Hurricane Erin forms. What were Myrtle Beach’s most destructive August storms?
Hurricane Erin is moving across the Atlantic Ocean potentially bringing impacts to the Myrtle Beach area.
As of Tuesday morning, it is not yet known if Hurricane Erin will hit South Carolina, but it is unlikely, said National Weather Service meteorologist Rachel Zouzias. The storm is expected to curve and travel north in the ocean between the United States and Bermuda.
The most intense effects should be rip currents that hit the beach over the weekend, The Sun News reported.
August is typically when hurricane season starts to ramp up in the Carolinas, with the most devastating storms hitting in September and October.
Here is a look back at the three most impactful storms that have hit the Myrtle Beach area in August in descending chronological order.
Tropical Storm Debby
While Tropical Storm Debby did not cause as much direct damage as other tropical cyclones in the Myrtle Beach area, it did drop a lot of rain on Horry County. Between Aug. 5, 2024 and Aug. 9, 2024, the Longs area got the most precipitation with 19 inches. Loris got 17 inches, North Myrtle Beach got 15 inches and Myrtle Beach got 5 to 8 inches, depending on the area, according to the National Weather Service.
The heavy rain caused the Waccamaw River and the Intracoastal Waterway to flood in the weeks following the storm, The Sun News reported. A handful of homes dealt with damage from flooding in the Conway and Socastee areas. The streets flooded and forced several neighborhoods to walk through water or use a boat to go to and from their homes.
Hurricane Isaias
Hurricane Isaias hit the Myrtle Beach area on Aug. 3 and Aug. 4, 2020, and washed away part of the Sea Cabins Pier, according to the National Weather Service and The Sun News. The storm surge on Aug. 3 caused the most damage, according to the National Weather Service. During high tide, there over 12 inches of water on Sea Mountain Highway for four blocks inland in North Myrtle Beach. In other parts of North Myrtle Beach, there was up to 12 inches of water going a block inland.
There was also flooding in the Garden City area. The storm surge flooding caused dune damage.
The tropical storm brought up to 70 mph winds in North Myrtle Beach and dumped over 6 inches of rain on Pawleys Island and more than 4 inches in Myrtle Beach.
Hurricane Charley
Hurricane Charley brought strong winds and rain to the Myrtle Beach area near Aug. 14, 2004, according to the National Weather Service. It caused the then-governor to issue an evacuation to those located east of U.S. 17. About 180,000 people evacuated.
During Hurricane Charley, winds reached up to 45 mph sustained winds and 57 mph gusts and there were up to 4 inches of rain to Conway and 2 near Myrtle Beach.
Charley caused $5 million worth of insurance damage in Horry and Georgetown Counties, according to the National Weather Service. The damage came from trees falling on houses and cars. The Sun News archives wrote the Red Cross was helped out 100 families impacted by the storm and had set up temporary housing.
