One of the most destructive hurricanes on record is drawing to a close Tuesday, after the US was hit by a series of powerful storms that caused tens of billions of dollars worth of damage.
Jay Breaux wipes sweat from his eye after his home was destroyed by Hurricane Ida. In this photo, John Locher is.
The Associated Press.
The seasonal naming list for tropical systems was exhausted for the third time in its history during the 21 named storms of the 2021.
The total storm damage is estimated to be at least $70 billion, the fourth most on record, but more than 90% of that came from a single storm.
The most powerful storm in terms of wind speed to ever hit the state was Ida, which made landfall along the Louisiana coast on August 29 with sustained winds of 150 mph.
The 48 deaths reported in New York and New Jersey are more than half of the 95 deaths caused by the storm.
Tropical Storm Ida hit the US just weeks after Tropical Storm Fred caused historic flooding in Tennessee and North Carolina, killing at least seven people.
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New England wasn't spared from hurricanes. Henri was the first named storm to make a landfall in Rhode Island in more than 30 years. The storm caused flooding.
The number is big.
8. The average of around three landfalls was nearly triple that of the 2021 season. There have been 19 storms to hit the U.S. over the past two years.
The key background.
Before any storms had even formed, the forecasters were already anticipating a very active season. There were five named storms by the end of June and no new storms formed in July. Despite the fact that the outlook was not as bright as it should have been, the conditions were in place for storms to develop at a rapid pace during August and September. There were six hurricanes and four major hurricanes that formed over a seven week period. Tropical Storm Wanda dissipated on November 7.
What to watch for.
Climate scientists are worried that global warming is making it easier for hurricanes to form. The past few years have done little to quell those concerns. Despite the federal government raising the definition of an average season to 14 named storms, six Atlantic hurricanes in a row have brought an above average number of storms. The 2020 season brought 30 named storms, 14 hurricanes and seven major hurricanes, making it the most active since record-keeping began.
There is a structure called the Tangent.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, a New Orleans-area man was killed and eaten by an alligator that was 12 feet in length. The alligator attack in Louisiana is thought to be the first fatal one in over 200 years.
Forecasters Warn say that parts of the Louisiana coast could be uninhabitable for weeks or months.
After Hurricane Ida, New Orleans regained partial power.
States take stock of storm damage on the East Coast.
Henri becomes a Hurricane as he nears New England.
Government Forecasters say the season is about to get worse.
Global Warming is changing how hurricanes work.
Officials confirm that a man was eaten by a huge alligator after Hurricane Ida.
