Myrtle Beach Hurricane History | Oceanfront Vacation Rentals SC (2024)

FAQs

Does Myrtle Beach get hit with a lot of hurricanes? ›

Myrtle Beach is no stranger to hurricanes and tropical weather. As part of a coastal region, it has been battered by storms from Hurricane Florence to Hugo over the decades. These storms frequently flooded the state, ripped apart homes and left South Carolina with billions of dollars in damage to deal with.

The Myrtle Beach area is affected by a storm roughly every two years. In the past decade, the only hurricane to hit the area was Charley in 2004.

Hurricane Floyd, September 1999

Inland communities near Myrtle Beach, including Conway, flooded as the Waccamaw River spilled its banks. Thousands of people were forced from their homes and were unable to return for weeks. The storm caused $3 billion to $6 billion in damage to the East Coast, mostly from flooding.

Myrtle Beach was among the hardest-hit areas on the South Carolina coast, according to WRAL News. The news outlet reported the area was experiencing power outages and flooding from the storm surge. Roofs were ripped off some businesses and homes.

Hurricane season in South Carolina runs from June 1 to November 30 each year, but the peak months for hurricane activity are August and September. South Carolina is one of the most hurricane-prone states in the lower 48, with 31 hurricanes hitting the state since 1851.

The Atlantic hurricane season is June 1 to November 30 each year, but August and September are the most likely months for a hurricane to make landfall in South Carolina.

Hurricane Season is June 1 through November 30. Should a hurricane threaten our coast, the City of Myrtle Beach's Emergency Management Division is well prepared to handle whatever Mother Nature sends our way. It is important that our citizens, business owners and visitors are ready for any possible storms, too.

The most recent hurricane that came close to Myrtle Beach was Hurricane Irene on August 23, 2011.

According to the South Carolina Emergency Management Division, South Carolina is one of the most vulnerable states to hurricanes and tropical storms all throughout the season.

Myrtle Beach sees more than seven per year. A lot of the mini tsunamis are the result of tropical storms or hurricanes offshore. The danger in that is they make the already punishing storm surge surf worse, Dusek said. Occasionally, they seem to come out of nowhere.

What was the worst disaster in SC history? ›

(The Center Square) – The Sea Islands Hurricane of August 1893 represents the worst weather-related or natural disaster in the history of South Carolina, according to a new analysis from the website 24/7 Wall St. That event resulted in more than 2,000 fatalities, the study reported.

Heading south to New York and New Jersey - the two states that suffered the worst from Sandy.

Recent hurricanes that have impacted Myrtle Beach include Hurricane Florence in 2018, Hurricane Matthew in 2016, Hurricane Floyd in 1999, and Hurricane Hugo in 1989 -- the latter of which damaged or destroyed 79,000 homes and resulted in 35 deaths across the state.

At least five piers suffered damage over a 50-mile stretch from the Cherry Grove Pier in North Myrtle Beach, which lost its middle section amidst crashing waves, to the Pawleys Island Pier, part of which was swept away in the storm Sept. 30.

MYRTLE BEACH — Damage to residential and commercial properties in the cities of Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach have exceeded $15 million in the wake of Hurricane Ian. Within their respective city limits, North Myrtle Beach saw $13.1 million in damage, while Myrtle Beach saw about $2.6 million in damage.

“The portion of the coast from northern Florida to southern South Carolina is at lower risk of a direct hit from the ocean by a hurricane since the coast is concave and does not stick out,” said meteorologist Jeff Masters with the private forecasting company Weather Underground.

It probably comes as no surprise that Florida has been hit by more hurricanes than any other state since the inception of the Saffir/Simpson scale in 1851. Its location directly between the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico makes it susceptible to hurricanes that come from either side.

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WMBF) - Historically, October brings a busy hurricane season, and some of the most memorable storms. The peak of hurricane season is behind the South Carolina coast in October, but hurricanes have a destructive history during the month.

The average for any tropical storm or hurricane landfall in South Carolina is once every four to five years. Storms that make landfall along the Gulf of Mexico, Georgia, and North Carolina coastline often impact South Carolina as well.

North Carolina's coast is one of the nation's most vulnerable areas to a direct hurricane strike because its coastline extends out into the ocean. All areas of the state – from coastal and sound counties to the mountains – have been impacted by hurricanes in the past 20 years.

What month is most hurricane prone? ›

The official hurricane season for the Atlantic basin is from June 1 to November 30, but tropical cyclone activity sometimes occurs before and after these dates, respectively. The peak of the Atlantic hurricane season is September 10, with most activity occurring between mid-August and mid-October.

What is this? Two times during the year are deemed the worst times to visit Myrtle beach: January and February and the summer high season.

The best time to visit Myrtle Beach is June through August, perfect weather for splashing around in the Atlantic and lying on the beach! But, Myrtle Beach is truly beautiful year round and anytime is a great time to come stay on the Grand Strand.

What is the best month to go to Myrtle Beach? If you're looking for "the full Grand Strand vacation experience," the best month to go to Myrtle Beach is June. This month has the best beach weather and all the top attractions are open, according to its website.

2001 Myrtle Beach tornadoes - Wikipedia.

This collection contains 30 photographs taken in the North Myrtle Beach area in the days immediately after Hurricane Hazel, a Category 4 Hurricane, made landfall on the northeastern coast of Horry County, South Carolina (Ocean Drive section of what is now North Myrtle Beach) on the morning of October 15, 1954.

Myrtle Beach saw record-breaking storm surge at more than 6 feet because of Hurricane Ian.

States where major hurricanes hit the most

While Florida's 40 major hurricanes are double that of Texas, Mississippi has the highest proportion of major hurricanes in the United States. Almost 44% of Mississippi's 16 landfall hurricanes from 1851 to 2022 have been major storms.

South Carolina is one of the most vulnerable states in the nation to be impacted by hurricanes and tropical storms. Six coastal counties border the Atlantic Ocean. These counties have more than 200 miles of general coastline, and another 21 inland counties may be directly affected by these storms.

Number of Tropical Cyclones to Hit South Carolina in Each Category at Landfall. South Carolina has had three category 4 hurricanes hit the coast, but has never been hit by a category 5 storm.

What natural disasters occur in Myrtle Beach South Carolina? ›

Hurricanes: Like most locations on the Atlantic, Myrtle Beach faces an annual threat from hurricanes. While a direct hit from a hurricane is relatively rare, there will always be a threat.

The largest earthquake in Myrtle Beach:

this year: 3.6 in Lugoff, South Carolina, United States.

The tsunami threat for South Carolina is relatively low, and any tsunamis would likely be small and inundate mostly the beaches. Although the risk is low, the consequences could be high. Tsunamis have been recorded on the U.S. Atlantic Coast in 1755, 1884, 1886 and in 1929.

The most recent report available from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environment Control is 2019 and it shows the leading cause of death was heart disease, as has been the case since 2013 when it outpaced cancer. Heart disease caused the deaths of 10,578 people or 20% of all deaths in the state in 2019.

Wildfires are the most common natural hazards in South Carolina. Approximately 5,000 wildfires occur in South Carolina each year.

Texas witnessed 368 major disasters from 1953 through 2022, according to MoneyWise, the most of any state. The recent standout is 2017's Hurricane Harvey, which had more than $125 billion in damage — most of it from catastrophic flooding in Texas.

The most noticeable difference is the extent of the strong wind fields. For Katrina, winds over 65 kilometers per hour stretched about 500 kilometers (300 miles) from edge to edge. For Sandy, winds of that intensity stretched 1,500 kilometers (900 miles).

1. Michigan. Located in the Midwest, Michigan is one of the safest states from natural disasters as shown by data from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Michigan is generally safe from hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes.

The most intense hurricane on record to hit the U.S. is the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935. It was a Category 5 storm that hit the Florida Keys and claimed 408 lives, most of whom were World War I veterans building roads as part of a federal relief project. A train sent to evacuate them was derailed by the powerful storm.

Florence was a long-lived, category 4 hurricane (on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale) that made landfall along the southeastern coast of North Carolina near the upper end of category 1.

What hurricane hit Myrtle Beach 2004? ›

Hurricane Charley lasted from August 9 to August 15, 2004, and at its peak attained 150 mph (240 km/h) winds, making it a strong Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale.

Atalaya Castle is a real castle located on the oceanfront of South Carolina in the Huntington Beach State Park in Myrtle Beach. The mystical castle has an abandoned feel to it that is as eerie and enticing as the low country itself.

Myrtle Beach

The first victim was wading in waist deep water near 75th Avenue North when a shark (species unknown) clamped onto her lower arm. After some effort on the woman's part, the shark released its hold.

Coast Guard members used a helicopter to rescue the group, but the boat was left behind. It washed ashore at Myrtle Beach on Friday as Hurricane Ian made landfall. A GoFundMe page on Tuesday had raised more than $8,000 for the ship's removal.

Although Myrtle Beach has a relatively high crime rate, it can be safe as long as you take proper precautions. Unfortunately, like virtually any party town, Myrtle Beach can get pretty rowdy, and there are a lot of people there who want to take advantage of intoxicated or confused tourists.

Bottomline: Myrtle Beach Area Beaches Are Safe And Open. The testing of our ocean water is very important and helpful in ensuring the cleanliness of our beaches. However, it can alarm people when there is a higher reading following heavy rainfall.

Myrtle Beach is no stranger to hurricanes and tropical weather. As part of a coastal region, it has been battered by storms from Hurricane Florence to Hugo over the decades.

Hurricane Season is June 1 through November 30. Should a hurricane threaten our coast, the City of Myrtle Beach's Emergency Management Division is well prepared to handle whatever Mother Nature sends our way. It is important that our citizens, business owners and visitors are ready for any possible storms, too.

Myrtle Beach sees more than seven per year. A lot of the mini tsunamis are the result of tropical storms or hurricanes offshore. The danger in that is they make the already punishing storm surge surf worse, Dusek said. Occasionally, they seem to come out of nowhere.

Is South Carolina bad for hurricanes? ›

South Carolina is one of the most vulnerable states in the nation to be impacted by hurricanes and tropical storms.

From June through early October water temperatures are practically tropical making this area perfect for swimming and beach activities. The water cools significantly during the winter months due to cold offshore winds and longer nights.

USGS reports 4.5 magnitude earthquake hundreds of miles off Carolina coast. MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WMBF) – A 4.5 magnitude earthquake was reported in the Atlantic Ocean, between the Carolina coast and Bermuda, according to the United States Geological Survey.

The tsunami threat for South Carolina is relatively low, and any tsunamis would likely be small and inundate mostly the beaches. Although the risk is low, the consequences could be high.

The latest major snowfall event in Myrtle Beach occurred in February 2010 and left a snow accumulation of 2.8 inches (71 millimetres) in the city.