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Carolina Forest, SC

Full City Profile · South Carolina · Horry County County

3.2 /5.0
B Good
26,373 Population 1,568/sq mi density
$70,647 Median Income $38,209 per capita
$298,700 Home Value $318,683 Zillow
$1,567 Median Rent 28.9% income on rent
62°F Avg Temperature 304 sunny days/yr
1,428 Violent Crime/100K 15,954 property/100K
B
Overall
3.2 / 5.0
Good overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B+
Economy
3.6 / 5.0
$70,647 median income, 5.3% unemployment
A
Affordability
4.3 / 5.0
$298,700 home value, $1,567/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
1,428 violent crimes/100K (276% above avg)
B+
Education
3.7 / 5.0
34.2% bachelor's degree or higher
Carolina Forest enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 62°F (17°C). Winters average 45°F in January while summers reach 80°F in July. The area gets 304 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 53.6 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43.

Temperature

45°F Jan (7°C) 80°F Jul (26°C)
Annual Average62.4°F
16% above US avg
January Average45°F (7°C)
July Average80°F (26°C)
Sunny Days304 days/yr

Geography

Elevation28 ft (9 m)
Area25.4 sq mi (65.7 km²)
Population Density1,568/sq mi
Coordinates33.7664°N, 78.9135°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyHorry County County
Nearest AirportMyrtle Beach International (MYR)
6 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 53.6"
41% above US avg
Wettest Month (Aug) 6.69"
Driest Month (Nov) 2.83"

Air Quality

AQI Median43.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0446 ppm
PM2.5 (Fine Particles)7.8 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively High
Risk Score98.2 / 100
Social Vulnerability65.4 / 100
Community Resilience66.4 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively High
Hurricane Very High
Earthquake Relatively Moderate
Wildfire Relatively Moderate
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Relatively Low
Strong Wind Relatively High
Heat Wave Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather Relatively High
Lightning Relatively High
Ice Storm Relatively High
Drought Relatively Low
Cold Wave Relatively Moderate
Landslide Very Low
Coastal Flood Relatively High
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

31 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M4.1. Most recent: M3.0 on Mar 19, 2014.

Aug 21, 1992 1 km SSE of Centerville, South Carolina M4.1 145 km
Apr 17, 1995 0 km NNW of Centerville, South Carolina M3.9 145 km
Nov 13, 1990 4 km SSW of Ladson, South Carolina M3.5 146 km
Aug 29, 2009 2 km NE of Summerville, South Carolina M3.2 142 km
May 5, 2003 4 km NNW of Summerville, South Carolina M3.1 143 km
Jul 26, 2002 4 km NNW of Summerville, South Carolina M3.0 143 km
Mar 29, 1999 3 km NNW of Sangaree, South Carolina M3.0 138 km
Mar 19, 2014 0 km WNW of Centerville, South Carolina M3.0 145 km
Jul 7, 2002 1 km NW of Sangaree, South Carolina M2.9 139 km
Jan 29, 1994 12 km NNE of Alcolu, South Carolina M2.9 115 km
Mar 21, 2011 9 km S of Cordova, North Carolina M2.9 145 km
Mar 2, 2003 7 km S of Centerville, South Carolina M2.9 149 km
May 12, 2010 6 km SSW of Ladson, South Carolina M2.8 147 km
Jul 31, 2012 5 km S of Centerville, South Carolina M2.8 148 km
Jul 16, 2002 5 km SSW of Ladson, South Carolina M2.8 146 km
May 1, 2004 3 km ENE of Goose Creek, South Carolina M2.7 133 km
Jan 11, 2002 6 km SSW of Ladson, South Carolina M2.7 147 km
Feb 28, 2003 7 km S of Centerville, South Carolina M2.6 148 km
Jan 4, 2012 3 km SSW of Centerville, South Carolina M2.6 148 km
May 11, 1990 5 km SSE of Centerville, South Carolina M2.6 147 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Hurricane History

25 hurricanes (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 4. Most recent: Ian (2022, Cat 1).

Year Name Category Closest
2022 Ian Category 1 58 km
2020 Isaias Category 1 38 km
2019 Dorian Category 3 94 km
2018 Florence Category 2 54 km
2016 Matthew Category 2 31 km
2014 Arthur Category 2 102 km
2011 Irene Category 1 200 km
2005 Ophelia Category 1 120 km
2004 Alex Category 2 157 km
2004 Gaston Category 1 106 km
2004 Charley Category 1 20 km
2003 Isabel Category 2 274 km
1999 Irene Category 2 122 km
1999 Floyd Category 2 85 km
1999 Dennis Category 2 163 km
1998 Bonnie Category 3 111 km
1996 Fran Category 3 85 km
1996 Bertha Category 2 78 km
1994 Gordon Category 1 281 km
1991 Bob Category 2 275 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980–2026)

Tornado History

283 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF4. Total: 24 fatalities, 412 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Nov 7, 1995 EF4 58 km 0
Feb 15, 2021 EF3 41 km 3
Nov 16, 2006 EF3 89 km 8
May 20, 1980 EF3 89 km 0
Nov 24, 1967 EF3 34 km 0
Aug 17, 1965 EF3 24 km 0
Oct 9, 1950 EF3 53 km 0
Aug 3, 2020 EF2 89 km 0
Apr 13, 2020 EF2 35 km 0
Sep 5, 2019 EF2 42 km 0
Apr 16, 2011 EF2 87 km 1
Apr 6, 2009 EF2 80 km 0
Mar 28, 2009 EF2 89 km 0
Nov 14, 2008 EF2 80 km 0
May 14, 2006 EF2 91 km 0
Oct 11, 2002 EF2 57 km 0
Jul 6, 2001 EF2 8 km 0
Sep 16, 1996 EF2 95 km 0
Nov 7, 1995 EF2 15 km 0
Nov 7, 1995 EF2 87 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Tsunami History

1 tsunami recorded within 500 km.

Year Location Cause Max Wave Deaths Distance
1886 CHARLESTON, SC Earthquake 140 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: HIGHWAY 31 (17,004 ac, 2009).

Year Name Acres Distance
2009 HIGHWAY 31 17,004 8 km
1997 MURRELL 5,126 96 km
2017 UNNAMED 4,893 100 km
2014 UNNAMED 4,890 88 km
2017 UNNAMED 4,813 95 km
2009 UNNAMED 3,641 96 km
2015 UNNAMED 3,367 83 km
2017 UNNAMED 3,217 99 km
1997 UNNAMED 3,111 37 km
2020 C-149 FM 2,872 85 km
2010 C46-63-64 RX 2,862 100 km
2023 C-133FM 2,820 85 km
2010 C138 RX 2,802 89 km
2005 UNNAMED 2,595 98 km
2014 UNNAMED 2,567 94 km
2014 UNNAMED 2,374 88 km
2017 UNNAMED 2,366 87 km
2016 UNNAMED 2,347 85 km
2018 UNNAMED 2,339 86 km
2016 UNNAMED 2,310 82 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 45°F (7°C) 4.3 in Coldest
February 49°F (9°C) 3.5 in
March 56°F (13°C) 4.2 in
April 63°F (17°C) 2.9 in
May 71°F (21°C) 4.2 in
June 77°F (25°C) 5.1 in
July 80°F (26°C) 6.4 in Warmest
August 79°F (26°C) 6.7 in Wettest
September 75°F (24°C) 5.7 in
October 65°F (18°C) 3.4 in
November 57°F (14°C) 2.8 in Driest
December 49°F (9°C) 3.6 in

Carolina Forest has a seasonal temperature swing of 35°F / from 45°F in January to 80°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 52.7 inches, with August being the wettest month (6.7") and November the driest (2.8").

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