The slow-moving storm that turned rainfall into a catastrophe

Countries & Cities · Published 12 October 2026 · Updated 25 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: When Hurricane Florence struck the Carolinas in September 2018, it wasn't just the wind that terrified residents. While it made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane, its sluggish movement triggered unprecedented freshwater flooding, cutting off entire cities and causing $24.23 billion in damages.

The true devastation of Hurricane Florence stemmed from its lack of momentum. After making landfall just south of Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, on September 14, 2018, the storm's steering currents collapsed. This caused the cyclone to move inland with extreme slowness, allowing torrential rain to fall over the Carolinas for several days. This persistent rainfall, coupled with a powerful storm surge, created widespread flooding along the North Carolina coast, specifically from New Bern to Wilmington. This deluge set new maximum rainfall records for tropical cyclones across both Carolinas. The storm's path also included the spawning of tornadoes, including one EF2 in Virginia that claimed a life.

The inland impact was equally severe. Major cities including Fayetteville, Smithfield, Lumberton, Durham, and Chapel Hill faced significant inundation. The flooding was so extensive that it rendered large stretches of critical infrastructure, such as I-40, I-95, and US Route 70, impassable for days. In Wilmington, the flooding was so intense that the city was entirely cut off from the rest of the mainland. The disruption extended to the regional economy and logistics, as transportation rules for farmers were waived to expedite harvesting. Even the US Navy responded by moving 30 ships stationed near the Virginia coast further out to sea.

The storm's lifecycle was marked by dramatic fluctuations in intensity. It originated from a tropical wave off the coast of Africa on August 30, 2018, and underwent rapid intensification to become a Category 4 hurricane by early September. On 11 September, the storm's maximum intensity featured 150 mph (240 km/h) 1-minute sustained winds alongside a 937 mbar minimum central pressure. Despite this immense power, the storm's legacy was defined by the 54 deaths and the massive economic toll it left in its wake. Before its peak, the system had already caused minor landslides and flooding in the Cape Verde islands. By 17 September, the system had transitioned into a post-tropical cyclone while passing over West Virginia.

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