Georgetown, South Carolina's History with Tropical Systems

(br) = Brush (ts) = Tropical Storm (bd) = Back Door, meaning coming from over land from opposite coast. Not all names are noted. Also, storms before 1950 were not named. Not every stat on every storm description is given. (since 1871)

Georgetown most likely to be hit by a hurricane between September 21st and September 27th

Years within or near core

1871-3bdtsbr
1873bdts
1874
1878bdbr
1879brm
1880br
1881br
1882ts
1883
1885
1886bdtsbr
1888tsbr
1893tsbd
1893m
1894
1894tsbd
1896bdbr
1899
1901bdts
1904
1906
1910ts
1913
1916ts
1916
1924bdts
1924xtropstbd
1928bdts
1934ts
1941tsbd
1944br
1944bdts
1945tsbr
1946ts
1954m
1958
1959ts (HURDAT)
1959brm
1960bdts
1960br
1963br
1964bdts
1981ts
1982bdsubtropst
1984brm
1985tsbd
1989m
1996br
1996brm
1998xtropstbd
1999-2br
2002ts
2004
2004ts
2008tsbr
2013bdts
2015tsbr
2016bdts
2016bdtsbr
2016
2018ts
2018bdtsbr
2019br
2020tsbr
2020br
2021bdtsbr
2022ts
2022
2023bdts
2023bdtsbr
2024ts
2024bdtsbr
(2025ts not in stats)

75 times in 153 years (as of end of 2024)

Names from list above (D and H storms most likely to impact the area)

Hazel
Flossy
Helene
Cindy
Gracie
Donna
Ginny
Dora
Diana
Dennis
Kate
Hugo
Bertha
Fran
Floyd
Irene
Josephine
Earl
Kyle
Charley
Gaston
Hanna
Andrea
Ana
Hermine
Julia
Matthew
Florence
Michael
Elsa
Dorian
Bertha
Isaias
Colin
Ian
Idalia
Ophelia
Debby
Helene
Chantal

Tropical Storm to Hurricane ratio

TS = 43, 57.33%
H = 32, 42.67%

only 10.77% of all tropical systems affecting Georgetown are major hurricanes this includes brushes

Longest gap between storms

16years 1965-1980

How often this area gets affected?

Brushed or hit every 2.04 years

Average years between direct hurricane hits. (hurricane force winds for at least a few hours)

Once every 9.56 years. (16 hits) State stats

Average years between major hurricane hits.

Once every 51 years. (3 hits)

Average MPH of hurricane hits. (based on sustained winds from advisories, not gusts)

93 mph

Statistically when this area should be affected next

impacted in 2025

Last affected by

2025 Tropical Storm Chantal hits on July 6th with 60 mph winds.

This area's hurricane history

1874 September 28th, a hurricane from the southwest with 80 mph winds passes overhead
1883 September 11th just east with 105 mph winds while moving north.
1885 August 25th 95 mph from the southwest
1893 October 13th, 115 mph from the south-southwest wind field map | Hit map
1894 September 27th 75 mph from the southwest
1899 October 31st 95 mph from the south just east of here.
1904 September 14th 75 mph category 1 hits moderate damage from the southeast.
1906 September 17th, 75 mph from the east-southeast
1913 October 8th, 75 mph weakening to T-Storm from the east
1916 July 14th 80 mph from the southeast minor damage. In Georgetown the damage was apparently little worse than stores on the water front. North of Georgetown the storm was less severe, though the tide was very high at Pawleys Island and Murrels Inlet.
1954 October 15th Hurricane Hazel just east with 130 mph winds (HURDAT) while moving North.
1958 September 27th 90 mph (HURDAT) just offshore from the south while turning northeast towards Outer Banks.
1989 September 22nd from the southeast 140 mph Hurricane Hugo litterally flattened Francis Marion National Forest with gusts to 135 mph while passing just south of here. Radar animation (Brian McNoldy, Univ. of Miami, Rosenstiel School) weather map while hitting Puerto Rico setting stage for hit on South Carolina | Newspaper headline | Satelite photo| Newspaper headline | More on Hurricane Hugo here | Video from show 911 | Georgetown aftermath photo's | Dr Ted Fujita wind map |
2004 Hurricane Charley hits August 14th with 75 mph winds just offshore while moving north, many trees down.
2016 October 8th Hurricane Matthew hits with 75 mph winds while moving northeast along the coast, three deaths in S.C. wide spread coastal flooding. Near Georgetown recorded a peak water level of 4.69 feet above Mean Higher High Water (MHHW). Numerous roads were closed across Georgetown due to floodwaters and downed trees and powerlines. Inland freshwater flooding resulted in numerous evacuations throughout the county (per NHC) Radar animation (Brian McNoldy, Univ. of Miami, Rosenstiel School) | Best models | Matthew timeline | NHC final report | USGS surge info
2022 September 30th Hurricane Ian eye passes over while moving North with 85 mph winds. Radar animation (Brian McNoldy, Univ. of Miami, Rosenstiel School) | NHC Report

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Stat sources:

Text Sources:

"Divine Wind" by Kerry Emanuel
"Florida Hurricanes and Tropical Storms" by John M. Williams and Iver W. Duedall
"Florida's Hurricane History" by Jay Barnes
"Hurricane Almanac" by Bryan Norcross
HurricaneCity.com calculations by Jim Williams
"Hurricanes and the Middle Atlantic States" by Rick Schwartz
"Hurricane Watch" by Dr. Bob Sheets and Jack Williams
"Inside the Hurricane" by Pete Davies
"Isaac's Storm" by Erik Larson
"Killer 'Cane" by Robert Mykle
"Lunatic Wind" by William Price Fox
Miami Herald newspaper (microfilm)
"Path of Destruction" by John McQuaid and Mark Schleifstein
Sun Sentinel newspaper (microfilm)
"The Major Hurricanes To Affect The Bahamas" by Wayne Neely
"The Ship and the Storm" by Jim Carrier
Plus many more......