TEXT ONLY VERSION | NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER |
Please note that the following list is not exhaustive and does not include every notable storm in history.
Galveston
Hurricane 1900 This hurricane
was the deadliest weather disaster in United States history. Storm
tides of 8 to 15 ft inundated the whole of Galveston Island, as well as
other portions of the nearby Texas coast. These tides were largely responsible
for the 8,000 deaths (estimates range from 6,000 to 12,000) attributed to the
storm. The damage to property was estimated at $30 million...
Atlantic-Gulf
Hurricane 1919 Although hurricane-force winds occurred over the Florida Keys and the central and south Texas coast, no reliable wind measurements are available from near the center. A storm surge of up to 12 ft inundated Corpus Christ, Texas causing major damage to the coastal areas. A ship moored near the Dry Tortugas measured a pressure of 27.37 inches as the center passed, and based on this, the storm is ranked as the third most intense to hit the United States. The death toll
was estimated at 600 to 900 people. Of these, more than 500 were lost on ten
ships that either sunk or were reported missing. Damage in the United States
was estimated at $22 million.
Great
Miami Hurricane 1926 The Category 4 hurricane's eye moved directly over Miami Beach and downtown Miami during the morning hours of the 18th. This cyclone produced the highest sustained winds ever recorded in the United States at the time, and the barometric pressure fell to 27.61 inches as the eye passed over Miami. A storm surge of nearly 15 feet was reported in Coconut Grove. Many casualties resulted as people ventured outdoors during the half-hour lull in the storm as the eye passed overhead. Most residents, having not experienced a hurricane, believed that the storm had passed during the lull. They were suddenly trapped and exposed to the eastern half of the hurricane shortly thereafter. Every building in the downtown district of Miami was damaged or destroyed. The town of Moore Haven on the south side of Lake Okeechobee was completely flooded by lake surge from the hurricane. Hundreds of people in Moore Haven alone were killed by this surge, which left behind floodwaters in the town for weeks afterward. The hurricane continued
northwestward across the Gulf of Mexico and approached Pensacola on September
20th. The storm nearly stalled to the south of Pensacola later that day and
buffeted the central Gulf Coast with 24 hours of heavy rainfall, hurricane force
winds, and storm surge. The hurricane weakened as it moved inland over Louisiana
later on the 21st. Nearly every pier, warehouse, and vessel on Pensacola Bay
was destroyed.
San
Felipe-Okeechobee Hurricane 1928 No reliable wind readings are available from near the landfall area in Florida. However, Palm Beach reported a minimum pressure of 27.43 in, making this the fourth strongest hurricane of record to hit the United States. In Puerto Rico, San Juan reported 144 mph sustained winds, while Guayama reported a pressure of 27.65 inches. Additionally, a ship just south of St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands (USVI) reported a pressure of 27.50 inches, while Guadeloupe in the Leeward Islands reported a pressure of 27.76 inches. This hurricane
caused heavy casualties and extensive destruction along its path from the Leeward
Islands to Florida. The worst tragedy occurred at inland Lake Okeechobee in
Florida, where the hurricane caused a lake surge of 6 to 9 ft that inundated
the surrounding area. 1,836 people died in Florida, mainly due to the lake surge.
An additional 312 people died in Puerto Rico, and 18 more were reported dead
in the Bahamas. Damage to property was estimated at $50,000,000 in Puerto Rico
and $25,000,000 in Florida.
Florida
Keys Labor Day Hurricane 1935 No wind measurements are available from the core of this small, but vicious hurricane. However, a pressure of 26.35 inches measured at Long Key, Florida makes this the most intense hurricane of record to hit the United States and the second most intense hurricane of record in the Atlantic basin (surpassed only by the 26.22 inches observed in Hurricane Gilbert in 1988). The combination
of winds and tides were responsible for 408 deaths in the Florida Keys, primarily
among World War I veterans working in the area. Damage in the United States
was estimated at $6 million.
New
England Hurricane 1938 Blue Hill Observatory, Massachusetts measured sustained winds of 121 mph with gusts to 183 mph (likely influenced by terrain). A U.S. Coast Guard station on Long Island measured a minimum pressure of 27.94 in. Storm surges of 10 to 12 ft inundated portions of the coast from Long Island and Connecticut eastward to southeastern Massachusetts, with the most notable surges in Narragansett Bay and Buzzards Bay. Heavy rains before and during the hurricane produced river flooding, most notably along the Connecticut River. This hurricane
struck with little warning and was responsible for 600 deaths and $308 million
in damage in the United States.
Great
Atlantic Hurricane 1944 Cape Henry, VA reported 134 mph sustained winds (measured 90 ft above the ground) with estimated gusts to 150 mph. Widespread hurricane-force winds were reported elsewhere along the storm track from North Carolina to Massachusetts with a maximum reported gust of 109 mph at Hartford, Connecticut. Rainfall totals of 6 to 11 inches accompanied the storm. While this hurricane
caused 46 deaths and $100 million in damage in the United States, the worst
effects occurred at sea where it wreaked havoc on World War II shipping. Five
ships, including a U. S. Navy destroyer and minesweeper, two U. S. Coast Guard
cutters, and a light vessel, sank due to the storm causing 344 deaths.
Hurricanes
Carol and Edna 1954 Sustained winds of 80 to 100 mph were reported over much of eastern Connecticut, all of Rhode Island, and eastern Massachusetts. A peak gust of 130 mph was reported at Block Island, Rhode Island, while gusts of 100 to 125 mph occurred over much of the rest of the affected area. Storm surge flooding occurred along the New England coast from Long Island northward, with water depths of 8 to 10 ft reported in downtown Providence, Rhode Island. Carol was responsible for 60 deaths and $461 million in damage in the United States. No discussion of Carol is complete without mention of the remarkably similar Hurricane Edna. This storm first formed east of the Windward Islands on September 2. It moved northwestward, and by September 7 it was a hurricane very near where Carol had formed two weeks before. From this point, Edna followed a path just east of Carol's. It accelerated past Cape Hatteras, North Carolina on September 10 and made landfall over Cape Cod as a Category 3 hurricane the next day. Edna moved across Maine into eastern Canada later on the 11th as it became extratropical. Martha's Vinyard,
Massachusetts reported a peak wind gust of 120 mph during Edna, and much of the rest of
the affected area had gusts of 80 to 100 mph. The storm was responsible for
20 deaths and $40 million in damage in the United States.
Hurricane
Hazel 1954 High winds occurred over large portions of the eastern United States. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina reported a peak wind gust of 106 mph, and winds were estimated at 130 to 150 mph along the coast between Myrtle Beach and Cape Fear, North Carolina. Washington, DC reported 78 mph sustained winds, and peak gusts of over 90 mph occurred as far northward as inland New York state. A storm surge of up to 18 ft inundated portions of the North Carolina coast. Heavy rains of up to 11 inches occurred as far northward as Toronto, Canada resulting in severe flooding. Hazel was responsible
for 95 deaths and $281 million in damage in the United States, 100 deaths and
$100 million in damage in Canada, and an estimated 400 to 1000 deaths in Haiti.
Hurricanes
Connie and Diane 1955 Connie was first detected as a tropical storm over the tropical Atlantic on August 3. It moved just north of west for several days, reaching hurricane strength several hundred miles northeast of the Leeward Islands on the 5th. After passing north of the Leewards on the 6th, Connie turned northwestward - a motion that continued until the 10th. An erratic, generally north-northwestward motion then brought Connie to the North Carolina coast on August 12 as a Category 3 hurricane. This was followed by a gradual northwestward turn through August 14, when Connie dissipated over the eastern Great Lakes. Fort Macon, North Carolina reported 75 mph sustained winds with gusts to 100 mph, while a storm surge of up to 8 ft occurred along the coast. There were no reported deaths and the damage in the United States was $40 million. However, the most significant aspect of Connie was the rainfall of up to 12 inches that affected the northeastern United States. Diane was first detected over the tropical Atlantic on August 7. Moving generally west-northwestward, the cyclone became a tropical storm on the 9th. Diane became a hurricane on August 11, by which time it was moving northwestward. A northward turn occurred on the 12th, followed by a westward turn on the 13th and a west-northwestward motion on the 14th. This motion brought Diane to the North Carolina coast on August 17 as a Category 1 hurricane. The storm turned northward across Virginia, then it turned northeastward and moved back into the Atlantic near Long Island, New York on August 19. Diane became extratropical over the North Atlantic on the 21st. Hurricane conditions
affected only a small part of the North Carolina coast, and the damage from
winds and tides was relatively minor. The main impact was heavy rains. Diane
poured 10 to 20 inches of rain on areas soaked by Connie just a few days
before, producing widespread severe flooding from North Carolina to Massachusetts.
The floods were responsible were 184 deaths and $832 million in damage.
Hurricane
Audrey 1957 No reliable wind
or pressure measurements are available from Audrey's core at landfall. The main
impact was from 8 to 12 ft storm surges that penetrated as far inland as 25
miles over portions of low-lying southwestern Louisiana. These surges were responsible
for the vast majority of the 390 deaths from Audrey. Damage in the United States
was estimated at $150 million.
Hurricane
Donna 1960 Donna is the only hurricane of record to produce hurricane-force winds in Florida, the Mid-Atlantic states, and New England. Sombrero Key, Florida reported 128 mph sustained winds with gusts to 150 mph. In the Mid-Atlantic states, Elizabeth City, North Carolina reported 83 mph sustained winds, while Manteo, North Carolina reported a 120 mph gust. In New England, Block Island, Rhode Island reported 95 mph sustained winds with gusts to 130 mph. Donna caused storm surges of up to 13 ft in the Florida Keys and 11 ft surges along the southwest coast of Florida. Four to eight ft surges were reported along portions of the North Carolina coast, with 5 to 10 ft surges along portions of the New England coast. Heavy rainfalls of 10 to 15 inches occurred in Puerto Rico, 6 to 12 inches in Florida, and 4 to 8 inches elsewhere along the path of the hurricane. The landfall pressure of 27.46 inches makes Donna the fifth strongest hurricane of record to hit the United States. It was responsible for 50 deaths in the United States. One hundred and fourteen deaths were reported from the Leeward Islands to the Bahamas, including 107 in Puerto Rico caused by flooding from the heavy rains. The hurricane caused $387 million in damage in the United States and $13 million elsewhere along its path. The National Hurricane Center also maintains
the official Tropical Cyclone Report for
Hurricane Donna.
Hurricane
Camille 1969 A minimum pressure of 26.84 inches was reported in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, which makes Camille the second most intense hurricane of record to hit the United States. The actual maximum sustained winds will never be known, as the hurricane destroyed all the wind-recording instruments in the landfall area. The estimates at the coast are near 200 mph. Columbia, Mississippi, located 75 miles inland, reported 120 mph sustained winds. A storm tide of 24.6 ft occurred at Pass Christian, Mississippi. The heaviest rains along the Gulf Coast were about 10 inches. However, as Camille passed over the Virginias, it produced a burst of 12 to 20 inch rains with local totals of up to 31 inches. Most of this rain occurred in 3 to 5 hours and caused catastrophic flash flooding. The combination
of winds, surges, and rainfalls caused 256 deaths (143 on the Gulf Coast and
113 in the Virginia floods) and $1.421 billion in damage. Three deaths were
reported in Cuba. The National Hurricane Center also maintains
the official Tropical Cyclone Report for
Hurricane Camille.
Hurricane
Agnes 1972
Agnes was barely a hurricane at landfall in Florida, and the effects of
winds and storm surges were relatively minor. The major impact was over the
northeastern United States, where Agnes combined with the non-tropical low
to produce widespread rains of 6 to 12 inches with local amounts of 14 to 19
inches. These rains produced widespread severe flooding from Virginia
northward to New York, with other flooding occurring over the western
portions of the Carolinas.
Agnes caused 122 deaths in the United States. Nine of these were in Florida
(mainly from severe thunderstorms) while the remainder were associated with
the flooding. The storm was responsible for $2.1 billion in damage in the
United States, the vast majority of which came from the flooding. Agnes also
affected western Cuba, where seven additional deaths occurred. The National Hurricane Center also maintains
the official Tropical Cyclone Report for
Hurricane Agnes.
Tropical
Storm Claudette 1979 Claudette produced
tropical storm conditions along portions of the Texas and Louisiana coasts,
but the storm will be most remembered for its rainfall. Widespread amounts in
excess of 10 inches occurred over portions of southeastern Texas and southwestern
Louisiana, with several local amounts in excess of 30 inches. An observer west
of Alvin, Texas reported 43 inches in 24 hours, which is a United States record
for 24 hour rainfall amount. The storm total at that location was 45 inches.
The rains produced severe flooding that was responsible for one death and $400
million in damage. The storm also produced heavy rains over portions of Puerto
Rico that were responsible for one death. The National Hurricane Center also maintains
the official Tropical Cyclone Report for
Tropical Storm Claudette.
Hurricane
Alicia 1983 The Coast Guard
cutter Buttonwood moored at Galveston reported sustained winds of 96 mph with
gusts to 125 mph. Hobby Airport at Houston, Texas reported 94 mph sustained winds
with gusts to 107 mph. Wind gusts of hurricane force in downtown Houston littered
the streets with broken glass as windows broke in the high-rise buildings. Additionally,
twenty-three tornadoes were reported from Alicia. The National Hurricane Center also maintains
the official Tropical Cyclone Report for
Hurricane Alicia.
Alicia was responsible
for 21 deaths and $2 billion in damage in the United States. Hurricane
Gilbert 1988
Gilbert emerged off the western coastline of Jamaica and began a period of
extraordinarily rapid intensification. The ferocious hurricane
strengthened to Category 4 status as its northern eyewall pounded Grand
Cayman Island with 155 mph wind gusts early on September 13th.
Gilbert’s remarkable intensification trend continued as the cyclone
reached Category 5 status on the afternoon of the 13th and eventually
reached peak winds of 185 mph. The minimum central pressure of the cyclone
plummeted to 888 millibars, which represented a 70-millibar drop in only a
24-hour period. This minimum central pressure recorded by NOAA aircraft
remains the lowest pressure ever recorded in the western hemisphere.
Gilbert crossed the northeast coast of Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula on
September 14th, becoming the first Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic
basin to strike land since Camille in 1969.
Gilbert weakened over the Yucatan peninsula and emerged into the western
Gulf of Mexico as a Category 2 hurricane. Gilbert’s large circulation
regained major hurricane status as the cyclone continued on a
west-northwest course on the 16th. The hurricane made its final landfall
near the town of La Pesca on the Mexican Gulf Coast on the evening of
September 16th as a strong Category 3 hurricane. Gilbert’s remnants
spawned 29 tornadoes over Texas on September 18th, with flooding spreading
to the Midwest as the remnants merged with a frontal boundary over
Missouri on September 19th. Although no reliable measurements of storm
surge exist from Gilbert’s two Mexican landfalls, estimates are that
Gilbert produced between 15 and 20 feet of surge along the Yucatan and 8
to 13 feet at landfall in mainland Mexico.
Gilbert’s large size and impacts were felt over much of the Caribbean,
Central America as well as portions of the United States. The death toll
of 318 gives an idea of the scope of Gilbert's impacts: Mexico 202,
Jamaica 45, Haiti 30, Guatemala 12, Honduras 12, Dominican Republic 5,
Venezuela 5, United States 3, Costa Rica 2, and Nicaragua 2. The deaths
from Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Venezuela were caused
by inland flash flooding from outer rainbands. The National Hurricane Center also maintains
the official Tropical Cyclone Report for
Hurricane Gilbert.
Hurricane
Hugo 1989 The Naval Air Station
at Roosevelt Roads, PR reported sustained winds of 104 mph with gusts to 120
mph, which were the highest winds reported from the Caribbean. A ship moored
in the Sampit River in South Carolina measured sustained winds of 120 mph. High
winds associated with Hugo extended far inland, with Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina
reporting 67 mph sustained winds with gusts to 110 mph and Charlotte, North Carolina reporting
69 mph sustained winds and gusts to 99 mph. Storm surge from
Hugo inundated the South Carolina Coast from Charleston to Myrtle Beach, with
maximum storm tides of 20 ft observed in the Cape Romain-Bulls Bay area. Hugo was responsible
for 21 deaths in the mainland United States, five more in Puerto Rico and the
U. S. Virgin Islands, and 24 more elsewhere in the Caribbean. Damage estimates
are $7 billion in the mainland United States and $1 billion in Puerto Rico and
the U.S. Virgin Islands. The National Hurricane Center also maintains
the official Tropical Cyclone Report for
Hurricane Hugo.
Hurricane
Andrew 1992 Reports from private
barometers helped establish that Andrew's central pressure at landfall in Homestead,
Florida was 27.23 inches, which makes it the third most intense hurricane of record
to hit the United States. Andrew's peak winds in south Florida were not directly
measured due to destruction of the measuring instruments. An automated station
at Fowey Rocks reported 142 mph sustained winds with gusts to 169 mph (measured
144 ft above the ground), and higher values may have occurred after the station
was damaged and stopped reporting. The National Hurricane Center had a peak
gust of 164 mph (measured 130 ft above the ground), while a 177 mph gust was
measured at a private home. Additionally, Berwick, LA reported 96 mph sustained
winds with gusts to 120 mph. Andrew produced
a 17 ft storm surge near the landfall point in Florida, while storm tides of
at least 8 ft inundated portions of the Louisiana coast. Andrew also produced
a killer tornado in southeastern Louisiana. Andrew is responsible
for 23 deaths in the United States and three more in the Bahamas. The hurricane
caused $26.5 billion in damage in the United States, of which $1 billion occurred
in Louisiana and the rest in south Florida. The vast majority of the damage
in Florida was due to the winds. Damage in the Bahamas was estimated at $250
million. The National Hurricane Center also maintains
the official Tropical Cyclone Report for
Hurricane Andrew.
More
images of Andrew
are available from NASA Goddard Laboratory website. Tropical
Storm Alberto 1994 Alberto's winds
and tides produced only minor damage at the coast, but the excessive rains that
fell in Georgia, Alabama, and western Florida were another story. Amounts exceeded
10 inches in many locations, with the maximum being the 27.61 inch storm total
at Americus, GA (including 21 inches in 24 hours). Severe flooding resulted
over large portions of southern Georgia, western Alabama, and the western Florida
Panhandle. The floods were responsible for 30 deaths and $500 million in damage. The National Hurricane Center also maintains
the official Tropical Cyclone Report for
Tropical Storm Alberto.
More
information on flooding
from Alberto is available at the National Climatic Data Center website.
Hurricane
Opal 1995 Hurlbert Field,
Florida reported sustained winds of 84 mph with a peak gust of 144 mph, and gusts
to 70 mph occurred as far inland as northwest Georgia. However, the main impact
from Opal was from storm surge. A combination of storm surge and breaking waves
inundated portions of the western Florida Panhandle coast to a depth of 10 to
20 ft. The surge was responsible for the bulk of the $3 billion in damage attributed
to Opal in the United States. Opal was responsible
for 9 deaths in the United States, including 8 from falling trees and one from
a tornado. Opal was responsible for 50 deaths in Mexico and Guatemala due to
flooding caused by heavy rains. The National Hurricane Center also maintains
the official Tropical Cyclone Report for
Hurricane Opal.
Hurricane
Mitch 1998 The remnant circulation
aloft reached the Bay of Campeche on 2 November and began developing again.
The re-born Mitch became a tropical storm on 3 November, then moved northeastward
across the Yucatan Peninsula on the 4th. Mitch crossed south Florida as a tropical
storm on the 5th and then became extratropical later that day. The extratropical
cyclone remained strong as it crossed the Atlantic, eventually affecting the
British Isles and Iceland on the 9th and 10th. Mitch ravaged the
offshore islands of Honduras with high winds, seas, and storm surge. However
the greatest impact was widespread heavy rains and severe floods in Honduras,
Nicaragua, Guatemala, and El Salvador. Mitch caused an estimated 9,000 deaths
in Central America with another 9,000 missing. Thirty-one people died when the
schooner Fantome sank as it encountered the high winds and seas
associated with the hurricane. Two people died in the Florida Keys when a fishing
boat capsized. Mitch caused tremendous property, infrastructure, and crop damage
in Central America, and an additional $40 million in damage in Florida.
The National Hurricane Center also maintains
the official Tropical Cyclone Report for
Hurricane Mitch.
Hurricane
Floyd 1999 While wind gusts
of 120 mph and storm surges of 9 to 10 ft were reported from the North Carolina
coast, Floyd will be most remembered in the United States for its rainfall.
The combination of Floyd and a frontal system over the eastern United States
produced widespread rainfalls in excess of 10 inches from North Carolina northeastward,
with amounts as high as 19.06 inches in Wilmington, North Carolina and 13.70 inches at Brewster,
New York. These rains, aided by rains from Tropical Storm Dennis two weeks earlier,
caused widespread severe flooding that caused the majority of the $3 to 6 billion
in damage caused by Floyd. These floods also were responsible for 50 of the
56 deaths caused by Floyd in the United States. Floyd also caused damage in
the Bahamas, with one death reported. The National Hurricane Center also maintains
the official Tropical Cyclone Report for
Hurricane Floyd.
Information
on rainfall
and flooding from Floyd is available from the NOAA National Climatic Data
Center. More
images of Floyd
are available from NASA Goddard Laboratory website. Hurricane
Keith 2000 Keith emerged in
the Bay of Campeche late that day and quickly regained tropical storm strength.
It again became a hurricane on the 5th before making landfall just north of
Tampico, Mexico as a Category 1 hurricane. The cyclone dissipated over northeastern
Mexico the next day. Keith was responsible
for 24 deaths - 12 in Nicaragua, 5 in Belize, 6 in Honduras, and 1 in Mexico.
The deaths in Belize occurred when two catamarans broke loose during the storm,
while 5 of the deaths in Honduras occurred when an airplane disappeared near
Roatan Island. Damage to property, agriculture, and tourism in Belize was estimated
at $225 million.
The National Hurricane Center also maintains
the official Tropical Cyclone Report for
Hurricane Keith.
Tropical
Storm Allison 2001 Allison brought
tropical-storm-force winds and above normal tides to portions of the Texas and
Louisiana coasts. However, the greatest legacy of the cyclone was the widespread
heavy rains and resulting floods along the entire path of the cyclone (figure).
Houston, Texas, was the worst affected area, as the Port of Houston reported
36.99 inches and several other locations reported more than 30 inches (figure).
The storm also spawned 23 tornadoes. Allison was responsible for 41 deaths and
at least $5 billion in damage in the United States, making it the deadliest
and costliest U. S. tropical storm of record. The National Hurricane Center also maintains
the official Tropical Cyclone Report for
Tropical Storm Allison.
The winds and storm
surges of Iris caused severe damage over portions of the southern Belize coast.
The storm was responsible for 31 deaths, including 20 in Belize, 8 in Guatemala,
and 3 in the Dominican Republic. The deaths in Belize occurred when the M/V
Wave Dancer capsized in port, killing 20 of the 28 people on board.
The National Hurricane Center also maintains
the official Tropical Cyclone Report for
Hurricane Iris.
Although
weakening, Isabel’s wind field continued to expand as hurricane
warnings were issued for most of the North Carolina and Virginia
coastline, including the Chesapeake Bay. Isabel’s large eye pushed
ashore just after the noon hour on September 18th near Drum Inlet along
North Carolina’s Outer Banks. Isabel was the worst hurricane to
affect the Chesapeake Bay region since 1933. Storm surge values of more
than 8 feet flooded rivers that flowed into the Bay across Virginia,
Maryland, Delaware, and Washington, D.C. Isabel brought tropical storm
force gusts as far north as New York State as it moved inland. The most
intense hurricane of the 2003 season directly resulted in 17 deaths and
more than 3 billion dollars* in damages. The large wind field toppled trees
and cut power to more than four million customers.
The National Hurricane Center also maintains
the official Tropical Cyclone Report for
Hurricane Isabel.
Hurricane Charley 2004 Charley then came under the influence of an unseasonably
strong mid-tropospheric trough that had dropped from the east-central
United States into the eastern Gulf of Mexico. The hurricane turned
north-northeastward and accelerated toward the southwest coast of
Florida as it began to intensify rapidly; dropsonde measurements
indicate that Charley's central pressure fell from 964 mb to 941 mb in
4.5 hours. By 10 am, the maximum winds had increased to near 125
m.p.h., and three hours later had increased to 145 m.p.h. - category 4
strength. Charley made landfall with maximum winds near 150 m.p.h. on
the southwest coast of Florida just north of Captiva Island around
3:45 pm. An hour later, Charley's eye passed over Punta Gorda. The
hurricane then crossed central Florida, passing near Kissimmee and
Orlando. Charley was still of hurricane intensity around midnight
when its center cleared the northeast coast of Florida near Daytona
Beach. After moving into the Atlantic, Charley came ashore again near
Cape Romain, South Carolina near midday on the 14th as a category 1
hurricane. The center then moved just offshore before making a final
landfall at North Myrtle Beach. Charley soon weakened to a tropical
storm over southeastern North Carolina and became extratropical on the
15th as it moved back over water near Virginia Beach. Although ferocious, Charley was a very small hurricane at its
Florida landfall, with its maximum winds and storm surge located only
about 6-7 miles from the center. This helped minimize the extent and
amplitude of the storm surge, which likely did not exceed 7 feet.
However, the hurricane's violent winds devastated Punta Gorda and
neighboring Port Charlotte. Rainfall amounts were generally modest,
less than 8 inches. Charley also produced 16 tornadoes in Florida,
North Carolina and Virginia. The total U. S. damage is estimated to be
near $15 billion, making Charley the second costliest hurricane in
U.S. history. Casualties were remarkably low, given the strength of
the hurricane and the destruction that resulted. Charley was directly
responsible for ten deaths in the United States. There were also four
deaths in Cuba and one in Jamaica.
The National Hurricane Center also maintains
the official Tropical Cyclone Report for
Hurricane Charley.
Hurricane Frances 2004
Frances produced a storm surge of nearly 6 feet at its Florida
east coast landfall, and caused widespread heavy rains and associated
freshwater flooding over much of the eastern United States, with a
maximum reported rainfall of 18.07 inches at Linville Falls, North
Carolina. Frances was also associated with an outbreak of over 100
tornadoes throughout the southeastern and mid-Atlantic states. Eight
deaths resulted from the forces of the storm - seven in the United
States and one in the Bahamas. U.S. damage is estimated to be near
$8.9 billion, over 90% of which occurred in Florida.
The National Hurricane Center also maintains
the official Tropical Cyclone Report for
Hurricane Frances.
Hurricane Ivan 2004
Ivan weakened as it moved inland, producing over 100 tornadoes
and heavy rains across much of the southeastern United States, before
merging with a frontal system over the Delmarva Peninsula on the 18th. While this would normally be the end of the story, the
extratropical remnant low of Ivan split off from the frontal system
and drifted southward in the western Atlantic for several days,
crossed southern Florida, and re-entered the Gulf of Mexico on the
21st. The low re-acquired tropical characteristics, becoming a
tropical storm for the second time on the 22nd in the central Gulf.
Ivan weakened before it made its final landfall in southwestern
Louisiana as a tropical depression on the 24th.
Ivan's storm surge completely over-washed the island of Grand
Cayman, where an estimated 95% of the buildings were damaged or
destroyed. Surge heights of 10-15 feet occurred along the Gulf coast
during Ivan's first U.S. landfall. Peak rainfall amounts in the
Caribbean and United States were generally 10-15 inches. The death
toll from Ivan stands at 92 - 39 in Grenada, 25 in the United States,
17 in Jamaica, 4 in Dominican Republic, 3 in Venezuela, 2 in the
Cayman Islands, and 1 each in Tobago and Barbados. U.S. damage is
estimated to be near $14.2 billion, the third largest total on record.
The National Hurricane Center also maintains
the official Tropical Cyclone Report for
Hurricane Ivan.
Hurricane Jeanne 2004
Jeanne weakened as it moved across central Florida, becoming a
tropical storm during the afternoon of the 26th near Tampa, and then
weakening to a depression a day later over central Georgia. The
depression was still accompanied by heavy rain when it moved over the
Carolinas, Virginia, and the Delmarva Peninsula on the 28th and 29th
before becoming extratropical.
Jeanne produced extreme rain accumulations in Puerto Rico and
Hispaniola, with nearly 24 inches reported in Vieques. Rains from the
cyclone resulted in historic floods in Puerto Rico, and deadly
flash-floods and mudslides in Haiti, where over 3000 people lost their
lives and roughly 200,000 were left homeless. Three deaths occurred
in Florida, and one each in Puerto Rico, South Carolina, and
Virginia. In the United States, damage is estimated to be near $6.9
billion.
The National Hurricane Center also maintains
the official Tropical Cyclone Report for
Hurricane Jeanne.
Hurricane Dennis 2005
Dennis brought hurricane conditions to many portions of Cuba. Cabo Cruz
reported sustained winds of 133 mph with a gust to 148 mph at 0200 UTC
July 8, with a minimum pressure of 956 mb at 0240 UTC just before the
eye passed over the station. The anemometer was destroyed, and it is
possible more extreme winds occurred. Dennis also caused hurricane
conditions in the western Florida Panhandle. An instrumented tower run
by the Florida Coastal Monitoring Program (FCMP) at Navarre measured
1-min average winds (5-m elevation) of 99 mph and a gust to 121 mph at
1921 UTC July 10.
Storm-total rainfalls in excess of 23 inches occurred on both Cuba and
Jamaica. Heavy rainfall also occurred over much of Florida and extended
well inland over portions of the southeastern United States with the
maximum amount of 12.80 inches near Camden, Alabama. Ten tornadoes were
reported in association with Dennis in the United States.
Dennis caused 42 deaths - 22 in Haiti, 16 in Cuba, 3 in the United
States, and 1 in Jamaica. The hurricane caused considerable damage
across central and eastern Cuba as well as the western Florida
Panhandle, including widespread utility and communications outages.
Considerable storm surge-related damage also occurred near St. Marks,
Florida, well to the east of the landfall location. The damage
associated with Dennis in the United States is estimated at $2.23
billion. Damage in Jamaica is estimated at 1.9 billion Jamaican dollars*
(approximately $31.7 million U. S.).
The National Hurricane Center also maintains
the official Tropical Cyclone Report for Hurricane Dennis in PDF and
MS-Word.
Hurricane Katrina 2005
This horrific tropical cyclone formed from the combination of a tropical
wave, an upper-level trough, and the mid-level remnants of Tropical
Depression Ten. A tropical depression formed on August 23 about 200
miles southeast of Nassau in the Bahamas. Moving northwestward, it
became Tropical Storm Katrina during the following day about 75 miles
east-southeast of Nassau. The storm moved through the northwestern
Bahamas on August 24-25, and then turned westward toward southern
Florida. Katrina became a hurricane just before making landfall near
the Miami-Dade/Broward county line during the evening of August 25. The
hurricane moved southwestward across southern Florida into the eastern
Gulf of Mexico on August 26. Katrina then strengthened significantly,
reaching Category 5 intensity on August 28. Later that day, maximum
sustained winds reached 175 mph with an aircraft-measured central
pressure of 902 mb while centered about 195 miles southeast of the mouth
of the Mississippi River. Katrina turned to the northwest and then
north, with the center making landfall near Buras, Louisiana at 1110 UTC
August 29 with maximum winds estimated at 125 mph (Category 3).
Continuing northward, the hurricane made a second landfall near the
Louisiana/Mississippi border at 1445 UTC with maximum winds estimated at
120 mph (Category 3). Weakening occurred as Katrina moved
north-northeastward over land, but it was still a hurricane near Laurel,
Mississippi. The cyclone weakened to a tropical depression over the
Tennessee Valley on 30 August. Katrina became an extratropical low on
August 31 and was absorbed by a frontal zone later that day over the
eastern Great Lakes.
Katrina brought hurricane conditions to southeastern Louisiana, southern
Mississippi, and southwestern Alabama. The Coastal Marine Automated
Network (C-MAN) station at Grand Isle, Louisiana reported 10-minute
average winds of 87 mph at 0820 UTC August 29 with a gust to 114 mph.
Higher winds likely occurred there and elsewhere, as many stations were
destroyed, lost power, or lost communications during the storm. Storm
surge flooding of 25 to 28 feet above normal tide level occurred along
portions of the Mississippi coast, with storm surge flooding of 10 to 20
feet above normal tide levels along the southeastern Louisiana coast.
Hurricane conditions also occurred over southern Florida and the Dry
Tortugas. The National Hurricane Center reported sustained winds of 69
mph at 0115 UTC August 26 with a gust to 87 mph. Additionally, tropical
storm conditions occurred along the northern Gulf coast as far east as
the coast of the western Florida Panhandle, as well as in the Florida
Keys. Katrina caused 10 to 14 inches of rain over southern Florida, and
8 to 12 inches of rain along its track inland from the northern Gulf
coast. Thirty-three tornadoes were reported from the storm.
Katrina is responsible for approximately 1200 reported deaths, including
about 1000 in Louisiana and 200 in Mississippi. Seven additional deaths
occurred in southern Florida. Katrina caused catastrophic damage in
southeastern Louisiana and southern Mississippi. Storm surge along the
Mississippi coast caused total destruction of many structures, with the
surge damage extending several miles inland. Similar damage occurred in
portions of southeastern Louisiana southeast of New Orleans. The surge
overtopped and breached levees in the New Orleans metropolitan area,
resulting in the inundation of much of the city and its eastern suburbs.
Wind damage from Katrina extended well inland into northern Mississippi
and Alabama. The hurricane also caused wind and water damage in
Miami-Dade and Broward counties.
The National Hurricane Center also maintains
the official Tropical Cyclone Report for Hurricane Katrina in PDF and
MS-Word.
Hurricane Rita 2005
A tropical wave and the remnants of an old front combined to produce and
area of disturbed weather on 16 September. This system became a
depression just east of the Turks and Caicos Islands late on 17
September, which moved westward and became a tropical storm the
following afternoon. Maximum winds increased to 70 mph as Rita moved
through the central Bahamas on September 19. While the storm did not
strengthen during the following night, rapid intensification began on
September 20 as it moved through the Straits of Florida. Rita became a
hurricane that day and reached Category 2 intensity as the center passed
about 50 miles south of Key West, Florida.
After entering the Gulf of Mexico, Rita intensified from Category 2 to
Category 5 in about 24 hours. The maximum sustained winds reached 165
mph late on September 21, and the hurricane reached a peak intensity of
180 mph early on September 22. Weakening began later that day and
continued until landfall around 0740 UTC 24 September just east of the
Texas/Louisiana border between Sabine Pass and Johnson's Bayou. At that
time, maximum sustained winds were 115 mph (Category 3). Weakening
continued after landfall, but Rita remained a tropical storm until
reaching northwestern Louisiana late on 24 September. The cyclone then
turned northeastward and merged with a frontal system two days later.
Rita brought hurricane conditions to southwestern Louisiana and
southeastern Texas. A FCMP instrumented tower at Port Arthur reported
1-min average winds of 94 mph at 0826 UTC September 24 along with a gust
of 116 mph. The C-MAN station at Sea Rim State Park, Texas reported
2-minute average winds of 82 mph at 0700 UTC September 24, along with a
peak gust of 99 mph. The hurricane caused storm-surge flooding of 10 to
15 ft above normal tide levels along the southwestern coast of
Louisiana, caused a notable surge on the inland Lake Livingston, Texas,
and inundated portions of the New Orleans area previously flooded by
Katrina. Tropical storm conditions occurred in the Florida Keys, where
the C-MAN station at Sand Key reported 10-minute average winds of 72 mph
at 2110 UTC September 20 with a gust to 92 mph. The station failed
shortly thereafter. Storm surge flooding of up to 5 feet above normal
tide levels occurred in the Keys.
Rita produced rainfalls of 5 to 9 inches over large portions of
Louisiana, Mississippi, and eastern Texas, with isolated amounts of 10
to 15 inches. The cyclone spawned an estimated 90 tornadoes over the
southern United States.
Devastating storm surge flooding and wind damage in occurred
southwestern Louisiana and extreme southeastern Texas, with some surge
damage occurring in the Florida Keys. Rita was responsible for seven
deaths, and it caused damage estimated at $10 billion in the United
States.
The National Hurricane Center also maintains
the official Tropical Cyclone Report for Hurricane Rita in PDF and
MS-Word.
Hurricane Wilma 2005
Wilma brought hurricane conditions to the northeastern Yucatan Peninsula
and the adjacent islands, as well as to southern Florida. In Mexico,
Cancun reported 10-minute average winds of 100 mph with a gust to 130
mph at 0000 UTC October 22, while Cozumel reported a pressure of 928.0
mb late on October 21. The Isla Mujeres reported 62.05 inches of rain
during the hurricane's passage. In Florida, a South Florida Water
Management District (SFWMD) station in Lake Okeechobee reported
15-minute average winds of 92 mph with a gust to 112 mph at 1500 UTC
October 24, while a nearby SFWMD station in Belle Glade reported a gust
to 117 mph. Ten tornadoes occurred in Florida due to Wilma.
Twenty-two deaths have been directly attributed to Wilma: 12 in Haiti, 1
in Jamaica, 4 in Mexico, and 5 in Florida. The hurricane caused severe
damage in northeastern Yucatan, including Cancun and Cozumel, and
widespread damage estimated at $16.8 billion in southern Florida. Wilma
also produced major floods in western Cuba.
The 882 mb pressure reported in Wilma is the lowest central pressure on
record in an Atlantic hurricane, breaking the old record of 888 mb set
by Hurricane Gilbert in September 1988. The central pressure fell 88 mb
in 12 hours, which shatters the record of 48 mb in 12 hours held by
Hurricane Allen in August 1980.
The National Hurricane Center also maintains
the official Tropical Cyclone Report for Hurricane Wilma in PDF and
MS-Word.
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