Hurricane Rafael (Hitman)

Hurricane Rafael was a deadly, costly, destructive, and catastrophic, high-end Category 4 hurricane that devastated the Western Atlantic in October 2018.

The NHC started to monitor a disturbance near the Gulf of Mexico that quickly became Tropical Storm Rafael on October 3.

Undergoing a period of rapid intensification, Rafael became a Category 4 with 150 mph winds when the system slammed into Haiti, causing 6,789 deaths and $75 billion in damages on the island.

Briefly weakening, Rafael emerged into the Gulf, regaining a little strength, slamming into Naples, Florida as a high-end Category 4 with wind speeds at 155 mph and a barometric pressure reading of 925 mbar.

Strong straight-line winds, heavy rainfall, and huge storm surges caused another $45 billion in damages in South Florida before hitting Bermuda as a low-end Category 4 with 130 mph winds and a barometric pressure reading of 937 mbar. More flooding caused another $5.3 billion in damages was done in damages.

In all, 6,903 deaths occurred, another estimated 24,300 injuries occurred, and $125.3 billion (2018 USD) in damages. Due to record damage, flooding, and economic losses, Rafael was replaced with Roman for the 2024 season.