By Irene Sands From WFTV 9 ABC

MIAMI – The World Meteorological Organization retired two names from the 2018 hurricane season, Florence and Michael.

Major Hurricane Florence
At the end of August, a tropical wave exiting Africa was labeled as a potential tropical storm, prompting warnings for the Cape Verde islands. It would eventually become Florence and wreak havoc in the Carolinas and Virginia.

The long-lived storm made landfall Sept. 14 and moved so slowly it became the wettest hurricane for the state of North Carolina, producing almost 36 inches of rain and the eighth wettest tropical cyclone in the contiguous United States. Florence was one of the deadliest and costliest hurricanes to hit the Carolinas. At least 57 deaths were attributed to Florence, which left over $24 billion in damages.

Florence made landfall as an immense Category 1 hurricane after quickly losing its major Category 4 status in a couple of days due to strong wind shear. Despite its weakening, the size and forward motion of the storm, at one point moving between 2 and 3 mph, produced devastating floods, uprooted trees and left millions without power.

Major Hurricane Michael
At the beginning of October, a tropical disturbance over the northwestern Caribbean caused heavy rains and extensive flooding in parts of Central America, the Yucatan Peninsula and the Cayman Islands. The system continued traveling northward, entering the very warm Gulf of Mexico and rapidly intensifying, reaching major Category 4 hurricane status with winds of 155 mph. Its barometric pressure also set a record. Michael is the third-most intense Atlantic hurricane, based on pressure, to hit the United States. Michael was the strongest hurricane to ever hit the Florida Panhandle and the fourth strongest to hit the U.S. based on wind speed. 

Michael made landfall as a very strong Category 4 hurricane, leaving over 1.2 million people without power. The violent winds devastated communities and even Tyndall Air Force Base, located near Mexico Beach, where the storm officially made landfall. Vehicles were tossed, roofs flipped, forests flattened and several fighter jets were damaged.

There are 72 deaths attributed to Michael, and it left over $25 billion in damages.

The replacement names
Eighty-eight names have been retired from the Atlantic list since meteorologists started naming hurricanes in 1953. Florence will be replaced by Francine and Michael by Milton. The next time you see these new names on a list will be in 2024. Atlantic hurricane season name lists are in a six-year rotation. Hurricane names are retired after they have caused great devastation and deaths.

For more on this story go to; https://www.wftv.com/weather/eye-on-the-tropics/world-meteorological-organization-retires-names-florence-michael/932444622