Laurens County, South Carolina
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 45059 · population 67,470 · 713 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 671 records for Laurens County, South Carolina from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 467 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (339 records). The deadliest single record is the September 27, 2024 tropical storm, filed for the forecast zone Laurens, which covers the county: 3 deaths and $23.5 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
- 671on 467 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 1071 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $197Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 24strongest F3
- 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 Laurens County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 339 since 1958. 51% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1958 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 | 339 | 264 | 1958-2026 | 3 | 20 | $4.1M | 16 of 46 |
| Hail | 143 | 94 | 1955-2026 | 0 | 0 | $106K | 23 of 46 |
| Winter storms | 50 | 48 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $13M | 12 of 46 |
| Drought | 38 | 38 | 1998-2026 | 0 | 0 | – | 10 of 46 |
| Floods | 33 | 30 | 1996-2026 | 0 | 0 | $330K | 17 of 46 |
| Tornadoes | 24 | 22 | 1960-2023 | 0 | 50 | $94M | 32 of 46 |
| High wind and dust storms | 12 | 12 | 1996-2017 | 1 | 0 | $73K | 23 of 46 |
| Extreme cold | 9 | 9 | 1996-2026 | 1 | 0 | $62M | 12 of 46 |
| Lightning | 7 | 6 | 1996-2013 | 0 | 0 | $1.1M | 26 of 46 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 7 | 7 | 1996-2011 | 0 | 0 | – | 6 of 46 |
| Heavy rain | 4 | 4 | 1997-2013 | 1 | 1 | – | 23 of 46 |
| Heat | 3 | 3 | 1999-2012 | 1 | 0 | – | 27 of 46 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 2 | 2 | 2018-2024 | 3 | 0 | $24M | 42 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 Laurens County had?
NOAA records 24 tornadoes in Laurens County from 1960 to 2023, the strongest rated F3, with 0 deaths and 50 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 25 tornadoes whose track touched Laurens County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 24: they file a crossing tornado once per county segment, and the two databases differ on some tracks); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973-12-13 14:10, as SPC files it | Cross Hill | F3 | 10.7 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in South Carolina.
Every tornado record filed for Laurens County (24)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-03-03 | Hickory Tavern, Laurens County | EF1 16.42 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $48K |
| 2023-01-12 | Joanna, Laurens County | EF1 9.05 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-08-17 | Owings, Laurens County | EF0 0.2 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-08-17 | Cooks Xrds, Laurens County | EF1 1.45 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $22K |
| 2021-03-25 | Renno, Laurens County | EF0 2.14 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2020-06-10 | Owings, Laurens County | EF0 0.41 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $11K |
| 2017-10-08 | Brand, Laurens County | EF2 7.69 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $301K |
| 2017-10-08 | Harris Spgs, Laurens County | EF1 12 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $24K |
| 2017-04-03 | Barksdale, Laurens County | EF0 0.74 mi x 75 yd | 0 | 0 | $24K |
| 2011-03-19 | Cross Hill, Laurens County | EF0 0.2 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2010-11-30 | Owings, Laurens County | EF1 1.99 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $68K |
| 2009-05-04 | Cross Hill, Laurens County | EF0 2.06 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $28K |
| 2007-09-14 | Hickory Tavern, Laurens County | EF1 0.1 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $14K |
| 2006-01-17 | Laurens County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $1K |
| 2005-01-13 | Laurens County | F2 12 mi x 350 yd | 0 | 1 | $3.0M |
| 2004-09-16 | Laurens County | F0 0.5 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2003-07-02 | Waterloo, Laurens County | F0 3 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 1998-04-19 | Waterloo, Laurens County | F0 5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $127K |
| 1993-05-25 | Greenpond, Laurens County | F0 2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.0M |
| 1990-05-04 | Laurens County | F0 0.1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1984-03-28 | Laurens County | F2 10 mi x 700 yd | 0 | 43 | $25M step |
| 1977-05-08 | Laurens County | F1 1.5 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 5 | $250K step |
| 1973-12-13 | Laurens County | F3 4.1 mi x 200 yd | 0 | 1 | $2.5M step |
| 1960-03-30 | Laurens County | F2 9.8 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K 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 Laurens County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the May 26, 2026 flash flood ($2,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-26 | Flash FloodHarris Spgs, Laurens County | 0 | 0 | $2K | |
| 2026-05-22 | Thunderstorm WindWaterloo, Laurens County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-05-01 | DroughtLaurens County · forecast zone Laurens | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-04-01 | DroughtLaurens County · forecast zone Laurens | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-03-16 | HailFountain Inn, Laurens County | 0.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-03-16 | Thunderstorm WindJoanna, Laurens County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-01 | Cold/Wind ChillLaurens County · forecast zone Laurens | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-31 | Heavy SnowLaurens County · forecast zone Laurens | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-25 | Winter StormLaurens County · forecast zone Laurens | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-11-08 | Thunderstorm WindMt Olive, Laurens County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-11-08 | HailMountville, Laurens County | 1.75 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-06-25 | Thunderstorm WindLydia Mills, Laurens 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-09-27 | Tropical StormLaurens County · forecast zone Laurens Thousands of trees were blown down, with dozens of trees down on homes, vehicles, and power lines. Frequent gusts up to 70 mph occurred, with occasional gusts of 80 mph. Three fatalities were attributed to falling trees. | 3 | 0 | $24M | |
| 2013-07-09 | Heavy RainHickory Tavern, Laurens County A tree fell in saturated soil, possibly due to gusty winds, across highway 76. A vehicle later collided with the tree, killing the passenger. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2009-06-16 | Thunderstorm WindOwings, Laurens County NWS survey found an area of extensive straight line wind damage. The damage began near Gray Court, but winds intensified significantly along West Main St in the city of Laurens, mainly in areas from Todd Ave to Laurens High School. Hundreds of trees were snapped off or uprooted. A 29-year-old woman was killed on ... | 80 kt wind | 1 | 0 | $1.7M |
| 2004-03-07 | High WindLaurens County · forecast zone Laurens As the cold front moved rapidly to the east, strong winds developed across the remainder of the Upstate. Numerous trees and power lines were blown down. In Laurens County, a 13-year-old boy drowned when his boat capsized as the strong winds moved over Lake Greenwood. | 60 kt wind | 1 | 0 | $16K |
| 2000-12-29 | Cold/Wind ChillLaurens County · forecast zone Laurens The cold claimed another victim on the morning of December 30th.The victim this time was a 76-year old female, who became disoriented and died due to exposure to the cold weather. When found, she was clothed only in a thin nightgown. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1999-07-26 | HeatLaurens County · forecast zone Laurens Beginning on the 23rd of July, high temperatures eacy day reached between 95 and 105 degrees. These hot temperatures combined with high humidity contributed to the deaths of a few people during this period. A couple were found inside unairconditioned homes where the air temperature had reach 108 degrees. Others ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1984-03-28 | Thunderstorm WindLaurens County | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1984-03-28 | Thunderstorm WindLaurens County | 1 | 0 | – |
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-09-27 | Tropical StormLaurens County · forecast zone Laurens | 3 | 0 | $24M | |
| 2002-12-04 | Ice StormLaurens County · forecast zone Laurens | 0 | 0 | $9.8M | |
| 2005-01-13 | TornadoLaurens County | F2 12 mi x 350 yd | 0 | 1 | $3.0M |
| 2009-06-16 | Thunderstorm WindOwings, Laurens County | 80 kt wind | 1 | 0 | $1.7M |
| 1993-04-15 | Thunderstorm WindLaurens County | 0 | 0 | $1.0M | |
| 1993-05-25 | TornadoGreenpond, Laurens County | F0 2 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | $1.0M |
| 2006-08-30 | LightningGray Court, Laurens County | 0 | 0 | $732K | |
| 1999-04-24 | Thunderstorm WindMountville, Laurens County | 0 | 0 | $443K |
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 $25M, in the dollars of the day) holds: March 28, 1984 (tornado, Laurens 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 Laurens 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 | 3 | 10 | 28 | 63 | 105 | 90 | 38 |
| Hail | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 40 | 44 | 43 | 6 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 10 | 20 | 15 | 5 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 6 | 28 | 2 | 2 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 7 | 16 | 5 | 5 |
| Tornadoes | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 5 | 6 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
51% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1958 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 39 · Feb 29 · Mar 70 · Apr 62 · May 64 · Jun 130 · Jul 112 · Aug 63 · Sep 39 · Oct 15 · Nov 25 · Dec 23 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Laurens County
FEMA's register lists 23 declarations that include Laurens County: 9 major disasters, 14 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (10) and severe ice 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 |
| 2020-03-13 | 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 |
| 2015-10-05 | DR-4241 | Flood | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2015-10-03 | EM-3373 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms and Flooding |
| 2014-02-12 | EM-3369 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 2006-01-20 | DR-1625 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Ice Storm |
| 2005-09-10 | EM-3233 | Hurricane | Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| 2003-01-08 | DR-1451 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Ice Storm |
| 2000-01-31 | DR-1313 | Severe Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 1984-03-30 | DR-700 | Tornado | Severe Storms & Tornadoes |
| 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 Laurens County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 33 flood or flash flood records for Laurens County from 1996 to 2026, on 30 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Laurens County ranks 2085th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Helene | 2024-09-27 | 1 | 3 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $563,000 on 20 claims filed in Laurens County; the most in one year was 5 in 2024. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1984: 1 · 1995: 1 · 2012: 2 · 2013: 3 · 2015: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2024: 5 · 2025: 2; 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 Laurens County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Laurens County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $27.1 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | $7.9M | once in about 5 years (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High | $777K | 1.8 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High | $1.5M | 4 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $582K | 53 a year (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $1.6M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $1.5M | once in about 375 years (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low | $954K | once in about 14 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $821K | 2.7 modeled event-days a year |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Laurens 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 Laurens CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Laurens County's FEMA declarations (CSV)23 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis