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
Weirdly Warm February on the Plains

Weirdly Warm February on the Plains

More record high temperatures were broken acr

17 Feb 2026 11:15 PM
Monster Storm System Walloping California

Monster Storm System Walloping California

CALIFORNIA - The state of California has been

17 Feb 2026 11:05 PM
Rounds of Snow Return to the Rockies

Rounds of Snow Return to the Rockies

ROCKIES - Widespread winter alerts remain in

17 Feb 2026 11:00 PM
Wildfire Danger: Extreme Conditions

Wildfire Danger: Extreme Conditions

Fire outlooks have been issued across the Fro

17 Feb 2026 11:00 PM
Next Shot at Severe Storms This Week

Next Shot at Severe Storms This Week

The West Coast is hogging the active weather

17 Feb 2026 10:55 PM
Severe Storms Target the South Sunday

Severe Storms Target the South Sunday

Storms flew through Texas, Louisiana, and Mis

15 Feb 2026 11:05 PM
Lingering Snow in the Northeast

Lingering Snow in the Northeast

NORTHEAST - As this next clipper system cont

12 Feb 2026 8:05 AM