A tropical wave moved through the Cape Verde Islands on September 6. It formed as a tropical depression
on the 11th and reached hurricane intensity 3-4 days later to the north of the Leeward Islands. The cyclone
turned northwest towards North Carolina, reaching category 3 strength. Weakening as it reached the coast,
Ione made landfall as a category one hurricane before recurving back out into the Atlantic near Norfolk,
Virginia. At the time it made landfall, it was the third hurricane for North Carolina in six weeks and the
fourth in 11 months. Rainfall data for the graphics below was provided by the National Climatic Data
Center in Asheville, North Carolina. Note how the maximum occurred to the west of the track as it
moved through North Carolina.
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