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Weather & Climate in Sumter, SC
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Sumter enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 62°F (17°C). Winters average 44°F in January while summers reach 80°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 48.8 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 171 feet.
Temperature
44°F Jan (7°C)
80°F Jul (27°C)
| Annual Average | 62.1°F |
| 15% above US avg | |
| January Average | 44°F (7°C) |
| July Average | 80°F (27°C) |
| Sunny Days | 308 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 171 ft (52 m) |
| Area | 32.1 sq mi (83.1 km²) |
| Population Density | 1,300/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 33.9408°N, 80.3955°W |
| Timezone | America/New_York |
| County | Sumter County County |
| Nearest Airport | Hartsville Regional (HVS) 36 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 43.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively Moderate |
| Risk Score | 81.7 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 54.7 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 45.0 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively Moderate |
| 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 Moderate |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High |
| Drought | Relatively Low |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate |
| Landslide | Very Low |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
53 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 | 109 km | 7 km |
| Apr 13, 1998 | 9 km S of Kershaw, South Carolina | M3.9 | 62 km | 7 km |
| Apr 17, 1995 | 0 km NNW of Centerville, South Carolina | M3.9 | 107 km | 8 km |
| Jun 29, 2022 | 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina | M3.6 | 39 km | 3 km |
| Nov 13, 1990 | 4 km SSW of Ladson, South Carolina | M3.5 | 113 km | 3 km |
| Jun 29, 2022 | 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina | M3.5 | 40 km | 3 km |
| Jun 26, 2022 | 6 km E of Elgin, South Carolina | M3.4 | 39 km | 4 km |
| May 9, 2022 | 5 km ESE of Elgin, South Carolina | M3.3 | 39 km | 4 km |
| Aug 29, 2009 | 2 km NE of Summerville, South Carolina | M3.2 | 103 km | 5 km |
| Aug 8, 1993 | 12 km ENE of Aiken, South Carolina | M3.2 | 117 km | 9 km |
| Jul 20, 2004 | 7 km WSW of Centerville, South Carolina | M3.1 | 109 km | 10 km |
| May 5, 2003 | 4 km NNW of Summerville, South Carolina | M3.1 | 100 km | 11 km |
| Mar 29, 1999 | 3 km NNW of Sangaree, South Carolina | M3.0 | 100 km | 11 km |
| Jul 26, 2002 | 4 km NNW of Summerville, South Carolina | M3.0 | 100 km | 10 km |
| Mar 19, 2014 | 0 km WNW of Centerville, South Carolina | M3.0 | 107 km | 7 km |
| Feb 18, 2005 | 7 km ENE of Irmo, South Carolina | M2.9 | 69 km | 1 km |
| Mar 21, 2011 | 9 km S of Cordova, North Carolina | M2.9 | 111 km | 8 km |
| Feb 7, 1990 | 9 km S of Centerville, South Carolina | M2.9 | 117 km | 9 km |
| Jan 29, 1994 | 12 km NNE of Alcolu, South Carolina | M2.9 | 25 km | 2 km |
| Mar 2, 2003 | 7 km S of Centerville, South Carolina | M2.9 | 114 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 | 132 km |
| 2020 | Isaias | Category 1 | 92 mph | 175 km |
| 2019 | Dorian | Category 3 | 115 mph | 196 km |
| 2018 | Florence | Category 2 | 98 mph | 184 km |
| 2016 | Matthew | Category 2 | 98 mph | 134 km |
| 2014 | Arthur | Category 2 | 98 mph | 226 km |
| 2005 | Ophelia | Category 1 | 86 mph | 250 km |
| 2004 | Alex | Category 1 | 81 mph | 278 km |
| 2004 | Gaston | Category 1 | 75 mph | 128 km |
| 2004 | Charley | Category 1 | 81 mph | 134 km |
| 1999 | Floyd | Category 2 | 104 mph | 221 km |
| 1999 | Dennis | Category 2 | 104 mph | 289 km |
| 1999 | Irene | Category 1 | 92 mph | 232 km |
| 1998 | Bonnie | Category 3 | 115 mph | 248 km |
| 1996 | Fran | Category 3 | 115 mph | 209 km |
| 1996 | Bertha | Category 2 | 104 mph | 216 km |
| 1989 | Hugo | Category 4 | 138 mph | 50 km |
| 1985 | Bob | Category 1 | 75 mph | 194 km |
| 1984 | Diana | Category 4 | 132 mph | 193 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
477 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 24 fatalities, 577 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Nov 7, 1995 | EF4 | 99 km | 0.7 mi | 0 |
| Mar 28, 1984 | EF4 | 83 km | 7.0 mi | 0 |
| Mar 28, 1984 | EF4 | 69 km | 4.0 mi | 0 |
| Mar 28, 1984 | EF4 | 99 km | 17.0 mi | 7 |
| Mar 28, 1984 | EF4 | 98 km | 21.0 mi | 5 |
| Apr 8, 1957 | EF4 | 79 km | 121.4 mi | 4 |
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF3 | 92 km | 5.7 mi | 0 |
| Mar 15, 2008 | EF3 | 89 km | 10.1 mi | 0 |
| Apr 15, 2007 | EF3 | 19 km | 19.0 mi | 1 |
| Dec 10, 2004 | EF3 | 58 km | 1.5 mi | 0 |
| Sep 7, 2004 | EF3 | 40 km | 7.0 mi | 0 |
| Nov 2, 1995 | EF3 | 66 km | 1.5 mi | 0 |
| Aug 16, 1994 | EF3 | 77 km | 8.0 mi | 0 |
| Aug 16, 1994 | EF3 | 79 km | 0.3 mi | 0 |
| May 20, 1980 | EF3 | 91 km | 10.7 mi | 0 |
| Apr 18, 1969 | EF3 | 59 km | 77.3 mi | 0 |
| Jan 9, 2024 | EF2 | 96 km | 2.1 mi | 0 |
| Apr 5, 2022 | EF2 | 32 km | 2.8 mi | 0 |
| May 5, 2020 | EF2 | 93 km | 14.0 mi | 0 |
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF2 | 70 km | 10.2 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 | — | — | 121 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 | 95 km |
| 2009 | UNNAMED | 8,439 | 95 km |
| 2009 | UNNAMED | 5,322 | 41 km |
| 2016 | UNNAMED | 4,336 | 94 km |
| 2010 | UNNAMED | 3,759 | 62 km |
| 2003 | LITTLE HELLHOLE | 3,724 | 99 km |
| 2001 | UNNAMED | 3,481 | 19 km |
| 2017 | UNNAMED | 3,217 | 99 km |
| 1991 | UNNAMED | 3,094 | 63 km |
| 1985 | UNNAMED | 2,891 | 99 km |
| 1992 | UNNAMED | 2,650 | 47 km |
| 2005 | UNNAMED | 2,595 | 100 km |
| 2014 | UNNAMED | 2,567 | 89 km |
| 2015 | UNNAMED | 2,388 | 99 km |
| 2008 | 05/05 RX BURN | 2,351 | 77 km |
| 2008 | MATTASSEE LAKE 1 | 2,268 | 75 km |
| 2016 | UNNAMED | 2,124 | 85 km |
| 2007 | 06-09 RX BURN | 2,054 | 74 km |
| 2022 | SCCRR-FY22-RX-PRESCRIBED FIRE | 2,039 | 68 km |
| 2015 | UNNAMED | 1,960 | 96 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 44°F (7°C) | 4.4 in | Coldest |
| February | 48°F (9°C) | 3.6 in | |
| March | 55°F (13°C) | 4.4 in | |
| April | 63°F (17°C) | 2.8 in | |
| May | 70°F (21°C) | 3.5 in | |
| June | 77°F (25°C) | 5.1 in | |
| July | 80°F (27°C) | 5.3 in | Warmest, Wettest |
| August | 79°F (26°C) | 5.0 in | |
| September | 74°F (23°C) | 3.9 in | |
| October | 63°F (17°C) | 3.0 in | |
| November | 55°F (13°C) | 2.8 in | Driest |
| December | 47°F (8°C) | 3.4 in |
Sumter has a seasonal temperature swing of 36°F / from 44°F in January to 80°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 47.0 inches, with July being the wettest month (5.3") and November the driest (2.8").