00:00 From Florida's Big Bend to the Mid-Atlantic Coast and New England.
00:06 This was an active season because of very warm water.
00:10 Three storms brought big impacts to the U.S.
00:13 A total of 20 storms were named in 2023, the most on record during an El Nino-influenced year.
00:21 It's just sadder in a smaller town, so many people rely on these small businesses to make a living.
00:25 Florida's nature coast was slammed by Hurricane Adalia in August.
00:29 Authorities have said in these powerful conditions of the hurricane, they cannot respond to 911 calls.
00:35 The Category 3 hurricane pushed nearly nine feet of storm surge into Cedar Key.
00:40 Inland towns like Perry faced powerful winds, snapping trees and peeling off roofs.
00:46 I felt the roof coming off, so I grabbed my 3-0 sign and I ran downstairs to the downstairs room.
00:52 Yeah, everything's gone.
00:53 It was scary. Things kept hitting the door and sounded like the roof was coming off.
01:00 AccuWeather experts estimate the total damage and economic impact from Hurricane Adalia cost $18 to $20 billion.
01:08 Rescue crews say they were relieved. More people listened to the warnings.
01:13 The evacuation orders, like you said, it does appear that people did seem to heed those better this time, and I'm really proud to see that.
01:19 Weeks later, Lee formed in the open Atlantic and quickly strengthened into a Category 5 hurricane.
01:25 The storm brought rip currents up and down the East Coast and rough surf to Cape Cod.
01:31 Oh my goodness, we live right on the water, so we're like, we've got to clean up the beach, we've got to do everything.
01:36 The system made landfall in Nova Scotia, knocking out power to hundreds of thousands in Canada and Maine.
01:44 Mother nature is impressive.
01:46 A homebrew system that formed off the coast strengthened into Tropical Storm Ophelia.
01:52 It made landfall in North Carolina, bringing flooding to Greenville and rough surf to Delaware, washing away tons of sand from beaches.
02:01 It is a battle. Every year they just have to keep adding more sand. It just keeps going away more and more.
02:07 We have to continue to try, otherwise it's just going to be all nothing.
02:12 You had two competing forces. You had very warm water, and you also had a building El Nino.
02:18 As it turns out, water temperature dominated. Sea surface temperatures were off the charts.
02:24 AccuWeather lead hurricane expert Dan Kutlowski says it's a troubling trend.
02:29 Families and businesses along America's coastline need to prepare for a future of rapidly intensifying storms.
02:37 People need to prepare for major hurricane hits, so don't underestimate any tropical season that we face.
02:45 For AccuWeather, I'm Bill Waddell.
02:48 (wind blowing)
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