 | 1 | 4 | $19M | 34 of 46 |
| Floods | 13 | 11 | 1997-2020 | 0 | 1 | $203K | 34 of 46 |
| Extreme cold | 8 | 8 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $60M | 11 of 46 |
| High wind and dust storms | 8 | 8 | 1996-2024 | 0 | 0 | $43K | 30 of 46 |
| Heat | 4 | 4 | 2012-2012 | 0 | 0 | – | 16 of 46 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 4 | 4 | 1998-2000 | 0 | 0 | – | 14 of 46 |
| Heavy rain | 3 | 3 | 2008-2010 | 0 | 0 | – | 24 of 46 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 2 | 2 | 2018-2024 | 0 | 0 | $470K | 39 of 46 |
| Lightning | 1 | 1 | 2020-2020 | 1 | 0 | – | 44 of 46 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (county and forecast-zone records attributed to the county; a zone record shows its own totals on each county it covers). Days: dates with at least one record of the hazard in the county. Ranks: days with a record per 1,000 square miles of land (Census Bureau 2024 Gazetteer), since 1950 for tornadoes, 1955 for hail and thunderstorm wind, 1996 for the rest.
How many tornadoes has Chester County had?
NOAA records 19 tornadoes in Chester County from 1955 to 2023, the strongest rated F2, with 1 death and 4 injuries recorded in the county. A tornado that crossed a county line is counted in each county it touched, with the length of its path inside the county.
Counted as whole tornadoes rather than county records, the Storm Prediction Center's database holds 17 tornadoes whose track touched Chester County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 19: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 1 person.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994-04-15 23:11, as SPC files it | Lowrys | F2 | 3 mi | 1 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in South Carolina.
Every tornado record filed for Chester County (19)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-11-21 | Leeds, Chester County | EF0 0.04 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2022-05-23 | Beckhamville, Chester County | EF0 0.45 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2020-05-05 | Beckhamville, Chester County | EF1 9.02 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $114K |
| 2020-05-05 | Mc Keown, Chester County | EF1 4.57 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $29K |
| 2011-11-16 | Dinber, Chester County | EF1 1.39 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $26K |
| 2008-08-26 | Cornwell, Chester County | EF0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2008-08-26 | Ft Lawn, Chester County | EF0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-09-07 | Chester County | F1 0.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $156K |
| 1998-06-04 | Chester County | F0 0.1 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1997-07-24 | Ft Lawn, Chester County | F1 0.1 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $28K |
| 1996-05-29 | Richburg, Chester County | F1 1 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $38K |
| 1995-11-07 | McBee, Chester County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 1995-10-05 | McBee, Chester County | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 1995-05-01 | Chester 9 Wnw, Chester County | F0 0.2 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $10K |
| 1994-08-16 | Chester County | F1 0.25 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1994-04-16 | Lowrys, Chester County | F2 3 mi x 75 yd | 1 | 4 | $10.0M |
| 1981-04-19 | Chester County | F1 2 mi x 33 yd | 0 | 0 | $2.5M step |
| 1975-05-15 | Chester County | F1 0.1 mi x 3 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1955-04-06 | Chester County | F1 1.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, tornado records by county (path length in the county, maximum width); ratings as published: F scale before February 1, 2007, EF scale after. Whole-track figures: NOAA Storm Prediction Center tornado database (1950-2025). SPC severe weather database.
When was the last damaging storm in Chester County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the April 22, 2025 thunderstorm wind ($100,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-28 | Thunderstorm WindLando, Chester County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-06-01 | Thunderstorm WindAirlee, Chester County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtChester County · forecast zone Chester | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtChester County · forecast zone Chester | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindBlackstock, Chester County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-01 | Cold/Wind ChillChester County · forecast zone Chester | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-31 | Heavy SnowChester County · forecast zone Chester | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-25 | Winter StormChester County · forecast zone Chester | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-04-22 | HailRichburg, Chester County | 0.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-04-22 | Thunderstorm WindFt Lawn, Chester County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $100K |
| 2025-04-22 | Thunderstorm WindRichburg, Chester County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-03-31 | Thunderstorm WindChester County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database; every record of 2025-2026 is listed, earlier ones when they caused deaths, injuries or $250,000 of damage (2025 dollars), and every tornado.
The deadliest and costliest records
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994-04-16 | TornadoLowrys, Chester County A short-lived, but intense, mesocyclone developed along a squall line ahead of a cold front at about 0045 EST and moved into western Chester County. The mesocyclone intensified within a matter of 10 to 20 minutes into a F2 tornado that touched down four miles southwest of Lowrys and moved four miles to near Lowrys ... | F2 3 mi x 75 yd | 1 | 4 | $10.0M |
| 2020-05-05 | LightningChester County County comms reported a 32-year-old man was struck and killed by lightning when getting out of his vehicle on York St. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1997-07-23 | Flash FloodFt Lawn, Chester County The remnants of Hurricane Danny moved out of northeast Georgia and across the Upstate from the late afternoon on the 23rd through the early morning of the 24th. Two weak, short-lived tornadoes were spawned. One in Abbeville county downed trees and power lines. Another tornado, this one a little stronger, moved across ... | 0 | 1 | $79K | |
| 1994-06-22 | Thunderstorm WindWest Of Pageland, Chester County A woman near Pageland talking on the phone was injured by lightning, and several trees down. A mobile home was overturned by the wind injuring the occupant. A nearby shop building was heavily damaged by the wind. | 0 | 1 | $100K | |
| 1989-06-20 | Thunderstorm WindChester County | 0 | 1 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994-04-16 | TornadoLowrys, Chester County | F2 3 mi x 75 yd | 1 | 4 | $10.0M |
| 2024-09-27 | Tropical StormChester County · forecast zone Chester | 0 | 0 | $470K | |
| 2020-05-05 | TornadoBeckhamville, Chester County | EF1 9.02 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $114K |
| 2005-07-27 | Thunderstorm WindChester County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $113K |
| 2025-04-22 | Thunderstorm WindFt Lawn, Chester County | 55 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $100K |
| 1994-06-22 | Thunderstorm WindWest Of Pageland, Chester County | 0 | 1 | $100K | |
| 1997-07-23 | Flash FloodFt Lawn, Chester County | 0 | 1 | $79K | |
| 2000-08-24 | Thunderstorm WindLowrys, Chester County | 65 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $43K |
Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $2.5M, in the dollars of the day) holds: April 19, 1981 (tornado, Chester County).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths and injuries direct and indirect; damage is property plus crops as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars.
Is it getting more frequent?
Records per decade for Chester County's most frequent hazards. Counts rose everywhere after 1996, when NOAA began recording every event type, so compare decades within a hazard's complete period only (the shaded cells come before it).
| Hazard | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020-26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severe thunderstorm wind | 2 | 1 | 5 | 13 | 28 | 63 | 57 | 28 |
| Hail | 0 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 20 | 38 | 20 | 5 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 6 | 20 | 15 | 5 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 6 | 26 | 0 | 2 |
| Tornadoes | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 2 | 8 | 2 | 1 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
47% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1956 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 32 · Feb 17 · Mar 29 · Apr 48 · May 71 · Jun 81 · Jul 61 · Aug 43 · Sep 16 · Oct 5 · Nov 15 · Dec 15 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Chester County
FEMA's register lists 23 declarations that include Chester County: 9 major disasters, 14 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (12) and severe storm (3).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-23 | EM-3632 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2024-09-29 | DR-4829 | Hurricane | Hurricane Helene |
| 2024-09-26 | EM-3619 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Helene |
| 2024-08-05 | EM-3606 | Tropical Storm | Hurricane Debby |
| 2023-08-31 | EM-3597 | Hurricane | Hurricane Idalia |
| 2022-11-21 | DR-4677 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ian |
| 2022-09-29 | EM-3585 | Hurricane | Hurricane Ian |
| 2020-03-27 | DR-4492 | Biological | Covid-19 Pandemic |
| 2020-03-17 | DR-4479 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, and Flooding |
| 2020-03-13 | EM-3470 | Biological | Covid-19 |
| 2019-09-01 | EM-3421 | Hurricane | Hurricane Dorian |
| 2018-09-10 | EM-3400 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| 2017-10-16 | DR-4346 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| 2017-09-07 | EM-3386 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| 2016-10-06 | EM-3378 | Hurricane | Hurricane Matthew |
| 2015-10-03 | EM-3373 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2014-02-12 | EM-3369 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2005-09-10 | EM-3233 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2004-10-07 | DR-1566 | Hurricane | Tropical Storm Frances |
| 2004-02-13 | DR-1509 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Ice Storm |
| 2000-01-31 | DR-1313 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 1989-09-22 | DR-843 | Hurricane | Hurricane Hugo |
| 1977-08-04 | EM-3047 | Drought | Drought |
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), declarations through October 2, 2026; one declaration is counted once however many areas it names. OpenFEMA dataset page.
How many floods has Chester County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 13 flood or flash flood records for Chester County from 1997 to 2020, on 11 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Chester County ranks 2436th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Helene | 2024-09-27 | 1 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $89,000 on 8 claims filed in Chester County; the most in one year was 2 in 2013. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1989: 1 · 1997: 1 · 2005: 1 · 2013: 2 · 2015: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2025: 1; the other years: 0.
Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026; claims by year of loss, payments in the dollars of the year paid. OpenFEMA dataset page.
FEMA's modeled risk for Chester County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Chester County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $10.8 million. These are FEMA's model estimates of future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of what happened; they can differ from the record above.
| Hazard | Risk rating | Expected annual loss | Modeled frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | $394K | 1.9 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $498K | 53 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $2.4M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate | $1.5M | once in about 5 years (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $653K | 4.6 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $690K | once in about 421 years (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | $249K | once in about 10 years (modeled) |
| Riverine Flooding | Relatively Low | $4.1M | once in about 3 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Chester County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau county adjacency file; NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950. The Census Bureau's adjacency file.
Next
- Tornadoes in South CarolinaEvery South Carolina tornado since 1950 and the counties with the most per square mile
- Severe thunderstorm wind in South CarolinaThe state's severe thunderstorm wind events, by county, year and month
- The South Carolina recordEvery hazard in the state, its deadliest events and its federal declarations
- FEMA's risk rating for each hazard in Chester CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Chester County's FEMA declarations (CSV)23 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis