Tropical Storm Gordon (2018)

Basin

North Atlantic

Dates

September 2, 2018 to September 7, 2018

Peak strength

Tropical Storm, 60 kt (69 mph)

Lowest pressure

996 mb (29.41 inHg)

Landfall

Yes

Accumulated cyclone energy

2.3

Tropical-storm-force wind reached

70 nmi (130 km, 81 mi) from the center at its widest

Eyewall radius at its peak

15 nmi (28 km, 17 mi)

Overall size

150 nmi (278 km, 173 mi) to the outermost closed isobar

Peak gust in the best track

75 kt (86 mph)

Fastest the center moved

16 kt (18 mph)

Identifier

AL072018

Radar at KMOB as it neared land, Sep 5, 03:15 UTC

The sources count different things and are not added together.

Landfall points the US agencies flagged in the best track. The nearest town is named from the site’s gazetteer, not from the report.

NOAA’s Storm Events database, the record National Weather Service offices compile months after a storm, as compiled March 2026.

Deaths

4 (4 direct, 0 indirect)

Injuries

1

Property damage

$1.7 million

Crop damage

$43,500

Events recorded

384 in 42 reports from 13 states and marine areas

State by state

What was recorded

112 flood, 93 heavy rain, 81 flash flood, 20 tropical depression, 18 marine tropical storm, 15 tropical storm, 14 marine thunderstorm wind, 11 thunderstorm wind, 8 tornado, 5 marine tropical depression, 5 storm surge/tide, 1 lightning, 1 strong wind.

8 tornadoes recorded in the United States, strongest first.

The Weather Prediction Center attributes 7,972 rain gauge totals over the contiguous United States to this storm. The wettest reached 12.73 inches (323 mm).

WPC’s storm rainfall file, 1900 to 2020, compiled by David Roth.

The strongest winds National Weather Service offices recorded with this storm. An estimated figure is a forecaster’s judgment from the damage, not an instrument reading.

From the Storm Events narratives, unedited.

Heavy rainfall led to minor flooding and partial lane closures in Doral, mainly along NW 12 Street between NW 107 Avenue and NW 92 Avenue, and between NW 79 Avenue and NW 77 Court from NW 29 Street to NW 34 Street. Rainfall totals of 3 to 4 inches fell in only a few hours.

Miami-Dade, Florida · Flood · Sep 3, 17:00 UTC

Heavy rainfall associated with Tropical Storm Gordon fell across much of southern Miami-Dade County, including the Homestead area. Multiple reports of 5 to 7 inches of rain fell across the region, which led to some minor street flooding and a few partial lane closures.

Miami-Dade, Florida · Flood · Sep 3, 17:00 UTC

Tropical Storm Gordon made landfall in Jackson County around 1015 pm CDT, just west of the Alabama-Mississippi border. A 33 knot (38 mph) sustained wind with a gust to 49 knots (56 mph) was measured at Pascagoula Trent Lott Airport. Several trees were reported blown down across the county. Power poles and power lines were knocked down, and 2 mobile homes were damaged by falling trees. Approximately 6000 people were affected by power outages, and 88 people were housed in shelters during the peak of the storm. Tide levels were reported to be 2 feet above normal.

Jackson, Mississippi · Tropical Storm · Sep 5, 00:00 UTC

A swath of rain and storms moved across Grenada County repeatedly, which resulted in flash flooding. The bulk of the flooding occurred in and around Grenada. Flash flooding occurred on Dubard Road near Highway 8 West, along Greer Road and along Dillion Road. Water flooded all of the roads in Ole Hickory subdivision, including Old Hickory Road off of Sunset Drive. Water also flowed across roadways and approached homes in the Deer Creek subdivision on Deer Creek Road. A few culverts were washed out in eastern Grenada County. Homer Road and Carrollton Road near Perry Creek were flooded. Two homes had floodwaters in them along Gillon Road south of Highway 8. Over seven inches fell near Holcomb.

Grenada, Mississippi · Flash Flood · Sep 6, 12:30 UTC

A Green County Sheriffs vehicle was swept off of a roadway at a low water crossing due to flash flooding. This low water crossing was located on Cabin Creek Drive, a quarter mile south of State Road AA, where Cabin Creek intersects Cabin Creek Drive. The Deputy was overcome by flood waters attempting to escape the vehicle.

Dallas, Missouri · Flash Flood · Sep 8, 01:23 UTC

Several bands of rain associated with the remnants of Tropical Storm Gordon impacted Jasper County from September 7th through the 8th. The ground was saturated with nearly 3.00 to 5.00 inches of rain when a particularly heavy band of rain moved into southeast Illinois during the afternoon of September 8th. An additional 1.00 to 1.50 of rain in less than three hours produced flash flooding in southern and eastern Jasper county in the early afternoon. Water covered many roads, including IL State highway 130 south of Newton and IL State highway 33 east of newton.

Jasper, Illinois · Flash Flood · Sep 8, 20:00 UTC

Several bands of rain associated with the remnants of Tropical Storm Gordon impacted Richland County from September 7th through the 8th. The ground was saturated with nearly 4.50 to 6.50 inches of rain when a particularly heavy band of rain moved into southeast Illinois during the afternoon of September 8th. An additional 2.00 inches of rain in less than three hours produced flash flooding in Richland County in the early afternoon. Many county roads were covered with water. Illinois Highway 250 was flooded near the Olney airport and near the high school.

Richland, Illinois · Flash Flood · Sep 8, 20:00 UTC

Peak winds in this tornado were estimated near 110 mph. The tornado skirted the southern and eastern parts of the small community of Stanley. There were several witnesses to this widely filmed and documented tornado. A well-defined, convergent damage path was evident in drone footage of the area. The east wall of one home was nearly completely destroyed. Roofs were torn off a few barns and sheds. Several homes received light siding and fascia damage. Corn and tobacco crops were flattened. Several dozen trees were uprooted or topped. The tornado reached its strongest point where it crossed U.S. Highway 60 at Stanley. This tornado was the strongest of four tornadoes that were spawned by a cluster of storms in the Owensboro area.

Daviess, Kentucky · Tornado · Sep 8, 20:51 UTC

A weak tornado briefly touched down in a soybean field. Peak winds were estimated near 65 mph. The only evidence of the tornado was obtained from video footage. Damage assessment teams from the National Weather Service and the Spencer County Emergency Management Agency found no damage.

Spencer, Indiana · Tornado · Sep 8, 21:36 UTC

Route 140 was closed due to flooding along Hales Creek and Route 93 was closed due to flooding along Olive Creek. The river gage on Symmes Creek at Aid also rose into minor flood stage. The creek crested at 19.1 feet, just above its 19 foot bank full level, on the evening of the 10th. This closed a section of Route 141 near Aid.

Lawrence, Ohio · Flood · Sep 10, 01:03 UTC

The Shade River near Chester rose above its 17 foot bank full level shortly after midnight on the 10th. It crested just above 21 feet that afternoon, reaching moderate flood stage. It slowly returned to its banks by the next morning. This flooded the Sugar Run Creek Bridge and Oak Hill Road.

Meigs, Ohio · Flood · Sep 10, 03:34 UTC

A wind gust of 30-35 mph caused a tree to fall on a house. The ground was heavily saturated due to Remnants of Tropical Storm Gordon. A woman died while sleeping in her bed when the tree fell on her home around 4:30am (Monday, Sept 10th). Article: http://wvmetronews.com/2018/09/10/woman-killed-by-falling-tree-in-monongalia-county/.

Monongalia, West Virginia · Strong Wind · Sep 10, 09:30 UTC

Clearfield County reported flooding on the 10th. At 1215 pm a shelter was opened at the Mahaffey Fire Station, 958 Market Street in the Borough of Mahaffey. Approximately 12 residents from four homes have been evacuated to the shelter. At 439pm Chester Hill has flooding from Florence Street to Decatur Street. Three households have evacuated. Fire Chief and Mayor are asking households from Florence Street to Grace Street to evacuate due to more than three feet of water on the street and the Moshannon Creek is still rising. Several residents have refused to evacuate. A plan has been made to make a temporary shelter at the Station 14 Fire Station and then transport individuals to the Philipsburg YMCA if needed. At 125pm on the 11th a swift water rescue team was deployed to Chester Hill to evacuate a 93 year old women from her home.

Clearfield, Pennsylvania · Flood · Sep 10, 15:00 UTC

Tygarts Creek near Grayson flooded on the 10th. The creek rose above its 20 foot flood stage just after noon. It crested at 20.7 feet in minor flood stage that evening and returned within its banks shortly after midnight on the 11th. This flooded low areas along SR 7 and CR 2070. The country story and some homes near the creek in the town of Load also had minor flooding.

Greenup, Kentucky · Flood · Sep 10, 16:10 UTC

• Tropical Storm AlbertoNorth Atlantic · 2018Tropical Storm55 kt · 990 mb
• Hurricane BerylNorth Atlantic · 2018Cat 170 kt · 991 mb
• Hurricane ChrisNorth Atlantic · 2018Cat 290 kt · 969 mb
• Tropical Storm DebbyNorth Atlantic · 2018Tropical Storm45 kt · 998 mb
• Tropical Storm ErnestoNorth Atlantic · 2018Tropical Storm40 kt · 999 mb
• Hurricane FlorenceNorth Atlantic · 2018 · 32 deathsCat 4130 kt · 937 mb
• Hurricane IsaacNorth Atlantic · 2018Cat 165 kt · 995 mb
• Hurricane HeleneNorth Atlantic · 2018Cat 295 kt · 967 mb
• Tropical Storm JoyceNorth Atlantic · 2018Tropical Storm45 kt · 995 mb
• Unnamed tropical depressionNorth Atlantic · 2018Tropical Depression30 kt · 1007 mb
• Hurricane LeslieNorth Atlantic · 2018 · 11 deathsCat 180 kt · 968 mb
• Tropical Storm KirkNorth Atlantic · 2018Tropical Storm55 kt · 998 mb
• Hurricane MichaelNorth Atlantic · 2018 · 72 deaths · $15 billionCat 5140 kt · 919 mb
• Tropical Storm NadineNorth Atlantic · 2018Tropical Storm55 kt · 995 mb
• Hurricane OscarNorth Atlantic · 2018Cat 295 kt · 952 mb

A best track is the record a warning agency settles on after the storm, not what it said at the time: position, maximum sustained wind and central pressure every six hours, revised against every observation that came in later. Category is the Saffir-Simpson scale, which runs from Category 1 at 64 kt to Category 5 at 137 kt and reads wind only, so it says nothing about surge or rain. Accumulated cyclone energy adds up the square of the wind through the storm's life, so it counts strength and duration together.

Storm history from NOAA NCEI’s International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS), which merges the official best track of every warning agency. Live storms, cones, watches and warnings from the National Hurricane Center and the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Archived radar from NOAA’s Level II archive.

• Tropical cyclone report, National Hurricane Center
• Every advisory and discussion NHC issued while it was live
• Best track as KMZ, National Hurricane Center
• Best track as a shapefile, National Hurricane Center
• Wikipedia article: Tropical Storm Gordon