1998 was the deadliest hurricane season in the modern era as over 17,000 people perished. Most of the deaths were caused by 2 hurricanes Georges and Mitch. Both of these hurricanes were major hurricanes categories 3, 4, and 5. Georges was the first of 2 deadly hurricanes from 1998.

Late on September 13th a vigorous tropical wave moved off the coast of Africa. This wave already had convection and was already starting to spin. Computer models showed this wave becoming a very strong hurricane. On September 15th the wave was declared a tropical depression as it developed a closed circulation at the surface. The next day the depression became a tropical storm and it was named Georges. Georges quickly strengthened later that night winds were already up to 65 mph. On September 17th Georges became a hurricane.

Conditions were very favorable for additional strengthening due to very warm water, moist atmosphere, and no wind shear. High Pressure in the North Central Atlantic started to pull Georges west/northwest. The hurricane continued to strengthen reaching category 2 status with winds of 105 mph on September 18th. On the 19th Georges became a major hurricane reaching category 3 status. The Hurricane Hunters noticed George's eye was getting tighter and more organized. Just before Midnight on September 19th Georges winds increased to 135 mph making the hurricane a category 4 hurricane.

Georges reached its peak as a 155 mph category 4 hurricane on September 20th and again on the 21st. The pressure dropped to 937 millibars. After peaking on the 21st Georges under went an eye wall replacement cycle and the winds decreased to 125 mph a high end category 3 hurricane. On the 22nd Georges stuck Saba, Barbuda, St. Martin, St. Kitts, and St. Marteen as a high end category 3 hurricane. On the 23rd George made landfall in the USA territory of Puero Rico as a 120 mph category 3 hurricane.

After hitting Puerto Rico Georges weakened to a category 2 hurricane but became a major hurricane again once over water. The storm made landfall in the Dominican Republic as a 120 mph category 3 hurricane. George also crossed into Haiti. The mountain terrain of Haiti disrupted George's core and George struck Cuba as a 90 mph hurricane.

On September 26th Georges emerged in the Gulf as a 75 mph category 1 hurricane. The hurricane was then going to get pulled northward between New Orleans and Pensacola Florida. Georges was expected to strengthen over the Gulf but its faster movement meant it had less time over water.

Still Georges continued to strengthen up to landfall. On September 28th Georges made landfall in Biloxi Mississippi as a high end category 2 hurricane with winds up to 110 mph. Georges then moved eastward slowly causing intense flooding before becoming extra tropical in Southern Georgia on October 1st.

George was a destructive hurricane that impacted so many countries. Overall, the hurricane made a total of 7 landfalls with 2 of those in the US (Mississippi and Puerto Rico). In the islands of St. Kits, Saba, St. Martin, St. Marteen, and Anguilla Georges killed a total 12 people and caused $1 Billion in damages. In the Dominica Republic Georges killed 300 people and caused $2 Billion in damages. In Haiti Georges killed 250 people and $600 million in damages. Cuba the hurricane caused 6 deaths and $300 million in damages.

For the USA in Puerto Rico Georges caused $3 Billion in damages and 7 deaths. In Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia Georges caused 5 deaths and $3 Billion in damages. In the USA including its territories Georges caused $6 Billion in damages and 12 deaths.

Overall, Georges caused $9.5 Billion in damages, and 615 deaths in all the countries it impacted. Due to the high death toll and damage the name Georges was retired from the rotating naming list and replaced with the name Gaston.

However, Georges was not even the deadliest hurricane of the 1998 season. It was the first of 2 deadly hurricanes, but the second deadliest overall. Georges was a sign of what was to come a month later in terms of deaths. Still, Georges was a historic hurricane due to its power, high death toll, and destruction in so many countries. At one time Georges was over 300 miles wide making it a large hurricane.

The 1998 season was very active due to a strong La Nina pattern and 1998 was part of the active phase. A lot of the storms in 1998 were long lived. Georges was one of the more powerful and long lived hurricanes from that season.