Hurricane Alpha

Hurricane Alpha was a destructive and costly Category 4 hurricane that devastated Cuba and the United States Gulf Coast in December 2018. On December 2, a tropical wave emerged off of Morocco, and achieved disturbance status.

By the 5th, the disturbance became Tropical Depression Twenty-Nine, and then became Tropical Storm Alpha the following day. Undergoing rapid intensification, Alpha became a Category 3 with 125 mph winds.

Impacting Suriname, heavy flash-flooding killed 65 and caused $5 billion in damages. Gaining strength, Alpha became a high-end Category 4 when Cuba was hit.

$40 billion in damages was done in damages on Cuba before Alpha emerged in the Gulf at Category 1 strength. Alpha then re-intensified into a Category 4 with 155 mph winds before slamming into Mississippi, causing catastrophic damage, killing 17 and causing another $69 billion in damages.

Alpha dissipated over Oklahoma on Christmas Eve after killing 82 and causing $114 billion (2018 USD) in damages. Due to record damage, Alpha was retired, but however, was not replaced as the names on the list go in Greek alphabet order.