County officials are typically quick to send visitors packing in the event of a serious storm approaching the Keys.
Posted - Thursday, September 17, 2009 12:14 PM EDT
Current weather for Marathon, FL
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Getting ready:
Click to read the Hurricane Season special section. You can save, copy and print the guide (PDF format), and use the live web links inside to show more information. |
County re-thinking hurricane evacuations
STORM RESEARCH
Miami receives $15M grant to study hurricanesThe University of Miami’s efforts to study the impact of hurricanes on buildings received a boost on Monday by way of a $15 million grant from the U.S. Commerce Department.
Posted - Friday, July 24, 2009 11:00 AM EDT
Following a storm checklist
The Atlantic hurricane season lasts from June 1 until the end of November. As much as I don’t want to wish the summer away, I’m looking forward to the end of November.
Posted - Monday, October 20, 2008 12:18 PM EDT
More
Hurricane Preparedness
- Public’s storm response analyzed
- Storm season's here. How prepared are you?
- Hurricane season sets records
Watching the tropicsCurrent tropical activity
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Tropical Prediction Center: |
National Weather Service Key West: |
NESDIS Satellite Services Division: |
The Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale
Hurricanes are ranked in terms of wind strength according to the Saffir-Simpson scale, from Category 1 to Category 5:
Category 1: Winds of 74 mph to 95 mph (central barometric pressure generally 28.94 inches or less), generating a 4-foot to 5-foot storm surge. Minimal damage
Category 2: Winds from 96 mph to 110 mph, storm surge 6 feet to 8 feet. Moderate damage.
Category 3: Winds from 111 mph to 130 mph, storm surge 9 feet to 12 feet. Extensive damage. Hurricane Katrina in 2005 was a Category 3 hurricane at landfall in Louisiana.
Category 4: Winds from 131 mph to 155 mph, storm surge 13 feet to 18 feet. Extreme damage. Hurricane Charley was a high Category 4 when it slammed Punta Gorda in 2004.
Category 5: Winds greater than 155 mph, causing storm surge 18 feet and higher. Catastrophic damage. Only three Category 5 hurricanes have hit the United States: the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 in the Upper Keys, Hurricane Camille on the Gulf Coast in 1967, and Hurricane Andrew, which destroyed much of south Miami-Dade in 1992.
