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Weather & Climate in Oswego, SC
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Oswego enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 63°F (17°C). Winters average 45°F in January while summers reach 81°F in July. The area gets 318 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43. The city sits at an elevation of 154 feet.
Temperature
45°F Jan (7°C)
81°F Jul (27°C)
| Annual Average | 63.1°F |
| 17% above US avg | |
| January Average | 45°F (7°C) |
| July Average | 81°F (27°C) |
| Sunny Days | 318 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 154 ft (47 m) |
| Area | 1.2 sq mi (3.1 km²) |
| Population Density | 174/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 34.0056°N, 80.2861°W |
| Timezone | America/New_York |
| County | Lee County County |
| Nearest Airport | Hartsville Regional (HVS) 29 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 43.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Very Low |
| Risk Score | 36.0 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 86.2 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 18.1 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively Low |
| Hurricane | Relatively Moderate |
| Earthquake | Relatively Low |
| Wildfire | Very Low |
| Flood | Very Low |
| Hail | Relatively Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively Moderate |
| 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
52 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M4.1.
| Aug 21, 1992 | 1 km SSE of Centerville, South Carolina | M4.1 | 114 km | 7 km |
| Apr 13, 1998 | 9 km S of Kershaw, South Carolina | M3.9 | 59 km | 7 km |
| Apr 17, 1995 | 0 km NNW of Centerville, South Carolina | M3.9 | 113 km | 8 km |
| Jun 29, 2022 | 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina | M3.6 | 44 km | 3 km |
| Nov 13, 1990 | 4 km SSW of Ladson, South Carolina | M3.5 | 119 km | 3 km |
| Jun 29, 2022 | 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina | M3.5 | 45 km | 3 km |
| Jun 26, 2022 | 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina | M3.4 | 44 km | 4 km |
| May 9, 2022 | 5 km ESE of Elgin, South Carolina | M3.3 | 44 km | 4 km |
| Aug 8, 1993 | 12 km ENE of Aiken, South Carolina | M3.2 | 129 km | 9 km |
| Aug 29, 2009 | 2 km NE of Summerville, South Carolina | M3.2 | 109 km | 5 km |
| May 5, 2003 | 4 km NNW of Summerville, South Carolina | M3.1 | 106 km | 11 km |
| Jul 20, 2004 | 7 km WSW of Centerville, South Carolina | M3.1 | 115 km | 10 km |
| Mar 29, 1999 | 3 km NNW of Sangaree, South Carolina | M3.0 | 106 km | 11 km |
| Mar 19, 2014 | 0 km WNW of Centerville, South Carolina | M3.0 | 113 km | 7 km |
| Jul 26, 2002 | 4 km NNW of Summerville, South Carolina | M3.0 | 106 km | 10 km |
| Feb 18, 2005 | 7 km ENE of Irmo, South Carolina | M2.9 | 77 km | 1 km |
| Jul 7, 2002 | 1 km NW of Sangaree, South Carolina | M2.9 | 108 km | 11 km |
| Mar 21, 2011 | 9 km S of Cordova, North Carolina | M2.9 | 100 km | 8 km |
| Mar 2, 2003 | 7 km S of Centerville, South Carolina | M2.9 | 120 km | 7 km |
| Feb 7, 1990 | 9 km S of Centerville, South Carolina | M2.9 | 123 km | 9 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
19 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 | 128 km |
| 2020 | Isaias | Category 1 | 92 mph | 165 km |
| 2019 | Dorian | Category 3 | 115 mph | 194 km |
| 2018 | Florence | Category 2 | 98 mph | 174 km |
| 2016 | Matthew | Category 2 | 98 mph | 132 km |
| 2014 | Arthur | Category 2 | 98 mph | 222 km |
| 2005 | Ophelia | Category 1 | 86 mph | 243 km |
| 2004 | Alex | Category 1 | 81 mph | 273 km |
| 2004 | Gaston | Category 1 | 75 mph | 129 km |
| 2004 | Charley | Category 1 | 81 mph | 129 km |
| 1999 | Floyd | Category 2 | 104 mph | 212 km |
| 1999 | Dennis | Category 2 | 104 mph | 283 km |
| 1999 | Irene | Category 1 | 92 mph | 228 km |
| 1998 | Bonnie | Category 3 | 115 mph | 238 km |
| 1996 | Fran | Category 3 | 115 mph | 197 km |
| 1996 | Bertha | Category 2 | 104 mph | 207 km |
| 1989 | Hugo | Category 4 | 138 mph | 56 km |
| 1985 | Bob | Category 1 | 75 mph | 202 km |
| 1984 | Diana | Category 4 | 132 mph | 183 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
471 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 26 fatalities, 958 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Nov 7, 1995 | EF4 | 87 km | 0.7 mi | 0 |
| Mar 28, 1984 | EF4 | 94 km | 40.0 mi | 4 |
| Mar 28, 1984 | EF4 | 87 km | 17.0 mi | 7 |
| Mar 28, 1984 | EF4 | 72 km | 7.0 mi | 0 |
| Mar 28, 1984 | EF4 | 66 km | 4.0 mi | 0 |
| Apr 8, 1957 | EF4 | 75 km | 121.4 mi | 4 |
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF3 | 96 km | 5.7 mi | 0 |
| Apr 15, 2007 | EF3 | 31 km | 19.0 mi | 1 |
| Dec 10, 2004 | EF3 | 70 km | 1.5 mi | 0 |
| Sep 7, 2004 | EF3 | 40 km | 7.0 mi | 0 |
| Nov 2, 1995 | EF3 | 78 km | 1.5 mi | 0 |
| Aug 16, 1994 | EF3 | 87 km | 8.0 mi | 0 |
| Aug 16, 1994 | EF3 | 89 km | 0.3 mi | 0 |
| May 20, 1980 | EF3 | 79 km | 10.7 mi | 0 |
| Apr 18, 1969 | EF3 | 48 km | 77.3 mi | 0 |
| Nov 24, 1967 | EF3 | 99 km | 3.3 mi | 0 |
| Apr 5, 2022 | EF2 | 35 km | 2.8 mi | 0 |
| May 5, 2020 | EF2 | 94 km | 14.0 mi | 0 |
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF2 | 81 km | 10.2 mi | 0 |
| Jan 11, 2020 | EF2 | 52 km | 0.6 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 | — | — | 126 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: UNNAMED (8,560 acres, 2005).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2005 | UNNAMED | 8,560 | 97 km |
| 2009 | UNNAMED | 8,439 | 97 km |
| 2009 | UNNAMED | 5,322 | 50 km |
| 2016 | UNNAMED | 4,336 | 95 km |
| 1991 | UNNAMED | 3,968 | 100 km |
| 2010 | UNNAMED | 3,759 | 65 km |
| 2001 | UNNAMED | 3,481 | 30 km |
| 2017 | UNNAMED | 3,217 | 99 km |
| 1991 | UNNAMED | 3,094 | 55 km |
| 1992 | UNNAMED | 2,650 | 49 km |
| 2014 | UNNAMED | 2,567 | 89 km |
| 2008 | 05/05 RX BURN | 2,351 | 69 km |
| 2008 | MATTASSEE LAKE 1 | 2,268 | 75 km |
| 2016 | UNNAMED | 2,124 | 86 km |
| 2007 | 06-09 RX BURN | 2,054 | 65 km |
| 2022 | SCCRR-FY22-RX-PRESCRIBED FIRE | 2,039 | 60 km |
| 2015 | UNNAMED | 1,960 | 98 km |
| 2002 | UNNAMED | 1,920 | 76 km |
| 2002 | MONKEY FACE | 1,906 | 85 km |
| 1998 | 981406 | 1,892 | 60 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 45°F (7°C) | 4.3 in | Coldest |
| February | 47°F (8°C) | 3.5 in | |
| March | 55°F (13°C) | 4.3 in | |
| April | 62°F (17°C) | 2.9 in | |
| May | 70°F (21°C) | 3.5 in | |
| June | 77°F (25°C) | 4.8 in | |
| July | 81°F (27°C) | 5.2 in | Warmest, Wettest |
| August | 79°F (26°C) | 5.0 in | |
| September | 74°F (23°C) | 3.7 in | |
| October | 63°F (17°C) | 3.1 in | |
| November | 55°F (13°C) | 2.8 in | Driest |
| December | 47°F (8°C) | 3.3 in |
Oswego has a seasonal temperature swing of 36°F / from 45°F in January to 81°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 46.5 inches, with July being the wettest month (5.2") and November the driest (2.8").