Florida Homes & Travel

After last year’s devastating hurricane season, homeowners across Florida are paying much closer attention to the annual activity forecast this year. The season officially runs from June 1st to November 30th every year and this year is predicted to show above average activity for the eighth time in ten years. The prediction by the National Oceanic (more)

and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is for twelve to fifteen tropical storms, seven to nine becoming hurricanes, of which three to five could become major hurricanes. The reason given for the above average expectation is a continuation of exceptionally warm Atlantic surface temperatures, a favourable easterly African Jet, upper level easterlies expanding west, higher pressure in the upper atmosphere and a lower vertical wind shear and surface pressure. After the impact around the state last year highlighted how ill-prepared many areas were, Governor Bush has authorised a 12 sales tax holiday on hurricane essentials such as torches and batteries right up to generators. The hope is that citizens will take the hint and gather together a hurricane preparedness kit sooner rather than later. This would appear to be borne out as sales of such items have reportedly increased ahead of the date. Visit Florida, the states tourism arm, have put together a campaign to counter the anticipated news coverage of the season’s commencement and the repeated showing of images of devastation around Florida

In the 104 years from 1900 –2004 a total of 64 storms of all categories have hit Florida. Of these only 27 have been categories 3 or higher. Category 1 hurricanes have winds of between 74 mph and 95 mph. Category 2 has winds of 96-110 mph, Category 3 winds of 111 – 130 mph, Category 4 winds of 131-155 mph and a Category 5 storm has winds of over 155mph. Only 2 Category 5 storms have hit Florida in the 104 years, one in 1926 and Andrew in 1992.
Historically the month with the most major hurricanes (cat 3 or higher) is September. 17 major storms have hit Florida in September 3 in August and 7 in October. Statistically speaking the Southeast is the most likely to be hit with the Northeast the least likely. The most intense hurricane ever to hit the United States hit the Florida Keys on Labor Day 1935 with a pressure of 892 millibars.

So, statistics aside, how do we deal with the concerns of guests and potential guests who have questions regarding the hurricane season?
"To have four strong hurricanes hit the same state, in the same year, is almost unheard of. The last time four hurricanes hit the same state was in 1886 in another state [Texas]. I doubt very seriously if it will happen again, at least not in my lifetime,” Max Mayfield, Director, National Hurricane Center, Miami, Florida.
A record breaking 76.8 million visitors went to Florida to see for themselves all of the fun, fantasy and treasure offered in the Sunshine State. In spite of the weather last fall, Florida broke a record for numbers of visitors with a three percent increase over 2003. From January to March 2005, Florida hosted 23.8 million visitors. This is an 11.5 percent increase over the same period in 2004. The Travel Industry Association predicts a record number of Americans will travel this summer; taking an estimated 328 million leisure visits with Florida as a top destination. The damaged areas that experienced the severe weather last year are near full recovery.
In the areas that experienced higher winds, colours of coral reefs came alive as years of harmful algae were removed. With the removal of dead limbs and tree overgrowth, the woodlands are rejuvenated as more sunlight penetrates to the forest floor. The water flow in natural springs increased. Wildlife benefited from the increased water as dried-out wetlands were rehydrated. Beaches in damaged areas received new sand to help stop erosion and build important sand dunes. Shells found along pristine beaches are now more plentiful.
This year’s storm names with which we hope not to become too familiar are: Arlene, Bret, Cindy, Dennis, Emily, Franklin, Gert, Harvey, Irene, Jose, Katrina, Lee, Maria, Nate, Ophelia, Phillipe, Rita, Stan, Tammy, Vince and Wilma.

Posted on 4 June 2005