USA.com / South Carolina / Horry County / Atlantic Beach, SC / Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Atlantic Beach, SC Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in Atlantic Beach is lower than South Carolina average and is much lower than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in Atlantic Beach is lower than South Carolina average and is lower than the national average.
Earthquake Index, #477
| Atlantic Beach, SC | 0.02 |
| South Carolina | 0.49 |
| U.S. | 1.81 |
The earthquake index value is calculated based on historical earthquake events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the earthquake level in a region. A higher earthquake index value means a higher chance of an earthquake.
Volcano Index, #1
| Atlantic Beach, SC | 0.0000 |
| South Carolina | 0.0000 |
| U.S. | 0.0023 |
The volcano index value is calculated based on the currently known volcanoes using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the possibility of a region being affected by a possible volcano eruption. A higher volcano index value means a higher chance of being affected.
Tornado Index, #434
| Atlantic Beach, SC | 86.49 |
| South Carolina | 136.91 |
| U.S. | 136.45 |
The tornado index value is calculated based on historical tornado events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the tornado level in a region. A higher tornado index value means a higher chance of tornado events.
Other Weather Extremes Events
A total of 1,640 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of Atlantic Beach, SC were recorded from 1950 to 2010. The following is a break down of these events:
| Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count |
| Avalanche: | 0 | Blizzard: | 0 | Cold: | 4 | Dense Fog: | 1 | Drought: | 11 |
| Dust Storm: | 0 | Flood: | 134 | Hail: | 579 | Heat: | 1 | Heavy Snow: | 5 |
| High Surf: | 3 | Hurricane: | 12 | Ice Storm: | 1 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 13 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 685 | Tropical Storm: | 11 | Wildfire: | 4 | Winter Storm: | 6 | Winter Weather: | 4 |
| Other: | 166 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near Atlantic Beach, SC.
Historical Earthquake Events
No historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near Atlantic Beach, SC.
No historical earthquake events found in or near Atlantic Beach, SC.
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 23 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near Atlantic Beach, SC.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 3.1 | 1979-09-04 | 2 | 33°49'N / 78°40'W | 1.00 Mile | 97 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Horry | |
| 3.6 | 1965-08-17 | 3 | 33°50'N / 78°40'W | 0.30 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 46 | 250K | 0 | Horry | |
| 11.9 | 2001-07-06 | 2 | 33°42'N / 78°53'W | 33°42'N / 78°53'W | 4.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 39 | 8.0M | 0 | Horry |
| Brief Description: As a weak cold front moved south into an afternoon sea breeze boundary, slow-moving thunderstorms developed along the Horry county coast. An F0 tornado briefly touched down at 9th Ave N near the Myrtle Beach Pavilion, and soon after a waterspout formed just off the beach near 3rd Ave N. It slightly damaged the 2nd Ave N pier and then moved over the beach as it developed more strongly, causing F2 damage - overturned buses and extensive damage to vehicles and hotels along the beach to about 4nd Ave S. Moving off the beach again, the waterspout continued south about 100 yards from the shore until it came ashore between 28th Ave S and Springmaid Pier...causing a 66 knot gust over water at the Springmaid Pier anemometer. As it moved through the Seagate RV park, it did F1 damage - destroyed 10 RVs and damaged 40 more. Weakening further, the tornado crossed US Hwy Business 17 onto Myrtle Beach International Airport, doing F0 damage to trees and structures. | |||||||||||
| 12.7 | 1965-05-12 | 2 | 33°50'N / 79°03'W | 33°54'N / 78°48'W | 15.00 Miles | 40 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Horry |
| 17.8 | 1985-06-02 | 2 | 33°56'N / 79°02'W | 33°55'N / 78°57'W | 5.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Horry |
| 22.9 | 1968-12-07 | 2 | 34°05'N / 78°56'W | 0.30 Mile | 13 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Horry | |
| 23.9 | 1984-03-28 | 2 | 34°03'N / 78°59'W | 34°09'N / 78°53'W | 7.00 Miles | 353 Yards | 0 | 8 | 250K | 0 | Horry |
| 24.7 | 1967-12-01 | 2 | 34°08'N / 78°51'W | 34°10'N / 78°48'W | 3.80 Miles | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Columbus |
| 26.0 | 1950-10-09 | 3 | 34°10'N / 78°36'W | 2.00 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 3 | 250K | 0 | Columbus | |
| 26.6 | 1967-12-01 | 2 | 34°09'N / 79°02'W | 34°08'N / 78°51'W | 10.50 Miles | 93 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Horry |
| 27.9 | 1984-03-28 | 2 | 34°09'N / 78°53'W | 34°15'N / 78°44'W | 9.00 Miles | 353 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Columbus |
| 28.8 | 1967-11-24 | 3 | 33°56'N / 79°13'W | 33°57'N / 79°10'W | 3.30 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Horry |
| 29.8 | 1965-10-07 | 2 | 34°00'N / 79°12'W | 34°01'N / 79°09'W | 3.30 Miles | 80 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Horry |
| 35.5 | 1982-06-10 | 2 | 34°11'N / 79°10'W | 34°12'N / 79°05'W | 3.00 Miles | 133 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Horry |
| 38.1 | 1982-06-10 | 2 | 34°11'N / 79°14'W | 34°11'N / 79°10'W | 3.00 Miles | 133 Yards | 0 | 16 | 2.5M | 0 | Marion |
| 41.5 | 1983-06-07 | 2 | 34°22'N / 78°51'W | 34°26'N / 78°46'W | 6.00 Miles | 450 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Columbus |
| 43.9 | 1962-02-22 | 2 | 34°11'N / 79°24'W | 34°12'N / 79°15'W | 8.70 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Marion |
| 44.8 | 2009-04-06 | 2 | 34°26'N / 78°35'W | 34°27'N / 78°34'W | 1.00 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 300K | 0K | Bladen |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: A National Weather Service Storm Survey concluded an EF-2 tornado with winds up to 115 mph occurred near Clarkton, North Carolina. The tornado initially touched down on Farmers Union Road about 0.3 miles south of Porterville School Road. Significant damage occurred to four homes in this area, including one which was pushed approximately 20 feet off its foundation. A storage trailer weighing more than 8500 pounds was blown approximately 40 feet and flipped upside down as it rotated 180 degrees. A full-size pickup truck was blown 15 feet across a yard and a 12 x 12 feet structure was completely destroyed. Damage in this area was rated as EF-2 with winds up to 115 mph. The width of the damage path in this area was approximately 100 yards. The tornado briefly weakened as it tracked to the northeast. Numerous 12-18 inch diameter treetops were snapped and a few trees up to 18 inches in diameter were uprooted as the tornado approached Chancey Road. Two homes on Chancey Road suffered EF-0 damage primarily to roofs and windows. The tornado continued to the northeast across mainly woods and farmland where spotty EF-0 damage was confined to trees. The tornado strengthened once again as it crossed Baer Mill Road and caused damage to two homes. The front porch of one home was destroyed and the roof covering material on the windward side of the structure was stripped. The wind penetrated the second story of the home and blew out two upstairs windows. Numerous large trees up to two feet in diameter were snapped off or uprooted. One wooden storage shed was completely destroyed. Damage in this area was rated as EF-2 with wind speeds estimated to 115 mph. The width of the damage path was approximately 60 yards at this location. The tornado weakened as it moved northeast from Baer Mill Drive. Spotty minor tree damage was observed between Baer Mill Drive and Susie Baldwin Road. There were injuries or fatalities. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A strong cold front moved across the area during the morning. Ahead of the front, moderate instability and favorable shear supported the development of severe weather including tornadoes. | |||||||||||
| 45.1 | 1979-09-04 | 2 | 33°22'N / 79°18'W | 1.00 Mile | 67 Yards | 0 | 0 | 2.5M | 0 | Georgetown | |
| 45.1 | 2002-10-11 | 2 | 33°22'N / 79°18'W | 33°22'N / 79°18'W | 1.20 Miles | 40 Yards | 0 | 8 | 750K | 0 | Georgetown |
| Brief Description: Tornado touched down with strong F2 damage near the corner of Merriman and Emanuel Roads, destroying 5 manufactured homes, a car and 2 houses before continuing NE with scattered F1 damage...described as major to a total of 28 structures and minor to 78 more...including homes, businesses, churches and also trees as it traveled a mile through residential streets. The tornado continued another 0.25 mile with F0 damage to trees before moving out over marshland. Eight people were hospitalized for minor injuries, where they were treated and released. | |||||||||||
| 45.7 | 1961-06-21 | 2 | 34°11'N / 79°24'W | 34°14'N / 79°18'W | 6.80 Miles | 167 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Marion |
| 46.6 | 2006-11-16 | 3 | 34°20'N / 78°14'W | 34°21'N / 78°13'W | 2.00 Miles | 300 Yards | 8 | 20 | 500K | 0K | Columbus |
| Brief Description: EVENT NARRATIVE: Tornado touched down among manufactured homes just north of Old Lake Road and tracked across an area of more substantial homes and businesses along NC Highway 87. There were 13 homes (mobile and brick) destroyed and more than two dozen damaged. Damage was rated as F3 due to construction of structures that were damaged and destroyed - if structures were better constructed the damage may have been rated higher. The wind speed was estimated to be around 200 mph. As the tornado tracked north of NC Highway 87 toward the county line, the tree damage was rated as F1. EPISODE NARRATIVE: A fast moving tornadic thunderstorm moved ashore on the coast of Brunswick County. There was no damage found until the storm moved across extreme eastern Columbus County and then extreme western Pender County. The tornado produced F3 damage through Riegelwood and diminished to F1 intensity as it crossed a wooded area to the Cape Fear River and into Pender County. This was the second deadliest tornado to hit North Carolina in the last 50 years. | |||||||||||
| 48.9 | 1964-10-04 | 2 | 34°18'N / 78°54'W | 34°40'N / 78°03'W | 54.60 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Columbus |
* The information on this page is based on the global volcano database, the U.S. earthquake database of 1638-1985, and the U.S. Tornado and Weather Extremes database of 1950-2010.