North Myrtle Beach Hurricane Season 2026: Preparedness Guide
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North Myrtle Beach, S.C.  ·  June 9, 2026  ·  Thomas Beach Vacations Staff

North Myrtle Beach Urges Residents to Prepare as 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season Begins

NOAA is forecasting a below-normal season — but city officials are reminding the community that a quieter forecast is not the same as a safe one.

The 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season is now underway. With June 1 marking the official opening of the six-month window that runs through November 30, the City of North Myrtle Beach is urging residents and business owners to take preparedness steps now — before a storm is in the forecast cone and the window for calm, deliberate planning has passed.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued its official 2026 outlook in May, projecting a below-normal season for the Atlantic basin. NOAA is forecasting 8 to 14 named storms, of which 3 to 6 are expected to become hurricanes, including 1 to 3 major hurricanes reaching Category 3 strength or higher. The below-normal outlook is driven in large part by the anticipated development and intensification of an El Niño pattern, which tends to increase wind shear across the Atlantic and suppress tropical development.

City officials were direct in their message: a favorable forecast should not be mistaken for an absence of risk. It only takes one storm to significantly impact a community, and the Grand Strand’s coastal position means that even a glancing blow from a tropical system can produce dangerous storm surge, damaging winds, and flooding far inland.

What the City Is Asking Residents to Do

The city outlined several specific preparedness steps residents should complete before a storm threat develops:

  • Review and update household and business emergency plans
  • Assemble or refresh a disaster supply kit with food, water, medications, and essential documents
  • Know your hurricane evacuation zone and the routes out of it
  • Review insurance coverage — homeowners, flood, and wind — and confirm policies are current
  • Document valuables with photographs or video for insurance purposes
  • Identify trusted information sources and follow the City of North Myrtle Beach on social media for real-time updates

Evacuation Zones and How They Work in South Carolina

In South Carolina, hurricane evacuations are ordered by the Governor and are considered mandatory. Residents along the Cherry Grove Beach, Ocean Drive, Crescent Beach, and Windy Hill corridors should know their zone designation well before any storm approaches — not after a watch or warning is posted.

One point the city emphasized is worth underscoring for anyone unfamiliar with Horry County’s system: evacuation zones here are based on storm surge risk, not storm category. They also differ from FEMA flood zones, which are a separate designation. A property that sits outside a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area may still fall within a mandatory evacuation zone for a hurricane — the two maps measure different things.

Residents outside designated evacuation zones are not necessarily out of harm’s way either. Tropical systems can bring high winds, torrential rainfall, flash flooding, tornadoes, and extended power outages to areas well away from the coast and well beyond the zone boundaries. Preparedness applies to everyone in the region, not just those in the highest-risk areas.

A Note for Visitors and Vacation Rental Guests

Guests staying in oceanfront vacation homes or oceanfront condos along the North Myrtle Beach shoreline should familiarize themselves with the city’s emergency notification system before their stay. If a mandatory evacuation is ordered during your visit, compliance is not optional — South Carolina’s mandatory evacuation orders carry the force of law. Plan your departure route before you need it, and monitor local news and the city’s social media channels throughout your stay during hurricane season.

Complete hurricane preparedness information and Horry County evacuation zone maps are available at nmb.us/351/Hurricane-Information.

Planning a trip to North Myrtle Beach this season? Thomas Beach Vacations is happy to help you find the right rental and answer any questions about the area. Browse available properties at northmyrtlebeachvacations.com or call (843) 273-3001.

Sources: City of North Myrtle Beach official public notice; NOAA 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook; Horry County Emergency Management.

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