Hurricane Florence (2000)

Hurricane Florence

Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS/NWS)
Hurricane Florence near peak intensity on September 13
Formed	September 10, 2000
Dissipated	September 19, 2000
(Extratropical after September 17, 2000)
Highest winds	1-minute sustained: 80 mph (130 km/h)
Lowest pressure	985 mbar (hPa); 29.09 inHg
Fatalities	3 direct
Damage	None
Areas affected	East Coast of the United States, Bermuda, Atlantic Canada
Part of the 2000 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Florence attained Category 1 intensity on three separate occasions in mid-September 2000. The tenth tropical cyclone and sixth named storm of the 2000 Atlantic hurricane season, Florence developed on September 20 from a cold front to the southwest of Bermuda. Initially a subtropical cyclone, it quickly organized, attaining hurricane status twice in a two-day period before weakening while remaining nearly stationary. Florence accelerated northeastward, reaching peak winds as a hurricane after passing near Bermuda. On September 17, the storm was absorbed by a larger extratropical cyclone. Hurricane Florence threatened Bermuda during its third time at hurricane intensity, bringing tropical storm force winds to the island but causing no reported damage. However, three deaths in North Carolina were blamed on rip currents triggered by the hurricane on September 12.

During the first week of September, a cold front moved off the East Coast of the United States and stalled over the Atlantic Ocean. By September 8, a weak frontal wave began developing along the cold front. Late on September 9, convection increased over the broad low pressure area, and the overall system intensified beneath an upper-level low. Subsequently, the system abandoned its frontal features as its appearance became more circular. With persistent but limited convection near and to the west of the center, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) estimated the system developed into a subtropical depression late on September 10 about 375 mi (604 km) west-southwest of Bermuda; it was considered subtropical because the upper-circulation was believed to have been cold-core. Operationally, advisories on the system were not initiated until 21 hours later.