Approximately 2,000 people fled their homes in McDowell County due to the threat of failure of the dam at Lake Tahoma. [4] TSR released its second forecast on the same day, predicting a slightly-below average hurricane season, with 12 named storms, 6 hurricanes, and 2 major hurricanes, the reduction in both the number and size of storms compared to its first forecast being due to recent anomalous cooling in the far northern and tropical Atlantic. By six hours later, Ernesto transitioned into an extratropical low about 805 mi (1,295 km) north-northeast of the Azores. Potential tropical cyclones are not included in this table. [53] On September 13 and September 14, the cyclone underwent a Fujiwhara interaction with the smaller Tropical Storm Joyce to the west. Hurricane Michael took a different path, forming Oct. 7 near the Yucatan Peninsula, where the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico meet. Florence got its start on Sept. 1 … [85] Located within a very favorable environment with low wind shear, warm sea surface temperatures, and abundant atmospheric moisture, the small tropical cyclone quickly intensified, reaching its peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) around 06:00 UTC on October 10. In the Dominican Republic, heavy rainfall led to flooding that displaced more than 8,000 people and isolated 19 communities. The season produced sixteen tropical depressions, all but one of which further intensified into tropical storms. Tornadoes and flash floods from the remnants of Gordon caused some damage farther inland, especially in Kentucky and Missouri. Simultaneously, the cyclone peaked with sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 995 mbar (29.4 inHg). [25], On July 1, a tropical wave and accompanying low-pressure area existed the west coast of Africa. At 06:00 UTC on October 3, Leslie strengthened into a hurricane and turned northward, but weakened back to a tropical storm later on the next day. [71], A non-tropical area of low pressure formed over the central Atlantic on September 22, quickly transitioning into Subtropical Storm Leslie by 12:00 UTC on the next day about 945 mi (1,520 km) southwest of Flores Islands in the Azores. Florence moved west-northwestward at an average speed of 17 mph (27 km/h) due to a large ridge associated with the Bermuda-Azores High. [55] Improvement of banding features and the development of an inner core indicated further strengthening; Helene became a hurricane around 18:00 UTC the following day. Kirk peaked with sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) later that day. This was the same list used in the 2012 season, with the exception of the name Sara, which replaced Sandy. Oscar's extratropical transition ended the season's activity on October 31. At 12:00 UTC on July 12, Chris became an extratropical cyclone well southeast of Newfoundland. A frontal system subsequently absorbed the remnant low over Ontario on June 1st. About a month later, Hurricane Michael, the first tropical cyclone to strike the United States as a Category 5 hurricane since Hurricane Andrew in 1992, left extensive damage in Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. Afterward, Joyce began to weaken due to the increasing wind shear. [69] Approximately 2,000 chickens died at a poultry farm after their pens collapsed during the storm. In Virginia, the storm caused generally minor flooding and spawned 11 tornadoes. The cyclone weakened to a tropical depression shortly after landfall. [25] The storm damaged 5,218 homes and 23,680 acres (9,580 ha) of crops throughout the country. Eight of those strengthened into hurricanes, while two of the six hurricanes further strengthened into major hurricanes. [66] Deep convection, despite being displaced east of the center, became persistent throughout the day, leading to the formation of a tropical depression by 18:00 UTC on September 21. The extratropical system tracked northeastward due to an approaching frontal system prior to dissipating over Massachusetts on September 18. On October 31, Oscar underwent an extratropical transition, a process it completed by 18:00 UTC that day about 605 mi (975 km) south-southeast of Cape Race, Newfoundland. Several cities became completely isolated, including Wilmington. Despite relatively cool sea surface temperatures, Beryl continued to strengthen, becoming a Category 1 hurricane by 06:00 UTC on July 6 as a pinhole eye became evident. [5] Several days later, on April 16, North Carolina State University released its predictions, forecasting an above-average season, with 14–18 named storms, 7–11 hurricanes, and 3–5 major hurricanes. Michael caused more than $14 billion in damages. The cyclone initially weakened quickly over land, falling to tropical storm intensity over Georgia early on October 11. In mid-September, Hurricane Florence produced disastrous flooding in North Carolina and South Carolina, with damage totaling about $24 billion. Of those, 21 were in Florida’s Bay County, where the hurricane made landfall, nearly wiping out Mexico Beach. After conditions became more favorable, Beryl regenerated into a subtropical storm near Bermuda at 12:00 UTC on July 14. The system then became extratropical over West Virginia. Approximately 11,386 homes throughout the state experienced moderate or major damage. The flow between a trough over the central Atlantic and the subtropical ridge then drew Helene in a northward motion. Four days later, Michael made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in the Florida Panhandle. One of the most dangerous things a hurricane can do is slow … Florence then slowed significantly due to collapsed steering currents and made landfall near Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, as a Category 1 with winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) around 11:15 UTC on September 14. Over 8,000 people lost power in Broward and Miami-Dade counties. [83] Catastrophic damage occurred in portions of the Florida Panhandle, particularly in and around Mexico Beach, Panama City, and Panama City Beach. [84] Upon its designation as a tropical storm at the longitude of 30°W, Nadine became the easternmost named storm to develop in the tropical Atlantic so late in the calendar year. Michael caused approximately $25 billion in damage and at least 64 deaths. On March 20, 2019, at the 41st session of the RA IV hurricane committee, the World Meteorological Organization retired the names Florence and Michael from its rotating naming lists due to the number of deaths and amount of damage they caused, and they will not be used again for another Atlantic hurricane. Continued intensification followed, with Oscar peaking as a strong Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 km/h) early on October 30. [22], The combined effects of the precursor low to Michael and a disturbance over the Pacific Ocean caused significant flooding across Central America. [17] On average, an Atlantic hurricane season between 1981 and 2010 contained twelve tropical storms, six hurricanes, and three major hurricanes, with an Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) index of between 66 and 103 units. The remnants were monitored for several days. [51] Rainfall reaching 6.98 in (177 mm) in Homestead caused some street flooding in the Miami area. [23] After 15 consecutive days as a tropical cyclone, Leslie transitioned into a powerful extratropical cyclone on October 13 while situated approximately 120 mi (195 km) west of the Iberian Peninsula, before making landfall soon afterward. Possibly due to the Brown ocean effect, Alberto persisted as a tropical cyclone over land until transitioning into a remnant low over northern Michigan on May 31. Late on October 13, Leslie became extratropical roughly 120 mi (195 km) west-northwest of Lisbon, Portugal, before making landfall soon afterward. [53] The remnants continued onwards to impact Ireland and the United Kingdom, prompting warnings for wind gusts up 65 mph (105 km/h) for southern and western areas of the United Kingdom. Around 12:00 UTC on September 13, Isaac passed between Martinique and Dominica, with the high terrain on Martinique nearly causing the storm to dissipate. On July 7, a man drowned in rough seas attributed to the storm at Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina. The storm also caused minor damage to buildings, vehicles, and roads. Rainfall on the island peaked at 7.8 in (200 mm) in Saint-Claude,[30] causing minor localized flooding due to runoff. [35] A vacation home in Rodanthe was declared uninhabitable after swells generated by Chris eroded away the base of the building. Most forecasting groups called for a below-average season due to cooler than normal sea surface temperatures in the tropical Atlantic and the anticipated development of an El Niño.