What Big Hurricanes Have Impacted the Mid-Atlantic States?

Hurricane Isabel, September 2003  (Source: NOAA)

Following Tropical Storm Arthur’s brush with the Outer Banks of North Carolina, it’s a good time to remember significant tropical systems that made landfall in North Carolina and nearby states in recent decades.  Due to its geography, North Carolina is especially prone to feeling the impacts of tropical systems. 

2018 – At peak intensity over the open Atlantic Ocean, Hurricane Florence was a Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 150 mph in September 2018.  It had a minimum air pressure of 937 millibars (mb).  That’s compared to standard sea level air pressure of 1013 mb.  The lower the air pressure is, the stronger the storm is. 

Florence was a slow moving hurricane and weakened to a Category 1 storm by the time it made landfall.  That was both a good and a bad thing.  Although the impact of winds were reduced, the combination of coastal storm surge over several high tide cycles and prolonged heavy rain led to catastrophic flooding.  Florence was a good example of how a hurricane doesn’t have to be intense to have devastating impacts that can reach well-inland.  

2011 – Prior to making landfall, Hurricane Irene weakened from its peak intensity as a Category 3 storm with sustained winds of 120 mph.  Irene made several landfalls along the East Coast of the United States, after its initial landfall in the Outer Banks of North Carolina as a Category 1 storm on August 27.  The DC Metro Area saw record rainfall from Irene as it tracked up the East Coast.

2003 – Prior to Irene, Hurricane Isabel was the last significant hurricane to make landfall in North Carolina.  A rare Category 5 hurricane over the open Atlantic, it weakened to a Category 2 storm before it made landfall on September 18.  It had major impacts in North Carolina and much of the Mid-Atlantic Region.  Over a million customers in the DC Metro Area lost electricity due to the high winds associated with the weakening hurricane.  Isabel was the first Category 5 hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean since Mitch in 1998.

1999 – Hurricane Floyd had a very large diameter and that meant its impacts were felt a considerable distance from the center of the storm.  At peak intensity, Floyd was a Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of 155 mph, just under Category 5 status (157+ mph).  Fortunately, it weakened prior to making landfall in North Carolina as a Category 2 hurricane on September 16.  Floyd brought flooding rainfall as far north as Pennsylvania and New York as it trekked inland.  The DC Metro Area had record rainfall that caused flooding just a few weeks after rain from the remnants of Hurricane Dennis caused saturated grounds.

The last major hurricane to make landfall in North Carolina was Hurricane Fran in September 1996.  A “major” hurricane is defined as a Category 3 or greater on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale with sustained winds of at least 111 mph.