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Weather & Climate in Santee, SC
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Santee enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 64°F (18°C). Winters average 46°F in January while summers reach 81°F in July. The area gets 304 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 50.5 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 122 feet.
Temperature
46°F Jan (8°C)
81°F Jul (27°C)
| Annual Average | 63.9°F |
| 18% above US avg | |
| January Average | 46°F (8°C) |
| July Average | 81°F (27°C) |
| Sunny Days | 304 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 122 ft (37 m) |
| Area | 2.5 sq mi (6.5 km²) |
| Population Density | 472/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 33.4846°N, 80.4900°W |
| Timezone | America/New_York |
| County | Orangeburg County County |
| Nearest Airport | Lowcountry Regional (RBW) 40 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 43.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk Score | 87.7 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 94.8 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 47.4 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate |
| Hurricane | Relatively High |
| 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 | Relatively High |
| Drought | Relatively Moderate |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate |
| Landslide | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
54 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 | 63 km | 7 km |
| Apr 13, 1998 | 9 km S of Kershaw, South Carolina | M3.9 | 110 km | 7 km |
| Apr 17, 1995 | 0 km NNW of Centerville, South Carolina | M3.9 | 62 km | 8 km |
| Jun 29, 2022 | 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina | M3.6 | 79 km | 3 km |
| Nov 8, 2002 | 24 km SSE of Kiawah Island, South Carolina | M3.5 | 128 km | 4 km |
| Jun 29, 2022 | 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina | M3.5 | 79 km | 3 km |
| Nov 13, 1990 | 4 km SSW of Ladson, South Carolina | M3.5 | 68 km | 3 km |
| Jun 26, 2022 | 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina | M3.4 | 79 km | 4 km |
| May 9, 2022 | 5 km ESE of Elgin, South Carolina | M3.3 | 78 km | 4 km |
| Jun 20, 2017 | 6 km SW of Augusta, Georgia | M3.2 | 142 km | 13 km |
| Aug 29, 2009 | 2 km NE of Summerville, South Carolina | M3.2 | 59 km | 5 km |
| Aug 8, 1993 | 12 km ENE of Aiken, South Carolina | M3.2 | 103 km | 9 km |
| Jul 20, 2004 | 7 km WSW of Centerville, South Carolina | M3.1 | 61 km | 10 km |
| May 5, 2003 | 4 km NNW of Summerville, South Carolina | M3.1 | 55 km | 11 km |
| Jul 26, 2002 | 4 km NNW of Summerville, South Carolina | M3.0 | 55 km | 10 km |
| Mar 19, 2014 | 0 km WNW of Centerville, South Carolina | M3.0 | 61 km | 7 km |
| Mar 29, 1999 | 3 km NNW of Sangaree, South Carolina | M3.0 | 57 km | 11 km |
| Jan 29, 1994 | 12 km NNE of Alcolu, South Carolina | M2.9 | 52 km | 2 km |
| Feb 18, 2005 | 7 km ENE of Irmo, South Carolina | M2.9 | 91 km | 1 km |
| Mar 2, 2003 | 7 km S of Centerville, South Carolina | M2.9 | 69 km | 7 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 | 122 km |
| 2020 | Isaias | Category 1 | 92 mph | 150 km |
| 2019 | Dorian | Category 3 | 115 mph | 172 km |
| 2018 | Florence | Category 1 | 92 mph | 202 km |
| 2016 | Matthew | Category 2 | 98 mph | 107 km |
| 2014 | Arthur | Category 2 | 98 mph | 214 km |
| 2005 | Ophelia | Category 1 | 86 mph | 239 km |
| 2004 | Alex | Category 1 | 81 mph | 265 km |
| 2004 | Gaston | Category 1 | 75 mph | 99 km |
| 2004 | Charley | Category 1 | 81 mph | 115 km |
| 1999 | Floyd | Category 2 | 104 mph | 211 km |
| 1999 | Dennis | Category 2 | 104 mph | 270 km |
| 1999 | Irene | Category 1 | 92 mph | 199 km |
| 1998 | Bonnie | Category 3 | 115 mph | 250 km |
| 1996 | Fran | Category 3 | 115 mph | 232 km |
| 1996 | Bertha | Category 2 | 104 mph | 218 km |
| 1989 | Hugo | Category 4 | 138 mph | 18 km |
| 1985 | Bob | Category 1 | 75 mph | 143 km |
| 1984 | Diana | Category 4 | 132 mph | 210 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
489 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF3. Total: 9 fatalities, 286 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Apr 5, 2022 | EF3 | 80 km | 34.5 mi | 0 |
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF3 | 86 km | 35.7 mi | 2 |
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF3 | 77 km | 1.4 mi | 0 |
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF3 | 57 km | 5.7 mi | 0 |
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF3 | 79 km | 5.4 mi | 0 |
| Mar 15, 2008 | EF3 | 44 km | 10.1 mi | 0 |
| Apr 15, 2007 | EF3 | 34 km | 19.0 mi | 1 |
| Dec 10, 2004 | EF3 | 33 km | 1.5 mi | 0 |
| Sep 7, 2004 | EF3 | 88 km | 7.0 mi | 0 |
| Nov 2, 1995 | EF3 | 68 km | 1.5 mi | 0 |
| Aug 16, 1994 | EF3 | 85 km | 0.3 mi | 0 |
| Aug 16, 1994 | EF3 | 85 km | 8.0 mi | 0 |
| Apr 23, 1983 | EF3 | 96 km | 33.0 mi | 0 |
| Sep 11, 1960 | EF3 | 100 km | 8.8 mi | 0 |
| Jan 9, 2024 | EF2 | 57 km | 2.1 mi | 0 |
| Apr 5, 2022 | EF2 | 33 km | 2.8 mi | 0 |
| Apr 5, 2022 | EF2 | 99 km | 5.7 mi | 0 |
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF2 | 29 km | 10.2 mi | 0 |
| Apr 19, 2019 | EF2 | 44 km | 10.6 mi | 0 |
| Apr 19, 2019 | EF2 | 25 km | 2.9 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 | — | — | 79 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: UNNAMED (13,429 acres, 2004).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2004 | UNNAMED | 13,429 | 88 km |
| 2005 | UNNAMED | 11,023 | 84 km |
| 2005 | UNNAMED | 8,560 | 65 km |
| 2009 | UNNAMED | 8,439 | 65 km |
| 2009 | UNNAMED | 5,322 | 68 km |
| 1997 | MURRELL | 5,126 | 95 km |
| 2017 | UNNAMED | 4,893 | 78 km |
| 2014 | UNNAMED | 4,890 | 85 km |
| 2008 | UNNAMED | 4,852 | 91 km |
| 2017 | UNNAMED | 4,813 | 95 km |
| 2016 | UNNAMED | 4,336 | 65 km |
| 2008 | UNNAMED | 3,955 | 86 km |
| 2010 | UNNAMED | 3,759 | 40 km |
| 2003 | LITTLE HELLHOLE | 3,724 | 68 km |
| 2009 | UNNAMED | 3,641 | 94 km |
| 2001 | UNNAMED | 3,481 | 34 km |
| 2015 | UNNAMED | 3,367 | 94 km |
| 2017 | UNNAMED | 3,217 | 73 km |
| 2008 | UNNAMED | 3,104 | 85 km |
| 2017 | UNNAMED | 3,098 | 91 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 46°F (8°C) | 4.0 in | Coldest |
| February | 49°F (9°C) | 3.8 in | |
| March | 56°F (13°C) | 4.2 in | |
| April | 63°F (17°C) | 3.0 in | |
| May | 71°F (22°C) | 4.1 in | |
| June | 77°F (25°C) | 5.3 in | |
| July | 81°F (27°C) | 5.5 in | Warmest |
| August | 79°F (26°C) | 5.6 in | Wettest |
| September | 75°F (24°C) | 3.8 in | |
| October | 65°F (18°C) | 2.9 in | |
| November | 56°F (14°C) | 2.4 in | Driest |
| December | 49°F (9°C) | 3.4 in |
Santee has a seasonal temperature swing of 34°F / from 46°F in January to 81°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 47.8 inches, with August being the wettest month (5.6") and November the driest (2.4").