As summer begins, it's important to understand when hurricane season in south carolina starts and ends. The official Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30 each year, but it's not uncommon for storms to develop outside of those dates.

In fact, every year since 2015, a named storm has formed before June 1. And in the last 30 years, the first average name storm forms on June 20, with the peak of tropical activity occurring around Sept. 11.

While hurricanes can affect any part of the state, the majority of landfalls occur in August and September. As a result, it's critical for those who live in coastal communities to be prepared at all times during the year.

Aside from direct impacts to people and property, tropical storms and hurricanes can also cause devastating floods when they move inland. In 2021, Tropical Storm Fred brought devastating flooding to areas from the Upstate to the coast. And in 2022, Hurricane Ian made landfall near Georgetown in September, causing extensive coastal flood damage and even the destruction of several large piers.

As the storm season heats up, we'll provide you with all the information you need to stay safe. To start, be sure to download the free WITN Weather app and set up personalized alerts. You can also visit the City of Charleston's Hurricane Information page for tools like TIDEeye and a helpful Hurricane Preparedness Guide. And don't forget to follow our social media channels to get up to the minute information on current storms and other local news.