Lancaster County tornado history

13 tornadoes touched Lancaster County, South Carolina between 1950 and 2025 — about 0.2 a year. The strongest was rated F4 (Apr 8, 1957). Tornadoes here killed 4 and injured 107 people.

13tornadoes since 1950

F4strongest rating

4killed · 107 injured

121.4 milongest path · 1957

(E)F0(E)F1(E)F2(E)F3(E)F4(E)F5· dots = start point only

By rating

(E)F03

(E)F17

(E)F21

(E)F30

(E)F42

(E)F50

By month

JFMAMJJASOND

Peak month: March.

By decade

’50’60’70’80’90’00’10’20

Strongest tornadoes

Date	Rating	Path	Width	Injured	Killed
Apr 8, 1957	F4	121.4 mi	150 yd	70	4
Mar 28, 1984	F4	4 mi	530 yd	36	0
May 5, 2020	EF2	14 mi	200 yd	0	0
May 24, 2017	EF1	8.1 mi	50 yd	0	0
Sep 7, 2004	F1	2 mi	300 yd	0	0
Mar 4, 1977	F1	1.1 mi	20 yd	0	0
Apr 5, 1957	F1	1 mi	33 yd	0	0
Jun 16, 1989	F1	1 mi	50 yd	1	0
Sep 21, 1989	F1	0.7 mi	150 yd	0	0
Oct 1, 1969	F1	0.5 mi	17 yd	0	0
Jul 12, 2010	EF0	1.9 mi	220 yd	0	0
Jul 12, 2010	EF0	1.9 mi	60 yd	0	0

Most recent tornadoes

Date	Rating	Path	Width	Injured	Killed
May 5, 2020	EF2	14 mi	200 yd	0	0
May 24, 2017	EF1	8.1 mi	50 yd	0	0
Jul 12, 2010	EF0	1.9 mi	220 yd	0	0
Jul 12, 2010	EF0	1.9 mi	60 yd	0	0
Mar 4, 2008	EF0	1.5 mi	40 yd	0	0
Sep 7, 2004	F1	2 mi	300 yd	0	0
Sep 21, 1989	F1	0.7 mi	150 yd	0	0
Jun 16, 1989	F1	1 mi	50 yd	1	0
Mar 28, 1984	F4	4 mi	530 yd	36	0
Mar 4, 1977	F1	1.1 mi	20 yd	0	0
Oct 1, 1969	F1	0.5 mi	17 yd	0	0
Apr 8, 1957	F4	121.4 mi	150 yd	70	4

Deadliest: Apr 8, 1957, F4, 4 killed.

Nearby counties

Union County, NC24 Kershaw County, SC24 Chester County, SC17 Chesterfield County, SC25 Fairfield County, SC34 York County, SC24 Anson County, NC8 Mecklenburg County, NC29

Questions

How many tornadoes has Lancaster County, South Carolina had?

13 tornadoes touched Lancaster County, South Carolina between 1950 and 2025 in the NOAA Storm Prediction Center database — about 0.2 per year.

What was the strongest tornado in Lancaster County?

The strongest rating recorded was F4 on Apr 8, 1957, with a 121.4-mile path and 4 deaths.

When is tornado season in Lancaster County?

Most of its tornadoes happened in March (3 of 13). Tornadoes can occur in any month, so keep alerts on year-round.

Right now: live tornado warnings map · alerts for your location. Dates link to that day’s full storm reports where available (2004 onward).