Marion County, South Carolina
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 45067 · population 29,137 · 489 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 364 records for Marion County, South Carolina from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 241 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (194 records). The deadliest single record is the February 11, 2014 winter storm, filed for the forecast zone Marion, which covers the county: 1 death. FEMA has issued 28 declarations naming the county since 1989, 26 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
- 364on 241 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 224 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $27Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 12strongest F4
- FEMA declarations
- 28latest 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 Marion County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 194 since 1961. 49% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1961 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 | 194 | 124 | 1961-2026 | 0 | 3 | $1.0M | 41 of 46 |
| Hail | 77 | 59 | 1974-2026 | 0 | 0 | $32K | 31 of 46 |
| Floods | 32 | 20 | 1998-2024 | 0 | 0 | $2.2M | 18 of 46 |
| Winter storms | 19 | 19 | 2000-2026 | 1 | 0 | $5.0M | 25 of 46 |
| Tornadoes | 12 | 12 | 1957-2024 | 0 | 19 | $13M | 38 of 46 |
| Drought | 8 | 8 | 1999-2008 | 0 | 0 | – | 23 of 46 |
| High wind and dust storms | 6 | 6 | 1996-2013 | 0 | 0 | $1.3M | 34 of 46 |
| Lightning | 6 | 6 | 1999-2011 | 0 | 2 | $1.0M | 18 of 46 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 5 | 5 | 2004-2022 | 0 | 0 | $3.5M | 16 of 46 |
| Heat | 4 | 4 | 2011-2015 | 0 | 0 | – | 10 of 46 |
| Extreme cold | 1 | 1 | 2010-2010 | 1 | 0 | – | 22 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 Marion County had?
NOAA records 12 tornadoes in Marion County from 1957 to 2024, the strongest rated F4, with 0 deaths and 19 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 12 tornadoes whose track touched Marion County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 12, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 0 people.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995-11-07 15:49, as SPC files it | Marion | F4 | 0.7 mi | 0 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in South Carolina.
Every tornado record filed for Marion County (12)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-09-27 | Britton Neck, Marion County | EF0 3.89 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2024-05-14 | Marion County | EF1 2.02 mi x 80 yd | 0 | 0 | $188K |
| 2022-04-05 | Britton Neck, Marion County | EF1 0.62 mi x 50 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2021-06-03 | North Mullins, Marion County | EF1 1.24 mi x 70 yd | 0 | 0 | $163K |
| 2004-09-27 | Peedee, Marion County | F1 1.5 mi x 30 yd | 0 | 0 | $39K |
| 1996-09-16 | Marion County | F0 4 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1995-11-07 | Penderboro, Marion County | F4 0.7 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 1 | $1.5M |
| 1995-10-27 | Marion County | F1 3 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | $194K |
| 1982-06-10 | Marion County | F2 3 mi x 133 yd | 0 | 16 | $2.5M step |
| 1962-02-22 | Marion County | F2 8.7 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 1 | $25K step |
| 1961-06-21 | Marion County | F2 6.8 mi x 167 yd | 0 | 1 | $250K step |
| 1957-06-30 | Marion County | F1 2 mi x 33 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 Marion County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the May 14, 2024 tornado ($188,000 in damage in 2025 dollars).
Storm survey of damage in the Marion, SC area indicated that a tornado touched down briefly on Tuesday May 14, 2024 between 6:10 PM EDT and was on the ground until 6:13 PM EDT before ending north of Luther Rogers Road. The tornado formed near the intersection of Baker Street and Baptist Street in southeast Marion, SC. Large limbs were down across nearby roadways and minor roof damage was observed near this location. The tornado continued northeast and created some damage near Mullins Street and Withlacoochee Street. Damage here remained rated at EF-0 (approximately 70 mph). Power lines were wrapped around tree limbs and an electrical meter head had been detached from the side of the house. A large tree fell near the intersection and damaged a small fence. Additional minor roof damage to surrounding homes was observed. …
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1173233)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-11 | HailNichols, Marion County | 1.00 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-04-05 | Thunderstorm WindSpring Branch, Marion County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2026-02-01 | Winter StormMarion County · forecast zone Marion | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-31 | Winter StormMarion County · forecast zone Marion | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindMarion County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindMarion Co Airport, Marion County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindSpring Branch, Marion County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindMarion County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-06-11 | Thunderstorm WindMarion Co Airport, Marion County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-14 | HailPeedee, Marion County | 0.88 in hail | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-01-21 | Winter StormMarion County · forecast zone Marion | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2024-09-27 | TornadoBritton Neck, Marion County | EF0 3.89 mi x 20 yd | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-02-11 | Winter StormMarion County · forecast zone Marion Freezing rain began falling the morning of February 11th. The freezing rain continued intermittently before ending the morning of the 13th. About an inch of ice accumulation was reported. Driving was treacherous if not impossible. Many power outages occurred due to downed power lines and branches from the ice. A woman ... | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 2010-12-06 | Cold/Wind ChillMarion County · forecast zone Marion A man was found dead outside his home in Mullins. The county coroner said the man's death was apparently due to hypothermia. | 1 | 0 | – | |
| 1982-06-10 | TornadoMarion County | F2 3 mi x 133 yd | 0 | 16 | $2.5M step |
| 2001-06-22 | Thunderstorm WindMarion County Law enforcement reported a large tree fell on a car, injuring two people. Quarter size hail and trees on power lines were also reported. | 65 kt wind | 0 | 2 | $17K |
| 2004-07-03 | LightningMullins, Marion County A 21 year old woman was struck by lightning while on her front porch. She was taken to the hospital. The extent of her injuries is unknown. | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 1999-07-06 | LightningSellers, Marion County A farm worker was struck by lightning while in a field, was hospitalized in critical condition. | 0 | 1 | – | |
| 1995-11-07 | TornadoPenderboro, Marion County One mobile home destroyed, Pleasant Grove Baptist Church badly damaged and the sanctuary leveled. Church bell found 400 yards east. A house suffered major roof damage. | F4 0.7 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 1 | $1.5M |
| 1994-06-24 | Thunderstorm WindMarion County Scattered thunderstorms, some locally severe, developed during the afternoon in the lower piedmont, central and east-central South Carolina. Most of the damage was confined to trees blown down and electrical power disruptions. | 0 | 1 | – |
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.
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004-01-26 | Ice StormMarion County · forecast zone Marion | 0 | 0 | $5.0M | |
| 2018-09-15 | Tropical StormMarion County · forecast zone Marion | 0 | 0 | $3.5M | |
| 1995-11-07 | TornadoPenderboro, Marion County | F4 0.7 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 1 | $1.5M |
| 1996-09-05 | High WindMarion County · forecast zone Marion | 0 | 0 | $1.3M | |
| 2004-07-17 | LightningCentenary, Marion County | 0 | 0 | $625K | |
| 2011-04-09 | LightningRains, Marion County | 0 | 0 | $394K | |
| 1995-10-27 | TornadoMarion County | F1 3 mi x 40 yd | 0 | 0 | $194K |
| 2024-05-14 | TornadoMarion County | EF1 2.02 mi x 80 yd | 0 | 0 | $188K |
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: June 10, 1982 (tornado, Marion 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 Marion 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 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 26 | 49 | 81 | 20 |
| Hail | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 17 | 37 | 9 | 6 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 4 | 2 | 22 | 4 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 0 | 8 | 7 | 4 |
| Tornadoes | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
49% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1961 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 20 · Feb 11 · Mar 17 · Apr 46 · May 60 · Jun 73 · Jul 62 · Aug 25 · Sep 15 · Oct 21 · Nov 8 · Dec 6 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Marion County
FEMA's register lists 28 declarations that include Marion County: 14 major disasters, 14 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (16) and severe ice storm (3).
| Declared | Number | Type | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-23 | EM-3632 | Winter Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
| 2019-09-30 | DR-4464 | Hurricane | Hurricane Dorian |
| 2019-09-01 | EM-3421 | Hurricane | Hurricane Dorian |
| 2018-09-16 | DR-4394 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| 2018-09-10 | EM-3400 | Hurricane | Hurricane Florence |
| 2017-10-16 | DR-4346 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| 2017-09-07 | EM-3386 | Hurricane | Hurricane Irma |
| 2016-10-11 | DR-4286 | Hurricane | Hurricane Matthew |
| 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 |
| 2014-03-12 | DR-4166 | Severe Ice Storm | Severe Winter Storm |
| 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 |
| 1999-09-21 | DR-1299 | Hurricane | Hurricane Floyd Major Disaster Declarations |
| 1999-09-15 | EM-3145 | Hurricane | Hurricane Floyd Emergency Declarations |
| 1996-09-30 | DR-1140 | Flood | Severe Winds and Flooding Assoc With Hurricane Fran |
| 1989-09-22 | DR-843 | Hurricane | Hurricane Hugo |
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 Marion County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 32 flood or flash flood records for Marion County from 1998 to 2024, on 20 days, with 0 deaths. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Marion County ranks 510th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Florence | 2018-09-15 | 1 | 0 |
| Hurricane Matthew | 2016-10-08 | 2 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $21.5 million on 492 claims filed in Marion County; the most in one year was 232 in 2018. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1979: 1 · 1983: 1 · 1984: 1 · 1987: 5 · 1989: 4 · 1992: 5 · 1993: 10 · 1994: 3 · 1995: 6 · 1996: 1 · 1998: 15 · 1999: 13 · 2003: 1 · 2006: 1 · 2008: 2 · 2009: 1 · 2010: 1 · 2012: 3 · 2013: 2 · 2015: 5 · 2016: 129 · 2018: 232 · 2020: 10 · 2021: 9 · 2022: 1 · 2023: 9 · 2024: 21; 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 Marion County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Marion 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane | Relatively High | $13M | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Cold Wave | Relatively High | $5.0M | once in about 2 years (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $1.9M | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Moderate | $159K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $279K | 58 a year (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $479K | 3.5 a year (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $1.0M | once in about 388 years (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $99K | once in about 729 years (modeled) |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.
Counties that share a border with Marion 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 Marion CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Marion County's FEMA declarations (CSV)28 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis