Florida hurricane history
With the recent batch of Hurricanes this year lets take a look at one state that over the last 100 years has seen the most tropical storms and hurricanes. More storms hit Florida than any other U.S. state. and since 1851 only eighteen hurricane seasons passed without a known storm impacting the state
Tropical cyclones have affected Florida in every month of the year with the exceptions of January and March. Nearly one-third of the cyclones affected the state in September, and nearly three-fourths of the storms affected the state between August and October, which coincides with the peak of the hurricane season. Portions of the coastline have the lowest return period, or the frequency at which a certain intensity or category of hurricane can be expected within 86 miles of a given location, in the country. Monroe county was struck by 26 hurricanes since 1926, which is the greatest total for any county in the United States.
The strongest tropical cyclone to make landfall on the state was the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, which crossed the Florida Keys with a pressure of 892 mbar, (26.35); it is also the strongest hurricane on record to strike the United States. Out of the ten most intense landfalling United States hurricanes, four struck Florida at peak strength.
Major hurricanes (cat 3 or higher (have struck Miami-Dade County more frequently than any other stretch of the U.S. coastline. Yet the last one to make a direct hit was Andrew, and in the same period the Panhandle was struck three times.
The worst decade was1940-1949, which saw 10 strikes. Other busy decades: nine strikes from 1920-29; eight strikes from 1912-1919 and again from 1960-1969, and seven strikes from 2000 to 2010
Some more break down of past storms by decade 1900 to 1949. 108 tropical cyclones affected the state, tropical cyclones in Florida were directly responsible for about 3,500 fatalities during the period, most of which from the 1928 Okeechobee Hurricane. The 1947 season was the year with the most tropical systems affecting the state, with a total of 6 systems. The 1905, 1908, 1913, 1927, 1931, 1942, and 1943. seasons were the only years during the period in which a storm did not affect the state.
The strongest hurricane to hit the state during the period was the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, which is the strongest hurricane on record to strike the United States. Several other major hurricanes struck the state during the period, including the 1926 Miami Hurricane, the 1928 Okeechobee Hurricane, And in 1945 and 1949 years when one storm landfall as a Category 4. In the period between 1950 and 1974, 85 tropical or subtropical storms impacted the state, the storms were directly responsible for 93 fatalities and indirectly for 23 more deaths. Several tropical systems produced over 20 inches of rainfall in the state, including Hurricane Easy, which is the highest total during the period. The 1969 season was the year with the most tropical storms affecting the state, with a total of 8 systems. The 1954 and 1967 seasons were the only years during the period in which a storm did not affect the state.
In the period between 1975 and 1999, 83 tropical or subtropical cyclones affected the state, which collectively resulted in $51.1 billion in damage, primarily from Hurricane Andrew, and 54 direct casualties. The 1985 season was the year with the most tropical systems affecting the state, with a total of 8 systems. Every year included at least 1 tropical system affecting the state. The strongest hurricane to hit the state during the period was Hurricane Andrew. Andrew, at the time, was the costliest tropical system in United States history and remains one of the costliest. Additionally, Hurricanes Eloise, David, and Opal hit the state as major hurricanes.
The period from 2000 to the present was marked by several devastating North Atlantic hurricanes; as of 2017, 79 tropical or subtropical storms have affected the U.S. state of Florida. Collectively, storms in Florida over that period resulted in over $73 billion in damage. Additionally, tropical storms in Florida were responsible for 126 direct fatalities and at least 92 indirect ones during the period. Eight storms affected the state in both 2003 and 2005, which were the years with the most tropical storms impacting the state. Every year included at least one tropical system affecting the state.
The strongest hurricane to hit the state during the period was Hurricane Charley, which was the strongest hurricane to strike the United States since Hurricane Andrew. Additionally, hurricanes Ivan, Jeanne, Dennis, Wilma, and Irma made landfall on the state as major hurricanes
Another item of note is that overall about 60 percent of hurricanes that strike the continental United States hit the Gulf coast and the other 40 percent hit the Atlantic coast.
I have not looked at ever year, but in looking at past warm Septembers we are now looking at the warmest September 17th to the 25 in Grand Rapids recorded history and this will in many ways beat the heat wave that was recorded at Lansing in 1891. At Lansing in September 1891 starting on the 17th all the way thru the 28th the highs were in the upper 80’s with a couple of 90’s in the mix. The warm temps held over into the start of October at Lansing in 1891. Records do not go that far back at Grand Rapids. October 1891 turned colder and ended up much colder than average at Lansing. November was much colder than average ( -6..3°) and the snow started mid month. December 1891 was warm (+5.7°) January 1892 it was back to cold again (-6.4°) but not much snow fall, February was near average (+0.2°) and March it was back to cold again (-5.0°) But anyway we shall see how this winter ends up but as stated this will be the warmest September 17th to 25th in GRR recorded history.
SlimJim