Hurricane (Typhoon) — Pitt, North Carolina

1999-09-14 to 1999-09-16 · Pitt, North Carolina

Wider weather episode

Hurricane Floyd caused the largest peace time evacuation in the nations history. He also caused massive record flooding across inland sections of eastern North Carolina. At one time Floyd was classified as a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir/Simpson scale and will likely be categorized as one of the nation's most costly hurricanes in the 20th century.Tropical Depression number eight was detected by the National Hurricane Center at 1600 EST on September 7th. The broad center was nearly 1000 miles west of the Lesser Antilles. At that time the depression was moving toward the west at 14 mph with maximum sustained winds of 30 mph. Within 12 hours the depression gained strength, became a tropical storm, and was named Floyd. As it neared the Virgin Islands on the afternoon of September 10th just 415 miles west of San Juan, Floyd became a hurricane. Hurricane Floyd rapidly intensified and by the evening of September 12th was classified as a category 4 hurricane. The hurricane continued to intensify. At its peak on the morning of September 13th, the winds increased to 155 mph and the central pressure bottomed-out at 921 mb. The position was 525 miles east-southeast of Miami and moving west at 14 mph. Fortunately for Floridians, Hurricane Floyd soon made the expected turn to the north. By 1700 EST on September 14th the entire North Carolina coast was under a hurricane watch and at midnight up-graded to a hurricane warning. That same night the first outer rainbands began affecting eastern North Carolina and in turn, reports of flooding began filtering into the National Weather Service office in Morehead City/Newport (MHX). At least 40 official shelters were open across the county warning area.Severe weather and rainfall preceded landfall. By Wednesday night September 16th, 20 tornado warnings had been issued with over half being verified. The greatest rainfall estimates from the MHX Doppler radar were over Duplin...Jones...Lenoir...Greene...Pitt...Martin...Craven...and Onslow Counties. Estimates were near 6 to 10 inches with isolated areas of 12 to 15 inches. The greatest rainfall report was from a Cooperative observer in Washington...15.48 inches. Tyrrell...eastern Carteret...eastern Pamlico... Hyde...and Dare Counties all had estimates less than 3 inches. Hurricane Floyd made landfall on the morning of September 16th near North Topsail Beach as a category 2 hurricane. The eye moved northeast over Jacksonville...New Bern...Washington...Plymouth and continued over the eastern shores of Virginia. As the hurricane moved over the eastern coast of North Carolina, it accelerated and weakened. It lost its tropical characteristics early on the 17th. The University of Oklahoma Doppler-On-Wheels (DOW) team was positioned at Topsail Beach. Around 0200 EST the DOW recorded a sustained wind of 81 mph with gusts to 105 mph. The peak inland report in the MHX 15-county warning area was 82 mph at Cherry Point Marine Corp Air Station (NKT). The peak offshore report was 96 mph at Duck Pier.Similar to rainfall, the strongest ocean storm surges occurred west and northwest of the eye. Ocean storm surges were about 4 to 6 feet above normal...generally affecting Onslow...Carteret...and Hyde Counties. This caused extensive beach erosion on the south facing beaches. Ocracoke Island officials reported at least 10 new dune breaks along Highway 12. In Carteret County Pine Knoll Shores lost some 50 feet of beach. Emerald Isle lost an average of 14 feet and 52 public beach access walkways. The Oceanana Pier on Atlantic Beach lost a 200 foot section and the remaining 200 foot section of Iron Steamer Pier that Hurricane Bonnie spared was also wiped out.Along the Albemarle Sound...storm tides were about 5 to 6 feet above normal. The Pamlico River storm tides were around 6 to 8 feet above normal. Water levels were especially high in Hyde County...Sladesville and Scranton. Along the Neuse River storm tides were also near 6 to 8 feet above normal...especially in the Core Creek area.Extreme flooding was experienced across most counties. Inland flooding exceeded Hurricane Bertha...Fran...Bonnie... and Dennis combined. Most counties reported their worst flooding ever. The Tar River in Greenville and the Neuse River in Kinston were nearly 15 feet above their flood stages of 13 and 14 feet, respectively. The Tar River remained above flood stage for nearly two weeks while the Neuse River remained above flood stage for over a month. The Northeast Cape Fear River in Chinquapin was 8 to 10 feet above the flood stage of 13 feet. The Roanoke River in Williamston rose to nearly 3 feet above its flood stage. Unbelievable numbers of homes were covered with water and over half a million customers throughout the county warning area were without power. In Greenville alone a 100 acre parcel of land would be needed to store all the mobile homes that were destroyed due to flooding. Unofficially the flooding from Hurricane Floyd has been compared to a 500 year flood. At least 13 fatalities have been reported during the event in the 15 county warning area. Unfortunately, a majority of the deaths could have been avoided had the victims not driven through flooded roadways. As with most hurricanes, inland flooded is now responsible for the largest percentage of fatalities.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5717554. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.