Hurricanes

Last week, Hurricane Isaias brushed past the Lowcountry but left a mess in the Grand Strand. And while it didn't prompt evacuations or major panic, Isaias was a clear reminder of the kind of storm season that's been brewing in the Atlantic Ocean. It was the earliest "I" storm on record, meaning eight other named storms had already formed before it this year. During a typical year, named storms would only be on the letter "B" by early August. The Aug. 3 storm also made 2020 the sixth straight year that a tropical storm has affected the Palmetto State's coast. It traced a similar path to a couple close calls for the Charleston area in recent years: Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and Hurricane Dorian last year. Senior projects reporter Tony Bartelme and reporter Chloe Johnson, who writes about the coastal environment and climate change, were able to offer some insight on what could be ahead in the months of hurricane season that are still yet to come. We also talked about how the pandemic could play into evacuation plans if South Carolina ends up in the potential path of a larger storm this year — and what we should be considering now so that we're prepared. Listen now to find out.