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Weather & Climate in Surfside Beach, SC
Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.
Surfside Beach enjoys a temperate climate with an average annual temperature of 62°F (17°C). Winters average 45°F in January while summers reach 80°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 53.6 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 17 feet.
Temperature
45°F Jan (7°C)
80°F Jul (26°C)
| Annual Average | 62.4°F |
| 16% above US avg | |
| January Average | 45°F (7°C) |
| July Average | 80°F (26°C) |
| Sunny Days | 304 days/yr |
Geography
| Elevation | 17 ft (5 m) |
| Area | 1.9 sq mi (5.0 km²) |
| Population Density | 2,163/sq mi |
| Coordinates | 33.6097°N, 78.9775°W |
| Timezone | America/New_York |
| County | Horry County County |
| Nearest Airport | Myrtle Beach International (MYR) 6 miles away |
Precipitation & Snow
Air Quality
| AQI Median | 43.0 |
| Rating | Good |
Natural Hazard Risk
| Overall Risk | Relatively High |
| Risk Score | 98.2 / 100 |
| Social Vulnerability | 65.4 / 100 |
| Community Resilience | 66.4 / 100 |
Hazard Breakdown
| Tornado | Relatively High |
| Hurricane | Very High |
| Earthquake | Relatively Moderate |
| Wildfire | Relatively Moderate |
| Flood | Relatively Moderate |
| Hail | Relatively Low |
| Strong Wind | Relatively High |
| Heat Wave | Relatively Moderate |
| Winter Weather | Relatively High |
| Lightning | Relatively High |
| Ice Storm | Relatively High |
| Drought | Relatively Low |
| Cold Wave | Relatively Moderate |
| Landslide | Very Low |
| Coastal Flood | Relatively High |
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)
Earthquake History
32 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 | 130 km | 7 km |
| Apr 17, 1995 | 0 km NNW of Centerville, South Carolina | M3.9 | 130 km | 8 km |
| Nov 13, 1990 | 4 km SSW of Ladson, South Carolina | M3.5 | 131 km | 3 km |
| Aug 29, 2009 | 2 km NE of Summerville, South Carolina | M3.2 | 127 km | 5 km |
| Jul 20, 2004 | 7 km WSW of Centerville, South Carolina | M3.1 | 138 km | 10 km |
| May 5, 2003 | 4 km NNW of Summerville, South Carolina | M3.1 | 128 km | 11 km |
| Mar 29, 1999 | 3 km NNW of Sangaree, South Carolina | M3.0 | 124 km | 11 km |
| Mar 19, 2014 | 0 km WNW of Centerville, South Carolina | M3.0 | 131 km | 7 km |
| Jul 26, 2002 | 4 km NNW of Summerville, South Carolina | M3.0 | 129 km | 10 km |
| Jul 7, 2002 | 1 km NW of Sangaree, South Carolina | M2.9 | 125 km | 11 km |
| Jan 29, 1994 | 12 km NNE of Alcolu, South Carolina | M2.9 | 112 km | 2 km |
| Mar 2, 2003 | 7 km S of Centerville, South Carolina | M2.9 | 134 km | 7 km |
| Feb 7, 1990 | 9 km S of Centerville, South Carolina | M2.9 | 135 km | 9 km |
| Jul 31, 2012 | 5 km S of Centerville, South Carolina | M2.8 | 133 km | 8 km |
| May 12, 2010 | 6 km SSW of Ladson, South Carolina | M2.8 | 131 km | 1 km |
| Jul 16, 2002 | 5 km SSW of Ladson, South Carolina | M2.8 | 131 km | 7 km |
| May 1, 2004 | 3 km ENE of Goose Creek, South Carolina | M2.7 | 117 km | 11 km |
| Jan 11, 2002 | 6 km SSW of Ladson, South Carolina | M2.7 | 132 km | 6 km |
| Jun 12, 2003 | 5 km WSW of Centerville, South Carolina | M2.6 | 136 km | 10 km |
| Jun 18, 1990 | 5 km SSE of Centerville, South Carolina | M2.6 | 132 km | 5 km |
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.
Hurricane History
25 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 | 40 km |
| 2020 | Isaias | Category 1 | 92 mph | 49 km |
| 2019 | Dorian | Category 3 | 115 mph | 81 km |
| 2018 | Florence | Category 2 | 104 mph | 69 km |
| 2016 | Matthew | Category 2 | 98 mph | 12 km |
| 2014 | Arthur | Category 2 | 98 mph | 101 km |
| 2011 | Irene | Category 1 | 92 mph | 203 km |
| 2005 | Ophelia | Category 1 | 86 mph | 115 km |
| 2004 | Alex | Category 2 | 98 mph | 149 km |
| 2004 | Gaston | Category 1 | 75 mph | 89 km |
| 2004 | Charley | Category 1 | 81 mph | 26 km |
| 2003 | Isabel | Category 2 | 104 mph | 289 km |
| 1999 | Irene | Category 2 | 92 mph | 110 km |
| 1999 | Floyd | Category 2 | 104 mph | 91 km |
| 1999 | Dennis | Category 2 | 104 mph | 157 km |
| 1998 | Bonnie | Category 3 | 115 mph | 112 km |
| 1996 | Fran | Category 3 | 115 mph | 91 km |
| 1996 | Bertha | Category 2 | 104 mph | 81 km |
| 1994 | Gordon | Category 1 | — | 285 km |
| 1991 | Bob | Category 2 | 98 mph | 276 km |
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Category 1+, 1980–2026).
Tornado History
251 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF4. Total: 12 fatalities, 371 injuries.
| Date | Rating | Distance | Path | Fatalities |
| Nov 7, 1995 | EF4 | 69 km | 0.7 mi | 0 |
| Feb 15, 2021 | EF3 | 55 km | 21.9 mi | 3 |
| May 20, 1980 | EF3 | 100 km | 10.7 mi | 0 |
| Nov 24, 1967 | EF3 | 42 km | 3.3 mi | 0 |
| Aug 17, 1965 | EF3 | 38 km | 0.3 mi | 0 |
| Oct 9, 1950 | EF3 | 71 km | 2.0 mi | 0 |
| Aug 3, 2020 | EF2 | 98 km | 8.3 mi | 0 |
| Apr 13, 2020 | EF2 | 17 km | 4.6 mi | 0 |
| Sep 5, 2019 | EF2 | 55 km | 9.3 mi | 0 |
| Apr 6, 2009 | EF2 | 99 km | 1.4 mi | 0 |
| Nov 14, 2008 | EF2 | 94 km | 1.5 mi | 0 |
| May 14, 2006 | EF2 | 97 km | 0.6 mi | 0 |
| Oct 11, 2002 | EF2 | 40 km | 1.2 mi | 0 |
| Jul 6, 2001 | EF2 | 14 km | 4.0 mi | 0 |
| Sep 16, 1996 | EF2 | 94 km | 1.5 mi | 0 |
| Nov 7, 1995 | EF2 | 94 km | 0.5 mi | 0 |
| Nov 7, 1995 | EF2 | 25 km | 5.0 mi | 0 |
| Nov 7, 1995 | EF2 | 79 km | 0.7 mi | 0 |
| Jun 2, 1985 | EF2 | 36 km | 5.0 mi | 0 |
| Mar 28, 1984 | EF2 | 49 km | 16.0 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 | — | — | 124 km |
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.
Wildfire History
20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: HIGHWAY 31 (17,004 acres, 2009).
| Year | Name | Acres Burned | Distance |
| 2009 | HIGHWAY 31 | 17,004 | 25 km |
| 2004 | UNNAMED | 13,429 | 87 km |
| 2005 | UNNAMED | 11,023 | 88 km |
| 2005 | UNNAMED | 8,560 | 95 km |
| 2009 | UNNAMED | 8,439 | 95 km |
| 1997 | MURRELL | 5,126 | 79 km |
| 2017 | UNNAMED | 4,893 | 85 km |
| 2014 | UNNAMED | 4,890 | 72 km |
| 2008 | UNNAMED | 4,852 | 88 km |
| 2017 | UNNAMED | 4,813 | 78 km |
| 2016 | UNNAMED | 4,336 | 93 km |
| 2008 | UNNAMED | 3,955 | 85 km |
| 2003 | LITTLE HELLHOLE | 3,724 | 95 km |
| 2009 | UNNAMED | 3,641 | 79 km |
| 2015 | UNNAMED | 3,367 | 67 km |
| 2017 | UNNAMED | 3,217 | 84 km |
| 1997 | UNNAMED | 3,111 | 27 km |
| 2008 | UNNAMED | 3,104 | 88 km |
| 2017 | UNNAMED | 3,098 | 87 km |
| 2009 | UNNAMED | 3,004 | 89 km |
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).
Monthly Weather
| Month | Avg Temperature | Precipitation | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 45°F (7°C) | 4.4 in | |
| February | 43°F (6°C) | 3.5 in | Coldest |
| March | 48°F (9°C) | 4.1 in | |
| April | 53°F (12°C) | 2.8 in | Driest |
| May | 58°F (14°C) | 4.2 in | |
| June | 62°F (17°C) | 5.2 in | |
| July | 80°F (26°C) | 6.3 in | Warmest |
| August | 64°F (18°C) | 6.9 in | Wettest |
| September | 61°F (16°C) | 5.9 in | |
| October | 54°F (12°C) | 3.6 in | |
| November | 49°F (9°C) | 2.9 in | |
| December | 44°F (7°C) | 3.7 in |
Surfside Beach has a seasonal temperature swing of 36°F / from 43°F in February to 80°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 53.5 inches, with August being the wettest month (6.9") and April the driest (2.8").