Hurricane Isaac (Hitman)

Hurricane Isaac was a destructive and deadly, Category 5 hurricane that caused mass destruction in September 2018. The second Category 5 of the year and strongest since Maria last year, Isaac formed from a tropical wave that formed near Chad and moved off the coast of Africa on September 1. The system then gained tropical depression status on September 3 before coming Tropical Storm Isaac on September 5.

Intensifying from a tropical storm to a Category 4 in just over 22 hours, Isaac brought heavy flooding near the Caribbean before gaining Category 5 strength on September 9.

Isaac was expected to keep going towards Mexico, however, the system made a sharp right turn an headed towards Jamaica, Haiti, Cuba, and the rest of the Greater Antilles.

Peak winds of 185 mph and a barometric pressure of 889 mbar, Isaac brought heavy flooding and catastrophic to the Greater Antilles, causing an estimated $24 billion in damages beffore making another right turn towards Miami. The U.S. states of Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina declared states of emergencies as Isaac was expected to move along the coastline and brought damage to those states.

On the night of September 13, Isaac made a Category 5 landfall with 165 mph winds in the Keys. Flash-flooding occurred in Key West and Miami faced some of the worst damage. Hard Rock Stadium was severely damaged along with flooding, dozens of cranes were toppled over, and flooding up to 34 feet in Miami killed 1,238. Isaac continued up the coast, causing severe damage in Ft. Lauderdale and West Palm Beach at Category 3 strength. Orlando was hit at Category 2 intensity and then Isaac pushed east into the Atlantic.

Isaac than rapidly re-intensified into a Category 5 before hitting Jacksonville, causing more catastrophic damage. As Isaac went inland, he weakened becoming a Category 1 when striking Atlanta, causing flash flooding. Isaac then became extratropical on September 19 when Nashville, along with Memphis suffered flash flooding. Isaac then dissipated on September 21.

In all, Isaac killed 2,356, injured over 29,000, and causing $263 billion (2018 USD) in damages, more than the previous record holders, Harvey and Katrina. Due to record damage, flooding, and economic losses, Isaac was retired and replaced with Isaiah for the 2024 season.