CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) -- Hugo originated as a cluster of storms off the coast of Africa on September 10th, 1989. The storm became a hurricane just three days later on September 13th. The storm did become a category 5 storm east of the Leeward Islands on September 15 but weakened into a category 4 storm when making landfall across the U.S. Virgin Islands. Eventually weakening into a category 3 storm as it made landfall in Puerto Rico on September 18th.  Watch Hurricane Hugo's track: It created significant impacts across the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.  The Carolinas were then rocked by this brutal storm a few days later. The storm made landfall near Sullivan's Island, SC just after midnight on September 22nd, 1989. The storm missed making landfall in Charleston, SC by 10 or so miles to the north.  When Hugo made landfall in South Carolina, it was a category 4 storm and had 135-140 mph winds sustained. Hugo produced 20 feet of storm surge in Bulls Bay, S.C., which is still the highest storm surge ever recorded across the East Coast of the U.S.  Hugo tracked across I-77 between Columbia and Charlotte later that morning, producing a 99 mph wind gust in Charlotte. Numerous trees were knocked down across the Charlotte area and roughly 85 percent of homes/businesses were without power. Some were without power for up to six weeks.  The winds were strong enough to shatter the glass of many high-rise buildings in Uptown.  Rainfall was not a major deal for many with Hugo. However, the mountains did experience some flooding issues. Along with some freshwater flooding along the coast. Still to this day, Hugo is remembered as the worst storm to hit the Carolinas, especially the Charlotte region.