The 7 Deadly Tropical Storms of 2008

Hurricane Ike Causes Dozens More Deaths in Storm-Battered Haiti

By Dan Shapley

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tropical storm hanna, deadlystorms Tropical Storm Hanna Hurricane Hanna, which formed Sept. 1, only briefly achieved hurricane strength, but led to at least 163 deaths in Haiti. One account put the death toll above 500. The storm, shown here Sept. 5 before landfall near the South Carolina-North Carolina border, also soaked the U.S. East Coast.

Hurricane Gustav

hurricane gustav, deadlystorms, 2008storms Hurricane Gustav Hurricane Gustav became a hurricane on Aug. 26, making landfall in Haiti as a Category 1 hurricane. Gustav then struck western Cuba as a Category 4 hurricane, making its final landfall near Cocodrie, La., on Sept. 1 as a Category 2 hurricane. Hurricane force winds, storm surge and heavy rain produced more than $4 billion damage in Louisiana. Gustav killed 112 people, including 77 in Haiti.

Hurricane Ike

hurricane ike, haiti, deadlystorms Hurricane Ike on Sept. 7 2008 Hurricane Ike, which has to date been the most powerful hurricane of 2008, caused at least 58 more deaths in storm-battered Haiti, before moving on to Cuba. From there, it was expected to swamp the Florida Keys, and then make landfall on the U.S. Gulf Coast, possibly interrupting oil supplies in the process.

Tropical Storm Fay

tropical storm fay, deadlystorms Tropical Storm Fay on Aug 21

Proving that a storm doesn't have to reach hurricane strength to cause destruction, Tropical Storm Fay killed 23 in the Caribbean before making a record four landfalls in Florida, as it crisscrossed the peninsula Aug. 18-20.

Some parts of Florida received 26 inches of rain, and at least 13 people died in the U.S. as the storm continued as a tropical depression across the Southeast.

Hurricane Dolly

hurricane dolly, deadlystorms Hurricane Dolly on July 23

Tropical Storm Dolly formed in the Western Caribbean on July 20. It would make landfall in the Yucatan peninsula, killing at least 17, before moving into the Gulf of Mexico and growing into a Category 2 hurricane by July 23 before making landfall in Texas.

While the storm quickly dissipated over land, it brought extreme rains, flooding, more than $1 billion in damages and one death.