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Weather & Climate in Olympia, SC

Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.

Olympia enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 67°F (19°C). Winters average 48°F in January while summers reach 84°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 48.1 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 -358 feet.

Temperature

48°F Jan (9°C) 84°F Jul (29°C)
Annual Average66.5°F
23% above US avg
January Average48°F (9°C)
July Average84°F (29°C)
Sunny Days308 days/yr

Geography

Elevation-358 ft (-109 m)
Area0.7 sq mi (1.9 km²)
Population Density1,832/sq mi
Coordinates33.9739°N, 81.0361°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountyLexington County County
Nearest AirportAiken Regional (AIK)
43 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 48.1"
27% above US avg
Snowfall 0.2"
Wettest Month (Jul) 5.08"
Driest Month (Apr) 2.83"

Air Quality

AQI Median43.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Moderate
Risk Score90.9 / 100
Social Vulnerability22.4 / 100
Community Resilience46.3 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

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

Earthquake History

69 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 99 km 5 km
Aug 21, 1992 1 km SSE of Centerville, South Carolina M4.1 137 km 7 km
Apr 13, 1998 9 km S of Kershaw, South Carolina M3.9 68 km 7 km
Apr 17, 1995 0 km NNW of Centerville, South Carolina M3.9 135 km 8 km
Jun 29, 2022 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina M3.6 36 km 3 km
Nov 13, 1990 4 km SSW of Ladson, South Carolina M3.5 142 km 3 km
Jun 29, 2022 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina M3.5 36 km 3 km
Jan 3, 1992 4 km ENE of Willington, South Carolina M3.4 128 km 3 km
Jun 26, 2022 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina M3.4 36 km 4 km
May 9, 2022 5 km ESE of Elgin, South Carolina M3.3 35 km 4 km
Aug 29, 2009 2 km NE of Summerville, South Carolina M3.2 133 km 5 km
Jun 20, 2017 6 km SW of Augusta, Georgia M3.2 109 km 13 km
Aug 8, 1993 12 km ENE of Aiken, South Carolina M3.2 66 km 9 km
May 5, 2003 4 km NNW of Summerville, South Carolina M3.1 129 km 11 km
Jul 20, 2004 7 km WSW of Centerville, South Carolina M3.1 133 km 10 km
Aug 23, 2025 3 km N of Coronaca, South Carolina M3.0 104 km 2 km
Mar 29, 1999 3 km NNW of Sangaree, South Carolina M3.0 131 km 11 km
Feb 16, 2014 13 km WNW of Edgefield, South Carolina M3.0 96 km 7 km
Mar 19, 2014 0 km WNW of Centerville, South Carolina M3.0 135 km 7 km
Jul 26, 2002 4 km NNW of Summerville, South Carolina M3.0 128 km 10 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.

Hurricane History

15 hurricanes (Category 1+) recorded within 500 km since 1980. Strongest on record: Category 4.

Year Name Category Max Wind Closest
2022 Ian Category 1 86 mph 186 km
2020 Isaias Category 1 92 mph 222 km
2019 Dorian Category 3 115 mph 244 km
2018 Florence Category 1 92 mph 243 km
2016 Matthew Category 2 98 mph 179 km
2014 Arthur Category 2 92 mph 281 km
2004 Charley Category 1 81 mph 186 km
2004 Gaston Category 1 75 mph 172 km
1999 Floyd Category 2 104 mph 276 km
1999 Irene Category 1 81 mph 274 km
1996 Fran Category 3 115 mph 254 km
1996 Bertha Category 2 104 mph 275 km
1989 Hugo Category 4 138 mph 81 km
1985 Bob Category 1 75 mph 204 km
1984 Diana Category 4 127 mph 252 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).

Tornado History

503 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 30 fatalities, 470 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Path Fatalities
Mar 28, 1984 EF4 72 km 4.0 mi 0
Mar 28, 1984 EF4 51 km 21.0 mi 5
Dec 13, 1973 EF4 94 km 1.0 mi 2
Apr 8, 1957 EF4 84 km 121.4 mi 4
Apr 5, 2022 EF3 99 km 34.5 mi 0
Apr 13, 2020 EF3 80 km 35.7 mi 2
Apr 13, 2020 EF3 77 km 1.4 mi 0
Apr 13, 2020 EF3 88 km 5.4 mi 0
Apr 13, 2020 EF3 99 km 37.9 mi 0
Apr 13, 2020 EF3 91 km 8.5 mi 0
Apr 10, 2009 EF3 98 km 14.6 mi 0
Mar 15, 2008 EF3 83 km 10.1 mi 0
Mar 15, 2008 EF3 73 km 27.5 mi 0
Apr 15, 2007 EF3 54 km 19.0 mi 1
Dec 10, 2004 EF3 49 km 1.5 mi 0
Sep 7, 2004 EF3 53 km 7.0 mi 0
May 7, 1998 EF3 92 km 5.0 mi 0
Nov 2, 1995 EF3 18 km 1.5 mi 0
Aug 16, 1994 EF3 85 km 30.0 mi 0
Aug 16, 1994 EF3 21 km 0.3 mi 0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).

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 89 km
2010 BURNING UNIT 5,567 88 km
2009 UNNAMED 5,322 21 km
2001 UNNAMED 3,481 56 km
2010 C-94-95 133 RX 3,192 82 km
1991 UNNAMED 3,094 90 km
2010 UNNAMED 2,968 87 km
2010 UNNAMED 2,909 78 km
2010 UNNAMED 2,796 96 km
2008 UNNAMED 2,711 97 km
2015 UNNAMED 2,690 72 km
1992 UNNAMED 2,650 96 km
2017 UNNAMED 2,514 94 km
2009 UNNAMED 2,458 71 km
2017 UNNAMED 2,395 95 km
2017 UNNAMED 2,362 89 km
2010 UNNAMED 2,330 88 km
2013 UNNAMED 2,274 71 km
2018 UNNAMED 2,262 86 km
2013 UNNAMED 2,237 94 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 48°F (9°C) 4.5 in
February 48°F (9°C) 3.7 in
March 56°F (13°C) 4.5 in
April 63°F (17°C) 2.8 in Driest
May 71°F (22°C) 3.2 in
June 78°F (25°C) 4.7 in
July 84°F (29°C) 5.1 in Warmest, Wettest
August 80°F (27°C) 4.7 in
September 75°F (24°C) 3.8 in
October 64°F (18°C) 3.0 in
November 55°F (13°C) 2.9 in
December 47°F (9°C) 3.3 in Coldest

Olympia has a seasonal temperature swing of 36°F / from 47°F in December to 84°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 46.1 inches, with July being the wettest month (5.1") and April the driest (2.8").

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