 Hurricane Dorian making landfall in North Carolina on September 6 | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Duration | September 5–7, 2019 |
| Category 2 hurricane | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
| Highest winds | 100 mph (155 km/h) |
| Highest gusts | 110 mph (180 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 956 mbar (hPa); 28.23 inHg |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 5 total; 2 direct, 3 indirect |
| Damage | $1.2 billion (2019 USD) |
| Areas affected | East Coast of the United States |
Part of the 2019 Atlantic hurricane season | |
| History
Effects Other wikis | |
Hurricane Dorian caused severe flooding and hurricane-force winds over parts of the coastal Carolinas during early September 2019. After stalling over The Bahamas for three days as a Category 5 hurricane, Dorian proceeded generally to the northwest, before moving along the Atlantic Coast, striking the town of Buxton, North Carolina, on September 6.
As Dorian moved closer to the Carolinas, both North and South Carolina were put under states of emergencies. More than 830,000 people were evacuated in South Carolina, and around 401,000 people were evacuated in North Carolina before the storm. People who failed to comply with these mandatory evacuations were charged with misdemeanors. Hurricane watches and warnings were issued along the Carolinian coast. Construction along evacuation routes was suspended, and more than 2,400 employees from the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) were deployed to help respond to the anticipated impacts of Dorian.
Along the Carolinian coast, 25 tornadoes were reported, though most of them were weak and short-lived. While few of these tornadoes resulted in significant impact, two longer-lived, EF2 strength tornadoes in North Carolina caused at least $2 million in property damage in Sunset Beach and Emerald Isle. Heavy rainfall led to flash flooding, putting more than 100 sq mi (260 km2) of land under more than 1 ft (0.30 m) of water. The highest gust, 110 mph (175 km/h), was recorded at the Cedar Island Ferry Terminal on Cape Lookout. Almost every building in the Outer Banks sustained wind or flood damage. More than 400,000 people were left without power in both North and South Carolina. The hurricane left $1.2 billion (2019 USD) in damage in the Carolinas, with most of it occurring in North Carolina. Five people were killed by the storm; three indirect deaths in North Carolina, and two direct deaths in South Carolina.