Lightning Risk in South Carolina
All South Carolina counties ranked by FEMA National Risk Index lightning score
Lightning risk — electrical discharges from storms that ignite fires and cause casualties — is rated for 46 of 46 South Carolina counties in FEMA's National Risk Index. Greenville County carries the state's highest lightning score at 98.3, with $4M in expected annual lightning losses.
20 South Carolina counties are rated High or Very High for lightning, and expected annual losses from lightning total roughly $36M statewide. The full ranking below links to each county's complete 18-hazard risk profile.
County Rankings — Lightning
| # | County | Lightning Score | Rating | Ann. Freq. | Ann. Loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Greenville County | Very High | 56.29 / yr | $4M | |
| 2 | Spartanburg County | Very High | 53.85 / yr | $2M | |
| 3 | Richland County | High | 60.07 / yr | $2M | |
| 4 | Beaufort County | High | 63.39 / yr | $2M | |
| 5 | Georgetown County | High | 60.09 / yr | $2M | |
| 6 | Horry County | High | 58.88 / yr | $2M | |
| 7 | Anderson County | High | 55.61 / yr | $2M | |
| 8 | Clarendon County | High | 60.78 / yr | $992K | |
| 9 | Charleston County | High | 63.33 / yr | $2M | |
| 10 | Lexington County | High | 60.03 / yr | $2M | |
| 11 | York County | High | 52.68 / yr | $2M | |
| 12 | Aiken County | High | 61.37 / yr | $1M | |
| 13 | Berkeley County | High | 64.39 / yr | $1M | |
| 14 | Pickens County | High | 61.64 / yr | $1M | |
| 15 | Orangeburg County | High | 62.87 / yr | $634K | |
| 16 | Florence County | High | 58.23 / yr | $770K | |
| 17 | Union County | High | 52.85 / yr | $556K | |
| 18 | Oconee County | High | 61.13 / yr | $665K | |
| 19 | Dorchester County | High | 66.11 / yr | $1M | |
| 20 | Chesterfield County | High | 55.92 / yr | $561K | |
| 21 | Laurens County | Medium | 53.07 / yr | $582K | |
| 22 | Lancaster County | Medium | 54.36 / yr | $743K | |
| 23 | Sumter County | Medium | 59.56 / yr | $612K | |
| 24 | Cherokee County | Medium | 53.04 / yr | $530K | |
| 25 | Chester County | Medium | 53.15 / yr | $498K | |
| 26 | Williamsburg County | Medium | 61.61 / yr | $373K | |
| 27 | Kershaw County | Medium | 57.79 / yr | $445K | |
| 28 | Darlington County | Medium | 57.55 / yr | $351K | |
| 29 | Marion County | Medium | 58.22 / yr | $279K | |
| 30 | Greenwood County | Medium | 53.85 / yr | $378K | |
| 31 | Newberry County | Medium | 54.77 / yr | $300K | |
| 32 | Colleton County | Medium | 65.88 / yr | $257K | |
| 33 | Dillon County | Medium | 56.44 / yr | $211K | |
| 34 | Marlboro County | Medium | 56.30 / yr | $180K | |
| 35 | Barnwell County | Low | 63.00 / yr | $166K | |
| 36 | Jasper County | Low | 66.21 / yr | $197K | |
| 37 | Fairfield County | Low | 55.19 / yr | $175K | |
| 38 | Edgefield County | Low | 57.96 / yr | $207K | |
| 39 | Lee County | Low | 58.46 / yr | $123K | |
| 40 | Saluda County | Low | 56.14 / yr | $111K | |
| 41 | Abbeville County | Low | 53.63 / yr | $116K | |
| 42 | Hampton County | Low | 65.53 / yr | $99K | |
| 43 | Bamberg County | Low | 63.24 / yr | $81K | |
| 44 | Calhoun County | Low | 61.36 / yr | $72K | |
| 45 | McCormick County | Very Low | 55.93 / yr | $46K | |
| 46 | Allendale County | Very Low | 64.09 / yr | $39K |
46 South Carolina counties with measurable lightning risk. See the national lightning ranking or all South Carolina counties by overall risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which South Carolina county has the highest lightning risk?
Greenville County has the highest FEMA lightning risk score in South Carolina at 98.3 (Very High), with $4M in expected annual losses and about 56.29 events per year.
How many South Carolina counties face significant lightning risk?
46 South Carolina counties record measurable lightning risk in FEMA's National Risk Index; 20 of them are rated High or Very High.