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Weather & Climate in Great Falls, SC
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Great Falls enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 61°F (16°C). Winters average 42°F in January while summers reach 80°F in July. The area gets 310 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 47.8 inches (wetter than the 38-inch national average). The area receives 2.1 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43. The city sits at an elevation of 474 feet.
Temperature
42°F Jan (5°C)
80°F Jul (27°C)
| Annual Average | 60.9°F |
| 13% above US avg | |
| January Average | 42°F (5°C) |
| July Average | 80°F (27°C) |
| Sunny Days | 310 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 474 ft (144 m) |
| Area | 4.2 sq mi (11.0 km²) |
| Population Density | 411/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 34.5721°N, 80.9053°W |
| Timezone | America/New_York |
| County | Lancaster County County |
| Nearest Airport | Charlotte/Douglas International (CLT) 44 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 43.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Low |
| Risk Score | 79.4 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 42.1 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 52.5 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate |
| Hurricane | Relatively Low |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low |
| Wildfire | Very Low |
| Flood | Relatively Moderate |
| Hail | Relatively Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Low |
| Winter Weather | Relatively Low |
| Lightning | Relatively Moderate |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High |
| Drought | Very Low |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate |
| Landslide | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
33 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 | 138 km | 5 km |
| Apr 13, 1998 | 9 km S of Kershaw, South Carolina | M3.9 | 30 km | 7 km |
| Jun 29, 2022 | 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina | M3.6 | 48 km | 3 km |
| Jun 29, 2022 | 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina | M3.5 | 48 km | 3 km |
| Jun 26, 2022 | 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina | M3.4 | 48 km | 4 km |
| May 9, 2022 | 5 km ESE of Elgin, South Carolina | M3.3 | 49 km | 4 km |
| Aug 8, 1993 | 12 km ENE of Aiken, South Carolina | M3.2 | 126 km | 9 km |
| Jun 5, 1998 | 4 km SSE of Mooresville, North Carolina | M3.2 | 110 km | 9 km |
| Aug 23, 2025 | 3 km N of Coronaca, South Carolina | M3.0 | 114 km | 2 km |
| Aug 4, 2007 | 12 km ENE of Lake Lure, North Carolina | M3.0 | 148 km | 9 km |
| Feb 16, 2014 | 13 km WNW of Edgefield, South Carolina | M3.0 | 135 km | 7 km |
| Jan 29, 1994 | 12 km NNE of Alcolu, South Carolina | M2.9 | 106 km | 2 km |
| Feb 18, 2005 | 7 km ENE of Irmo, South Carolina | M2.9 | 54 km | 1 km |
| Mar 21, 2011 | 9 km S of Cordova, North Carolina | M2.9 | 102 km | 8 km |
| Aug 23, 2025 | 3 km NNW of Coronaca, South Carolina | M2.9 | 115 km | 7 km |
| Sep 18, 1996 | 6 km E of Clarks Hill, South Carolina | M2.8 | 149 km | 14 km |
| May 10, 2022 | 5 km E of Elgin, South Carolina | M2.8 | 47 km | 2 km |
| Aug 14, 2025 | 7 km N of Columbus, North Carolina | M2.7 | 145 km | 6 km |
| Jul 5, 2025 | 11 km ENE of Parksville, South Carolina | M2.7 | 138 km | 4 km |
| Mar 21, 2004 | 16 km ENE of Lake Lure, North Carolina | M2.7 | 147 km | 9 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
14 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980. Strongest on record: Category 4.
| Year | Name | Category | Max Wind | Closest |
| 2022 | Ian | Category 1 | 81 mph | 212 km |
| 2020 | Isaias | Category 1 | 92 mph | 233 km |
| 2019 | Dorian | Category 3 | 115 mph | 279 km |
| 2018 | Florence | Category 1 | 92 mph | 239 km |
| 2016 | Matthew | Category 2 | 98 mph | 212 km |
| 2004 | Charley | Category 1 | 81 mph | 211 km |
| 2004 | Gaston | Category 1 | 75 mph | 212 km |
| 1999 | Floyd | Category 2 | 104 mph | 281 km |
| 1998 | Bonnie | Category 3 | 115 mph | 294 km |
| 1996 | Fran | Category 3 | 115 mph | 213 km |
| 1996 | Bertha | Category 2 | 104 mph | 280 km |
| 1989 | Hugo | Category 4 | 138 mph | 23 km |
| 1985 | Bob | Category 1 | 75 mph | 266 km |
| 1984 | Diana | Category 4 | 132 mph | 248 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
444 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 23 fatalities, 491 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| May 5, 1989 | EF4 | 48 km | 13.0 mi | 1 |
| Mar 28, 1984 | EF4 | 26 km | 4.0 mi | 0 |
| Mar 28, 1984 | EF4 | 90 km | 7.0 mi | 0 |
| Mar 28, 1984 | EF4 | 44 km | 21.0 mi | 5 |
| Apr 8, 1957 | EF4 | 31 km | 121.4 mi | 4 |
| Mar 15, 2008 | EF3 | 87 km | 27.5 mi | 0 |
| Apr 15, 2007 | EF3 | 95 km | 19.0 mi | 1 |
| Sep 7, 2004 | EF3 | 45 km | 7.0 mi | 0 |
| Nov 2, 1995 | EF3 | 86 km | 1.5 mi | 0 |
| Aug 16, 1994 | EF3 | 79 km | 0.3 mi | 0 |
| Aug 16, 1994 | EF3 | 77 km | 8.0 mi | 0 |
| Aug 16, 1994 | EF3 | 57 km | 30.0 mi | 0 |
| Mar 27, 1994 | EF3 | 66 km | 18.5 mi | 0 |
| Oct 18, 1990 | EF3 | 50 km | 12.0 mi | 0 |
| Mar 28, 1984 | EF3 | 55 km | 19.0 mi | 0 |
| Dec 13, 1973 | EF3 | 85 km | 17.3 mi | 1 |
| Apr 18, 1969 | EF3 | 73 km | 77.3 mi | 0 |
| Mar 31, 2022 | EF2 | 85 km | 7.2 mi | 0 |
| May 5, 2020 | EF2 | 11 km | 14.0 mi | 0 |
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF2 | 91 km | 0.2 mi | 0 |
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: BURNING UNIT (5,567 acres, 2010).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2010 | BURNING UNIT | 5,567 | 50 km |
| 2009 | UNNAMED | 5,322 | 61 km |
| 2001 | UNNAMED | 3,481 | 96 km |
| 2010 | C-94-95 133 RX | 3,192 | 73 km |
| 1991 | UNNAMED | 3,094 | 57 km |
| 2010 | UNNAMED | 2,909 | 71 km |
| 2015 | UNNAMED | 2,690 | 46 km |
| 2017 | UNNAMED | 2,514 | 80 km |
| 2009 | UNNAMED | 2,458 | 49 km |
| 2017 | UNNAMED | 2,395 | 73 km |
| 2017 | UNNAMED | 2,362 | 68 km |
| 2008 | 05/05 RX BURN | 2,351 | 61 km |
| 2013 | UNNAMED | 2,274 | 49 km |
| 2013 | UNNAMED | 2,237 | 80 km |
| 2010 | C-142 RX | 2,149 | 73 km |
| 2007 | 06-09 RX BURN | 2,054 | 61 km |
| 2022 | SCCRR-FY22-RX-PRESCRIBED FIRE | 2,039 | 57 km |
| 2021 | UNNAMED | 2,024 | 71 km |
| 2019 | UNNAMED | 2,000 | 77 km |
| 2000 | UNNAMED | 1,989 | 96 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 42°F (5°C) | 4.4 in | Coldest |
| February | 45°F (7°C) | 3.7 in | |
| March | 53°F (12°C) | 4.7 in | |
| April | 61°F (16°C) | 3.0 in | Driest |
| May | 68°F (20°C) | 3.4 in | |
| June | 76°F (24°C) | 4.3 in | |
| July | 80°F (27°C) | 4.9 in | Warmest, Wettest |
| August | 78°F (26°C) | 4.5 in | |
| September | 72°F (22°C) | 3.9 in | |
| October | 61°F (16°C) | 3.5 in | |
| November | 52°F (11°C) | 3.1 in | |
| December | 45°F (7°C) | 3.5 in |
Great Falls has a seasonal temperature swing of 38°F / from 42°F in January to 80°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 46.7 inches, with July being the wettest month (4.9") and April the driest (3.0").