With the start of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season less than a month away, officials across South Carolina are urging residents to prepare for whenever tropical weather could threaten.
In advance of the season, which runs from June 1 through Nov. 30, Gov. Henry McMaster has declared May as the state's official preparedness month.
State emergency officials say early preparation can make all the difference for when a storm approaches.
This year’s preparedness theme is “Plan Ahead. Stay Ahead,” which is meant to highlight the importance of taking simple steps now rather than waiting until the threat of hazardous weather arises.
Emergency managers emphasize that preparation is not just for coastal residents, with inland areas just as likely to see flooding, tornadoes and prolonged power outages during a hurricane's impact.
One of the key preparedness efforts South Carolinians can take part in is the “Know Your Zone” campaign, which identifies which homes and businesses are in a evacuation zone.
Throughout the state's more than 180 miles of coastline, neighborhoods fall under designated lettered zones that indicate when it will be time to leave before a storm.
Evacuation zones with letters that come earlier in the alphabet tend to be ordered to evacuate first, followed by subsequent zones if the threat is severe.
Residents can determine their evacuation zone through the state’s hurricane guide: https://www.scemd.org/prepare/know-your-zone/.
Officials also stress the importance of preparing properties before the season begins - this includes inspecting roofs for weak points, cleaning gutters, trimming trees and reviewing insurance policies.
A list of 21 names, previously used during the 2020 hurricane season, will be used to identify cyclones that reach at least tropical storm strength in 2026.
The only change to the list is the removal of the name “Laura,” which was retired after the hurricane made landfall in Louisiana as a powerful Category 4 cyclone, causing widespread damage.
This year's list of names includes Arthur, Bertha, Cristobal, Dolly, Edouard, Fay, Gonzalo, Hanna, Isaias, Josephine, Kyle, Leah, Marco, Nana, Omar, Paulette, Rene, Sally, Teddy, Vicky and Wilfred.
A typical Atlantic hurricane season produces about 14 named storms, seven of which become hurricanes, with three of those strengthening into major hurricane status with winds of at least 115 mph.
In 2026, forecasters from Colorado State University expect 13 named storms to form, with six becoming hurricanes and only a few reaching major hurricane strength.
Depending on the evolution of an El Niño across the Pacific, the Atlantic tropical cyclone season will likely be less active than average.
While seasonal outlooks provide a general forecast, emergency managers caution that it only takes one landfalling storm to produce significant impacts and make a season memorable.
