Hurricane Lucas (2018)

Hurricane Lucas was a destructive tropical cyclone which affected much of the Caribbean and East Coast of the United States during late August and early September 2018. The twelfth storm, seventh hurricane, and fifth major hurricane of the hyperactive 2018 Atlantic hurricane season, Lucas originated from a well-defined Atlantic tropical wave that began showing signs of organization east of the Lesser Antilles. Tracking generally towards the northwest, the storm rapidly intensified as it traversed the Caribbean, peaking as a Category 3 hurricane on August 30. Throughout the following day, Lucas fell to tropical storm strength as it made consecutive landfalls in Haiti and Cuba.

Thereafter, the storm quickly reorganized as it struck the Bahamas and then curved northward after making landfall on Grand Bahama. Continuing to strengthen, Lucas was once again upgraded to a Category 3 hurricane off the coast of Florida on September 2. With its track beginning to shift more towards an easterly course, the storm began to quickly weaken before making a close pass to the Outer Banks of North Carolina on September 4, as a Category 1 hurricane. Less than 24 hours after this pass was made, the system became extratropical on September 5.

Throughout its path, Lucas caused widespread destruction and at least 188 deaths. Damage estimates throughout the United States are estimated near $200 million, while damages in the Caribbean, particularly the hurricane-stricken nation of Haiti, was estimated to be around $2.17 billion; resulting in a overall cost of $2.37 billion in damage. Despite the deaths and damage, the name was not retired following the season.