South Carolina Power Outage Season
When outages happen most in South Carolina, and what to expect.
June is historically South Carolina's busiest month for recorded power outages, part of a summer season (June–August) that accounts for about 36% of all recorded outages statewide, averaging 2.9 hours per event. 8 of South Carolina's 46 tracked counties currently carry a Reliability Grade of F.
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South Carolina outages by month
Total recorded events and average duration per event, summed across every tracked county in South Carolina.
Peak season insight
South Carolina's outage season runs June–August, accounting for 36% of all recorded outages. June has the highest frequency.
Month-by-month data table
| Month | Events | Avg duration |
|---|---|---|
| January | 2,497 | 3.2 hrs |
| February | 2,113 | 2.3 hrs |
| March | 2,414 | 1.9 hrs |
| April | 2,914 | 2.9 hrs |
| May | 3,680 | 2.2 hrs |
| June | 4,573 | 2.7 hrs |
| July | 4,529 | 2.3 hrs |
| August | 4,350 | 2.1 hrs |
| September | 3,071 | 6.7 hrs |
| October | 2,600 | 4.7 hrs |
| November | 2,415 | 1.9 hrs |
| December | 2,546 | 2.5 hrs |
This month in South Carolina
October has historically recorded 2,600 outage events across South Carolina, below the state's typical monthly average. Outages that start in October have averaged 4.7 hours.
Main causes by season
Named storms behind South Carolina's worst recorded outages, from the NOAA Storm Events Database.
Winter (December–February)
- Ice Storm
- Strong Wind
- Winter Weather
- Winter Storm
- High Wind
Spring (March–May)
- Thunderstorm Wind
- Hail
- Strong Wind
- Tornado
- Wildfire
Summer (June–August)
- Thunderstorm Wind
- Tornado
- Heavy Rain
- Flash Flood
Fall (September–November)
- Tropical Storm
- Tornado
- Heavy Rain
- Hurricane Ian
- Hurricane Matthew
South Carolina's worst outage events on record
The five largest outages in South Carolina by duration and customers affected.
| Date | Duration | Customers affected | Cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27, 2024 | 333 hrs | 270,050 (89%) | Thunderstorm Wind |
| Sep 27, 2024 | 336 hrs | 183,816 (72%) | Tropical Storm |
| Oct 8, 2016 | 195 hrs | 183,359 (29%) | Hurricane Matthew |
| Sep 27, 2024 | 256 hrs | 126,022 (34%) | Tropical Storm Helene |
| Sep 27, 2024 | 332 hrs | 91,915 (42%) | Tropical Storm Helene |
Highest-risk counties in South Carolina
Lowest reliability percentile among South Carolina's tracked counties.
| County | Grade | National percentile |
|---|---|---|
| McCormick County | F | 6th |
| Greenville County | F | 8th |
| Dillon County | F | 12th |
| Spartanburg County | F | 12th |
| Anderson County | F | 14th |
Live weather alerts for South Carolina
There are no active National Weather Service alerts for South Carolina right now.
These live alerts come from the National Weather Service. They are public-safety information, not an outage prediction.
South Carolina power outage FAQ
When do power outages happen most in South Carolina?
June is historically the busiest single month for recorded outages in South Carolina, and Summer (June–August) accounts for about 36% of all recorded outages across the state.
How long do power outages in South Carolina typically last?
Across South Carolina's tracked counties, the average recorded outage lasts about 2.9 hours, though individual events -- especially named storms -- can run much longer.
Which counties in South Carolina have the highest outage risk?
McCormick County, Greenville County, Dillon County, Spartanburg County, Anderson County currently rank lowest for reliability in South Carolina. See each county's page for its full history.
Does this page predict a power outage in South Carolina?
No. It describes patterns in recorded county-level outage history, not a guaranteed future event. Check the live National Weather Service alerts below for current conditions.
Prepare for South Carolina's outage season
Sized for South Carolina's recorded outage frequency and duration.
