328
Recorded events
0
Direct deaths
2
Direct injuries
$1.1M
Property damage
Thunderstorm Wind in Oconee County, South Carolina: 328 recorded events between 1959 and 2025. The strongest on record measured 69. That places the county #365 nationally and #21 statewide for this hazard.
Decade by decade
Thunderstorm Wind in Oconee County, South Carolina: events per decade
Reporting practice changed over time — early decades are undercounted, not calmer.
The busiest decade for thunderstorm wind in Oconee County is the 2010s, when 110 of the county's 328 recorded events were logged. Comparing decades is useful for spotting active periods, but the earliest years are thin because systematic reporting for this hazard began later.
Within the Oconee County archive, thunderstorm wind makes up 53.6% of all recorded severe weather across 8 hazard types. Nationally the county sits at #365 for this hazard and #21 within South Carolina, putting it in the 88.4 percentile of all U.S. counties.
Seasonality
Events by month
Jun is the peak month for thunderstorm wind in Oconee County with 80 recorded events, while Dec is the quietest. Seasonality here is a property of the archive as much as the climate: reports cluster where population and spotter networks are densest.
Significant events
Deadliest on record
| Date | Location | Scale | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 19, 1995 | Walhalla | 0 | 0 | 1 | $5K |
| Jul 16, 1988 | 0 | 0 | 1 | $0 |
Most recent
Latest recorded events
| Date | Location | Magnitude | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 6, 2025 | NEWRY | 50 | $0 |
| Jun 26, 2025 | WALHALLA | 50 | $0 |
| Jun 26, 2025 | RICHLAND | 50 | $0 |
| Jun 26, 2025 | WHETSTONE | 50 | $0 |
| Jun 18, 2025 | MOUNTAIN REST | 50 | $0 |
| Jun 7, 2025 | FAIR PLAY | 56 | $0 |
| May 21, 2025 | WALHALLA | 50 | $0 |
| Mar 31, 2025 | SENECA | 50 | $0 |
| Aug 30, 2024 | WESTMINSTER | 40 | $10K |
| Jul 5, 2024 | JOCASSEE | 50 | $0 |
Other hazards here
More from Oconee County
- Hail 206
From the record
What the reports say
Written by National Weather Service staff at the time of the event · public domain
EM reported widespread trees blown down across northern Oconee County, with more than two dozen roads blocked. Several outbuildings were also damaged or destroyed, while at least one home received siding damage (near Big Brown Dr and Old Highway 11).
A 60 foot tree reported on a house with some structural damage in Seneca. Ham radio report of numerous trees down across southern Oconee County. Several roads were closed due to fallen trees. Newspaper reported 600 customers lost power.
Several trees and a few power lines were blown down in and near Westminster. Multiple trees were also blown down along Coffee Rd to the southwest of Walhalla as well as in Walhalla. Several trees fell on homes and vehicles.
Quick answers
Frequently asked
How many thunderstorm wind events are on record in Oconee County, South Carolina?
328 thunderstorm wind events are recorded in Oconee County between 1959 and 2025, causing 0 direct deaths.
What is the strongest thunderstorm wind recorded in Oconee County?
The strongest thunderstorm wind on record in Oconee County measured 69.
Where does the thunderstorm wind data for Oconee County come from?
All events come from the NOAA/NCEI Storm Events Database, the federal public-domain archive of severe weather reports. Dates are UTC, damage is as reported and not inflation-adjusted, and the most recent entries may still be revised.
Cite this page
“Thunderstorm Wind in Oconee County, South Carolina.” Severe Weather History. severeweatherhistory.com/county/south-carolina/oconee-county/thunderstorm-wind/ · Data: NOAA/NCEI, FEMA, U.S. Census — public domain.