October tropical wind and rainstorm causes an estimated $3 billion in total damage and economic loss

Published Oct 14, 2025 12:50 PM EST

AccuWeather® Global Weather Center – Oct. 14, 2025 - AccuWeather^®experts say a major East Coast storm that brought widespread coastal flooding, torrential rainfall, gusty winds and beach erosion caused $3 billion in total damage and economic loss, according to a preliminary estimate. This storm, categorized as a tropical wind and rainstorm by AccuWeather® hurricane experts, brought the most widespread impacts of any storm along the East Coast so far this hurricane season.

> The preliminary estimate from AccuWeather® considers damage caused by saltwater inundation and beach erosion, as well as travel and business disruptions that impacted people and businesses along the Atlantic coast from the Carolinas to New England

> AccuWeather® has reduced its forecast for the total number of hurricanes expected this season, but the number of U.S. impacts remains unchanged

> Request a phone interview with an AccuWeather® Expert Meteorologist

> Request a live video interview with an AccuWeather® Expert Meteorologist

> Download the latest AccuWeather® graphics

“This was a dangerous and disruptive storm that impacted popular beach towns during a busy holiday weekend. The timing of this storm moving up the coast during some of the highest astronomical tides of the year significantly amplified the impacts,” AccuWeather® Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter said. “Thousands of flights were delayed and canceled. Transit services were suspended. Plans for outdoor events and even the New York City Columbus Day Parade were canceled because of the high winds and rain from this storm.”

The tropical wind and rainstorm caused widespread coastal flooding from the Carolinas to the Jersey Shore. More than 11 inches of rain was reported in a 72-hour span in Georgetown and Pawleys Island, South Carolina. Wind gusts above 60 mph were reported in parts of North Carolina, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Storm surge above 3 feet was reported in parts of Virginia, New Jersey, Delaware and New York.

“The cost to repair flood damage can be quite expensive. Saltwater can quickly eat away at metal and the steel reinforcements inside concrete and destroy electrical systems inside a home or business,” Porter explained. “The salt does not just dry up and disappear. It can stay behind inside the walls, floors, even the heating and cooling systems. Exposure to saltwater can also cause serious damage to all vehicles, especially EVs.”

The AccuWeather® preliminary estimate of total damage and economic loss, estimated at $3 billion, accounts for damage to homes and businesses, disruptions to commerce and supply chain logistics, tourism losses, impacts to shipping operations at major hubs, financial losses from extended power outages, major travel delays, as well as damage to infrastructure.â¯This is a preliminary estimate, as the storm effects continue to be felt, and some areas have not yet reported complete information about damage, injuries and other impacts.

AccuWeather® was the first known source to issue a forecast track on Oct. 8 for the developing storm, which AccuWeather® identified as a tropical wind and rainstorm once it developed. This advance warning and more detailed forecast of major coastal flooding, strong wind gusts and heavy rain helped to raise public awareness of the disruptive, damaging and dangerous impacts, so preparations could begin earlier to save lives and protect property. The storm rapidly developed over the warm waters of the Gulf Stream, exhibiting characteristics of a subtropical storm for a time.

“AccuWeather cannot name a storm, only the National Hurricane Center can do that. Given the threat to people and property, it is unclear why the National Hurricane Center did not name the storm or even acknowledge its potential to develop tropical characteristics,” Porter said. “While the National Hurricane Center did not name a storm that brought dangerous coastal flooding, gusty winds and heavy rain to the US East Coast, it did name subtropical storm Karen in the far northern Atlantic, which had no impact on populated areas."

AccuWeather® Seasonal Hurricane Forecast Update

On Tuesday afternoon, AccuWeather® reduced its forecast for the number of hurricanes expected this season due to the extended lull in tropical activity in September and increased atmospheric stability observed throughout the season which often creates conditions not conducive to tropical development.

AccuWeather® now forecasts around six hurricanes this season. Four hurricanes have formed in the Atlantic basin so far this year. AccuWeather® is the only known source to issue a mid-October update to a seasonal forecast that accounts for the latest data.

AccuWeather Preliminary Estimates for Total Damage and Economic Loss Explained

AccuWeather® incorporates independent methods to evaluate all direct and indirect impacts of the storm, which include both insured and uninsured losses and are based on a variety of sources, statistics and unique techniques AccuWeather® uses to estimate damage. It includes damage to property, job and wage losses, crops, infrastructure, interruption of the supply chain, auxiliary business losses and flight delays. The estimate also accounts for the costs of evacuations, relocations, emergency management and the extraordinary government expenses for cleanup operations and the long-term effects on business logistics, transportation and tourism as well as the long-term and short-term health effects and the medical and other expenses of unreported deaths and injuries.

Water damage is particularly costly to repair and is often not covered by homeowner’s insurance policies. Many people are underinsured for flood damage. An estimated 4 percent of homeowners in the U.S. have flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), although the uptake in the NFIP program tends to be higher in communities along waterways, such as rivers, where some of the flooding has occurred in this event.

AccuWeather® is the trusted source for total damage and economic loss estimates for weather disasters in the United States. Our recognized experts incorporate independent methods to evaluate all direct and indirect impacts of extreme weather events. In 2017, AccuWeather® first issued a widely quoted preliminary estimate for total damage and economic loss during catastrophic flooding from Hurricane Harvey along the Gulf coast, which helped people in the impacted area and across the country to better understand the magnitude of the disaster.

This is the seventh preliminary estimate of total damage and economic loss that AccuWeather® experts have issued so far this year. AccuWeather® experts say seven major weather events in the U.S. have caused a combined total damage and economic loss of $378 billion to $424 billion so far this year.