FINAL REPORT: NHC Details Hurricane Florence

news image
Special Stories
5 May 2019 3:52 AM
https://twitter.com/NHC_Atlantic/status/1124405559187394561 The National Hurricane Center has issued its complete evaluation of Hurricane Florence in their final Tropical Cyclone Report of 2018's Atlantic Season. Florence peaked at category 4 strength, before making landfall in North Carolina as a category 1 hurricane. However, Florence's true power was evident in the freshwater flooding and storm surge impacts across the southeast. This single storm was responsible for 22 direct deaths and 24 billion dollars in damage. NHC tracked Florence from its beginnings as a tropical wave off of the African coast. The cyclone systematically charged across the Atlantic into early September 2018. Florence went through several cycles of rapid intensification and weakening. Despite reaching peak intensity 725 n mi east-southeast of Cape Fear, NC, cooler sea surface temperatures caused by upwelling allowed it to weaken as it approached land. Florence made landfall as a 80-kt hurricane near Wrightsville Beach, NC on September 14, 2018. The slow forward speed kept heavy rain training over the same areas of the southeastern US. Flooding continued for days after landfall.

Top Stats:

Wind Speed:  150  mph Minimum Central Pressure: 937 millibars Maximum Storm Surge Inundation Heights: 8 to  11 ft above ground level Tornadoes: 44 across 3 states Deaths: 22 direct (15 in NC, 4 in SC,  3 in VA), 30 indirect Rainfall: Impacts outlined in an excerpt form the report:

"The NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) estimates that wind and water damage caused by Florence totaled approximately $24 billion. This makes Florence the ninth-most-destructive hurricane to affect the United States. Approximately 1.1 million customers lost power due to Florence’s effects, with 1 million customers having lost power in North Carolina and 100,000 customers experiencing power loss in South Carolina."

 
All Weather News
More
Flash Flood Threat Persists This Week

Flash Flood Threat Persists This Week

WHAT TO EXPECTIt was a very active day across

22 Jun 2026 6:40 PM
Severe Threat Slides East Today

Severe Threat Slides East Today

Devastating storms ripped through the heartla

22 Jun 2026 6:40 PM
Heat Returns to the West

Heat Returns to the West

This week, an upper level ridge takes over pa

22 Jun 2026 6:35 PM
Illinois Smashes Yearly Tornado Record in 2026

Illinois Smashes Yearly Tornado Record in 2026

We're only half way through 2026 and Illinois

22 Jun 2026 3:49 PM
Active Week Ahead For The Plains

Active Week Ahead For The Plains

Storms fired up across the plains, and a seve

22 Jun 2026 10:40 AM
Summer Solstice Kicks Off Father's Day Sunday

Summer Solstice Kicks Off Father's Day Sunday

Fathers across the country will have to share

21 Jun 2026 5:20 PM
Flood Risk Continues This Weekend for the Gulf Coast States

Flood Risk Continues This Weekend for the Gulf Coast States

Numerous flash flood warnings were issued as

21 Jun 2026 1:15 PM