Rain, wind and storm surge from Hurricane Matthew and Tropical Storms Bonnie and Hermine kept local meteorologists on alert and residents with their eyes to the skies during the annual storm season, which stretches from June 1 to Nov. 30.
STORMS
Mother Nature is not bound by the confines of the traditional hurricane season, meaning the region's first brush with tropical weather came in the final days of May with Tropical Storm Bonnie.
After the early start, the tropics remained busy, churning out at least 16 named storms, as recently as Tropical Storm Otto that hit Costa Rica on Thanksgiving. Tim Armstrong, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Wilmington office, said this region saw effects from two more: Tropical Storm Hermine (Sept. 3) and, of course, Hurricane Matthew.
Only four other years since 1900 have seen three or more storms, Armstrong said.
The 74-mph wind gusts registered locally during 2004's Hurricane Charley beat Matthew's 70 mph gusts, Armstrong said. But Matthew was a flooding event rarely seen in the region. Some portions of Southeastern North Carolina saw upward of 15 inches of rainfall from the storm. Pender County is still processing storm debris.
Winds from Tropical Storm Colin (June 7) never reached tropical storm force on the coast, Armstrong said.
FREQUENCY
The last time the Cape Fear region saw a major hurricane -- classified as Category 3 or higher -- was Floyd in 1999.
According to National Hurricane Center, a major hurricane strikes the region, on average, every 17 years, which would have been 2016. Hurricane Matthew, however, hit the region as category 1 storm packing 75 mph winds. The frequency of category 1 or 2 stories is 5-7 years.
The last hurricane to affect the region was Irene as a weak category one, five years ago.
COMPLACENCY
In the years between major hurricanes, Armstrong said there is concern residents and new arrivals to the region let their guard down to the danger the tropics pose.
"A tremendous portion of the population has not experienced a hurricane, only weak storms when its like a strong thunderstorm outside," he said.
Tom Collins, Pender County Emergency Management director, has been through many of the region's major storms, including Floyd and Fran. He said more education needs to be done ahead of hurricane season to keep people engaged and prepared.
"As a population, we get a little complacent," he said. "Living in a hurricane-prone area, everybody every year should should be ready and I don't think we are."
Still, Armstrong said interest in storms is still high, particularity on social media.
"I do think a lot of people are at least cautious and stay on top of the weather even with the weaker storms," he said.
FUTURE
An active year in the tropics has relatively no bearing on what could follow in 2017 because of shifting weather patterns, Armstrong said.
Next summer, a weak El Nino pattern will settle over the Atlantic, potentially suppressing storm development.
In a way, the uncertainty is what keeps local weather staff preparing for the worst every year.
"We always plan for it to be an active year," Armstrong said. "It just takes one storm to rewrite the history of the region."
Reporter Hunter Ingram can be reached at 910-343-2327 or Hunter.Ingram@StarNewsOnline.com.
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