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Does Florida Get a Lot of Hurricanes?
- More storms hit Florida than any other US state. Looking at the years from 1851 to 2004, for hurricanes of Category 3 and higher: Florida had 35 hurricanes; Texas, 19; Georgia, 3; Alabama, 6.
- Typically, at least one named storm makes landfall in Florida every season.
- Some areas of Florida may be as risky as the Caribbean islands. The chances of Miami being hit by a hurricane is "higher than anywhere in the Caribbean"
- The period from August to October is the height of the hurricane season in Florida. Remember, though, that Mother Nature isn't reading any calendars.
Orlando
For millions of family vacationers, Orlando is the destination in Florida, and fortunately its distance from both coasts gives some protection from storms. Still, Orlando has had some action over the years. 2004's Hurricane Charley, for instance, whipped through central Florida and even shut down Walt Disney World for a short while.
Walt Disney World and Hurricanes
Since the Magic Kingdom theme park opened in 1971, Disney World theme parks have only closed completely due to storms on two occasions: in 1999 for Hurricane Floyd, and for Charley in 2004.
Some Years are Worse than Others
2004, for instance, was a big year for Florida hurricanes: Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne hit the Florida coast, causing over 20 deaths plus more than $40 billion in damage. 2007, meanwhile, saw three tornadoes sweep across central Florida with several fatalities.
www.floridareview.co.uk
www.floridareview.co.uk
Hurricane season shown in red
- Tropical depression - clouds and thunderstorms with maximum sustained wind speed of 38 mph or less
- Tropical storm - strong thunderstorms with a maximum sustained wind speed of between 39 and 73 mph
- Hurricane - severe thunderstorms with a maximum sustained wind speed of 74 mph or higher
Even if a hurricane doesn't officially make landfall, its effects can be drastic. Hurricane-force winds can extend 90 miles out from the center, and tropical-storm-force winds might reach 200 miles. Even "squalls," or heavy thunderstorms, can extend several hundred miles. Another point: "landfall" only officially occurs when the center of the eye of the storm contacts land. The strongest winds, however, are at the "eye-wall" around the edge of the eye, and this might hit land even if the center does not.
From this general overview of the hurricane season I am interested mostly in the impact which the stronger hurricanes caused on Florida and the rest of the americas and how this effected the people there. So I shall now research into some of the most famous hurricanes that have occurred over the years.
Below is a timeline of a selection of the worst hurricanes to hit Florida.
sun-sentinel.com
Below is a timeline of a selection of the worst hurricanes to hit Florida.
sun-sentinel.com
1928 - Okeechobee
When the hurricane roared ashore at Palm Beach September 16, 1928, many coastal residents were prepared. But inland, along Lake Okeechobee, few conceived the disaster that was brewing. The storm struck first in Puerto Rico, killing 1,000 people, then hit Florida with 125 mph winds. Forty miles west of the coast, rain filled Lake Okeechobee to the brim and the dikes crumbled. Water rushed onto the swampy farmland, and homes and people were swept away. Almost 2,000 people perished.
1935 - The Florida Keys
The Labor Day storm was a category 5 hurricane that killed 408 people in the Florida Keys. People caught in the open were blasted by sand with such force that it stripped away their clothing.
1960 - Hurricane Donna
After swiping the Florida Keys and striking land near Fort Myers on Sept. 10, 'Deadly Donna' did not travel along the usual path that storms of her magnitude usually take.
1964 - Hurricane Cleo
Hurricane Cleo blasted Key Biscayne and then moved north along the state's coastline, following State Road 7 and passing over Miami, Opa-locka, West Hollywood and Fort Lauderdale.
1965 - Hurricane Betsy
Hurricane Betsy was building strength; it looked like it was aiming for South Carolina, posing no threat to South Florida. But on Saturday, Sept. 4, the storm whirled to a stop, about 350 miles east of Jacksonville. When Betsy started moving again on Sunday, she had changed directions. The storm plowed through the Bahamas Monday night, then mauled South Florida a day later.
1992 - Hurricane Andrew
For 27 years, South Florida had been spared a severe hurricane. Then Andrew arrived, the most expensive natural disaster in U.S. history. Andrew wrecked more property than Hugo, Agnes and Betsy combined, with damages estimated at $25 billion. Twenty-three died.
2004 - Hurricane Frances
Hurricane Frances, a sluggish and super-sized storm, may leave as its legacy a singular image: The entire state of Florida, 435 miles from Tallahassee to Key West, enveloped in rain and wind.
2004 - Hurricane Jeanne
Hurricane Jeanne pushed across Florida, launching leftover storm debris, tearing apart weakened buildings, cutting power for millions, and leaving the nation's fourth most populous state dazed by relentless pounding from four hurricanes in six weeks. At least six people died during and after the storm.
2005 - Hurricane Wilma
Hurricane Wilma clobbered South Florida on Monday, October 24, 2005, with surprising strength, leaving the entire region damaged, dark and startled by the ferocity of a storm that many hadn't taken seriously enough.
