Carolina Hurricanes past

While Hurricane (now tropical storm) Florence continues to hang out in the Carolina’s I took a look at some past big storms that have hit that area.  While Florence was maybe not as intense as early forecast had it I am sure that there will be a lot of rain and much possible flooding. The storms below were all cat 4 or 3 when land fall was made.

Hurricane Fran 1996
North Carolina got the worst of the storm, and therefore experienced the worst of the damage. The highest wind gust of 137 mph occurred in the northeast quadrant of the hurricane: Wilmington, NC. The North Topsail Beach police station was washed away by a 12 foot storm surge. The police station was being temporarily housed in a double wide since Bertha wiped out the original building just a few months prior. Kure Beach Pier was destroyed along with the Emerald Isle fishing pier, while Bogue Inlet Pier lost 150 feet. Storm surge in North Topsail Beach created a 100-foot wide inlet. Topsail Island lost 40 feet of beach due to erosion. This also caused numerous houses to be destroyed. Swansboro and Newbern experienced 10 feet of storm surge, causing many waterfront businesses to be flooded and/or destroyed. Over 400 homes in Emerald Isle were damaged with about 60 being completely destroyed. Dune erosion ranged from 5-20 feet up and down the North Carolina coast. Damages in North Topsail Beach and Carteret County alone were estimated to be over $500 million
Fran took a track from North Carolina to far eastern Ohio. The far eastern thumb of Michigan receive 2 to 4” of rain from Fran. Grand Rapids dropped into the 30’s on September 29th and 30th
Hurricane Hugo 1989
Hugo made landfall just north of Charleston, South Carolina on 22 September. Strengthening in the last twelve hours before landfall made Hugo a Category 4 hurricane at the coast. After landfall, the storm gradually recurved northeastward, becoming extratropical over southeastern Canada on September 23.
Hugo also went as far west as far eastern Ohio. Grand Rapids had a low of 29° on September 27th
Hurricane Gracie 1959
Hurricane Gracie, a Category 4 storm which charged into St. Helena Sound before noon EST on Tuesday, September 29, 1959. Wind gusts measured as high as 138 mph near Beaufort and estimated at least 150 mph along coastal sections of Beaufort, Colleton and Charleston Counties downed many trees and power lines and damaged numerous structures. A September 30 report filed from the Weather Bureau in Charleston described damage as “…widespread and extensive, estimated to be 5 to 10 million dollars and perhaps more.” The preliminary U.S. Weather Bureau report published in October, 1959, stated, “Wind damage from Gracie was the worst from a hurricane in the history of Beaufort, South Carolina.” In an Island Packet article (“Residents Recall Hurricane Gracie”, published May 26, 2009)
This Hurricane stayed further to the east then Hugo and Fran did.
Hurricane Hazel 1954
Making landfall October 15 as a Category 4 hurricane near the North Carolina-South Carolina border. Winds were around 130 mph at landfall. Hazel was responsible for 95 deaths and $281 million in damage in the United States, 100 deaths and $100 million in damage in Canada and an estimated 400 to 1,000 deaths in Haiti, the hurricane center said.
Unnamed cat 3 1899
came ashore on the Outer Banks of North Carolina with winds of 120 mph. About 3,000 people were killed by the storm, mostly in Puerto Rico.
Unnamed cat 1893
made landfall north of Charleston, South Carolina. The death toll was 1,000 to 2,000, though records don’t specify where the deaths occurred.
Unnamed cat 3 1879
with winds of 115 mph made landfall near Morehead City, North Carolina. A reported 46 people died.

In looking at the rain fall records for eastern North and South Carolina to see how Florence will compare.  At this time the records for several locations in both Carolina’s came in September 1999 when two storms hit the area a couple weeks apart. The storms Floyd and Dennis. Here are some records from the two storms as several locations.

Wilminston SC 23.41”  Myrtle Beach 23.05” Raleigh NC 21.79” Many other locations seen rain fall amounts of between 14 and 20” we will have to see how this storm compares.

In our are we are in-store for a great early fall weekend with warm temperatures. It will be a great time to get out and enjoy this nice weather. Remember even if we have a mild and dry winter it will be still be cold as we live too far north not to see some cold days in the months ahead.

Slim