hurricane hurricane major hurricane landfall north_carolina united_states inflicting severe crop damage second named storm hurricane major hurricane atlantic hurricane season developed tropical wave emerged coast africa august wave gradually developed system designated tropical depression august depression began tracking west northwest tropical storm day august upgraded hurricane defined eye storm peaked category hurricane saffir simpson hurricane scale time storm slowed turned north northwest large powerful cyclone moved ashore north_carolina early august slowing turned northeast briefly losing hurricane status storm moved offshore regained category force winds weakened entering cooler waters fearing major hurricane strike coastal locations florida virginia performed extensive preparations advance storm addition tropical cyclone watches warnings people evacuated carolinas military evacuated relocated hundreds aircraft vessels storm projected path soldiers deployed regions landfall borderline category category storm intense wind gusts mph rainfall peaking reports downed trees structural damage blown windows torn roofs reported coastal north_carolina storm washed ashore tens thousands tires artificial reef crop damage extensive storm overall severe initially feared total damage estimated billion usd meteorological history august tropical wave emerged west coast africa north moved westward atlantic_ocean initially located cool waters strong high pressure area steered disturbance west southwest track warmer waters convection started develop small centers rotation existed broad circulation utc august centers consolidated disturbance sufficiently organized declared tropical depression despite poorly organized winds slightly north system center approached tropical storm strength shortly ship reports revealed closed circulation center elongated northwest southeast oriented manner upper level winds favorable suggested intensification likely cyclone began moving northwestward track hours later center circulation appeared reform close convection indication strengthening storm good outflow existed western storm deep convection slowly developed closer center utc august depression upgraded tropical storm continued west northwest track periphery high pressure system leeward_islands late august reconnaissance plane entered storm found minimum central barometric pressure storm brushed leeward_islands main thunderstorm activity remained north storm open ocean began organize broad circulation early august day storm began intensify storm began look strong satellite images banding features north west hurricane_hunters aircraft found minimum pressure nearly complete eyewall early august result tropical storm upgraded hurricane status slowed forward speed coinciding previous forecasts later day storm upgraded category saffir simpson hurricane scale occurred substantial drop hours time steering currents weakened dissipation high pressure system combined effect nearby trough caused storm turn north northwestward direction western periphery anticyclone east category storm major hurricane utc day reaching peak winds mph time mid- upper level trough slowed storm halt early august drift north northwest began national_hurricane_center nhc advisory reported eye distinct defined strengthening trend storm waters passing bringing cooler water surface result slow track factor related trough caused northward turn large anticyclone situated hurricane weakening effects substantial despite wind shear large powerful circulation resisted weakening time early august shear drier air hurricane took toll giving ragged appearance satellite imagery eye briefly cloud filled storm accelerated somewhat august early day moving mph approaching mid level trough steered north northeast utc august eye passed east north_carolina hurricane slowed early day landfall near wilmington north_carolina strong category weak category hurricane weather radar displays estimated maximum sustained winds quickly weakened hurricane intensity storm briefly downgraded tropical storm storm turned east response approaching trough center neared open waters winds began intensify result cyclone attained hurricane status august offshore center began drifting roughly eastward entering colder waters hurricane status lost utc day followed acceleration northeast storm began lose deep thunderstorm activity forecast lose tropical characteristics extratropical cyclone days early august little connection remained western band activity persisted southeast center extratropical utc august southeast newfoundland preparations august tropical storm watch posted islands antigua discontinued day shortly tropical storm warning issued tropical storm warnings hurricane watches effect turks islands southeastern bahamas august tropical cyclone advisories discontinued time issued parts hurricane warning eventually posted south_carolina north_carolina virginia border august tropical cyclone watches warnings extended far north plymouth massachusetts discontinued early august florida south_carolina initially storm posed threat florida military officials kept abreast situation heavy surf advisories posted central portions state northward georgia national_hurricane_center advised swimming boating avoided ordered ships sea advance approaching storm standby jacksonville prepared act needed hardware stores state reported increase sales emergency supplies computer forecast models initially predicted storm south_carolina georgia storm arrival south_carolina researchers test new method estimating damage storm likely cause state men active duty august south_carolina emergency division activated level operations highest levels day state governor declared calling mandatory evacuations residents east route georgetown counties schools closed state people evacuated counties tourists sought shelter schools survey respondents state took traffic significant consideration deciding evacuate grand strand storm buses provided help people evacuate north_carolina virginia called north_carolina assisted local authorities extensive preparations including evacuating state citizens mandatory voluntary evacuations ordered state experienced extensive evacuations left bringing traffic highways mainland active duty armed forces set support hurricane recovery missions officers notified emergency centers opened starting august additionally activated hour response cell soldiers sailors airmen marines evacuated equipment including hundreds vessels aircraft closed state parks state office plans reopen primarily storm related damage locations properly addressed study performed storm counties north_carolina determine cost evacuation hurricanes included households study performed actions taken hurricane evacuations state tourists interviewed found threatened hurricane evacuated went home stayed public shelters stayed friends relatives stayed hotels stayed total stayed north_carolina went virginia relocated south_carolina stayed regions left august left vehicles rental transportation officials state opened estimated shelters accommodate evacuating tourists residents virginia jurisdictions declared local local governments took action inform protect citizens residents mobile home parks advised evacuate jurisdictions opened shelters august state governor declared state emergency result activated beaches piers shut gloucester counties communities canceled local events threat voluntary evacuations state issued hotels reached maximum capacity result roughly navy ships ordered leave port norfolk ride storm far sea banned swimming coast progressed northward tornado watch posted eastern virginia impact located north caribbean_sea dropped light rainfall puerto_rico storm produced heavy rainfall gusty winds bahamas significant damage reported east_coast swimmers drowned rip currents numerous rescued united_states caused estimated billion damage south_carolina hurricane passed east state rainfall ranged storm surge highest recorded wind gust state mph pier sustained winds peaked mph damage widespread downed trees power lines structural damage reported high winds blew trees tore roof strip mall year old man died near checking generator power coast year old man died rip currents total damage south_carolina estimated million usd north_carolina hurricane came ashore major hurricane intensity bringing intense wind gusts mph north_carolina offshore winds reached mph strongest winds found precursor rainbands localized caused severe damage sustained winds officially peaked mph gusts reached mph rainfall heavy result storm slow movement peaking jacksonville totals reported area experiencing drought conditions flooding severe potentially significant flooding occurred near high waters reported highest storm surge occurred beaches reaching average flooding limited locations poor drainage low lying areas coastal flooding widespread surge flooded local homes coastal flooding reported coastal cities flooded closed tidal flooding protective dunes constructed hurricane destroyed tens thousands tires artificial reef washed ashore direct death occurred north_carolina young girl killed tree fell home eastern portions state trees downed reports structural damage numerous docks piers bulkheads damaged destroyed including piers lost large sections strong wind surf winds lost roof air storm left people state electric power areas structural debris accumulated piles feet deep reported thick prevented debris traveling inland wilmington turned disaster zone flooded highways downed trees lying roadways crop particularly tobacco damage extensive according governor fly don damage beach houses easy think didn damage look tobacco fields know damage extensive crop losses accounted overall damage seven failed evacuate time sought shelter bald head island lighthouse worst storm bore despite effects impact actually originally predicted overall property damage state estimated million usd significantly higher crop damages locations received significant physical impacts north_carolina erosion caused inlet migrate south northern end inlet large sand bar developed partially storm moving offshore sand sediments lost storm exposing similarly north_carolina storm breached sand dunes destroying line sediment storm measured thick beach sections eroded dunes built truck loads sand strong waves ran foundation homes later reinforced compensate lost sand virginia passed offshore southeast virginia region heavy rain high winds sustained winds reached mph gusts peaked mph reports winds mph coast numerous homes suffered damage area near winds blew windows hotels storm surge generally higher reports causing coastal flooding rainfall moderate heavy ranging higher end totals occurring norfolk area customers lost power state power outages led decreased production water sewer plants prompting local officials advise residents conserve water ocean view section norfolk winds tore roofs apartment complexes damaged siding structures coast boats ripped region estimates thousands downed trees hundreds homes businesses damaged structures declared debris blown blocks inland coast hardest hit locations homes severely damaged reported state unprepared damage expecting strike weakened tropical storm million usd damage inflicted norfolk areas state losses totaled million usd mid-atlantic new_england atlantic canada storm moved offshore outer rain bands affected maryland coast gusts mph waves damage reported light rainfall reported northward delaware new_jersey addition precipitation extended new_york person caught rip currents drowned near delaware coast new_jersey produced strong waves rip currents resulting hundreds water rescues injuries storm closest position state august passed east rough surf began days prior august numerous beaches closed swimming banned communities state reported moderate wind gusts generally peaking mph minor beach erosion occurred new_jersey reports drowning rough seas caused storm man later spotted onshore charged filing false police report moved south significant outer rain band affected southern massachusetts torrential produced precipitation locations reported winds reached mph offshore reported mph gust man killed capsized rough surf companion safely swam shore afternoon august entered area responsibility tropical storm passed south nova_scotia newfoundland precipitation coast nova scotia ranged winds mph slightly higher gusts reported coast storm dropped rainfall offshore recorded wave height aftermath observation following hurricane north_carolina counties declared federal disaster areas counties eligible public individual assistance shelters opened counties briefly canceled flights remove tens thousands tires washed ashore hundreds inmates state prisons sent tires buried sand removed low tide state prisoners sent state clear debris crews deployed help farmers salvage severely damaged tobacco fields south_carolina declared federal disaster area damage virginia cities norfolk portsmouth suffolk eligible individual public assistance programs storm departure thunderstorm temporarily halted power restoration company crews virginia governor allowed million usd state federal funds help cities recover storm contributed decline home sales southern united_states month august potential home buyers coastal areas onslaught analysis storm extensive deemed observed hurricane history examined satellite imagery discovered peak cloud tops surrounding eyewall rose atmosphere twice tall time observed tropical cyclone structure according developer saffir simpson hurricane scale storm collection tropical cyclone research data time atlantic fleet aircraft investigated storm upper levels aircraft flew middle levels record parachute sensors dropped storm active costing usd sent storm data research centers storm web site experienced substantially increased traffic average million views day million page views august led slow download times website seven major weather providers page views increased august august compared equal period time previous week
Hurricane Bonnie (1998)