MORNING NEWSBREAK | Forecasters at Colorado State University predict 23 named storms, 11 hurricanes and five major hurricanes this year when hurricane season starts in June, according to the hurricane season forecast. Hurricane experts said Thursday that they decided to issue the annual warning in early April based on the abnormal predictions.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association said on average, a hurricane season has 14 named storms, seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes. In 2023, the hurricane season had 20 named storms, seven of which became hurricanes and three became major hurricanes, officials said.
Meanwhile, South Carolina emergency management offices across the state are sharing vital safety guidelines to encourage residents to stay ahead of potential storms. Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30, but tropical cyclone activity can sometimes occur before and after these dates.
- Follow these links to read the City Paper’s emergency kit checklist and safety tips for hurricane preparedness and Charleston County’s Hurricane Guide.
In City Paper news today:
CP FOCUS: 4 beaches, 4 days: Charleston area getaways to visit before tourist season ramps up. Spring has officially sprung in Charleston, and the perfect temps and lack of crowds in the off-season have us packing our bags and heading to the beach. Here’s how you might want to spend these perfect spring days at area beaches.
CP OPINION: Expand Charleston’s rain garden program. “Rain gardens are anything but a private gain, as the city now claims. They’re important community tools people can use to help reduce flooding. We thought the city learned about the need to employ multiple strategies during its Dutch Dialogues process, including incentivizing residents to mitigate flooding as a way to reduce stress on the public water control system.”
CP CARTOON:
CP NEWS: Mount Pleasant environmental plan extended to include homes. Five years after launching an innovative plan to limit the environmental effect of commercial development, Mount Pleasant is expanding to techniques that homeowners can follow to be energy-efficient and nature-friendly.
CP NEWS: What to know before the April 8 eclipse. Laura Penny, a long time instructor in the College of Charleston’s department of physics and astronomy, points out that you’ll still need eclipse glasses to look at the eclipse, even though it is outside the “path of totality” of a full eclipse’s coverage of the sun by the moon.
CP FOOD: Charleston breweries release seasonal beers for spring. With the rise in temperatures (and pollen levels), Charleston area breweries are introducing a number of seasonal beers for the spring and summer. From playful sours to solid session ales, Charleston breweries are bringing the heat with these fresh, tasty pours.
In other recent news:
Nearly 10K gallons of wastewater spilled into Charleston harbor. Charleston Water System acknowledged that almost 10,000 gallons of wastewater was dumped into the Charleston Harbor, blaming the problem on a broken valve on a pipe at Plum Island Wastewater Treatment Plant on Harbor View Circle.
New zoning code aims to keep Charleston above water. Charleston is overhauling its zoning code, hoping to create new guidelines that can help keep the city above rising sea levels for a bit longer.
Law firm warns against political deals in rezoning of Ashley River site. The South Carolina Environmental Law Project addressed a letter to North Charleston decision makers condemning the use of “quid pro quo” influence, or the exchange of a political donation for a favorable vote, during talks on the former Baker Hospital site.
Summerville prepares for 51st Flowertown Festival. Summerville’s annual Flowertown Festival kicks off Friday morning from 9 a.m. to 6 pm and continues until Sunday.
Lowcountry Strawberry Festival returns to Boone Hall Plantation. The family-friendly festival at Boone Hall Plantations and Gardens features live entertainment, a petting zoo, rides, contests, and several rows of u-pick strawberries April 5-7 and April 11-14.
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