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
Farthest Humans Ever from Earth: Artemis II

Farthest Humans Ever from Earth: Artemis II

NEW RECORD - At 1:56 PM ET on Monday, April 6

6 Apr 2026 6:35 PM
Florida: Rain Coming to Drought-Stricken State

Florida: Rain Coming to Drought-Stricken State

A low-pressure system that moved over Texas b

6 Apr 2026 6:30 PM
West Pattern: Moisture Returns

West Pattern: Moisture Returns

The drought conditions have started to increa

6 Apr 2026 6:15 PM
Windy System Blows in Midweek

Windy System Blows in Midweek

If it's not a foot and a half of snow in the

6 Apr 2026 5:45 PM
Severe Threat Looms This Weekend

Severe Threat Looms This Weekend

Here we go again. After what looks like a lar

6 Apr 2026 10:43 AM
Severe Storms Push East Easter Sunday

Severe Storms Push East Easter Sunday

Several rounds of severe storms have tracked

5 Apr 2026 10:55 PM
Cold Front Ends Record Heat

Cold Front Ends Record Heat

Unseasonably warm air is taking over much of

5 Apr 2026 10:20 AM