Hurricane Hugo Facts


Hurricane Hugo
Hurricane Hugo was the costliest hurricane on record to hit the U.S. up until 1989. It strengthened into a category 5 hurricane well east of the Lesser Antilles as the pressure dropped to 918 millibars with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph. It weakened some before reaching the islands, then re strengthened near Puerto Rico. Near the island of Culebra, a ship reported a gust to 170 mph. Hurricane Hugo stayed east of the Bahamas and made landfall near Sullivan's Island, South Carolina. A Hurricane Hunter aircraft measured a wind of 161 mph at 12,000 feet just before landfall. Charleston, SC had a wind gust to 108 mph and Charlotte, NC a gust to 99 mph.





Hurricane Hugo Satellite Picture




Hurricane Hugo Facts Summary

• Hurricane Hugo Fact: Lowest pressure: 918 millibars / 27.11 inches
• Hurricane Hugo Fact: Pressure and sustained wind at landfall: 934 millibars / 140 mph
• Hurricane Hugo Fact: Maximum sustained winds at peak: 160 mph - category 5 on the Saffir - Simpson scale
• Hurricane Hugo Fact: Strongest wind gust in Charleston: 108 mph
• Hurricane Hugo Fact: Fatalities: 50 total, 21 mainland U.S.
• Hurricane Hugo Fact: U.S. Damage: $7 billion
• Hurricane Hugo Fact: Caribbean Damage: $3 billion
• Hurricane Hugo Fact: Maximum storm surge height: 20 feet, Bulls Bay, SC
• Hurricane Hugo Fact: Most intense tropical cyclone to strike the Atlantic coast north of Florida
• Hurricane Hugo Fact: USDA Forest Service estimated damage of $100 million to timber north of Charleston