105
Recorded events
4
Direct deaths
0
Direct injuries
$12.1M
Property damage
Flash Flood in Horry County, South Carolina: 105 recorded events between 1996 and 2025. The strongest on record measured 0. That places the county #152 nationally and #3 statewide for this hazard.
Decade by decade
Flash Flood in Horry County, South Carolina: events per decade
Reporting practice changed over time — early decades are undercounted, not calmer.
The busiest decade for flash flood in Horry County is the 2020s, when 46 of the county's 105 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 Horry County archive, flash flood makes up 10.3% of all recorded severe weather across 11 hazard types. Nationally the county sits at #152 for this hazard and #3 within South Carolina, putting it in the 95.0 percentile of all U.S. counties.
Seasonality
Events by month
Oct is the peak month for flash flood in Horry County with 30 recorded events, while Apr 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 15, 2018 | CAMP SWAMP | 0 | 2 | 0 | $10K |
| Sep 16, 2018 | GREEN SEA | 0 | 1 | 0 | $10K |
| Mar 20, 2001 | SURFSIDE BEACH | 0 | 1 | 0 | $50K |
Most recent
Latest recorded events
| Date | Location | Magnitude | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 12, 2025 | OCEAN FOREST | 0 | $3K |
| Oct 12, 2025 | MYRTLE BEACH | 0 | $3K |
| Oct 12, 2025 | MYRTLE BEACH | 0 | $5K |
| Aug 11, 2025 | GRISSETT | 0 | $0 |
| Jun 6, 2025 | AYNOR | 0 | $0 |
| Aug 8, 2024 | LORIS | 0 | $2K |
| Aug 8, 2024 | LORIS | 0 | $5K |
| Aug 7, 2024 | NORTH MYRTLE BEACH | 0 | $1K |
| Aug 6, 2024 | WAMPEE | 0 | $5K |
| Aug 6, 2024 | CHERRY GROVE BEACH | 0 | $5K |
Other hazards here
More from Horry County
- Thunderstorm Wind 401
- Hail 342
- Tornado 60
- Lightning 46
From the record
What the reports say
Written by National Weather Service staff at the time of the event · public domain
A low pressure system caused heavy showers and wind gusts 30 to 50 mph that downed a few powerlines…but widespread rainwater flooding along the Grand Strand caused more serious problems. Radar rainfall estimates and local reports indicated 2-4 inches of rain in a couple of hours, and 6 inches to 2 feet of water flooded many roads and intersections. Police reported 30 roads were barricaded. A 7 year old boy drowned when he ventured into a flooded ditch along Sycamore Street near the entrance of Sea Gate Village.
Strong slow moving thunderstorms inundated Horry county with rain. The flooding was first reported in Socastee, but quickly spread to Forestbrook and Garden City Beach. The heaviest activity occurred in Myrtle Beach, where 11.4 inches of rainfall was recorded from 5 am to 5 pm. Police reported several weather related accidents, with no injuries noted. Many yards were flooded. Many city streets and rural roads were closed due to standing water up to 2 feet deep, with reports of stalled and abandoned automobiles. Several businesses also closed shop due to water in their buildings. The pollution-laden storm water also caused state environment officials to issue a swim warning for the Horry county coast.
An earthen dam on Heather Lake, near the state line, was overtopped. Significant flooding was reported in Little River and portions of North Myrtle Beach where up to a foot of rain fell during the afternoon and evening. More than 100 homes were reportedly flooded in Little River and 40 homes in North Myrtle Beach. Numerous people had to be rescued from their homes. In addition, several people were rescued from their vehicles which had become stranded in the rapidly rising water.
Quick answers
Frequently asked
How many flash flood events are on record in Horry County, South Carolina?
105 flash flood events are recorded in Horry County between 1996 and 2025, causing 4 direct deaths.
What is the strongest flash flood recorded in Horry County?
The strongest flash flood on record in Horry County measured 0.
Where does the flash flood data for Horry 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
“Flash Flood in Horry County, South Carolina.” Severe Weather History. severeweatherhistory.com/county/south-carolina/horry-county/flash-flood/ · Data: NOAA/NCEI, FEMA, U.S. Census — public domain.