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Weather & Climate in Barnwell, SC
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Barnwell enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 65°F (18°C). Winters average 47°F in January while summers reach 82°F in July. The area gets 308 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Annual precipitation totals 48.7 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43. The city sits at an elevation of 205 feet.
Temperature
47°F Jan (8°C)
82°F Jul (28°C)
| Annual Average | 64.7°F |
| 20% above US avg | |
| January Average | 47°F (8°C) |
| July Average | 82°F (28°C) |
| Sunny Days | 308 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 205 ft (62 m) |
| Area | 7.9 sq mi (20.3 km²) |
| Population Density | 589/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 33.2416°N, 81.3661°W |
| Timezone | America/New_York |
| County | Barnwell County County |
| Nearest Airport | Barnwell Regional (BNL) 2 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 43.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Low |
| Risk Score | 45.8 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 98.9 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 19.1 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low |
| Wildfire | Very Low |
| Flood | Relatively Low |
| Hail | Relatively Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Low |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low |
| Winter Weather | Very Low |
| Lightning | Relatively Low |
| Ice Storm | Relatively Low |
| Drought | Relatively Low |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Low |
| Landslide | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
73 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M4.1.
| Feb 15, 2014 | 12 km ENE of Parksville, South Carolina | M4.1 | 93 km | 5 km |
| Aug 21, 1992 | 1 km SSE of Centerville, South Carolina | M4.1 | 116 km | 7 km |
| Apr 17, 1995 | 0 km NNW of Centerville, South Carolina | M3.9 | 115 km | 8 km |
| Jun 18, 2022 | 7 km E of Stillmore, Georgia | M3.9 | 114 km | 1 km |
| Jun 29, 2022 | 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina | M3.6 | 119 km | 3 km |
| Jul 13, 2003 | 6 km N of Cobbtown, Georgia | M3.6 | 124 km | 5 km |
| Mar 18, 2003 | 11 km S of Rayle, Georgia | M3.5 | 150 km | 5 km |
| Jun 29, 2022 | 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina | M3.5 | 119 km | 3 km |
| Nov 13, 1990 | 4 km SSW of Ladson, South Carolina | M3.5 | 119 km | 3 km |
| Jun 26, 2022 | 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina | M3.4 | 119 km | 4 km |
| Jan 3, 1992 | 4 km ENE of Willington, South Carolina | M3.4 | 128 km | 3 km |
| May 9, 2022 | 5 km ESE of Elgin, South Carolina | M3.3 | 118 km | 4 km |
| Aug 8, 1993 | 12 km ENE of Aiken, South Carolina | M3.2 | 45 km | 9 km |
| Aug 29, 2009 | 2 km NE of Summerville, South Carolina | M3.2 | 115 km | 5 km |
| Jun 20, 2017 | 6 km SW of Augusta, Georgia | M3.2 | 64 km | 13 km |
| May 5, 2003 | 4 km NNW of Summerville, South Carolina | M3.1 | 111 km | 11 km |
| Jul 20, 2004 | 7 km WSW of Centerville, South Carolina | M3.1 | 108 km | 10 km |
| Aug 23, 2025 | 3 km N of Coronaca, South Carolina | M3.0 | 134 km | 2 km |
| Feb 16, 2014 | 13 km WNW of Edgefield, South Carolina | M3.0 | 92 km | 7 km |
| Jul 26, 2002 | 4 km NNW of Summerville, South Carolina | M3.0 | 111 km | 10 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
18 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980. Strongest on record: Category 4.
| Year | Name | Category | Max Wind | Closest |
| 2024 | Helene | Category 2 | 109 mph | 282 km |
| 2023 | Idalia | Category 1 | — | 293 km |
| 2022 | Ian | Category 1 | 86 mph | 202 km |
| 2020 | Isaias | Category 1 | 92 mph | 217 km |
| 2019 | Dorian | Category 3 | 115 mph | 232 km |
| 2018 | Michael | Category 1 | 92 mph | 269 km |
| 2018 | Florence | Category 1 | 75 mph | 287 km |
| 2016 | Matthew | Category 2 | 109 mph | 151 km |
| 2014 | Arthur | Category 1 | 92 mph | 279 km |
| 2004 | Gaston | Category 1 | 75 mph | 167 km |
| 2004 | Charley | Category 1 | 81 mph | 185 km |
| 1999 | Floyd | Category 2 | 109 mph | 280 km |
| 1999 | Irene | Category 1 | 81 mph | 245 km |
| 1996 | Bertha | Category 2 | 98 mph | 290 km |
| 1989 | Hugo | Category 4 | 138 mph | 103 km |
| 1985 | Kate | Category 1 | 75 mph | 279 km |
| 1985 | Bob | Category 1 | 75 mph | 141 km |
| 1984 | Diana | Category 3 | 115 mph | 286 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
439 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 15 fatalities, 327 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF4 | 60 km | 23.7 mi | 5 |
| Apr 5, 2022 | EF3 | 21 km | 34.5 mi | 0 |
| Apr 5, 2022 | EF3 | 35 km | 13.3 mi | 0 |
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF3 | 17 km | 8.5 mi | 0 |
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF3 | 9 km | 35.7 mi | 2 |
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF3 | 32 km | 37.9 mi | 0 |
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF3 | 11 km | 1.4 mi | 0 |
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF3 | 9 km | 5.4 mi | 0 |
| Apr 10, 2009 | EF3 | 78 km | 26.3 mi | 0 |
| Apr 10, 2009 | EF3 | 87 km | 17.7 mi | 0 |
| Apr 10, 2009 | EF3 | 49 km | 14.6 mi | 0 |
| Mar 15, 2008 | EF3 | 47 km | 10.1 mi | 0 |
| Dec 10, 2004 | EF3 | 62 km | 1.5 mi | 0 |
| May 7, 1998 | EF3 | 94 km | 5.0 mi | 0 |
| May 7, 1998 | EF3 | 81 km | 12.0 mi | 1 |
| Nov 2, 1995 | EF3 | 69 km | 1.5 mi | 0 |
| Aug 16, 1994 | EF3 | 76 km | 0.3 mi | 0 |
| Aug 16, 1994 | EF3 | 78 km | 8.0 mi | 0 |
| Apr 23, 1983 | EF3 | 11 km | 33.0 mi | 0 |
| Jan 9, 2024 | EF2 | 30 km | 2.1 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Tsunami History
1 tsunami recorded within 500 km.
| Year | Location | Cause | Max Wave | Deaths | Distance |
| 1886 | CHARLESTON, SC | Earthquake | — | — | 133 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: UNNAMED (8,427 acres, 2009).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2009 | UNNAMED | 8,427 | 22 km |
| 2010 | UNNAMED | 4,269 | 93 km |
| 2014 | UNNAMED | 3,897 | 95 km |
| 2019 | UNNAMED | 3,772 | 95 km |
| 2010 | UNNAMED | 3,746 | 98 km |
| 1994 | UNNAMED | 3,469 | 86 km |
| 2010 | UNNAMED | 2,990 | 86 km |
| 2010 | UNNAMED | 2,968 | 25 km |
| 2021 | C-326/327 LC | 2,852 | 82 km |
| 2010 | UNNAMED | 2,796 | 14 km |
| 2008 | UNNAMED | 2,711 | 14 km |
| 2013 | UNNAMED | 2,654 | 98 km |
| 2004 | UNNAMED | 2,553 | 86 km |
| 2004 | UNNAMED | 2,547 | 88 km |
| 2010 | UNNAMED | 2,532 | 95 km |
| 2008 | UNNAMED | 2,407 | 33 km |
| 2010 | UNNAMED | 2,330 | 13 km |
| 2018 | UNNAMED | 2,262 | 17 km |
| 2009 | UNNAMED | 2,228 | 21 km |
| 2009 | UNNAMED | 2,216 | 34 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 47°F (8°C) | 4.3 in | Coldest |
| February | 49°F (9°C) | 3.9 in | |
| March | 56°F (14°C) | 4.5 in | |
| April | 63°F (17°C) | 3.0 in | |
| May | 71°F (22°C) | 3.7 in | |
| June | 78°F (25°C) | 5.2 in | Wettest |
| July | 82°F (28°C) | 4.8 in | Warmest |
| August | 79°F (26°C) | 5.2 in | |
| September | 75°F (24°C) | 3.5 in | |
| October | 64°F (18°C) | 2.9 in | |
| November | 55°F (13°C) | 2.6 in | Driest |
| December | 48°F (9°C) | 3.5 in |
Barnwell has a seasonal temperature swing of 35°F / from 47°F in January to 82°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 47.1 inches, with June being the wettest month (5.2") and November the driest (2.6").