Though the tropical wave lacked a well-defined low-level circulation center, the NHC began issuing advisories on the system as Potential Tropical Cyclone Six later that day as the system was threatening Cape Verde. As it progressed westwards under the influence of easterly trade winds, favorable environmental conditions, including ample moisture and low wind shear, enabled further organization of the wave and the development of broad shower and thunderstorm activity. On August 28, 2018, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) began monitoring a tropical wave-an elongated trough of low air pressure-over Western Africa for possible tropical cyclogenesis within the subsequent five days. Overall, the storm caused $24.23 billion in damage, mostly in the Carolinas, and 54 deaths.Įxtratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression Many places received record-breaking rainfall, with Florence setting maximum rainfall records from a tropical cyclone in both of the Carolinas.

The storm also spawned tornadoes in several places along its path, including an EF2 tornado that killed one person in Virginia. Wilmington was cut off entirely from the rest of the mainland by the flooding. Most major roads and highways in the area experienced flooding, with large stretches of I-40, I-95, and US Route 70 remaining impassable for days after the storm's passage. Inland flooding from Florence inundated cities such as Fayetteville, Smithfield, Lumberton, Durham, and Chapel Hill. Coupled with a powerful storm surge, the rainfall caused widespread flooding along a long stretch of the North Carolina coast, from New Bern to Wilmington. Furthermore, due to the slow motion of the storm, heavy rain fell throughout the Carolinas for several days. Though Florence made landfall as a greatly weakened Category 1 hurricane, winds associated with the tropical cyclone were strong enough to uproot trees and power lines, causing extensive power outages across the Carolinas. On September 10 and 11, the states of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia issued mandatory evacuation orders for some of their coastal communities, predicting that emergency personnel would be unable to reach people there once the storm arrived. With the threat of a major impact in the Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic United States becoming evident by September 7, the governors of North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, and Maryland, and the mayor of Washington, D.C. Florence degenerated into a post-tropical cyclone over West Virginia on September 17 and was absorbed by another frontal storm two days later.Įarly in the storm's history, the system brought squalls to the Cape Verde islands, resulting in minor landslides and flooding however, overall effects remained negligible. Early on September 14, Florence made landfall in the United States just south of Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina as a Category 1 hurricane, and weakened further as it slowly moved inland under the influence of weak steering currents. An unexpected eyewall replacement cycle and decreasing oceanic heat content caused a steady weakening trend however, the storm grew in size at the same time. Florence reached peak intensity on September 11, with 1-minute winds of 150 mph (240 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 937 mbar (27.7 inHg). Shifting steering currents led to a westward turn into a more suitable environment as a result, Florence reintensified to hurricane strength on September 9 and major hurricane status by the following day. Strong wind shear then led to rapid weakening, and Florence weakened to tropical storm strength on September 7. An unexpected bout of rapid intensification ensued on September 4–5, culminating with Florence becoming a Category 4 major hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson scale (SSHWS), with estimated maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h). Progressing along a steady west-northwest trajectory, the system gradually strengthened, acquiring tropical storm strength on September 1. The wave steadily organized, and strengthened into a tropical depression on the next day near Cape Verde. The sixth named storm, third hurricane, and the first major hurricane of the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season, Florence originated from a strong tropical wave that emerged off the west coast of Africa on August 30, 2018.

Hurricane Florence was a powerful and long-lived Cape Verde hurricane that caused catastrophic damage in the Carolinas in September 2018, primarily as a result of freshwater flooding due to torrential rain.

Part of the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season

West Africa, Cape Verde, Bermuda, East Coast of the United States (especially the Carolinas), Atlantic Canada Florence at peak intensity south of Bermuda on September 11

Florence current rainfall totals