Most People Don’t Know About South Carolina’s Deadly Tornado Alley

In South Carolina, we're so focused on hurricanes and the devastating effects of rising waters during times of flood that we may not realize that tornado activity is on the rise in the Palmetto State. In the first week of March 2019, four tornadoes touched down in South Carolina in one day, proving that there are multiple severe weather threats here in our own backyards. However, generally speaking, most people think of tornadoes as being associated most often with the Tornado Alley of the Great Plains states. But, many people don't realize America has more than one tornado alley – and one of them is in South Carolina!

With the official start of tornado season (yes, we have one of those here), let's take a look at a newish tornado alley that's found in the Carolinas.

Many residents can recall a tornado having touched down near them and the devastating aftereffects that followed.

This is a fairly new phenomenon, however.

In 1984, for example, a destructive tornado outbreak swept through the South, killing 57 people in the Carolinas (15 deaths occurred in South Carolina).

It was absolutely devastating.

But how does a few tornadoes warrant South Carolina getting a designation as a Tornado Alley?

The term 'tornado alley' is used to describe an area in the U.S. affected by deadly tornadic activity.

Carolina Alley is considered the fourth most active tornado alley in the country.

Tornado activity in these two states consistently ranks higher than other places in the U.S. Carolina Alley ranks number four, right behind Dixie Alley, Hoosier Alley, and Tornado Alley (in the Great Plains).

Do you live in or near Carolina Alley? The South Carolina Emergency Management Division has a fantastic tornado resource page on their website. You’ll learn everything from how to prepare, what to do during a tornado, and where to find emergency shelters. Find those tips, and more, on this page of their official website.

Have you experienced a tornado in South Carolina? If you’d like to share some thoughts on your experience, our comments thread is always open to you.

The Palmetto State is no stranger to catastrophic events. Keep reading here for images of the destructive Thousand Year Flood that struck South Carolina in 2015.