South Carolina is no stranger to epic weather events that wreak havoc on our lives. We’re accustomed to hurricanes, floodwaters, and even the occasional nasty twister every now and then. But there’s another major blow that Mother Nature occasionally, albeit seldom, sends to the Palmetto State: a blizzard. One of the greatest snowstorms ever to hit the Southeastern United States occurred in 1973. The blizzard of 1973 was one of the biggest South Carolina blizzards of all time. Do you recall this event that many remember as the largest snowstorm in South Carolina history?

The snow started to fall on February 9, 1973. The storm relentlessly dumped snow on South Carolina for nearly three days straight.

Facebook/South Carolina State Parks

During winter in South Carolina, typically, only the western part of the state is likely to get snow. During the Blizzard of 1973, even the coast was hit hard.

Flickr/Hunter Desportes When all was said and done, Charleston saw eight inches of snow! However, the midlands were hit the hardest. This region got a whopping 24 inches of fresh powder.

The storm almost completely crippled South Carolina. All over the state, there were power outages. Roads and businesses had to shut down.

Flickr/Michael Simmons The storm basically crippled South Carolina with power outages, and road and business closings.

People were trapped, stranded and cold. Some even died as a direct result of the blizzards. Overall, at least 11 people died as a result of exposure.

Flickr/flattop341

Snowdrifts throughout the state measured as high as six to eight feet.

Flickr/Emily Harrison

A climatologist from South Carolina reported that there were approximately 30,000 stranded tourists on the state’s highways. Many were vacationers that were trying to return north to beat the storm before it hit their homes.

Facebook/South Carolina State Parks Some had to be rescued by helicopters. Others were able to be reached by traditional wheeled rescue vehicles.

Hotels were filled to the max. Once all the hotels and shelters were all filled, local farmers had to take in stranded tourists. Some farms had as many as 40-60 stranded guests staying with them!

Flickr/Josh Tremper Hotels were filled to the max. Once all the hotels and shelters were all filled, local farmers had to take in stranded tourists. Some farms had as many as 40-60 stranded guests staying with them!

No stone was left unturned in the damage department by the terrible Blizzard of 1973. It was reported that at least 200 buildings collapsed under the weight of the massive amounts of snow. This was truly one of the worst winter weather events in South Carolina history.

Flickr/zizzybaloobah

Do you have memories of the South Carolina blizzard of 1973 or another from South Carolina’s past? Do you remember this event as the largest blizzard in South Carolina? We’d love to hear your thoughts in our comments.

Facebook/South Carolina State Parks

Flickr/Hunter Desportes

When all was said and done, Charleston saw eight inches of snow! However, the midlands were hit the hardest. This region got a whopping 24 inches of fresh powder.

Flickr/Michael Simmons

The storm basically crippled South Carolina with power outages, and road and business closings.

Flickr/flattop341

Flickr/Emily Harrison

Some had to be rescued by helicopters. Others were able to be reached by traditional wheeled rescue vehicles.

Flickr/Josh Tremper

Hotels were filled to the max. Once all the hotels and shelters were all filled, local farmers had to take in stranded tourists. Some farms had as many as 40-60 stranded guests staying with them!

Flickr/zizzybaloobah

For a look back on a more recent tragic weather event in the Palmetto State, take a look at these photos of South Carolina’s 1,000-year flood.

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The OIYS Visitor Center

Largest Blizzard In South Carolina December 03, 2019 Robin Jarvis When was the biggest blizzard in South Carolina? The biggest blizzard to hit South Carolina brought two feet of snow to parts of the state. It stranded 33,000 motorists on Interstate 95 and was blamed for 11 deaths resulting from the unforeseen disaster. The unexpected blizzard happened in February of 1973 and while the Palmetto State has had snowstorms and blizzards hit the state since then, none were as devastating to the entire state as the Blizzard of 1973. (Read all about it in the article above.) What is the most snow ever recorded in South Carolina? Snowfall in South Carolina rarely reaches a remarkable amount, however, two record-setting weather events will go down in history. The most snowfall in a 24-hour period occurred in Clarendon County in the Rimini community on February 13, 1973, when 24 inches of snowfall was officially recorded during the Great Blizzard of 1973. Four years earlier in 1969, 28.9 inches of snow fell at Caesars Head State Park during a winter storm in mid-February. Caesar’s Head is one of the highest peaks in South Carolina and often sees snowy weather ahead of the rest of the surrounding areas in the state. What is winter weather in South Carolina typically like? Winter weather in South Carolina is typically mild along the coastal regions, mild to blustery in the midlands, and crispy and sometimes snowy in the Upstate. What sets South Carolina’s winter weather apart from neighboring northern states along the eastern seaboard is the length of the cooler weather in winter; it’s much shorter. Also, more common than snow, freezing rain is likely to occur in most any part of the Palmetto State, particularly in the coolest month of February.

The OIYS Visitor Center

Largest Blizzard In South Carolina

December 03, 2019

Robin Jarvis

When was the biggest blizzard in South Carolina? The biggest blizzard to hit South Carolina brought two feet of snow to parts of the state. It stranded 33,000 motorists on Interstate 95 and was blamed for 11 deaths resulting from the unforeseen disaster. The unexpected blizzard happened in February of 1973 and while the Palmetto State has had snowstorms and blizzards hit the state since then, none were as devastating to the entire state as the Blizzard of 1973. (Read all about it in the article above.) What is the most snow ever recorded in South Carolina? Snowfall in South Carolina rarely reaches a remarkable amount, however, two record-setting weather events will go down in history. The most snowfall in a 24-hour period occurred in Clarendon County in the Rimini community on February 13, 1973, when 24 inches of snowfall was officially recorded during the Great Blizzard of 1973. Four years earlier in 1969, 28.9 inches of snow fell at Caesars Head State Park during a winter storm in mid-February. Caesar’s Head is one of the highest peaks in South Carolina and often sees snowy weather ahead of the rest of the surrounding areas in the state. What is winter weather in South Carolina typically like? Winter weather in South Carolina is typically mild along the coastal regions, mild to blustery in the midlands, and crispy and sometimes snowy in the Upstate. What sets South Carolina’s winter weather apart from neighboring northern states along the eastern seaboard is the length of the cooler weather in winter; it’s much shorter. Also, more common than snow, freezing rain is likely to occur in most any part of the Palmetto State, particularly in the coolest month of February.

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

The biggest blizzard to hit South Carolina brought two feet of snow to parts of the state. It stranded 33,000 motorists on Interstate 95 and was blamed for 11 deaths resulting from the unforeseen disaster. The unexpected blizzard happened in February of 1973 and while the Palmetto State has had snowstorms and blizzards hit the state since then, none were as devastating to the entire state as the Blizzard of 1973. (Read all about it in the article above.)

What is the most snow ever recorded in South Carolina?

Snowfall in South Carolina rarely reaches a remarkable amount, however, two record-setting weather events will go down in history. The most snowfall in a 24-hour period occurred in Clarendon County in the Rimini community on February 13, 1973, when 24 inches of snowfall was officially recorded during the Great Blizzard of 1973.

Four years earlier in 1969, 28.9 inches of snow fell at Caesars Head State Park during a winter storm in mid-February. Caesar’s Head is one of the highest peaks in South Carolina and often sees snowy weather ahead of the rest of the surrounding areas in the state.

What is winter weather in South Carolina typically like?

Winter weather in South Carolina is typically mild along the coastal regions, mild to blustery in the midlands, and crispy and sometimes snowy in the Upstate. What sets South Carolina’s winter weather apart from neighboring northern states along the eastern seaboard is the length of the cooler weather in winter; it’s much shorter. Also, more common than snow, freezing rain is likely to occur in most any part of the Palmetto State, particularly in the coolest month of February.