Season planning · Galveston, TX
Hurricane season shutter timeline for Galveston homes
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. Use the quieter months to compare quotes and settle paperwork, then practice closing every opening before you need to.
Tell us about your projectWhy the calendar matters
NOAA's National Hurricane Center puts the statistical peak of the Atlantic season on September 10, with most activity between mid-August and mid-October. Measuring, quoting, any permit or windstorm inspection and the installation itself all take time. Ask each installer for their current scheduling instead of assuming a lead time.
If the season has already started
You can still ask for quotes, but plan for the possibility that work is not finished before the next storm. Ask the installer what they can realistically schedule, and keep your household evacuation plan regardless of the shutters you choose.
A shutter-readiness year at a glance
Quiet months are for decisions and paperwork. The weeks before June are for practice. The peak is for keeping every key, control and panel ready. When a storm threatens, official instructions come first.
Work through the year in order
December–February: decide the scope
Walk the house, list every opening by floor and decide whether you want whole-home or selected-opening protection.
Ask for comparable quotes
Give every installer the same opening list. Ask for the model, mounting, access, controls and exclusions in writing.
Settle permit and windstorm questions
Agree who handles any City of Galveston permit and any WPI-8 inspection before the work is booked.
Install and collect the handover file
Keep the model list, operating and care instructions, warranty and any certificate or permit records together.
Before June: practice
Close and lock every opening in calm weather. Time how long the whole house takes and note anything that sticks.
During the peak: stay ready
Recheck tracks, locks, controls and stored panels. Confirm who will close the house if you are away.
Watches and warnings: shutter work gets harder fast
The National Hurricane Center issues a hurricane watch about 48 hours, and a warning about 36 hours, before tropical-storm-force winds are expected, because preparations become difficult once those winds arrive. Practice early enough that closing the house fits well inside that window.
Keep these together for the season
Keys, cranks and remotes
Store every tool needed to close and lock the system where the person responsible can find it.
Labeled fabric or panels
Mark each panel with its opening and check the full set and fixings are present.
Power-loss procedure
For motorized shutters, keep the manufacturer's override or backup instructions with the controls.
Handover documents
Model list, warranty, any WPI-8 or permit records and the installer's service contact.
Who closes the house
A named person, their access to the property and the order in which openings are closed.
Sources
Reviewed 2026-10-14
- NOAA National Hurricane Center: tropical cyclone climatology
Season June 1 to November 30; peak September 10; most activity mid-August to mid-October.
- NOAA National Hurricane Center: glossary
Hurricane watch about 48 hours and warning about 36 hours before tropical-storm-force winds.
- Ready.gov: Hurricanes
Consider hurricane shutters; evacuate immediately when told to in a mandatory evacuation zone.
- TDI: Do you need a windstorm inspection?
Certificate routes for work in progress and completed work.
Common questions
When is hurricane season in Galveston?
June 1 to November 30. Galveston follows the Atlantic season; the National Hurricane Center puts its statistical peak on September 10, with most activity between mid-August and mid-October.
What is the difference between a hurricane watch and a hurricane warning?
A watch means hurricane conditions are possible and a warning means they are expected. The National Hurricane Center issues a watch about 48 hours and a warning about 36 hours before tropical-storm-force winds are expected.
When should I close my hurricane shutters?
Early, following your product instructions, household plan and official guidance. Preparations become difficult once tropical-storm-force winds arrive, and closing shutters should never delay leaving if an evacuation is ordered.
Can shutters be installed during hurricane season?
You can ask for quotes and installation at any time of year, but installer availability varies and nobody can guarantee completion before a particular storm. Ask each installer for their current schedule in writing.
How often should I test my hurricane shutters?
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions. A practice run in calm weather before each season, and a recheck before the busiest weeks, helps you find problems while there is time to arrange service.