Hurricane Ike
One of the tropical cyclone disasters on NOAA’s billion-dollar list: $43 billion in losses at 2024 prices ($30 billion at the time) and 112 deaths.
What the offices filed during it
The 83 most significant tropical cyclone episodes filed in these dates, colored by kind.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The toll
- Losses, 2024 dollars
- $43 billion
- Losses at the time
- $30 billion
- Deaths
- 112
The losses and deaths are NCEI’s, counting everything the disaster did. The episodes below are only what the Weather Service filed in its Storm Events record, which counts damage differently and often not at all, so the two never add up and are shown apart.
By state, as filed
| State | Events | Deaths | Injuries | Damage filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 85 | 38 | 2,413 | $15 billion |
| Louisiana | 89 | 0 | 6 | $858 million |
| Illinois | 87 | 2 | 8 | $108 million |
| Arkansas | 81 | 1 | 4 | $35 million |
| Indiana | 16 | 2 | 0 | $32 million |
| Michigan | 25 | 0 | 0 | $17 million |
| Kansas | 60 | 2 | 2 | $4.8 million |
| Iowa | 17 | 0 | 0 | $2.7 million |
| Oklahoma | 45 | 0 | 0 | $2.3 million |
| Missouri | 92 | 4 | 2 | $1.6 million |
| Florida | 7 | 0 | 0 | $1.3 million |
| Alabama | 3 | 0 | 0 | $1.0 million |
| Tennessee | 8 | 0 | 0 | $670,000 |
| Mississippi | 12 | 0 | 0 | $50,000 |
| Arizona | 3 | 0 | 0 | $45,000 |
| Colorado | 1 | 0 | 0 | $20,000 |
| New Mexico | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Puerto Rico | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Wisconsin | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Hawaii | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Episode by episode
- Tropical Storm and Storm Surge in Mississippi, September 11 to 13, 2008Hurricane Ike emerged into the southeast Gulf of Mexico as a category 1 hurricane on September 9th after earlier being a major hurricane as it moved across the Caribbean.
- Coastal Flood in Florida, September 11, 2008Hurricane Ike generated high surf which resulted in minor beach erosion and coastal flooding along the Panhandle coast from Walton to Franklin County on the 11th.
- Tropical Storm and Storm Surge in Louisiana, September 11 to 14, 2008Hurricane Ike emerged into the southeast Gulf of Mexico as a category 1 hurricane on September 9th after earlier being a major hurricane as it moved across the Caribbean.
- Tropical Storm in Alabama, September 11, 2008Ike brought tropical storm force winds to the coastal waters of coastal Alabama from near the coast to 60 miles offshore.
- Storm Surge in Florida, September 11 to 12, 2008Hurricane Ike passed well south of the area, however high astronomical tide and surge from Ike brought high storm tides to the area. The storm tide was higher with Ike than with Gustav in many locations.
- Storm Surge in Alabama, September 11 to 12, 2008As Ike moved south of the area, high astronomical tide along with storm surge brought flooding to the immediate coastal area.
- Flash Flooding in Illinois, September 11, 2008A stationary frontal boundary draped across central Illinois served as the focal point for showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon of 09/11/2008.
- Flash Flood and Flooding in Texas, September 11 to 12, 2008The first half of September brought historic rains to the west Texas South Plains. Beginning late on the 10th, and persisting through the 12th, numerous rain showers impacted the region.
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in Oklahoma, September 11 to 13, 2008A prolonged area of southwest flow aloft developed over much of Oklahoma during the period from the 10th through the 12th.
- Flash Flood in New Mexico, September 11, 2008A series of mid-level shortwave troughs embedded in southwest flow aloft moved across southwest Texas and southeast New Mexico. Precipitable water from the morning sounding at KMAF showed values near 1.75, with a nearly moist adiabatic profile through 6 km.
- Tornado in Missouri, September 11, 2008A brief EF-0 tornado touched down near the community of Cabool. A few low topped supercells developed within a low cape and low sheared environment. Enhanced low level helicities existed across southern Missouri as cloud cover created differential heating.
- Tornado in New Mexico, September 11, 2008Abundant moisture associated with the remnants of tropical storm Lowell resulted in tropical funnel development which touched down briefly near Vaughn.
- Flooding and Heavy Rain in Kansas, September 11 to 12, 2008Thunderstorms produced heavy rain that eventually produced some minor flooding in Barber county. Heavy rain was reported in Ellis county but no flooding was reported.
- Flash Flooding in Kansas, September 11, 2008A surface frontal boundary stalled out across portions of north central Kansas, providing a focus for evening thunderstorm development as an upper level disturbance moved through the Central Plains.
- Tornadoes in Oklahoma, September 11 to 12, 2008A prolonged area of southwest flow developed over much of Oklahoma during the period from the 10th through the 12th. Numerous disturbances moving through the flow allowed for widespread showers and thunderstorms to develop and move northeast over the area.
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in Kansas, September 11 to 15, 2008Moisture plume from the Southwest United States spread northeast towards the plains and interacted with a stationary boundary to produce a deluge of rainfall across Central and South Central Kansas.
- Flash Flood in Kansas, September 11, 2008Thunderstorms developed along a nearly stationary cold front from southwest to north central Kansas. Heavy rain in Cloud County dropped several inches of rain in a short period of time.
- Flash Flood and Damaging Winds in Arizona, September 11, 2008Abundant moisture resulted in thunderstorm development across the Tucson Metro area with reports of wind damage and flash flooding.
- Storm Surge and High Surf in Texas, September 12 to 14, 2008Hurricane Ike made landfall early during the morning on September 13th near Galveston Texas. Across South Texas, Ike produced a storm surge of 2 to 4 feet across barrier islands and inland bays and waterways, and a storm tide of 3 to 6 feet.
- Heavy Rain in U.S. Virgin Islands, September 12, 2008A tropical wave, former tropical storm Josephine extended from the local Caribbean waters northward to the eastern part of Puerto Rico.
- Flash Flood in Puerto Rico, September 12, 2008A tropical wave, former tropical storm Josephine, extended from the local Caribbean waters northward to the eastern part of Puerto Rico.
- Flash Flood in Colorado, September 12, 2008Thunderstorms produced heavy rain totaling over four inches in localized areas on the east side of Colorado Springs. Some roads were closed due to high water, and a bridge over Sand Creek was compromised. Fountain Creek briefly went over flood stage in the Fountain area.
- Storm Surge in Texas, September 12 to 15, 2008Hurricane Ike raged ashore near Galveston early on September 13th, producing devastating storm surge for some and power outages for many on the upper Texas coast.
- Flash Flooding and High Wind in Missouri, September 12 to 14, 2008Storm total rainfall amounts ranged from one to six inches during the evening and overnight hours of 13 September into the morning of 14 September.
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in Missouri, September 12 to 14, 2008A cold front moved through the region and interacted with the remnants of Hurricane Ike. Widespread heavy rain was reported across Missouri and Illinois causing major flooding across the region. Many small creeks in the St.
- Flash Flooding in Missouri, September 12, 2008Thunderstorms were observed in the early morning hours of September|12, 2008, mainly along and south of Interstate 70. These thunderstorms|produced very heavy rains with flash flooding reported in several|locations.
- Hurricane and Tornadoes in Louisiana, September 12 to 15, 2008Hurricane Ike caused wind damage, storm surge flooding, and tornadoes across southwest Louisiana. Ike made landfall near Galveston, TX early in the morning on September 13th as a strong category 2 hurricane.
- Hurricane and Tropical Storm in Texas, September 12 to 14, 2008Hurricane Ike caused wind damage and significant storm surge flooding across southeast Texas. Ike made landfall near Galveston, TX early in the morning on September 13th as a strong category 2 hurricane.
- Tornadoes and Flash Flood in Kansas, September 12, 2008A line of thunderstorms developed along a nearly stationary frontal boundary. These storms lingered over east central Kansas for several hours, and ended up dropping between two and five inches of rain at several locations.
- Flash Flood in Indiana, September 12, 2008Showers and thunderstorms repetitively formed and moved east-northeast across southwest Indiana, causing flooding over Daviess county.
- Hurricane and Tropical Storm in Texas, September 12 to 14, 2008The eye of Hurricane Ike moved ashore in Galveston County near the city of Galveston.
- Flash Flooding in Kansas, September 12, 2008An area of early morning thunderstorms, produced heavy rains across portions of east central Kansas, September 12, 2008. The heavy rains caused flash flooding in a few locations.
- Tornadoes and Flash Flood in Kansas, September 12 to 13, 2008Several small severe thunderstorms, spawned several brief tornadoes|over parts of east central Kansas, during the late afternoon and early|evening hours of Friday, September 12, 2008. Most of the tornadoes were|observed in open country and caused no damage.
- Tornadoes in Missouri, September 12, 2008Several small severe thunderstorms, spawned a couple of brief tornadoes|over parts of west central Missouri, during the late afternoon and|evening hours of Friday, September 12, 2008. Both of the tornadoes were|classified as EF0.
- Heavy Rain in Wisconsin, September 12 to 14, 2008For the second time in one month, the remnants of a hurricane affected Southcentral and Southeast Wisconsin with heavy rains. Rainfall amounts were on the order of 1 to 3 inches.
- Heavy Rain in Hawaii, September 12, 2008Heavy showers over eastern and southern parts of Kauai caused ponding on roadways, and small stream and drainage ditch flooding. No significant property damage or injuries were reported.
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in Iowa, September 12 to 13, 2008A cold front moved through Iowa during the afternoon of the 11th into the morning of the 12th. The front stalled over southeast Iowa in response to a strong upper level ridge of high pressure building in the central and southeast U.S.
- Flash Flood and Damaging Wind in Illinois, September 12, 2008A cold front settled southward into central Illinois during the evening of 9/12, triggering scattered thunderstorms. Locally heavy rainfall occurred, mainly north of I-72. In addition, isolated wind damage was reported with a few of the storms.
- Flooding in Iowa, September 12 to 16, 2008The relatively dry weather pattern that began in some parts of Iowa in July continued across northern Iowa in September with the far northeastern corner of the state now classified as being in moderate drought.
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in Illinois, September 13 to 14, 2008A warm front moved across northern Illinois during the morning hours of September 13th as the remnants of tropical storm Lowell moved across the region. These two features combined to produce heavy rain and flash flooding across many areas of northern Illinois.
- Flash Flooding in Indiana, September 13, 2008A warm front moved across northwest Indiana during the morning hours of September 13th as the remnants of tropical storm Lowell moved across the region. These two features combined to produce heavy rain and flash flooding across many areas of northwest Indiana.
- Flash Flooding in Iowa, September 13, 2008A cold front stalled out across eastern Iowa September 13 while remnants from Pacific Hurricane Lowell and moisture from the remnants of Hurricane Ike moved across the region. Copious amounts of rain was the result over much of the Midwest.
- Flash Flooding in Missouri, September 13, 2008Early morning heavy rains caused a few flash warnings to be issued on 09/13/2008.
- Flash Flooding in Illinois, September 13, 2008A cold front stalled out across eastern Iowa September 13 while remnants from Pacific Hurricane Lowell and moisture from the remnants of Hurricane Ike moved across the region. Copious amounts of rain was the result over much of the Midwest.
- Flash Flood in Missouri, September 13, 2008A cold front stalled out across eastern Iowa September 13 while remnants from Pacific Hurricane Lowell and moisture from the remnants of Hurricane Ike moved across the region. Copious amounts of rain was the result over much of the Midwest.
- Tropical Storm and Flash Flood in Texas, September 13, 2008After slamming into the Gulf coast, Hurricane Ike weakened slowly as it moved north. Several counties in east Texas received damaging winds from the storm. Sustained winds of 25-35 MPH with gusts up to 50 MPH were reported for several hours as T.S. Ike moved east of the area.
- Flooding in Indiana, September 13 to 16, 2008Moisture from the remnants of Tropical Storm Lowell and Hurricane Ike moved into the region and interacted with a stationary boundary to bring heavy rainfall to portions of northern Indiana starting on the 11th, extending into the early morning hours of the 15th.
- Hurricane and Tornado in Texas, September 13, 2008Hurricane Ike came onshore across extreme southeast Texas during the late night hours of September 12th and the pre-dawn hours of September 13th.
- Tornadoes and Tropical Storm in Louisiana, September 13, 2008Hurricane Ike came onshore across extreme southeast Texas during the late night hours of September 12th and the pre-dawn hours of September 13th.
- Flash Flood and Flooding in Michigan, September 13 to 16, 2008Moisture from the remnants of Tropical Storm Lowell and Hurricane Ike moved into the region and interacted with a stationary boundary to bring heavy rainfall to portions of far southern lower Michigan starting on the 11th, extending into the early morning hours of the 15th.
- Flood in Michigan, September 13 to 17, 2008Extensive flooding occurred across Kalamazoo county as a result of excessive rainfall which began on the twelfth and continued on the thirteenth and fourteenth.
- Flash Flood in Kansas, September 13, 2008Heavy rains caused flash flooding around Easton Kansas, during the|early morning hours of 09/13/2008.
- Tornadoes and Tropical Storm in Arkansas, September 13 to 14, 2008Hurricane Ike came onshore across extreme southeast Texas during the late night hours of September 12th and the pre-dawn hours of September 13th.
- Tornado and Flash Flooding in Mississippi, September 13 to 14, 2008As Hurricane Ike slammed southeast Texas and southwest and central Louisiana, a few outer bands reached the Jackson, MS service area.
- Tornadoes and Tropical Storm in Arkansas, September 13 to 14, 2008Tropical Storm Ike moved into Arkansas on the evening of the 13th. By mid evening of the 13th, Ike was located in western Arkansas. Ike weakened to a tropical depression during the wee hours of the 14th, when it was located about 105 miles west-northwest of Little Rock.
- Tornadoes in Michigan, September 13, 2008A warm front lifted north across southwest Michigan during the afternoon hours. An abundant amount of moisture and strong southwest flow combined to produce thunderstorms across the region. As a result, four tornadoes were spawned from a single thunderstorm.
- Flash Flooding in Kansas, September 13 to 14, 2008Storm total rainfall amounts ranged from one to six inches during the evening and overnight hours of 13 September into the morning of 14 September. Widespread flooding of small streams, creeks, and main stem rivers resulted.
- Tropical Storm in Oklahoma, September 13, 2008Hurricane Ike came onshore across extreme southeast Texas during the late night hours of September 12th and the pre-dawn hours of September 13th.
- Flash Flooding in Illinois, September 13, 2008A nearly stationary frontal boundary interacting with a very warm and moist airmass brought heavy rainfall to much of central Illinois, particularly along and west of I-55.
- Flooding in Iowa, September 13 to 15, 2008Heavy rainfall of 4 to 8 inches fell across southeast Iowa from September 12 through September 14 resulting in major flooding along the Skunk River near Augusta, IA from the evening of September 13 to the afternoon of September 15.
- Flood in Missouri, September 13 to 15, 2008Heavy rainfall of 4 to 8 inches fell across southeast Iowa and northeast Missouri from September 12 through September 14 resulting in major flooding along the Fox River near Wayland, MO from the evening of September 13 to the afternoon of September 15.
- Tornado in Michigan, September 13, 2008A warm front combined with tropical moisture to spawn a tornado in Plymouth.
- Flash Flood and High Wind in Arkansas, September 13 to 14, 2008Hurricane Ike made landfall near Galveston, Texas around 2 am cdt on 9/13 and moved northward across northern Texas to near Tyler and then northeastward into Arkansas near Ozark during the early morning hours of the 14th.
- Flood in Illinois, September 13 to 16, 2008Heavy rainfall caused major flooding of the Des Plaines River at Des Plaines and Riverside. The river crested at the second highest level on record at both locations. The crest was 10.00 feet at Des Plaines and 9.86 feet at Riverside.
- Flood in Michigan, September 13 to 16, 2008Moderate Flooding occured along the middle and north branch of the Clinton River due to heavy rain of close to 6 inches which fell during the weekend of September 13th to 14th. Several roads were closed due to flooding, as well as parks, golf courses, and yards flooded.
- Flash Flood and High Wind in Oklahoma, September 13 to 14, 2008Hurricane Ike made landfall near Galveston, Texas around 2 am cdt on 9/13 and moved northward across northern Texas to near Tyler and then northeastward into Arkansas near Ozark during the early morning hours of the 14th.
- Flood in Oklahoma, September 13 to 17, 2008Heavy rain associated with the remnants of Hurricane Ike caused a moderate flood along the Neosho River near Commerce.
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in Illinois, September 14, 2008A cold front moved through the region and interacted with the remnants of Hurricane Ike. Widespread heavy rain was reported across Missouri and Illinois causing major flooding across the region.
- Tropical Storm in Arkansas, September 14, 2008Tropical Storm Ike moved across Northeast Arkansas into Southern Missouri. The storm weakened to a tropical depression as it moved northeast. Tropical storm force winds occurred over Northeast Arkansas as a result. Substantial damage occurred from downed trees and power lines.
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in Illinois, September 14 to 17, 2008The remnants of hurricane Ike moved across northern Illinois during the morning hours of September 14th. This system produced a second round of very heavy rain after a period of heavy rain just 24 hours earlier across many of the same areas.
- Tropical Depression in Tennessee, September 14, 2008Tropical Storm Ike moved across Northeast Arkansas into Southern Missouri. The storm weakened to a tropical depression as it moved. Tropical storm force winds occurred over Northwest Tennessee as a result. Substantial damage occurred from downed trees and power lines.
- Tropical Storm in Missouri, September 14, 2008Tropical Storm Ike moved across Northeast Arkansas into Southern Missouri. The storm weakened to a tropical depression as it moved northeast. Tropical storm force winds occurred over the Missouri Bootheel as a result.
- Flash Flooding and Flooding in Indiana, September 14 to 17, 2008The remnants of hurricane Ike moved across northwest Indiana during the morning hours of September 14th. This system produced a second round of very heavy rain after a period of heavy rain just 24 hours earlier across many of the same areas.
- Flash Flood in Texas, September 14, 2008Moisture left behind from the remnants of Tropical Storm Lowell was lifted by a weak back door cold front. This was the focus for slow moving thunderstorms with very heavy rain in eastern El Paso County.
- Flood in Indiana, September 14 to 15, 2008Record flooding occurred along the Little Calumet River and its tributaries in northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana.
- Flooding and Strong Wind in Michigan, September 14 to 15, 2008Heavy rain fell over southeast Michigan from September 12th-14th, with widespread 3 to 6 inches reported. Isolated amounts around 8 inches were even reported across northwest Genesee County.
- Flash Flood and Heavy Rain in Texas, September 14 to 15, 2008An early season cold front moved unusally far south for mid September, and interacted with abundant tropical moisture, leading to torrential rain producing thunderstorms ahead of the front on September 14th, and another band of showers and a few thunderstorms behind the front on…
- Flood in Illinois, September 14 to 15, 2008Record flooding occurred along the Little Calumet River and its tributaries in northeast Illinois and northwest Indiana.
- Flood in Oklahoma, September 14 to 15, 2008Heavy rain associated with the remnants of Hurricane Ike caused a moderate flood along the Illinois River near Watts.
- Flooding in Illinois, September 15 to 19, 2008High flows from tributaries emptied into the Illinois River, causing water levels to rise to record heights.
- Flooding in Indiana, September 15 to 22, 2008Major flooding occurred along the Kankakee River over northwest Indiana and northeast Illinois. The most severe flooding occurred near Shelby, IN, where the second highest crest on record, 12.86 feet, occurred on the 18th.
- Flood in Michigan, September 15 to 24, 2008The Huron River at Hamburg reached its 4th highest stage on record due to heavy rain of close to 6 inches which fell during the weekend of September 13th to 14th.
- Flood in Texas, September 15 to 30, 2008Water releases from an upstream reservoir on the Rio Grande caused flooding in Val Verde County.
More
Every billion-dollar disasterEvery storm of 2008The 2008 hurricane seasonTornadoes in 2008
Sources
NOAA NCEI, U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters (2025), https://doi.org/10.25921/stkw-7w73, and the Storm Events Database for the episodes.