Hurricane Zachary

Hurricane Zachary was a destructive, deadly, costly, and catastrophic Category 5 hurricane that devastated Puerto Rico and the United States East Coast in November and early-December 2018. In all, 5,663 people were killed, along with $318 billion (2018 USD) in damages.

On November 16, Tropical Depression Twenty-Eight formed from a disturbance that formed from a tropical wave from Africa.

On November 19, the depression became Tropical Storm Zachary. Zachary quickly became a Category 3 with 120 mph winds by November 22. On the 23rd, Zachary became a Category 4 with 140 mph winds.

By November 29, Zachary became a Category 5 with 185 mph winds with a barometric pressure reading of 879 mbar, only behind Tony as the the most intense hurricane on record at the time.

On December 4, Zachary made landfall on Puerto Rico with 180 wind speeds and a barometric pressure reading of 892 mbar. Causing 5,496 deaths and $92 billion in damages on the island, Zachary circled around Bermuda before slamming into the Florida-Georgia border as a Category 5 with 190 mph wind speeds with a barometric pressure reading of 867 mbar.

Causing $57 billion in damages to both states, Zachary moved inland, striking Kentucky and Tennessee at Category 4 strength, causing another $125 billion in damages with heavy rainfall and strong winds.

As a Category 1, Zachary caused severe flooding in Chicago, killing 267 and another $40 billion in damages. Zachary dissipated in Montana on December 10 after killing 5,663 and $318 billion in damages. Due to record intensity and damage, Zachary was retired and replaced with Zahn for the 2024 season.