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Meteorological history | |
---|---|
Duration | October 6–7,2016 |
Category 2 hurricane | |
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
Highest winds | 100 mph (155 km/h) |
Lowest pressure | 937 mbar (hPa);27.67 inHg |
Overall effects | |
Fatalities | 3 direct,9 indirect |
Damage | $2.77 billion (2016 USD) |
Areas affected | Florida Peninsula (especially the First Coast) |
Part of the 2016 Atlantic hurricane season | |
History Effects Other wikis |
Hurricane Matthew was the strongest tropical cyclone to threaten and impact Florida since Hurricane Wilma in 2005. Developing into a tropical storm on September 28,Matthew underwent rapid intensification,strengthening to a Category 5 hurricane with winds of 165 mph (266 km/h) by October 1. After slight weakening,Matthew made two landfalls in Haiti and Cuba. Matthew slightly reintensified before making further landfalls in The Bahamas,and then paralleling the coast of the Southeastern United States for 36 hours. On October 8,Matthew made a final landfall in the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge near McClellanville,South Carolina as a Category 1 hurricane. Afterwards,Matthew transitioned into an extratropical cyclone,dissipating on October 10.
While the center of the storm did not actually cross the coastline,the western eyewall of the storm paralleled the coast,with the most eastern portions receiving winds up to Category 2 strength. The storm caused at least three direct deaths and eleven indirect,and up to $2.77 billion (2016 USD) in damages.
Tropical Storm Matthew developed on September 28 from a tropical wave moving through the southern Lesser Antilles. Low wind shear and warm waters favored strengthening, [1] and the storm intensified into a hurricane on September 29. [2] Early on October 1, following a period of rapid deepening, Matthew reached Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson scale, with peak sustained winds of 270 km/h (170 mph) while offshore of northern Colombia. [2] By October 3, the hurricane was moving northward through the Caribbean Sea around the western periphery of a large ridge, having weakened slightly. [2] On the next day, Matthew re-intensified to attain a minimum central pressure of 934 mbar (27.6 inHg), along with winds of 240 km/h (150 mph) around its well-defined eye. [2] On October 4, with winds of 150 mph (240 km/h), Matthew made landfall in Haiti near Les Anglais. Weakening slightly, Matthew then made landfall near Maisí in Cuba. The storm started to accelerate, passingly through The Bahamas. Matthew then moved parallel to the coast of Florida, coming within just 20 miles (32 km) or so from coming ashore. The storm kept moving north before striking North Carolina, and eventually dissipated offshore on October 10.
On September 30, Governor Rick Scott made a statement to residents, urging them to be vigilant of the approaching hurricane. [3] Forecasts the following day indicated that Matthew had the potential to be the most powerful hurricane to threaten the state since Wilma in 2005. The state's Division of Emergency Management urged residents to not be complacent and urged those living along the east coast to prepare accordingly. [4] Governor Scott began regular phone conferences with Rick Knabb—the director of the National Hurricane Center—and officials in all 67 counties on October 2. Although the center of Matthew was forecast to remain offshore, Scott stated: "This storm is catastrophic, and if it hits our state, we could see impacts that we have not seen in many years". [5] All counties were placed under a state of emergency on October 3 in accordance with Executive Order 16-230. This enabled the allocation of federal funds for emergency preparations to ensure the safety of residents. The Florida National Guard was placed on standby and fuel trucks were placed along the Florida Turnpike for quick deployment anywhere in the state. [6] About 200 National Guardsmen were deployed on October 4. [7] On the afternoon of October 4, Everglades National Park and Biscayne National Park were shut down. [8] [9]
Grade schools and universities across the east Coast announced closures for October 6–9. [10] A further 1,200 members of the Florida National Guard were deployed on this day, [11] [12] and another 2,000 on October 6. [10] [13] The state government opened 130 shelters while the American Red Cross opened 97 of their own. [14] [15] The Florida Department of Transportation suspended all construction projects on interstates, limited access facilities, coastal, and evacuation route roadways. Bridges along the Intracoastal Waterway were to be shut down prior to the onset of gale-force winds. [11] All tunnels in the Miami Metropolitan Area were closed and the Tri-Rail suspended service for the duration of Matthew's passage. [10] Service at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, North Perry Airport, and Orlando Sanford International Airport was suspended on October 6, resulting in the cancellation of hundreds of flights. A further 600 flights were canceled at Miami International Airport; however, the airport remained open. [16] Numerous flights to aforementioned airports were diverted to Tampa International to compensate for closures. [17]
In preparation for heavy rainfall, the United States Army Corps of Engineers maximized water discharges in Lake Okeechobee while the South Florida Water Management District lowered canal levels. [11] More than 50 state parks and campgrounds were closed across the state. [10]
On October 5, Port Canaveral was closed by the U.S. Coast Guard, the first closure since 2004. Eight cruise ships and four cargo ships were scheduled to visit the port between October 5–9. [18] On Cape Canaveral, home to both civilian and military spaceflight facilities, no rockets or spacecraft were in vulnerable positions; at the time of Matthew's approach, the next launch was scheduled for November 4. [19] The Kennedy Space Center began preparations of the facilities on October 5. Older buildings at the KSC were designed to withstand winds of 105–125 mph (170–200 km/h); buildings constructed after 1992, when Category 5 Hurricane Andrew struck the Miami area, are built to withstand 130 mph (210 km/h) winds. [20] At Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, the U.S. Air Force's 45th Space Wing began disconnecting electric power to non-essential facilities on October 4. [19]
We have not seen a hurricane this strong in almost a decade.... If instructed to evacuate, don't wait. You can always repair and rebuild – and we'll be here to help you do that. The most important thing you can do is keep you and your family safe."
— Florida Governor Rick Scott, October 6, 2016, press briefing [21]
With Matthew forecast to track roughly parallel to the Florida coastline, meteorologists at the National Hurricane Center noted that expected impacts would be difficult to quantify for specific locations. Relatively small-scale deviations in the hurricane's track would drastically change the potential impacts; a wobble west would bring Category 3 conditions onshore while a wobble east would keep hurricane-force winds offshore. [22] Mandatory evacuations began on October 5 for barrier islands in Brevard County; voluntary evacuations also took place in Duval, Flagler, and St. Lucie counties. [11] By the morning of October 6, approximately 1.5 million people were under evacuation orders in Brevard, Broward, Clay, DeSoto, Duval, Flagler, Indian River, Martin, Miami-Dade, Nassau, Palm Beach, St. John's, St. Lucie, and Volusia counties. This included relocation of patients in various hospitals, including Baptist Medical Center Beaches, Health First Cape Canaveral Hospital, Florida Hospital Oceanside, Florida Hospital New Symrna, Baptist Medical Center Nassau, and Wuesthoff Medical Center. [10] In a public warning, Governor Scott bluntly told residents that "this storm will kill you," should they choose to not evacuate. [21] Road tolls were suspended in evacuating counties, [14] and later to all affected counties. [12] Gridlock on Interstate 10 out of Jacksonville hampered evacuation efforts. Approximately 17,000 people living on barrier islands in Martin County were urged to leave; however, many opted to ride out the storm. [23]
Despite dire warnings from officials in the Jacksonville area, only 30 percent of residents in the coastal communities of Jacksonville Beach, Atlantic Beach, and Neptune Beach evacuated. With the aforementioned communities only linked to the mainland by bridge, no emergency services would be available to them during the storm. [24]
While Matthew was crossing the Gulf of Gonâve on October 4, the National Hurricane Center issued a hurricane watch for eastern Florida from Deerfield Beach north the Volusia–Brevard county line; a tropical storm watch was also raised for southeastern Florida from Seven Mile Bridge in the Florida Keys to Deerfield Beach as well as Lake Okeechobee. [25] The watch over Lake Okeechobee was upgraded to a hurricane watch hours later. [26] As Matthew crossed Cuba, hurricane warnings were raised for areas between Golden Beach and Sebastian Inlet as well as Lake Okeechobee; the hurricane watch was extended north to include Flagler County; furthermore, a tropical storm warning was issued for areas between Chokoloskee to Golden Beach, including the Florida Keys and Florida Bay. [27] With Matthew posing a threat to the entire east coast of Florida, the hurricane watch was further extended to the Florida–Georgia border early on October 5. [28] The hurricane warning area expanded farther north throughout the day, extending to the Flagler–Volusia county line at 15:00 UTC, [29] and the Florida–Georgia border at 03:00 UTC on October 6. [30] Furthermore, a new tropical storm watch was raised for areas along the Gulf Coast from Chokoloskee to Suwannee River. [31] A tropical storm warning was later issued on October 6 along the Gulf Coast for areas between the Anclote River to Suwannee River. [32] As Matthew tracked along the Florida coast, watches and warnings were steadily discontinued from south to north on October 7 and 8. [33] [34]
The Southeastern Conference football matchup between LSU and Florida, scheduled for October 8 in Gainesville, was canceled. [35] [36] The National Hockey League preseason game between the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning was canceled as well. [37]
For the fourth time in its 45-year history, the Walt Disney World Resort closed. Its theme parks, water parks, Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Disney's Blizzard Beach, Disney's Typhoon Lagoon, Disney Springs, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and the resort hotels were all closed by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on October 6 and did not reopen until October 8. [38] This was the first time since 2004 that the parks have closed, with all of but one of those instances happening due to hurricanes. Other Orlando-area theme parks, including Universal Orlando Resort theme parks, Universal's Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios Florida, Universal CityWalk and SeaWorld Orlando, also closed. [39]
Property damage directly related to Hurricane Matthew reached at least $1.173 billion across Florida [40] [41] with an additional $318.5 million incurred to the power grid, [42] for a damage total of at least $1.492 billion. By March 2017, more than 119,000 property damage claims were filed, with Brevard, Duval, Flagler, St. Johns, and Volusia accounting for the majority of these claims. [40] [43] Approximately 1.36 million people—6.8 percent of the Florida's population—lost power across 39 counties, 1.2 million of whom were Florida Power & Light customers. [42]
County / Sector | Damage | Deaths | Injuries | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Direct | Indirect | |||
Brevard | $174 million | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Broward | $8.47 million | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Clay | $3 million | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Duval | >$25 million | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Flagler | $73 million | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Indian River | $28.8 million | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Martin | $175,000 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Miami-Dade | $3.23 million | 0 | 2 | 9 |
Nassau | $10 million | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Orange | — | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Palm Beach | $22.3 million | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Putnam | — | 1 | 0 | 1 |
St. Johns | $149.4 million | 0 | 0 | 0 |
St. Lucie | $9.3 million | 0 | 4 | 0 |
Volusia | $514.4 million | 1 | 4 | 0 |
Power grid | $318.5 million | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Unspecified | $152 million | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Totals | $1.492 billion | 3 | 11 | 16 |
Sources cited in text. |
Matthew brought tropical storm conditions to parts of Broward, Miami-Dade, Palm Beach counties resulting in scattered power outages—71,000 customers in Broward, 43,160 in Palm Beach, [44] and 16,000 in Miami-Dade lost power—and some wind damage. [45] Winds across the three counties peaked at 67 miles per hour (108 km/h) at Jupiter Inlet and 51 miles per hour (82 km/h) at Palm Beach International Airport. Sustained tropical storm-force winds were observed in coastal areas of Palm Beach County. [46] [47] Winds across interior Broward reached 40 miles per hour (64 km/h). [48] Storefront awnings were blown down in parts of downtown West Palm Beach, [46] and U.S. Route 1 was blocked by a downed tree in Jupiter. [49] Damage from winds in these counties reached $2 million, of which $1.3 million occurred in Palm Beach. [47] A total of 6,387 people in Palm Beach County and approximately 700 residents in Miami sought refuge in shelters during the storm. [46] [50] Peak gusts winds in the city reached 50 miles per hour (80 km/h), downing multiple trees, [50] while sustained winds generally averaged 25 to 35 miles per hour (40 to 56 km/h). [51] Power outages led to an accident in the Flagami neighborhood of Miami when two vehicles collided in an intersection while the traffic lights were out. Nine people were involved, including five children and a police officer, and all were hospitalized. [52] [53] Slick roads may have been a factor in another accident in Boca Raton that left one person injured. [54] One person was injured in Broward while putting up hurricane shutters. [55]
Rough seas caused moderate coastal damage and beach erosion; Singer Island and Tequesta suffered the greatest damage. [45] The greatest inundation was observed in Lake Worth at 1.49 feet (0.45 m). On average, beaches lost 11 feet (3.4 m) of sand with Deerfield Beach and Hillsboro Beach hardest hit. Damage between the two totaled $1.9 million. Deerfield Beach International Fishing Pier experienced some damage and was temporarily closed. [56] Approximately 800 sea turtle nests monitored by the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Palm Beach County were lost during the storm. [57] Severe erosion relocated up to 75 feet (23 m) of sand in Miami Beach. Ironically, beaches part of a renourishment project benefited from the storm. [58] Damage across the three counties reached $34 million, [45] with beach erosion in Palm Beach County accounting for $21 million. [59] Two people died while after falling from ladders while preparing their homes for the hurricane in Miami-Dade County. [60] Another person suffered injuries in Broward County for the same reason after the storm. [61]
Onshore flow in Monroe County led to minor street flooding in Key Largo, with water rise reaching 1.5 feet (0.46 m). [62] Tropical storm-force gusts affected several counties along the Gulf Coast, resulting in minor damage. [63] In New Port Richey, a car was crushed by a tree; a mobile home suffered the same fate in Dade City, as did a home in Croom-A-Coochee. [64] [65] [66] Effects along the western coast of Florida were limited with heavy rain and storm surge virtually non-existent; damage was estimated at $50,000. [67]
A storm surge of 3 to 6 feet (0.91 to 1.83 m) affected coastal areas from the Indian River–St. Lucia county line to the Volusia–Flagler county line, with the highest values of 5 to 6 feet (1.5 to 1.8 m) concentrated north of Daytona Beach in Volusia. Rainfall in Seminole and Volusia counties reached 7 to 9 inches (18 to 23 cm), with accumulations of 2 to 6 inches (5.1 to 15.2 cm) in other central Florida counties, leading to minor street flooding. [68]
During the suspension of emergency services, two people died—one from cardiac arrest—as they were either unable to reach a hospital in time or at all. [69] [70] Two deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning also took place in the county. [71] Damage in St. Lucie County reached $9.3 million. [72]
An elderly woman in Orange County died when a medical device she was wearing failed due to a power outage. [73]
Hurricane Matthew made its closest approach to Florida as it paralleled Brevard County, tracking just 25 miles (40 km) to the east. This brought sustained Category 1–2-force winds [a] to areas along the immediate coast and hurricane-force gusts to much of the county. Sustained winds reached 53 mph (85 km/h) at Melbourne International Airport, while gusts clocked in at 87 mph (140 km/h) at Satellite Beach, 81 mph (130 km/h) at Merritt Island, and 77 mph (124 km/h) at Cocoa Beach. Hundreds of homes suffered structural damage from either the wind itself or fallen trees. Damage from wind alone was primarily confined to barrier islands and areas along large bodies of water. A total of 11 homes were destroyed, 140 experienced major damage, 549 had minor damage, and roughly 1,500 homes were otherwise affected. Downed trees and power lines caused widespread power outages, leaving 227,000 customers—75 percent of the county—without electricity at the height of the storm. One person was injured by flying debris in Port Canaveral. Storm-induced fires destroyed two homes as emergency services were suspended at the time. [74] Storm surge and breaking waves inflicted significant damage to beachfront property, leaving behind extensive erosion and compromised foundations. [75] Damage across the county reached $100 million: $40 million from public structures, $35 million from residential structures, [74] and $25 million from coastal establishments and beaches. [75]
At Kennedy Space Center, winds reached 80 mph (130 km/h) at ground level while a gust of 136 mph (219 km/h) was observed atop a 500 ft (150 m) tower. The facility suffered several million dollars-worth of damage, though overall impacts were less than anticipated. The roof of Operations Support Building II broke and rainwater damaged the interior, [76] while piece of metal at the Vehicle Assembly Building was torn off. [77] Air conditioning was lost throughout Launch Complex 39 as well. [76] An orbiter access arm—used from April 1981 to July 2011—on display outside Launch Complex 39 was toppled by the storm. Similarly, a Navaho missile display at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station was knocked over. A portion of the Thor-Delta rocket, on display at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, was blown off and the famous Astronaut beach house suffered roof loss. [78] The planned launch NOAA's next generation weather satellite, GOES-R as well as the launch of CYGNSS, a cluster of smaller satellites which study hurricanes, were delayed due to suspension of operations during Matthew. [79] [80] [81] Costs to repair damage at Kennedy Space Center reached $74 million. [82]
The center of Matthew tracked roughly 30 miles (48 km) offshore of Volusia, subjecting the entire county to 12 hours of sustained tropical storm-force winds. Areas along the immediate coastline likely experienced sustained hurricane-force winds based on post-storm surveys by the National Weather Service. Gusts up to 84 miles per hour (135 km/h) were recorded at Embry–Riddle University in Daytona Beach, the highest observed value in the county. A gust of 83 miles per hour (134 km/h) was also observed in New Smyrna Beach. These strong winds caused widespread damage, primarily from fallen trees, and more than 12,000 homes were directly affected. Structural damage directly from wind was largely confined to areas along the immediate coast and barrier islands, with older structures suffering far greater damage. A total of 69 homes were destroyed, 467 suffered major damage, and 1,494 experienced minor damage. The damaging winds also wreaked havoc on the power grid, leaving 258,000 customers—92 percent of the county—without electricity at the height of the storm. One woman was struck and killed by a tree in DeLand while feeding animals outside her home. [68] Water rise and breaking waves eroded much of the protective barrier along Highway A1A in Ormond-by-the-Sea, leading to significant damage to the road itself. Onshore flow and wave-piling led to water rises of 2 to 3 feet (0.61 to 0.91 m) along the Halifax River and 1 to 2 feet (0.30 to 0.61 m) along the Mosquito Lagoon. The entire coastline of Volusia County suffered severe erosion, particularly in northern areas. [83] Damage across Volusia County reached $514.4 million. [68]
Prior to Matthew, rainfall from a nor'easter raised water levels along the St. Johns River, leading to greater flooding than would have otherwise been expected. Moderate flooding impacted portions of Putnam and St. Johns counties for nearly a week, prolonged by a seiche from continued onshore flow after Matthew passed. [84] Heavy rainfall affected all coastal counties, with peak accumulations exceeding 10 inches (250 mm) across the St. Johns River basin. [85] Farther inland, accumulations tapered off to 2–4 inches (51–102 mm) along the Interstate 75 corridor. [86]
Tropical storm-force winds in Putnam County led to widespread tree and power line damage. Near Crescent City, a woman was killed when a tree crushed the camper she sought refuge in. [84] [87] Wind damage was primarily confined to areas in and around Palatka, and largely limited to trees and metal roofing. Storm surge in the county peaked at 3.85 ft (1.17 m) along Dunns Creek, a tributary of the St. Johns River; other nearby areas saw similar storm tides. [84] The surge damaged or destroyed docks and stranded boats along County Road 13. [88] Canals up to 0.25 mi (0.40 km) from the St. Johns River overflowed, leaving roadways impassible. Flooding impacted communities in Bostwick and East Palatka, with multiple homes inundated in the former town. [84]
Effects in Baker County were relatively limited, though 20 percent of the county—2,244 customers—lost power. [89] Forty-eight-hour rainfall accumulations reached 2.85 inches (72 mm) just south of Macclenny. [90] Farther inland in Alachua County, wind gusts reached 48 mph (77 km/h) at Gainesville Regional Airport. Localized wind damage took place around Santa Fe College and 3,559 customers lost electricity. [91] [92] Neighboring Bradford County saw similar effects from strong winds; [86] downed trees and power lines left 2,038 customers without power, [89] primarily within Stark and Branford. [86]
Approximately 200 homes in the Surfside Estate mobile home park in Flagler Beach were damaged. [93] Parts of A1A were washed away, causing closures on the road. [94] At its peak, 60,000 customers across the county had loss power. [95]
A man in Jacksonville died when he fell off his roof while trying to repair it during the hurricane. [96] A police officer suffered a minor cut to his leg while clearing debris; however, it subsequently became infected and the leg required amputation several weeks after the storm. [97]
Despite the extensive damage in St. Johns County, no loss of life nor injuries took place. [98]
Roughly 21 percent of residents within the county lost power. [89]
Businesses reopened and emergency services resumed normal operations in and around Miami on October 7, a day earlier than expected, owing to minimal damage. FP&L workers began restoring power once gusty winds subsided. Barrier islands remained inaccessible for much of the day, however. [99]
Four people died in the storm's aftermath across Volusia County: two by electrocution from downed power lines, one from carbon monoxide poisoning, and one from a debris removal accident. [68]
To pay for the $318.5 million loss sustained during the hurricane, Florida Power & Light added a surcharge of $3.36 per month to all customers using 1,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity or more from February 2017 to February 2018. [42]
Due to the severity of damage from Matthew, Florida governor Rick Scott requested on October 7 for an expedited major disaster declaration from the federal government. One day later, President Barack Obama declared a state of disaster for eight Florida counties – Brevard, Duval, Flagler, Indian River, Nassau, St. Johns, St. Lucie, and Volusia. This declaration allocated funds for debris removal and general hazard mitigation. [100] These counties, excluding St. Lucie but also including Putnam and Seminole counties, were also made eligible for individual and public assistance, while nine other counties were eligible for public assistance. [101] By early November 2016, nine Disaster Recovery Centers opened across Florida – in Daytona Beach, East Palatka, Fernandina Beach, Jacksonville, Palm Coast, Sanford, St. Augustine, Titusville, and Vero Beach – to help storm victims one-on-one with loans or public assistance. [102] Homeowners had 180 days from the time of Hurricane Matthew's passage to file insurance claims with the National Flood Insurance Program. [103] By March 2017, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved 6,754 applications for individual assistance, totaling $19,936,013.23. The agency also approved of $20,665,898.05 in public assistance grants, mostly related to emergency work. [104]
The 2008 Atlantic hurricane season was the most destructive Atlantic hurricane season since 2005, causing over 1,000 deaths and nearly $50 billion in damage. The season ranked as the third costliest ever at the time, but has since fallen to tenth costliest. It was an above-average season, featuring sixteen named storms, eight of which became hurricanes, and five which further became major hurricanes. It officially started on June 1 and ended on November 30. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. However, the formation of Tropical Storm Arthur caused the season to start one day early. It was the only year on record in which a major hurricane existed in every month from July through November in the North Atlantic. Bertha became the longest-lived July tropical cyclone on record for the basin, the first of several long-lived systems during 2008.
Hurricane Wilma was the most intense tropical cyclone in the Atlantic basin and the second-most intense tropical cyclone in the Western Hemisphere, both based on barometric pressure, after Hurricane Patricia in 2015. Wilma's rapid intensification led to a 24-hour pressure drop of 97 mbar (2.9 inHg), setting a new basin record. At its peak, Hurricane Wilma's eye contracted to a record minimum diameter of 2.3 mi (3.7 km). In the record-breaking 2005 Atlantic hurricane season, Wilma was the twenty-second storm, thirteenth hurricane, sixth major hurricane, fourth Category 5 hurricane, and the second costliest in Mexican history.
Hurricane Irene produced somewhat heavy damage across southern Florida in October 1999. The ninth named storm and the sixth hurricane of the season, Irene developed in the western Caribbean Sea on October 13 from a tropical wave. It moved northward, hitting western Cuba before attaining hurricane status. Irene struck Florida on October 15 as a Category 1 on the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale, first at Key West and later near Cape Sable. The storm moved across the state and tracked northward over the Gulf Stream. It approached the Carolinas but remained offshore. Irene turned eastward and significantly intensified into a strong Category 2 hurricane on October 18. By the following day, the system became extratropical due to cooler waters to the southeast of Newfoundland and was quickly absorbed by another extratropical low.
Hurricane Erin was the first hurricane to strike the contiguous United States since Hurricane Andrew in 1992. The fifth tropical cyclone, fifth named storm, and second hurricane of the unusually active 1995 Atlantic hurricane season, Erin developed from a tropical wave near the southeastern Bahamas on July 31. Moving northwestward, the cyclone intensified into a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson scale near Rum Cay about 24 hours later. After a brief jog to the north-northwest on August 1, Erin began moving to the west-northwest. The cyclone then moved over the northwestern Bahamas, including the Abaco Islands and Grand Bahama. Early on August 2, Erin made landfall near Vero Beach, Florida, with winds of 85 mph (137 km/h). The hurricane weakened while crossing the Florida peninsula and fell to tropical storm intensity before emerging into the Gulf of Mexico later that day.
Tropical Storm Leslie was a weak, short-lived tropical cyclone that was never well-organized; however, its precursor was costlier than any other tropical cyclone in the 2000 Atlantic hurricane season. The twelfth named storm of the season, Leslie formed on October 4 over eastern Florida as a subtropical cyclone, out of a trough of low pressure. Strengthening over open waters, it attained enough tropical characteristics to be reclassified as Tropical Storm Leslie on October 5. The storm reached peak winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) before wind shear weakened it, and on October 7 transitioned into an extratropical cyclone over the open Atlantic Ocean. Leslie lasted three more days before losing its identity.
Hurricane Andrew was a compact, but very powerful and devastating tropical cyclone that struck the Bahamas, Florida, and Louisiana in August 1992. It was the most destructive hurricane to ever hit Florida in terms of structures damaged or destroyed, and remained the costliest in financial terms until Hurricane Irma surpassed it 25 years later. Andrew was also the strongest landfalling hurricane in the United States in decades and the costliest hurricane to strike anywhere in the country, until it was surpassed by Katrina in 2005.
Hurricane Isaac was a deadly and destructive tropical cyclone that came ashore in the U.S. state of Louisiana during August 2012. The ninth named storm and fourth hurricane of the annual hurricane season, Isaac originated from a tropical wave that moved off the west coast of Africa on August 16. Tracking generally west, a broad area of low pressure developed along the wave axis the next day, and the disturbance developed into a tropical depression early on August 21 while several hundred miles east of the Lesser Antilles. The system intensified into a tropical storm shortly thereafter, but high wind shear initially prevented much change in strength.
Tropical Storm Andrea brought flooding to Cuba, the Yucatan Peninsula, and portions of the East Coast of the United States in June 2013. The first tropical cyclone and named storm of the annual hurricane season, Andrea originated from an area of low pressure in the eastern Gulf of Mexico on June 5. Despite strong wind shear and an abundance of dry air, the storm strengthened while initially heading north-northeastward. Later on June 5, it re-curved northeastward and approached the Big Bend region of Florida. Andrea intensified and peaked as a strong tropical storm with winds at 65 mph (105 km/h) on June 6. A few hours later, the storm weakened slightly and made landfall near Steinhatchee, Florida later that day. It began losing tropical characteristics while tracking across Florida and Georgia. Andrea transitioned into an extratropical cyclone over South Carolina on June 7, though the remnants continued to move along the East Coast of the United States, until being absorbed by another extratropical system offshore Maine on June 10.
Tropical Storm Erika was one of the deadliest and most destructive natural disasters in Dominica since Hurricane David in 1979. The fifth named storm of the 2015 Atlantic hurricane season, Erika developed from a westward-moving tropical wave while well east of the Lesser Antilles. Hostile conditions, including dry air and wind shear, inhibited significant development, and Erika failed to acquire sustained winds beyond 50 mph (80 km/h). Contrary to predictions of a northwesterly recurvature, the cyclone persisted on a westerly course and passed through the Leeward Islands and emerged over the Caribbean Sea on August 27. Erika succumbed to adverse conditions the following day, dissipating as a tropical cyclone near the Dominican Republic. The remnant system persisted for several more days, moving into the northeastern Gulf of Mexico, before dissipating over Georgia on September 3.
Hurricane Floyd threatened Florida as a major hurricane roughly three times as large as Hurricane Andrew. Floyd originated from a tropical wave well east of the Lesser Antilles on September 7. While approaching the Bahamas, the storm strengthened significantly between September 12 and September 13. On the latter day, Floyd peaked as a strong Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson scale. However, upon moving closer to the Bahamas, the storm fluctuated in intensity between a Category 3 and a Category 4 hurricane. A subtropical ridge eroded by a mid- to upper-tropospheric trough over the eastern United States caused Floyd to curve northwestward over the Abaco Islands and later to northeast, avoiding a potentially catastrophic landfall in Florida. The storm made its closest approach to Florida early on September 15, passing about 110 mi (180 km) east of Cape Canaveral.
Tropical Storm Colin was the earliest third named storm in the Atlantic basin on record for four years, until it was surpassed by Tropical Storm Cristobal in 2020. An atypical, poorly organized tropical cyclone, Colin developed from a low pressure area over the Gulf of Mexico near the northern coast of the Yucatán Peninsula late on June 5, 2016. Moving northward, the depression strengthened into a tropical storm about eight hours after its formation. On June 6, Colin curved to the north-northeast and intensified slightly to winds of 50 mph (80 km/h). Strong wind shear prevented further strengthening and resulted in the system maintaining a disheveled appearance on satellite imagery. Later, the storm began accelerating to the northeast. Early on June 7, Colin made landfall in rural Taylor County, Florida, still at peak intensity. The system rapidly crossed northern Florida and emerged into the Atlantic Ocean several hours later. By late on June 7, Colin transitioned into an extratropical cyclone offshore North Carolina before being absorbed by a frontal boundary the following day.
Hurricane Hermine was the first hurricane to make landfall in Florida since Hurricane Wilma in 2005, and the first to develop in the Gulf of Mexico since Hurricane Ingrid in 2013. The ninth tropical depression, eighth named storm, and fourth hurricane of the 2016 Atlantic hurricane season, Hermine developed in the Florida Straits on August 28 from a long-tracked tropical wave. The precursor system dropped heavy rainfall in portions of the Caribbean, especially the Dominican Republic and Cuba. In the former, the storm damaged more than 200 homes and displaced over 1,000 people. Although some areas of Cuba recorded more than 12 in (300 mm) of rain, the precipitation was generally beneficial due to a severe drought. After being designated on August 29, Hermine shifted northeastwards due to a trough over Georgia and steadily intensified into an 80 mph (130 km/h) Category 1 hurricane just before making landfall in the Florida Panhandle during September 2. After moving inland, Hermine quickly weakened and transitioned into an extratropical cyclone on September 3 near the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The remnant system meandered offshore the Northeastern United States before dissipating over southeastern Massachusetts on September 8.
Hurricane Matthew was a powerful tropical cyclone which caused catastrophic damage and a humanitarian crisis in Haiti, as well as widespread devastation in the southeastern United States. The deadliest Atlantic hurricane since Hurricane Stan in 2005, and the first Category 5 Atlantic hurricane since Felix in 2007, Matthew was the thirteenth named storm, fifth hurricane and second major hurricane of the 2016 Atlantic hurricane season. It caused extensive damage to landmasses in the Greater Antilles, and severe damage in several islands of the Bahamas which were still recovering from Joaquin, which had pounded the archipelago nearly a year earlier. Matthew also approached the southeastern United States, but stayed just offshore, paralleling the Florida coastline.
Tropical Storm Emily was a rapidly-forming tropical cyclone that made landfall on the west coast of Florida. The fifth named storm of the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season, Emily formed from a small area of low pressure that developed along a cold front in late July 2017. Unexpectedly, the low rapidly organized and strengthened into a tropical depression on July 30, and then into a tropical storm early the next day. Emily continued to intensify as it moved eastward, peaking with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) as it made landfall near Longboat Key on the western Florida coast. The cyclone weakened quickly into a tropical depression shortly after landfall as its circulation became increasingly disrupted. Emerging into the Atlantic Ocean on August 1, Emily continued to weaken as it accelerated northeastward, becoming post-tropical early on August 2.
Hurricane Irma was an extremely powerful and devastating tropical cyclone that was the first Category 5 hurricane to strike the Leeward Islands on record, followed by Maria two weeks later. At the time, it was considered the most powerful hurricane on record in the open Atlantic region, outside of the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, until it was surpassed by Hurricane Dorian two years later. It was also the third-strongest Atlantic hurricane at landfall ever recorded, just behind the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane and Dorian. The ninth named storm, fourth hurricane, second major hurricane, and first Category 5 hurricane of the extremely active 2017 Atlantic hurricane season, Irma caused widespread and catastrophic damage throughout its long lifetime, particularly in the northeastern Caribbean and the Florida Keys. It was also the most intense hurricane to strike the continental United States since Katrina in 2005, the first major hurricane to make landfall in Florida since Wilma in the same year, and the first Category 4 hurricane to strike the state since Charley in 2004. The word Irmageddon was coined soon after the hurricane to describe the damage caused by the hurricane.
Hurricane Irma was the costliest tropical cyclone in the history of the U.S. state of Florida, before being surpassed by Hurricane Ian in 2022. Irma also was the first major hurricane to strike the state since Wilma in 2005 and the first Category 4 hurricane to make landfall in Florida since Charley in 2004. Irma developed from a tropical wave near the Cape Verde Islands on August 30, 2017. The storm quickly became a hurricane on August 31 and then a major hurricane shortly thereafter, but would oscillate in intensity over the next few days. By September 4, Irma resumed strengthening, and became a powerful Category 5 hurricane on the following day. The cyclone then struck Barbuda, Saint Martin, and the British Virgin Islands on September 6 and later crossed Little Inagua in the Bahamas on September 8. Irma briefly weakened to a Category 4 hurricane, but re-intensified into a Category 5 hurricane before making landfall in the Sabana-Camagüey Archipelago of Cuba. After falling to Category 3 status due to land interaction, the storm re-strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane in the Straits of Florida. Irma struck Florida twice on September 10 – the first as a Category 4 at Cudjoe Key and the second on Marco Island as a Category 3. The hurricane weakened significantly over Florida, and was reduced to a tropical storm, before exiting the state into Georgia on September 11.
Hurricane Isaias was a destructive tropical cyclone that caused extensive damage across the Caribbean and the East Coast of the United States while also spawning the strongest tropical cyclone-spawned tornado since Hurricane Rita in 2005. The ninth named storm and second hurricane of the extremely active and record-breaking 2020 Atlantic hurricane season, Isaias originated from a vigorous tropical wave off the coast of Africa that was first identified by the National Hurricane Center on July 23. The tropical wave gradually became more organized and obtained gale-force winds on July 28 before organizing into Tropical Storm Isaias on July 30. Isaias marked the earliest ninth named storm on record, surpassing 2005's Hurricane Irene by eight days. Isaias strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane on the next day, reaching an initial peak of 85 mph (140 km/h), with a minimum central pressure of 987 mbar. On August 1, the storm made landfall on North Andros, Bahamas and subsequently weakened to a tropical storm, before paralleling the east coast of Florida and Georgia. As Isaias approached the Carolina coastline, it reintensified back into a hurricane. Soon afterward, Isaias reached its peak intensity, with maximum 1-minute sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 986 millibars (29.1 inHg), before making landfall near Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina, at 03:10 UTC on August 4, at the same intensity. The storm proceeded to accelerate up the East Coast of the United States as a strong tropical storm, before transitioning into an extratropical cyclone over Quebec on August 4. Isaias's extratropical remnants persisted for another day, before dissipating on August 5.
Tropical Storm Philippe was a weak and disorganized tropical cyclone which affected Central America, Cuba, and Florida during October 2017. The sixteenth named storm of the extremely-active 2017 Atlantic hurricane season, Philippe originated from the interaction of a tropical wave which exited the coast of West Africa on October 16, and the Central American Gyre on October 24. This formed a broad area of low pressure the next day, that later organized into a tropical depression at 12:00 UTC on October 28. The depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Philippe just six hours later, before making landfall west of the Bay of Pigs in Cuba just a few hours later. Philippe quickly degraded into a tropical depression inland, before dissipating at 0:00 UTC the following day. The remnants later formed into a new low pressure area off the coast of Florida before merging with a cold front, later that same day.
Hurricane Nicole was a sprawling late-season Category 1 hurricane in November 2022. The fourteenth named storm and eighth hurricane of the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season, Nicole formed as a subtropical cyclone on November 7, from a non-tropical area of low pressure near the Greater Antilles, and transitioned into a tropical cyclone the next day. Then, taking a path similar to that of Hurricane Dorian three years earlier, Nicole made landfall on November 9, on Great Abaco and on Grand Bahama in The Bahamas, where it strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane. On November 10, it made landfall twice in Florida, south of Vero Beach and then northwest of Cedar Key, after briefly emerging over the Gulf of Mexico. Nicole then weakened to a depression while moving over the Florida Panhandle, and then was absorbed into a mid-latitude trough and cold front over extreme eastern Tennessee the following day.