Marlboro County, South Carolina
County storm and disaster record · FIPS 45069 · population 26,656 · 480 sq mi
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 382 records for Marlboro County, South Carolina from 1950 through June 30, 2026, on 256 days; the most frequent are severe thunderstorm wind events (221 records). The deadliest day on its record was March 28, 1984: tornado records filed for Marlboro County that day count 9 deaths across 2 records. FEMA has issued 26 declarations naming the county since 1984, 24 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
- 382on 256 days, 1950 to June 30, 2026
- Deaths recorded
- 11224 injuries
- Damage, 2025 dollars
- $161Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
- Tornadoes
- 15strongest F4
- FEMA declarations
- 26latest 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 Marlboro County most?
The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events: 221 since 1957. 45% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1957 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 | 221 | 142 | 1957-2025 | 0 | 2 | $2.1M | 35 of 46 |
| Hail | 61 | 52 | 1962-2024 | 0 | 0 | $10K | 36 of 46 |
| Winter storms | 28 | 28 | 1998-2026 | 1 | 2 | $7.3M | 15 of 46 |
| Floods | 17 | 8 | 1996-2024 | 1 | 0 | $1.2M | 36 of 46 |
| Tornadoes | 15 | 12 | 1955-2024 | 9 | 217 | $149M | 37 of 46 |
| Drought | 10 | 10 | 1999-2008 | 0 | 0 | – | 19 of 46 |
| High wind and dust storms | 8 | 7 | 1996-2016 | 0 | 3 | $78K | 28 of 46 |
| Heavy rain | 7 | 6 | 2003-2010 | 0 | 0 | – | 10 of 46 |
| Hurricanes and tropical storms | 7 | 5 | 2004-2022 | 0 | 0 | $1.3M | 15 of 46 |
| Heat | 4 | 4 | 2011-2015 | 0 | 0 | – | 9 of 46 |
| Lightning | 3 | 3 | 1998-2001 | 0 | 0 | $198K | 29 of 46 |
| Fog, smoke and funnel clouds | 1 | 1 | 2019-2019 | 0 | 0 | – | 29 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 Marlboro County had?
NOAA records 15 tornadoes in Marlboro County from 1955 to 2024, the strongest rated F4, with 9 deaths and 217 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 15 tornadoes whose track touched Marlboro County since 1950 (NOAA's county records number 15, the same count); along their whole tracks they killed 15 people, 9 of them in Marlboro County.
| Date | Tornado | Rating | Path | Killed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984-03-28 18:10, as SPC files it | BennettsvilleCrossed NC, SC | F4 | 17 mi | 7 |
| 1984-03-28 18:20, as SPC files it | Red SpringsCrossed NC, SC | F4 | 40 mi | 4 |
| 1957-04-08 16:00, as SPC files it | LaurinburgCrossed NC, SC | F4 | 121.4 mi | 4 |
Map of the strongest tornado tracks in South Carolina.
Every tornado record filed for Marlboro County (15)
| Date | Place | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-05-14 | Bristow, Marlboro County | EF0 1.64 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2004-09-27 | Blenheim, Marlboro County | F0 0.1 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2004-09-07 | Bennettsville, Marlboro County | F0 0.5 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $23K |
| 2004-09-07 | Mc Coll, Marlboro County | F1 0.3 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $94K |
| 2004-09-07 | Clio, Marlboro County | F1 5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $391K |
| 2004-08-29 | Wallace, Marlboro County | F1 1 mi x 300 yd | 0 | 0 | $16K |
| 2004-08-12 | Bennettsville, Marlboro County | F0 1.7 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | – |
| 1991-03-29 | Marlboro County | F1 1.5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1990-08-06 | Marlboro County | F0 1 mi x 20 yd | 0 | 0 | $3K step |
| 1984-03-28 | Marlboro County | F4 5 mi x 2,600 yd | 2 | 115 | $25M step |
| 1984-03-28 | Marlboro County | F4 14 mi x 700 yd | 7 | 100 | $25M step |
| 1966-06-29 | Marlboro County | F1 2.3 mi x 53 yd | 0 | 0 | $25K step |
| 1962-05-15 | Marlboro County | F1 1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 2 | $25K step |
| 1957-04-08 | Marlboro County | F4 14.2 mi x 133 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K step |
| 1955-12-04 | Marlboro County | F2 0.8 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $250K 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 Marlboro County?
The most recent record with damage, injuries or deaths is the May 14, 2024 tornado ($1,882 in damage in 2025 dollars).
A narrow tornado started near River Road where a few oak trees were uprooted and snapped, along with numerous downed limbs in the area. The tornado appeared to peak in strength as it continued northeastward and reached Screwpin Road where it caused extensive shingle removal on the southwest side of a single-family residence, snapped 4 Bradford Pear trees at the front of the property, tossed one whole tree about 50-60 yards to the west of its base, and uprooted numerous oak trees with a converging pattern in a grove of trees just northwest of the property. On the adjacent property to the immediate west, a small water pump shed was destroyed and a 50-60 ft flagpole was snapped about 5 ft above the base and thrown an unknown distance. …
National Weather Service event narrative, NOAA Storm Events Database (search the full record, event 1173580)
| Date | Record | Character | Killed | Injured | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-02-01 | Winter StormMarlboro County · forecast zone Marlboro | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2026-01-31 | Winter StormMarlboro County · forecast zone Marlboro | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2025-06-25 | Thunderstorm WindMill Vlg, Marlboro County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-05-02 | Thunderstorm WindFletcher, Marlboro County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-02-16 | Thunderstorm WindFulton, Marlboro County | 50 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2025-01-21 | Winter WeatherMarlboro County · forecast zone Marlboro | 0 | 0 | – | |
| 2024-05-14 | TornadoBristow, Marlboro County | EF0 1.64 mi x 150 yd | 0 | 0 | $2K |
| 2022-08-15 | Thunderstorm WindMc Coll, Marlboro County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | – |
| 2020-04-13 | Thunderstorm WindWallace, Marlboro County | 91 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $342K |
| 2016-10-08 | Flash FloodBennettsville, Marlboro County | 0 | 0 | $307K | |
| 2016-10-08 | Tropical StormMarlboro County · forecast zone Marlboro | 0 | 0 | $1.2M | |
| 2015-03-05 | Strong WindMarlboro County · forecast zone Marlboro | 43 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $62K |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984-03-28 | TornadoMarlboro County | F4 14 mi x 700 yd | 7 | 100 | $25M step |
| 1984-03-28 | TornadoMarlboro County | F4 5 mi x 2,600 yd | 2 | 115 | $25M step |
| 2003-02-17 | Ice StormMarlboro County · forecast zone Marlboro Around a tenth of an inch of freezing rain fell. A three vehicle accident occurred over an icy bridge onHwy 15. A woman was killed with two other injuries. Many schools and businesses were either closed or opened late. | 1 | 2 | $48K | |
| 1996-08-03 | Flash FloodBennettsville, Marlboro County Between 3 and 6 inches of rain fell, inundating streets. The most water long-time residents had ever seen. County 911 center was flooded as city drainage system was overwhelmed. A motorist was killed when his vehicle hit a large puddle ovurturned in a ditch and he lost control. | 1 | 0 | $188K | |
| 1996-09-05 | High WindMarlboro County · forecast zone Marlboro On the outskirts of Hurricane Fran, sustained winds near 50 mph downed trees, leaving 3200 Marlboro Elec Co-op customers without power. The steeple of a church in McColl blew down. Two sheriff deputies were injured when their cars hit trees in the road. Emergency shelters housed 204 people. | 0 | 2 | – | |
| 1962-05-15 | TornadoMarlboro County | F1 1 mi x 10 yd | 0 | 2 | $25K step |
| 2015-03-05 | Strong WindMarlboro County · forecast zone Marlboro On 1544 Family Farm Road, a tree fell on a house, and the resident was injured and transported to the local hospital. A tree was blown down on Hwy 34 just before the Pee Dee River Bridge. Other downed trees were reported on Hwy 177 and Step Road, 524 Danny Thomas Road, New Bridge and Neck Road, and Old Wire Road and ... | 43 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $62K |
| 2010-04-27 | Thunderstorm WindBennetsville Airport, Marlboro County A 40 x 60 foot section of roof was blown off a large metal warehouse of a Flakeboard MDF Plant on Highway 912. A trailer was blown off its foundation at the plant. The rear window of a pickup truck was shattered. One person was trapped between a trailer and metal beam and suffered a broken arm. National Weather ... | 83 kt wind | 0 | 1 | $74K |
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 StormMarlboro County · forecast zone Marlboro | 0 | 0 | $5.6M | |
| 2004-01-25 | Ice StormMarlboro County · forecast zone Marlboro | 0 | 0 | $1.6M | |
| 2016-10-08 | Tropical StormMarlboro County · forecast zone Marlboro | 0 | 0 | $1.2M | |
| 2004-09-07 | TornadoClio, Marlboro County | F1 5 mi x 100 yd | 0 | 0 | $391K |
| 2020-04-13 | Thunderstorm WindWallace, Marlboro County | 91 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $342K |
| 1996-08-03 | Flash FloodBennettsville, Marlboro County | 1 | 0 | $188K | |
| 2000-08-18 | Thunderstorm WindClio, Marlboro County | 70 kt wind | 0 | 0 | $111K |
| 2004-09-07 | TornadoMc Coll, Marlboro County | F1 0.3 mi x 25 yd | 0 | 0 | $94K |
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, Marlboro County, 7 killed); March 28, 1984 (tornado, Marlboro County, 2 killed).
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 Marlboro 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 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 17 | 27 | 41 | 97 | 29 |
| Hail | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 11 | 28 | 12 | 3 |
| Winter storms | – | – | – | – | 1 | 13 | 10 | 4 |
| Floods | – | – | – | – | 2 | 1 | 10 | 4 |
| Tornadoes | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| Drought | – | – | – | – | 1 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records per calendar decade; zone records from the CZ_TYPE field (Z).
What time of year?
45% of its severe thunderstorm wind events since 1957 fell in June and July. The two busiest months are in violet.
The values, month by month
Jan 27 · Feb 17 · Mar 26 · Apr 42 · May 52 · Jun 74 · Jul 58 · Aug 49 · Sep 16 · Oct 9 · Nov 4 · Dec 8 (records).
Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records by the month they began.
Federal disaster declarations for Marlboro County
FEMA's register lists 26 declarations that include Marlboro County: 12 major disasters, 14 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. Most were for hurricane (15) and severe 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 |
| 2020-05-01 | DR-4542 | Severe Storm | Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Straight-Line Winds |
| 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 |
| 2018-09-16 | 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 |
| 2014-02-12 | 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 |
| 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 |
| 1989-09-22 | DR-843 | Hurricane | Hurricane Hugo |
| 1984-03-30 | DR-700 | Tornado | Severe Storms & Tornadoes |
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 Marlboro County had?
NOAA's Storm Events Database holds 17 flood or flash flood records for Marlboro County from 1996 to 2024, on 8 days, with 1 death. By flood insurance claims since 1978 (OpenFEMA, as of September 8, 2026), Marlboro County ranks 2020th of 2,942 U.S. counties.
| Storm | Began | Records | Deaths in the county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hurricane Matthew | 2016-10-08 | 2 | 0 |
The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $418,000 on 24 claims filed in Marlboro County; the most in one year was 13 in 2018. Claims count insured losses only: uninsured flood damage is not in this file.
The values, year by year
1985: 1 · 2008: 1 · 2013: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2017: 1 · 2018: 13 · 2020: 1 · 2024: 5; 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 Marlboro County
FEMA's National Risk Index rates Marlboro County Relatively Low overall, with an expected annual loss of $11.4 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 | $698K | about once a year (modeled) |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate | $3.2M | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate | $1.7M | once in about 4 years (modeled) |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate | $562K | 3.6 a year (modeled) |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate | $180K | 56 a year (modeled) |
| Wildfire | Relatively Low | $133K | once in about 437 years (modeled) |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low | $557K | once in about 410 years (modeled) |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low | $392K | 7.7 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 Marlboro 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 Marlboro CountyThe hazard risk calculator: 18 hazards beside the county's record
- Download Marlboro County's FEMA declarations (CSV)26 rows: every declaration that named the county, for your own analysis