Hurricane Matthew, a 2016 Atlantic tropical cyclone, caused widespread devastation across multiple nations. The storm’s path, which began in the Caribbean and swept up the southeastern coast of the United States, resulted from a rare combination of intense atmospheric physics and specific geographic vulnerability. Understanding Matthew’s severity requires looking beyond its wind speeds to examine the catastrophic hydrological events it triggered and the societal factors that amplified the disaster. The storm’s long lifespan and ability to maintain strength over vast distances ensured that its destructive potential was realized over a large and diverse region.
The Storm’s Extreme Meteorological Profile
Matthew exhibited a rapid intensification cycle rarely seen in the Atlantic basin, transforming into a major hurricane with exceptional speed. Over a 24-hour period, its maximum sustained winds more than doubled, increasing from approximately 70 mph to 160 mph, making it a Category 5 storm. This explosive strengthening was fueled by abnormally warm Caribbean Sea waters and favorable atmospheric conditions. The storm achieved its peak intensity at an unusually low latitude, becoming the southernmost Category 5 hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic basin. Matthew maintained Category 4 or 5 status for a remarkable duration, continuously drawing energy from the warm ocean, ensuring it approached landmasses with tremendous force.
Trajectory Over Geographically Vulnerable Regions
Matthew’s specific northward track was uniquely devastating because it subjected multiple, unprepared regions to the storm’s most powerful quadrants. The initial and most catastrophic landfall occurred on the Tiburon Peninsula of Haiti as a strong Category 4 hurricane with 150-mph winds. This area, with its steep, mountainous terrain and widespread deforestation, was acutely vulnerable to extreme rainfall. The lack of tree cover meant that water ran unchecked down the slopes, triggering destructive mudslides and flash floods.
Following its impact on the Greater Antilles, the hurricane tracked nearly parallel to the US Southeast coast for hundreds of miles, prolonging the exposure of coastal communities. The storm’s center remained just offshore from Florida through Georgia, focusing the eastern eyewall, strongest winds, and highest storm surge directly on the immediate coastline. The slight deviation of the eye from the coastline prevented a worst-case scenario landfall in Florida but still maximized the damaging effects of wind and water across the coastal margin.
The Dual Catastrophe of Storm Surge and Inland Flooding
The destruction caused by Hurricane Matthew was defined by two distinct forms of water inundation: storm surge and freshwater flooding. Along the US Atlantic coast, the storm surge pushed water levels to historic heights, setting new records at seven tide gauges. The maximum surge reached 7.70 feet above normal tide levels at Fort Pulaski, Georgia, inundating low-lying coastal areas. Even the St. Johns River in Florida experienced its highest water levels on record due to the oceanic surge.
Inland Flooding in the Carolinas
The more deadly hazard was the massive freshwater flooding that occurred well inland across the Carolinas. Matthew’s slow movement and deep tropical moisture resulted in widespread rainfall totals of 12 to 18 inches. This rain fell onto ground already saturated from previous storms, including Tropical Storm Hermine. The combination led to historic, delayed river flooding that peaked days after the hurricane passed.
The Lumber River at Lumberton, North Carolina, crested at an all-time record of 24.39 feet, exceeding flood stage by over 11 feet. Similarly, the Neuse River at Kinston crested at over 28 feet, topping the historic levels set by Hurricane Floyd in 1999. This delayed river flooding in inland communities accounted for the majority of the storm’s fatalities in the United States.
Exacerbating Infrastructure and Preparedness Issues
The hurricane’s high death toll and extensive damage were worsened by pre-existing infrastructure and preparedness deficits in the affected regions. In Haiti, widespread poverty and poor construction meant Category 4 winds easily destroyed 80 to 90 percent of homes in the hardest-hit areas. The loss of critical infrastructure, such as the Petit-Goâve Bridge, severed the only major road connecting the capital to the Tiburon Peninsula, isolating the region from immediate aid.
In the US, the volume of delayed inland flooding exposed vulnerabilities in transportation and municipal services. Historic river crests led to the closure of major arteries like sections of Interstate 95 and I-40 for days, paralyzing regional commerce and complicating rescue efforts. The flooding of the Lumberton, North Carolina, water treatment plant left the city without a municipal water supply for weeks. Many inland residents underestimated the risk from severe, delayed river flooding, illustrating a significant preparedness challenge.