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Hurricane Ike
Category 4 major hurricane (SSHWS/NWS)
Hurricane Ike off the Lesser Antilles.jpg
Hurricane Ike near peak intensity on September 4
Formed September 1, 2008
Dissipated September 14, 2008
Highest winds 1-minute sustained: 145 mph (230 km/h)
Lowest pressure 935 mbar (hPa); 27.61 inHg
Damage $38 billion (2008 USD)
Areas affected Turks and Caicos, Bahamas, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Florida Keys, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi Valley, Ohio Valley, Great Lakes region, eastern Canada
Part of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Ike was one of the most damaging tropical cyclones in United States history, having caused about $38 billion dollars in damage. It was the sixth-costliest Atlantic hurricane in U.S. history. Hurricane Ike was the ninth named storm, fifth hurricane, third major hurricane and the most-intense hurricane of 2008 in terms of pressure. Ike may have caused up to 195 deaths. Most deaths happened in Haiti and the U.S. together. Haiti was still recovering from Tropical Storm Fay, Hurricane Gustav, and Hurricane Hanna.

Storm history

Ike 2008 track
Storm path

The storm that eventually became Hurricane Ike started near the west coast of Africa on August 28. The storm grew quickly as it moved to the west-northwest. On September 1, the storm formed into Tropical Depression Nine when the storm was over the central Atlantic Ocean. Later that day Tropical Depression Nine became Tropical Storm Ike.

After the storm

Costliest U.S. Atlantic hurricanes
Cost refers to total estimated property damage
Rank Hurricane Season Damage
1 Katrina 2005 &10000108000000000000000$108 billion
2 Sandy 2012 &10000071400000000000000$71.4 billion
3 Ike 2008 &10000029520000000000000$29.5 billion
4 Andrew 1992 &10000026500000000000000$26.5 billion
5 Wilma 2005 &10000021007000000000000$21 billion
6 Ivan 2004 &10000018820000000000000$18.8 billion
7 Irene 2011 &10000015600000000000000$15.6 billion
8 Charley 2004 &10000015113000000000000$15.1 billion
9 Rita 2005 &10000012037000000000000$12 billion
10 Frances 2004 &10000009507000000000000$9.51 billion
Source: National Hurricane Center

In spring 2009, the name "Ike" was retired due to severe damage it caused, particularly in Texas. It was replaced by "Isaias" for the 2014 season.


Tropical cyclones of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season

 I 
Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale
TD TS C1 C2 C3 C4 C5

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Huracán Ike para niños

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