Florence is a retired Atlantic hurricane name. The World Meteorological Organization took it off the lists after the 2018 storm, so no future Atlantic storm will be called Florence. Its place on the list now belongs to Francine, on the 2030 list. Since 1988, six storms have been named Florence; the strongest, in 2018, peaked as a Category 4 hurricane.
Yes. Florence is on NHC’s list of retired Atlantic names because of the 2018 storm. It is one of 100 names retired there since 1954 (Tropical Cyclone Naming History and Retired Names).
A name is retired when a storm was so deadly or costly that using the name again would be insensitive; the World Meteorological Organization then picks a new name with the same first letter at its annual meeting.
It won’t be. Retired names are not used again on the Atlantic lists. Its place on the list, the F slot, now belongs to Francine, on the 2030 Atlantic list, which is next used in 2030.
Florence formed in the Atlantic in August 2018 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph (240 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 937 mb. It made landfall near Masonboro, United States. The system was tracked for 19 days.
Hurricane Florence (2018): track and historyFlorence formed in the Atlantic in August 2012 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1002 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
Tropical Storm Florence (2012): track and historyFlorence formed in the Atlantic in September 2006 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 963 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 15 days.
Hurricane Florence (2006): track and historyFlorence formed in the Atlantic in September 2000 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 985 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
Hurricane Florence (2000): track and historyFlorence formed in the Atlantic in November 1994 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 972 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
Hurricane Florence (1994): track and historyFlorence formed in the Atlantic in September 1988 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 982 mb. It made landfall near Galliano, United States. The system was tracked for 4 days.
Hurricane Florence (1988): track and history| Storm | Landfall near | Date (UTC) | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florence 2018 | Masonboro, United States | 2018-09-14 11:15 | 90 mph / 150 km/h |
| Florence 1988 | Galliano, United States | 1988-09-10 02:00 | 80 mph / 130 km/h |
Names go in alphabetical order, one per storm, as each storm reaches tropical-storm strength (39 mph, 34 knots), so a storm’s place in its season decides its name.
In each of 2018, 2012, 2006, 2000, 1994 and 1988, Florence was the 6th name used in the Atlantic season.
The most recent was Hurricane Florence in 2018, in the Atlantic. It formed on August 30, peaked at 150 mph (240 km/h) and lasted 19 days. It made landfall near Masonboro, United States. It was the 6th name used in that Atlantic season. Before that, the name was used in 2012, 2006, 2000, 1994 and 1988.
Hurricane Florence in 2018 was the strongest, peaking as a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 150 mph (240 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 937 mb. It formed in the Atlantic in August and made landfall near Masonboro, United States. The weakest of the six, in 2012, peaked at 60 mph (95 km/h).