Hilton Head Hurricanes
Hilton Head hurricanes are rarer than many visitors expect: the island has not taken a direct hit from a major hurricane in modern times, though storms pass close. Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, and the risk is greatest from mid-August to mid-October.
When Is Hurricane Season in Hilton Head?
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, the months when tropical storms and hurricanes form. Early and late in the season storms are few and usually weak. The peak runs from mid-August to mid-October, and September is the most active month.
Even in a busy season, most weeks on Hilton Head are ordinary summer weather: hot, humid, with afternoon thunderstorms. Storms give several days’ warning, so a forecast check before you travel is usually enough. See Hilton Head weather for the months themselves.
Hurricanes in Hilton Head, SC: The Big Storms
The Great Sea Islands Hurricane
Came ashore near Savannah on August 27, 1893. Its storm surge swept the Sea Islands from Georgia to Beaufort and drowned an estimated 2,000 people or more, many in Gullah communities.
Hurricane Gracie
A Category 4 that came ashore near St. Helena Sound on September 29, north of Hilton Head, with high winds and flooding across Beaufort County.
Hurricane David
The storm that led to an island-wide evacuation of Hilton Head, as it tracked up the coast.
Hurricane Matthew
The eye passed about 20 miles offshore on October 8. Gusts near 88 mph brought down more than 100,000 trees, and the island stayed closed for days while crews cleared the roads.
The 1893 storm hit the freedmen’s town at Mitchelville and the island’s Gullah families hard; see Hilton Head history. The coast here curves inland toward Georgia, and most storms pass offshore or come ashore elsewhere, but Matthew showed what a near miss can do.
Hilton Head Evacuation
When a hurricane threatens, the governor can order the coast evacuated by zone; Hilton Head is in Beaufort County’s coastal zone, and the island is usually among the first places told to leave. During Matthew, both sides of US 278 were turned to carry traffic off the island. Look up the zones and routes on the state’s Know Your Zone map at scemd.org.
If an evacuation is ordered while you are here, leave: power, water and the bridges can be shut for days after. Your rental company or hotel will tell you when the island reopens.
Booking a Trip During Hilton Head Hurricane Season
Late summer and fall are still good times to come; see the best time to visit Hilton Head. Before you book, read your rental or hotel’s hurricane policy: many refund or rebook stays when a mandatory evacuation is ordered, but not for a forecast alone. Travel insurance bought before a storm is named can cover the rest.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is hurricane season in Hilton Head?
June 1 to November 30. The risk is greatest from mid-August to mid-October, and September is the most active month.
Has Hilton Head ever been hit by a hurricane?
Storms have passed close. The 1893 Sea Islands Hurricane devastated the area, and in 2016 Hurricane Matthew’s eye passed about 20 miles offshore, bringing down more than 100,000 trees. The island has not taken a direct hit from a major hurricane in modern times.
Is it safe to visit during Hilton Head hurricane season?
Yes, with a forecast check. Most weeks bring ordinary summer weather, and storms give several days’ warning. If an evacuation is ordered, leave.
How do you evacuate Hilton Head?
By US 278 over the bridges to the mainland, the only road off the island. In a large evacuation both sides of the road can carry traffic off the island. Follow the state’s zone orders at scemd.org.
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