As Hurricane Idalia makes its way across the Gulf of Mexico, the west coast of Florida is prepared for a direct hit, with massive evacuations.
Members of the Tampa, Fla., parks and Recreation Dept., help residents with sandbags Monday, Aug. 28, 2023, in Tampa, Fla. Residents along Florida’s gulf coast are making preparations for the effects of Tropical Storm Idalia. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)[Source: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Chris O’Meara]
Hurricane Idalia Lines up to the terrible I’s?
It could be the next hurricane to join the ranks of 2022’s Ian and 2017’s Irma in the “terrible I’s.” More hurricane names beginning with the letter I have been retired owing to widespread destruction since 1954 than any other letter of the alphabet. The World Meteorological Organization retires a name if “a storm is so deadly or costly that future use of its name on a different storm would be inappropriate for obvious reasons of sensitivity,” according to the National Hurricane Center.
Here are the names of retired hurricanes beginning with the letter I:
Hurricane Ian
On Wednesday, September 28, 2022, a Category 4 storm made landfall at Cayo Costa, Florida. Ian was the third most expensive U.S. hurricane, generating $115.2 billion in damage, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information. Hurricane Ian claimed the lives of 156 people. Hurricane Ian, one of the most violent storms to batter the United States, knocked out electricity for 2.6 million people in Florida.
Hurricane Ida
On August 29, 2021, a Category 4 storm made landfall in Louisiana. More than 60 persons were killed by Hurricane Ida. According to the National Centers for Environmental Information, Ida caused $75 billion in damage. Hurricane Ida struck on the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.
Hurricane Iota
On November 17, 2020, the Category 4 Hurricane hit Nicaragua after just downgrading from a Category 5 hurricane. The cost of the damage is pegged at $1.4 billion by NOAA. According to NOAA, the hurricane also caused 17 additional deaths in addition to the 67 direct deaths. The storm Iota was the strongest storm ever observed so late in the season.
Category 4 hurricane, Irma.
On Sunday, September 10, 2017, a Category 4 hurricane hit the Florida Keys before moving on to Naples. Over $53 billion in damage was caused by Irma. 129 people perished because of the hurricane. The NOAA reports that the storm had seven landfalls, four of which were Category 5 hurricanes before they weakened to Category 4 storms before making landfall in the United States.
Hurricane Ingrid
On September 16, 2013, Hurricane Ingrid made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane in northeastern Mexico. According to NOAA, insured property damage from Ingrid was expected to exceed $230 million. Ingrid caused 32 deaths, many of which were caused by severe rains and mudslides. The same day, Tropical Storm Manuel made landfall on Mexico’s Pacific coast.
Hurricane Irene
According to NOAA, Hurricane Irene made landfall in North Carolina as a Category 1 storm on August 27, 2011. The following day, it made another landfall in New York City, bringing unusual tropical storm conditions to the Northeast and New England. Hurricane Irene claimed the lives of 44 people. It is estimated that it cost $6.5 billion in damages.
Hurricane Igor
Hurricane Igor passed through Bermuda as a Category 1 hurricane before making landfall on Newfoundland on September 21, 2010. Early estimates put Newfoundland’s damage at $200 million. Bermuda reported damages totaling less than $500,000. According to the National Hurricane Center, a few persons were killed after being washed away by high water. Hurricane Igor was the most powerful hurricane to strike Newfoundland in 75 years.
Hurricane Ike
According to the National Weather Service, storm Ike made landfall in Texas as a Category 2 storm on September 13, 2008, after slamming multiple islands on its route from the Atlantic to the Gulf of Mexico. Total damage estimates in the United States were $29.52 billion. Ike was blamed for 103 deaths in the United States, Cuba, and Hispaniola. Damage to Cuba is expected to be between $3 and $4 billion.
Hurricane Ivan
According to the National Weather Service, the Category 3 storm made landfall near Gulf Shores, Alabama, on September 16, 2004. The cost of the damage was estimated to be around $14 billion. In the Florida Panhandle, eight people were killed. It was deemed the strongest and most devastating storm since 1926 at the time.
Isabel is a Category 4 hurricane.
According to a National Weather Service assessment, storm Isabel was a Category 5 storm before weakening to a Category 2 before making landfall in North Carolina on September 18, 2003. Damage from Isabel totaled $1.7 billion. The storm took the lives of 17 people. It was the most powerful hurricane to hit North Carolina and Virginia in nearly 50 years at the time.
Hurricane Isadore
According to the National Weather Service, Hurricane Isadore had weakened to a tropical storm by the time it made landfall in Louisiana on September 26, 2002. Damage in the United States was expected to be $330 million. Isadore caused 8 fatalities, both direct and indirect.
Hurricane Inez
Hurricane Inez formed in the Atlantic and moved towards the Gulf of Mexico between September 21 and October 11, 1966, according to historical records. It struck Cuba, triggered a tornado in the Bahamas, and passed right over the Florida Keys. The death toll was estimated to be around 1,000.
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