Tropical Storm and Hurricane Information

• Tropical Depression/Cyclone: 38 mph or less. 
• Tropical Storm/Cyclone: 39-73mph winds.
• Category 1, 74-95 mph winds. Very dangerous winds will produce some damage: Well-constructed frame homes could have damage to roof, shingles, vinyl siding and gutters. Large branches of trees will snap and shallowly rooted trees may be toppled. Extensive damage to power lines and poles likely will result in power outages that could last a few to several days.
• Category 2, 96-110 mph winds.  Extremely dangerous winds will cause extensive damage: Well-constructed frame homes could sustain major roof and siding damage. Many shallowly rooted trees will be snapped or uprooted and block numerous roads. Near-total power loss is expected with outages that could last from several days to weeks.
• Category 3, 111-129mph winds.  Devastating damage will occur: Well-built framed homes may incur major damage or removal of roof decking and gable ends. Many trees will be snapped or uprooted, blocking numerous roads. Electricity and water will be unavailable for several days to weeks after the storm passes.
• Category 4, 130-156mph winds.  Devastating damage will occur: Well-built framed homes may incur major damage or removal of roof decking and gable ends. Many trees will be snapped or uprooted, blocking numerous roads. Electricity and water will be unavailable for several days to weeks after the storm passes.
• Category 5, 157 or higher winds.  Catastrophic damage will occur: A high percentage of framed homes will be destroyed, with total roof failure and wall collapse. Fallen trees and power poles will isolate residential areas. Power outages will last for weeks to possibly months. Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks or months.

Horry County Hurricane Information
Emergency-Management
Online-Services/Know-Your-Zone

In South Carolina ONLY the Governor has the authority to order an evacuation for hurricanes. Once an evacuation order has been issued, it can be enforced as law.

The hurricane season officially begins June 1 and runs until Nov. 30, with its peak between mid-August and late October.

If hurricanes threaten the Myrtle Beach area and an evacuation order is ordered, here’s what you need to know:

Mandatory Evacuation Procedures

Lane reversal: When an evacuation order is issued, lane reversals occur for two sections of U.S. Highway 501 from S.C. 544 to S.C. 378 and U.S. 501 from S.C. 22 to the U.S. 501/576 split in Marion.

Officials say once you get into a lane reversal pattern, you will not be able to get back out. Do not enter a lane reversal pattern unless law enforcement directs you to.

If the governor calls for mandatory evacuations, he will likely do so by picking zones to evacuate.

Zone locations in Horry County:

Zone A (red): South Hampton/Kingston Plantation Zone

• All areas east of U.S. Business 17 up to the intersection with U.S. 17
• All areas east of U.S. 17 to the norther county line

Zone B (yellow):

• Areas South of Highway 707 and Longwood Drive
• All areas in Longwood Plantation to the Waccamaw River
• All areas east of US 17 to the northern county line
• Areas east of US 17 Bypass to US 17

Zone C (orange):

• Areas between Hwy 701 and Hwy 544
• South of Brown’s Chapel Avenue and Hwy 814
• All areas east of Highway 90 to US 7 to the northern county line
• All areas east of Highway 31 (Carolina Bays Parkway) to Hwy 90
  
• North Myrtle Beach and northward: Evacuees north of Briarcliffe Acres will take S.C. 9 north to I-95 and beyond. 
• Briarcliffe Acres south to Myrtle Beach 10th Avenue North: Evacuees in Briarcliffe Acres south to 10th Avenue North will take S.C. 22 (Conway Bypass) to U.S. 501 to Marion. In Marion, take U.S. 76 to Florence to access 1-95 southbound or stay on U.S. 501 to S.C. 38 to access I-95 northbound.
• Myrtle Beach from 10th Avenue North south to the Myrtle Beach International Airport: Evacuees from the Myrtle Beach area south of 10th Avenue North and north of the Myrtle Beach International Airport will take U.S. 501 to Conway. Then, take U.S. 378 to Columbia or continue on U.S. 501 to Marion. In Marion, take U.S. 76 to Florence to access I-95 southbound or stay on U.S. 501 to S.C. 38 to access I-95 northbound.
• Myrtle Beach International Airport southward through Surfside Beach: Evacuees from the Myrtle Beach International Airport south through Surfside Beach will take S.C. 544 to U.S. 501 to Conway. Then, take U.S. 378 to Columbia or continue on U.S. 501 to Marion. In Marion, take U.S. 76 to Florence to access I-95 southbound or stay on U.S. 501 to S.C. 38 to access I-95 northbound.
• Garden City Beach south to Winyah Bay: Evacuees from Garden City Beach south to Winyah Bay will take U.S. 17 south through Georgetown. Then, take U.S. 521 to S.C. 261 to U.S. 378 to Columbia. Alternatively, take U.S. 17 south to U.S. 701 in Georgetown to S.C. 51 to U.S. 378 at Kingsburg.

Looking Back at Myrtle Beach Hurricanes

Hurricane Ian 2022

Hurricane Ian made landfall in Georgetown, South Carolina on Friday September 30, 2022 at 2:05pm as a category 1 storm and was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone at 4:42pm with winds at 70mph.  It moved through South Carolina at about 15 mph.

As of 7:00pm South Carolina had 180,604 power outages across the state. 

Flooding was reported up to 5 – 7 feet, and inland flooding was 4 – 8 inches.  A storm surge of 6.2 feet and a storm tide of 5.17 feet above Mean Higher High Water (MHHW) was observed at 1:36 p.m. Friday, September 30. This was that location’s third highest water level on record – far below the 8.77 feet recorded during Hurricane Hugo in 1989, but still enough to produce significant flooding. 

Hurricane Isaias 2020

Hurricane Isaias made landfall north of Myrtle Beach on Monday night, 8/2/2020 with it moving from tropical storm to hurricane at 8 p.m. Winds reached 67 mph in Georgetown County.  The National Weather Service recorded 3.11 inches of rain in North Myrtle Beach, 2.12 in Myrtle Beach and 3.03 inches in Conway.  Isaias nearly caused a record-breaking high tide of 10.18 feet at the Springmaid Pier.  Heavy winds and gusts exceeding 50 miles per hour knocked out power lines and caused structural damage.  The eye of the storm moved over Myrtle Beach with winds reaching 85 mph.