Hurricanes and Tornadoes in Florida

As well as being known as the Sunshine State, Florida is also renowned for its hurricanes and to a lesser extent, tornadoes.

No matter where you stay in Florida, whether you are up in the north, in the central Orlando area, on either the western Gulf Coast or the eastern Atlantic coast or down in the Florida Keys, you could be caught by a hurricane or a tornado. Do not be complacent; one year when we were at Walt Disney World a mini-tornado struck nearby Kissimmee.

If you are on vacation during the hurricane or tornado season then do check with your hotel, motel or villa owner for any specific information regarding any precautions you should take.

A hurricane is a tropical cyclone with an organised circulation (usually counter-clockwise); these tropical storms are classified under three headings depending primarily on wind speeds:

Hurricanes are classified with five categories using the Saffir-Simpson scale, where 1 is the weakest and 5 the strongest. Category 3 and above are regarded as major hurricanes.

Hurricanes often cause a storm surge at sea which can raise the sea level by up to 15 feet, cause inland flooding accompanied by high winds and in some cases tornadoes.

Over half of those killed as a direct result of a hurricane are drowned with many others being hit by flying debris. As many people again usually die in the aftermath of the hurricane from heart attacks etc.

Recent Incidents

In February 1998 a tornado hit Kissimmee near Orlando killing 25 people, most of those killed lived in trailer homes, many of which were not built to withstand such high winds.

In 2004, four hurricanes (Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne) hit the Florida coast, causing over 20 deaths and more than $40 billion in damage.

In 2007, severe thunderstorms, accompanied by three tornadoes swept across Central Florida north of Orlando leaving a trail of death and destruction. Lake, Sumter and Volusia Counties bore the brunt of the storms and 21 people died in the towns of Lade Lake and Paisley in Lake County.

The chances of being hit by a hurricane or a tornado in Florida are pretty slim but it pays to be informed. It is important to keep up to date on weather conditions by listening to the radio or watching TV.

If you are staying near the coast then you should also pay particular attention to the sign-posted evacuation routes.