Although hurricane season officially begins June 1st, two tropical storms formed this year during May — Alberto and Beryl.
This year is the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Andrew, which struck Florida as a Category 5 storm in August 1992. Hurricane Andrew was the only major storm that year, in a relatively inactive season. It was a devastating event for many Floridians; in 2012 dollars, the total cost of the damage caused by Hurricane Andrew would be about $45 billion.
It has been several years since a hurricane seriously impacted our state. However, it is critical not to become complacent about storm season. Take storm preparations seriously, each and every year. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts that as many as eight storms this season will become hurricanes, with wind speeds topping 111 miles per hour (mph) or higher; Category 3 wind speeds begin at 111mph, Category 4 at 130mph, and Category 5 at 157mph, according to the revised Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Be prepared and stay safe this hurricane season!
Source: NOAA.gov