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Capital Weather Gang
By Lazaro Gamio
Oct. 7, 2016
Each line is a
storm path
since 1916
Atlantic Ocean
Fla.
Gulf of
Mexico
CUBA
MEXICO
Matthew
Each line is a
storm path
since 1916
Atlantic Ocean
Fla.
Gulf of
Mexico
CUBA
Matthew
MEXICO
Each line is a
storm path
since 1916
Matthew
Florida knows hurricanes, it just hasn’t met many lately. The state has withstood more direct hurricane strikes than any other state, and it is often grazed by storms that end up making landfall elsewhere.
However, until Hermine made landfall in September, Florida had gone more than a decade without a direct hit from a major storm. This lengthy lull came after two hyperactive hurricane seasons in 2004 and 2005, which together produced more than 40 named storms and 13 major hurricanes. The 2005 season produced 28 named storms, the most since 1851 and eight more than the second busiest season of 1933.
This hurricane season has proved a rude awakening from that decade-long lull. Hurricane Matthew, the 13th named storm of the season, has pummeled Florida’s east coast and is projected to batter the coasts of Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina. Forecasts even showed it hooking a U-turn and heading to every storm's landmass of choice: Florida.
A look back at 100 years of storms
Saffir-Simpson scale
3
4
5
Storm
1
2
Line thickness is
wind speed
Wind speed (mph)
74
95
110
130
156
Saffir-Simpson scale
3
4
5
Storm
1
2
Line thickness is
wind speed
Wind speed (mph)
74
95
110
130
156
Saffir-Simpson scale
3
4
5
Storm
1
2
Line
thickness is
wind speed
74
95
110
130
156
Wind speed (mph)
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
N.C.
N.C.
Regained strength
and pummeled
the Northeast
Arthur
Irene
Gulf of
Mexico
Sandy
Joaquin
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
Made landfall in
Nova Scotia
Earl
New Orleans
Gustav
Ida
Ike
CUBA
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
N.C.
Katrina
Isabel
Miss.
Ala.
Ala.
Miss.
La.
La.
La.
Ivan
New Orleans
Dennis
Jeanne
Wilma
Fla.
Fla.
Lili
Frances
Michelle
Rita
Isidore
Charley
CUBA
CUBA
CUBA
2015
2014
2013
N.C.
Arthur
Gulf of
Mexico
Joaquin
2012
2011
2010
N.C.
Regained strength
and pummeled
the Northeast
Made landfall in
Nova Scotia
Irene
Earl
Sandy
2009
2008
2007
New Orleans
Gustav
Ida
Ike
CUBA
2005
2004
2006
Katrina
Miss.
Ala.
Ala.
Miss.
La.
La.
Ivan
Dennis
Jeanne
Wilma
Fla.
Fla.
Frances
Rita
Charley
CUBA
2003
2002
2001
N.C.
Isabel
La.
New Orleans
Lili
Michelle
Isidore
CUBA
CUBA
2015
2014
Arthur
Joaquin
2013
2012
Sandy
2011
2010
Earl
Irene
2009
2008
Gustav
Ida
Ike
2007
2006
2005
2004
Katrina
Ivan
Dennis
Jeanne
Wilma
Frances
Rita
Charley
2003
2002
Isabel
Lili
Isidore
2001
Michelle
In 1992, Hurricane Andrew rampaged through South Florida, causing 65 deaths and more than $26 billion in damage. Destroying more than 28,000 homes and damaging at least 107,000 others, the storm would be the costliest natural disaster in the United States until Katrina in 2005.
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
N.C.
N.C.
N.C.
S.C.
S.C.
S.C.
Fran
New
Orleans
Floyd and Dennis
hit the Mid-Atlantic
back-to-back,
causing heavy
flooding.
Bonnie
Dennis
Earl
Floyd
Georges
Lili
CUBA
CUBA
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991
Ala.
Bob
Emily
Miss.
La.
Erin
Fla.
Fla.
One of the
most devastating
hurricanes to date
Opal
Andrew
2000
1999
1998
N.C.
N.C.
S.C.
S.C.
New
Orleans
Floyd and Dennis
hit the Mid-Atlantic
back-to-back,
causing heavy
flooding.
Bonnie
Dennis
Earl
Floyd
Georges
CUBA
1997
1996
1995
N.C.
Ala.
S.C.
Fran
Miss.
Erin
Fla.
Opal
Lili
CUBA
1994
1993
1992
Emily
La.
Fla.
One of the
most devastating
hurricanes to date
Andrew
1991
Bob
2000
1999
Dennis
Floyd
1998
1997
Bonnie
Earl
Georges
1996
1995
Fran
Erin
Opal
Lili
1994
1993
Emily
1992
1991
Bob
Andrew
In the 1980s, only a handful of storms made landfall in Florida. However, there was a close call in 1985 when a cold front forced Hurricane Elena to veer toward the state. Within hours, weather patterns returned the storm to its original course, which led it to make landfall in Biloxi, Miss.
1990
1989
1988
1987
1986
N.C.
S.C.
Hugo
Gilbert
1985
1984
1983
1982
1981
N.C.
Gloria
S.C.
Kate
Ala.
Miss.
La.
Elena
Diana
Fla.
Alicia
Formed in the Gulf
of Mexico and hit
Houston dead on
1990
1989
1988
N.C.
S.C.
Hugo
Gilbert
1987
1986
1985
Gloria
Kate
Ala.
Miss.
La.
Elena
Fla.
1984
1983
1982
N.C.
S.C.
Diana
Alicia
Formed in the Gulf
of Mexico and hit
Houston dead on
1981
1990
1989
Hugo
1988
1987
Gilbert
1986
1985
Gloria
Kate
Elena
1984
1983
Diana
Alicia
1982
1981
Hurricane Allen devastated parts of Mexico and Southern Texas in 1980. When a storm is particularly costly or deadly, its name is retired. The name that replaced Allen? Andrew.
1980
1979
1978
1977
1976
Ala.
Miss.
Hurricane Allen
reached category 5 on
three different occasions.
David
Belle
Fla.
Frederic
Anita
Allen
1975
1974
1973
1972
1971
Ala.
Miss.
La.
La.
Ginger
New Orleans
New Orleans
Edith
Fla.
Fla.
Eloise
Agnes
Carmen
1980
1979
1978
Ala.
Miss.
Hurricane Allen
reached category 5 on
three different occasions.
David
Fla.
Frederic
Allen
1977
1976
1975
Ala.
Miss.
Belle
Fla.
Eloise
Anita
1974
1973
1972
La.
New Orleans
Fla.
Agnes
Carmen
1971
La.
Ginger
New Orleans
Edith
1980
1979
David
Frederic
Allen
1978
1977
Anita
1976
1975
Belle
Eloise
1974
1973
Carmen
1972
1971
Ginger
Edith
Agnes
Four major hurricanes struck the United States in 1964, and three made landfall in Florida: Dora, Isbell and Cleo. The next season was more tame, and only one storm made landfall. That hurricane, Betsy, slammed into Key Largo on its way to the Gulf Coast, where it killed at least 75 and caused more than $1.4 billion in damage.
1970
1969
1968
1967
1966
La.
Gladys
Camille
Fla.
Fla.
Alma
Celia
Inez
Beulah
CUBA
1965
1964
1963
1962
1961
Ginny
La.
Dora
Ella
La.
New Orleans
Betsy
Fla.
Fla.
Miami
Hilda
Carla
CUBA
Isbell
Cleo
1970
1969
1968
La.
Gladys
Camille
Fla.
Celia
1967
1966
1965
La.
Betsy
Fla.
Fla.
Alma
Inez
Beulah
CUBA
1964
1963
1962
Ginny
Dora
Ella
La.
New Orleans
Fla.
Miami
Hilda
CUBA
Isbell
Cleo
1961
Carla
1970
1969
Camille
Celia
1968
1967
Gladys
Beulah
1966
1965
Betsy
Alma
Inez
1964
1963
Ginny
Dora
Hilda
Isbell
Cleo
1962
1961
Ella
Carla
Notice the names? Until Bob in 1979, all storm names since 1953 had been female. Now every other storm is given a male name from a list maintained by the World Meteorological Organization.
From 1950 to 1952, storms were named using the phonetic alphabet, which gave us names such as Able and Easy. That lasted for just three seasons, until Tropical Storm Alice in 1953 became the first storm with a woman’s name. Before that, storms weren’t officially named and were numbered in the order in which they arose.
1960
1959
1958
1957
1956
N.C.
N.C.
S.C.
S.C.
S.C.
Gracie
La.
Helene
La.
Betsy
Flossy
Fla.
Fla.
Audrey
Daisy
Miami
Ethel
Donna
CUBA
Carol
1955
1954
1953
1952
1951
N.C.
N.C.
S.C.
S.C.
S.C.
How
Diane
Able
Charlie
Connie
Edna
Fla.
Diane and Connie
struck North Carolina
within five days of
each other.
Hazel
Ione
Able
Florence
Fox
CUBA
1950
1949
1948
1947
1946
Ga.
9
La.
1
New
Orleans
Able
Fla.
4
Fla.
Fla.
4
Fla.
Baker
Fla.
2
8
Miami
Miami
Miami
6
Easy
King
9
CUBA
CUBA
CUBA
1945
1944
1943
1942
1941
N.C.
6
1
1
Fla.
Fla.
Fla.
Miami
Miami
9
3
5
11
13
2
CUBA
CUBA
1960
1959
1958
N.C.
N.C.
S.C.
S.C.
S.C.
Gracie
La.
Helene
Fla.
Daisy
Miami
Ethel
Donna
CUBA
1957
1956
1955
N.C.
S.C.
Diane
Connie
La.
Betsy
Flossy
Fla.
Diane and Connie
struck North Carolina
within five days of
each other.
Audrey
Ione
Carol
1954
1953
1952
N.C.
S.C.
S.C.
Able
Charlie
Edna
Fla.
Hazel
Florence
Fox
CUBA
1950
1949
1951
How
1
Able
Fla.
Baker
Fla.
2
Able
Miami
Easy
King
CUBA
1948
1947
1946
Ga.
9
La.
New
Orleans
4
Fla.
Fla.
4
Fla.
8
Miami
Miami
6
9
CUBA
CUBA
1945
1944
1943
N.C.
6
1
1
Fla.
Fla.
Miami
9
11
13
CUBA
CUBA
1942
1941
Fla.
Miami
3
5
2
1960
1959
Gracie
Ethel
Donna
1958
1957
Helene
Audrey
Daisy
1956
1955
Diane
Connie
Flossy
Ione
Betsy
1954
1953
Carol
Edna
Hazel
Florence
1952
1951
How
Able
Charlie
Able
Fox
1950
1949
1
Able
Baker
2
Easy
King
1948
1947
9
4
8
9
1946
1945
1
4
6
9
11
1944
1943
6
1
13
1942
1941
3
5
2
Large storms, however, escaped the numerical nomenclature and got fancy monikers. There was the aptly named “Long Island Express,” which moved swiftly and struck the Northeast with little warning. In 1926, the “Great Miami” hurricane struck the nascent city in the midst of an economic boom. Many new and inexperienced residents died after they ventured outside as the calm eye passed over, unaware that the violent conditions quickly would return. The destruction effectively brought the Great Depression to South Florida three years early.
1940
1939
1938
1937
1936
4
13
Ga.
3
“The Long
Island
Express”
5
2
3
4
1935
1934
1933
6
1932
1931
Miss.
Ala.
7
La.
12
7
Fla.
Fla.
11
3
5
16
“Labor Day
Hurricane”
1
14
2
CUBA
CUBA
8
1930
1929
1928
1927
1926
N.C.
S.C.
2
“Great Miami”
hurricane
Ga.
La.
Fla.
Fla.
Fla.
1
3
2
“Okeechobee
Hurricane”
10
CUBA
1925
1924
1923
1922
1921
N.C.
4
5
3
Fla.
Fla.
6
10
CUBA
1920
1919
1918
1917
1916
S.C.
Miss.
Ala.
La.
3
La.
La.
4
Fla.
Fla.
14
2
5
4
2
1
“Florida Keys
Hurricane”
CUBA
6
1940
1939
1938
4
Ga.
3
“The Long
Island
Express”
2
3
4
1937
1936
1935
13
7
Fla.
5
5
“Labor Day
Hurricane”
1934
1933
1932
Miss.
Ala.
7
La.
12
Fla.
11
3
16
1
14
2
CUBA
CUBA
8
1931
1930
1929
2
Fla.
2
1928
1927
1926
N.C.
S.C.
“Great Miami”
hurricane
Ga.
La.
Fla.
Fla.
1
3
“Okeechobee
Hurricane”
10
CUBA
1925
1924
1923
N.C.
4
5
3
Fla.
10
CUBA
1922
1921
1920
La.
3
Fla.
2
5
6
1919
1918
1917
La.
Fla.
Fla.
4
1
“Florida Keys
Hurricane”
CUBA
1916
S.C.
Miss.
Ala.
La.
4
14
2
6
1940
1939
4
3
2
1938
1937
“The Long
Island
Express”
3
4
1936
1935
13
7
5
5
“Labor Day
Hurricane”
1934
1933
7
12
11
16
1
2
8
1932
1931
3
14
1930
1929
2
2
1928
1927
“Okeechobee
Hurricane”
1926
1925
“Great Miami”
hurricane
4
1
3
10
1924
1923
5
3
10
1922
1921
6
1920
1919
3
“Florida Keys
Hurricane”
5
2
1918
1917
4
1
1916
4
14
2
6
While the final toll of Hurricane Matthew is yet to be seen, its scale is undeniable. It’s the strongest storm in the Atlantic since 2007, and similar storms have cost billions in damage and killed dozens.
[Live updates]
Additional work by Bonnie Berkowitz and Laris Karklis.
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