June 1 marks the beginning of hurricane season in the Lowcountry. We don’t want to rain on your parade, but you know what they say: Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.
Pull on your rain boots and wade into predictions for the 2023 season, local resources for hurricane preparedness, and how to stay updated on storm news.
This year’s outlook
The 2023 Atlantic hurricane season, which runs until November 30, is forecasted to have near-normal activity according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
By the numbers:
- 40% chance of a near-normal season
- 30% chance of an above-normal season
- 30% chance of a below-normal season
- 12-17 named storms predicted
- 5-9 storms may become hurricanes
- 1-4 hurricanes may become major hurricanes
Be prepared
Here are several key resources in the Lowcountry for hurricane preparedness so you can be ready come what may.
- Visit the City of Charleston’s Hurricane Information page for resources such as TIDEeye — a tool featuring the latest weather and tides + info on traffic and road closures.
- Check out the Charleston County Hurricane Preparedness Guide for tips like creating an emergency supplies kit.
- Use this tool to find out if you live in a flood zone.
Staying up to date
This map is a useful tool for staying updated on current tropical activity. Pro tip: To work smarter not harder, save it as your browser’s home page.
Check out these Twitter pages for down-to-the-minute news on local storm activity.
- SC Emergency Management Division
- Charleston Weather
- National Weather Service Charleston
- Charleston Fire Department
- City of Charleston
- National Hurricane Center
Keep an eye on Bessie the Coburg Cow. If the Holy City’s favorite weather predictor is taken down, you know things are getting real.
Stay safe, Charlestonians.