Heat Wave Risk in South Carolina
All South Carolina counties ranked by FEMA National Risk Index heat wave score
Heat Wave risk — prolonged periods of extreme heat that threaten health and infrastructure — is rated for 46 of 46 South Carolina counties in FEMA's National Risk Index. Horry County carries the state's highest heat wave score at 95.0, with $5M in expected annual heat wave losses.
No South Carolina county reaches the High band for heat wave, and expected annual losses from heat wave total roughly $54M statewide. The full ranking below links to each county's complete 18-hazard risk profile.
County Rankings — Heat Wave
| # | County | Heat Wave Score | Rating | Ann. Freq. | Ann. Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Horry County | Medium | 9.21 / yr | $5M | |
| 2 | Richland County | Medium | 4.37 / yr | $6M | |
| 3 | Lexington County | Medium | 4.32 / yr | $4M | |
| 4 | Florence County | Medium | 8.95 / yr | $3M | |
| 5 | Beaufort County | Medium | 10.23 / yr | $2M | |
| 6 | Aiken County | Medium | 4.63 / yr | $2M | |
| 7 | Greenville County | Medium | 1.14 / yr | $2M | |
| 8 | Clarendon County | Medium | 5.00 / yr | $1M | |
| 9 | Charleston County | Medium | 9.58 / yr | $2M | |
| 10 | Orangeburg County | Medium | 5.00 / yr | $1M | |
| 11 | Darlington County | Medium | 8.05 / yr | $1M | |
| 12 | Georgetown County | Medium | 9.17 / yr | $1M | |
| 13 | Sumter County | Medium | 4.68 / yr | $1M | |
| 14 | Spartanburg County | Medium | 1.40 / yr | $2M | |
| 15 | Anderson County | Low | 1.85 / yr | $1M | |
| 16 | Kershaw County | Low | 4.05 / yr | $1M | |
| 17 | Williamsburg County | Low | 9.16 / yr | $773K | |
| 18 | Hampton County | Low | 8.00 / yr | $739K | |
| 19 | York County | Low | 2.89 / yr | $2M | |
| 20 | Abbeville County | Low | 3.26 / yr | $821K | |
| 21 | Colleton County | Low | 9.12 / yr | $739K | |
| 22 | Laurens County | Low | 2.70 / yr | $821K | |
| 23 | Allendale County | Low | 7.37 / yr | $675K | |
| 24 | Jasper County | Low | 9.61 / yr | $715K | |
| 25 | Greenwood County | Low | 3.26 / yr | $821K | |
| 26 | Union County | Low | 2.68 / yr | $587K | |
| 27 | Berkeley County | Low | 9.74 / yr | $1M | |
| 28 | Fairfield County | Low | 2.89 / yr | $587K | |
| 29 | Dorchester County | Low | 8.91 / yr | $1M | |
| 30 | Marion County | Low | 9.11 / yr | $501K | |
| 31 | Oconee County | Low | 0.88 / yr | $587K | |
| 32 | Marlboro County | Low | 7.74 / yr | $392K | |
| 33 | Barnwell County | Low | 4.95 / yr | $365K | |
| 34 | Dillon County | Low | 8.00 / yr | $412K | |
| 35 | Pickens County | Low | 1.18 / yr | $587K | |
| 36 | Chesterfield County | Low | 3.90 / yr | $369K | |
| 37 | Lancaster County | Low | 2.96 / yr | $520K | |
| 38 | Newberry County | Low | 2.84 / yr | $391K | |
| 39 | Cherokee County | Low | 1.74 / yr | $331K | |
| 40 | Bamberg County | Low | 5.21 / yr | $242K | |
| 41 | Lee County | Low | 4.32 / yr | $212K | |
| 42 | Saluda County | Low | 3.26 / yr | $190K | |
| 43 | Edgefield County | Low | 3.53 / yr | $246K | |
| 44 | Calhoun County | Low | 4.84 / yr | $192K | |
| 45 | Chester County | Low | 3.05 / yr | $194K | |
| 46 | McCormick County | Very Low | 3.32 / yr | $101K |
46 South Carolina counties with measurable heat wave risk. See the national heat wave ranking or all South Carolina counties by overall risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which South Carolina county has the highest heat wave risk?
Horry County has the highest FEMA heat wave risk score in South Carolina at 95.0 (Medium), with $5M in expected annual losses and about 9.21 events per year.
How many South Carolina counties face significant heat wave risk?
46 South Carolina counties record measurable heat wave risk in FEMA's National Risk Index; 0 of them are rated High or Very High.