Hurricane Florence is considered a "large hurricane" -- with hurricane-force winds extending outward to 130 kilometers from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extending outward up to 300 kilometers. National Hurricane Center Director Ken Graham says, "The larger and the slower the storm is, the greater the threat and the impact — and we have that."
COSTLIEST HURRICANES (not adjusted for inflation) | ||||
RANK | NAME | YEAR | CAT | DAMAGE |
1 | Katrina | 2005 | 3 | $125 billion |
2 | Harvey | 2017 | 4 | $125 billion |
3 | Maria | 2017 | 5 | $90 billion |
4 | Sandy | 2012 | - | $65 billion |
5 | Irma | 2017 | 5 | $50 billion |
6 | Ike | 2008 | 2 | $30 billion |
7 | Andrew | 1992 | 5 | $27 billion |
8 | Ivan | 2004 | 3 | $20.5 billion |
9 | Wilma | 2005 | 3 | $19 billion |
10 | Rita | 2005 | 3 | $18.5 billion |
It's not the wind that kills -- it's the storm surge flooding. A storm surge is when hurricanes or tropical storms push the water level above the high tide line, flooding coastal communities. The average storm surge is expected to be around 11 feet. This would mean the first floor of most homes would be completely flooded.
CAUSE OF U.S. HURRICANE DEATHS (1963-2012) | |
Storm surge | 49% |
Rain | 27% |
Surf | 6% |
Offshore | 6% |
Wind | 8% |
Tornado | 3% |
Other | 1% |
More than 10 million residents in North and South Carolina and Virginia are under storm watches or warnings. About 5.25 million people live in areas under hurricane warnings or watches and 4.9 million more live in places covered by tropical storm warnings or watches. The National Weather Service says 50-100 centimetres of rain could fall near Wilmington, North Carolina.
According to officials, 440 Canadians have registered in areas expected to be impacted by Florence.
Toronto could be hit by the remnants of Florence next week. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Hurricane Center develops suspected storm tracks to keep those that could be hit in the know.