Hurricane Floyd was a very powerful Cape Verde hurricane which struck the east coast of the United States. It was the sixth named storm, fourth hurricane, and third major hurricane in the 1999 Atlantic hurricane season. Floyd triggered the fourth largest evacuation in US history (behind Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Gustav, and Hurricane Rita) when 2.6 million coastal residents of five states were ordered from their homes as it approached. The hurricane formed off the coast of Africa and lasted from September 7 to September 19, peaking in strength as a very strong Category 4 hurricane—just 2 mph short of the highest possible rating on the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale. It was among the largest Atlantic hurricanes of its strength ever recorded.
Hurricane FloydCategory 4 major hurricane (SSHWS/NWS)
Hurricane Floyd at peak intensity on September 13, north of the Dominican Republic
FormedSeptember 7, 1999DissipatedSeptember 19, 1999(Extratropical after September 17)Highest winds1-minute sustained: 155 mph (250 km/h)
Lowest pressure921 mbar (hPa); 27.2 inHgFatalities74 totalDamage$6.5 billion (1999 USD)Areas affectedThe Bahamas, East Coast of the United States, Atlantic CanadaPart of the 1999 Atlantic hurricane season
Floyd was once forecast to strike Florida, but turned away. Instead, Floyd struck The Bahamas at peak strength, causing heavy damage. It then paralleled the East Coast of the United States, causing massive evacuations and costly preparations from Florida through the Mid-Atlantic states. The storm weakened significantly, however, before striking the Cape Fear region, North Carolina as a very strong Category 2 hurricane, and caused further damage as it traveled up the Mid-Atlantic region and into New England.
The hurricane produced torrential rainfall in Eastern North Carolina, adding more rain to an area already hit by Hurricane Dennis just weeks earlier. The rains caused widespread flooding over a period of several weeks; nearly every river basin in the eastern part of the state exceeded 500-year flood levels. In total, Floyd was responsible for 57 fatalities and $6.5 billion (1999 USD) in damage. Due to the destruction, the World Meteorological Organization retiredthe name Floyd.
