Hurricane Florence
Hurricane Florence was a major tropical cyclone, powerful and Cape Verde hurricane in the Atlantic that caused severe and extensive damage in the Carolinas in September 2018. The storm threatened the East Coast of the United States with major and catastrophic flooding, especially in the Carolinas. The sixth named storm, the third hurricane, and the first major hurricane of the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season. Florence first came off from Africa as a tropical wave on August 30, 2018.
| Category 4 major hurricane (SSHWS/NWS) | |
 Hurricane Florence near peak intensity south of Bermuda on September 11 | |
| Formed | August 31, 2018 |
|---|---|
| Dissipated | September 18, 2018 |
| (Extratropical after September 17) | |
| Highest winds | 1-minute sustained: 150 mph (240 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 937 mbar (hPa); 27.67 inHg |
| Fatalities | 24 direct, 30 indirect |
| Damage | $24.23 billion (2018 USD) |
| Areas affected | West Africa, Cape Verde, Bermuda, East Coast of the United States (especially the Carolinas), Atlantic Canada |
| Part of the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season | |
On August 31, the tropical wave became a tropical depression. It became Tropical Storm Florence on September 1, 2018.
The storm strengthened to a major hurricane on September 5, and then strengthened to a Category 4 hurricane with estimated maximum sustained winds of 130 mph later that day.
The state Governors of North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia declared a state of emergency for each state. It was becoming evident that the hurricane might strike South or North Carolina as a major hurricane.[1]
Florence later weakened to a strong tropical storm. However, the storm later strengthened back to a hurricane.[2] This time, it strengthened to 140 miles per hour, stronger than it was before.
On September 10, 2018, mandatory evacuations were issued in certain parts of North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.
On September 11, 2018, tropical cyclone watches were posted for the North and South Carolina coastlines.
The storm made a slow landfall (7 km/h) on September 14 as a Category 1 hurricane. It had heavy rain. It took energy and water from the warm Gulf Stream near the coast for one day. When the storm was inland, it weakened to a tropical depression.
Florence had a wind speed of 140 mph and a central pressure of 939 millibars, but from post-analysis it had a wind speed of 150 mph.
Damage from Florence was estimated at $24 billion (2018 USD). There were 53 deaths from Florence.
Retirement
On March 20, 2019, the World Meteorological Organization retired the name Florence due to severe and very expensive damage it caused along its track, particularly in the Carolinas, and it will never again be used for another Atlantic hurricane. It will be replaced with Francine for the 2024 season.[3]
Hurricane Florence Media
Hurricane Florence on September 13, 2018, as seen from the International Space Station
Florence viewed from the International Space Station on September 10
President Donald Trump holding a briefing in the Oval Office in advance of Hurricane Florence
'Red Cross Shelter Serves Florence Evacuees' - News report published by Voice of America on September 14, 2018
5-day map accumulation with Florence over the Carolinas
Hurricane Florence about a day after landfall over the Carolinas, on September 15
A warehouse in Chesterfield County, Virginia, destroyed by a tornado
Flooded farmland in Duplin County, North Carolina in the wake of Florence
Clean up and volunteering after the storm in Pender County, NC.
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References
- ↑ SC Preps for Possibility of a Large-Scale Disaster as Florence Grows into Hurricane . The State. Report.
- ↑ Hurricane Florence is Posing an Extreme Threat to Southeast and Mid-Atlantic . The Washington Post. Report.
- ↑ Florence and Michael permanently retired from list of Atlantic hurricane names, Washington Post, March 21, 2019