Hurricane Florence (1988)

Hurricane Florence

Florence near peak intensity in the Gulf of Mexico on September 9
Meteorological history
Formed	September 7, 1988
Dissipated	September 11, 1988
Category 1 hurricane
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS)
Highest winds	80 mph (130 km/h)
Lowest pressure	982 mbar (hPa); 29.00 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities	1 direct
Damage	$2.9 million (1988 USD)
Areas affected	Yucatán Peninsula, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida
IBTrACS
Part of the 1988 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Florence was the third of four named tropical cyclones to make landfall on the United States during the 1988 Atlantic hurricane season. The seventh tropical storm and second hurricane of the season, Florence developed on September 7 from an area of convection associated with a dissipating frontal trough in the southern Gulf of Mexico. After initially moving eastward, the storm turned northward and strengthened. Florence reached hurricane status and later peak winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) on September 9 shortly before striking southeastern Louisiana. The storm rapidly weakened over land and dissipated on September 11 over northeastern Texas.

Early in its duration, the storm dropped rainfall across the Yucatán Peninsula. Upon striking Louisiana, Florence produced a moderate storm surge, causing severe beach erosion in some locations. Gusty winds were also reported, causing power outages to over 100,000 people. In Alabama, one man died while trying to secure his boat. Rainfall from the hurricane caused severe river flooding in portions of the Florida Panhandle in an area already severely affected by heavy rainfall; the flooding damaged or destroyed dozens of houses in Santa Rosa County. Throughout its path, damage totaled about $2.9 million (1988 USD, $5.3 million 2008 USD).