Hi everybody and welcome! The week has been a real busy one for forecasters and hobbyists alike. Tracking three really dizzy storms with minds of their own has offered many challenges. So far, we have been biting the bullet with all the storms that have formed so far this season. Lili is the storm that posed the most threat and still may pose a threat down the road. As Lily regenerates, a high pressure is scheduled to move in from the Atlantic and keep Lily to our south. That would get her into the Gulf and follow a similar track to that of Isidore. Keep in mind that this scenario is not carved in stone. She still could get very close to our state. By the time you read this I hope that Lily is harmlessly gone.
With fall on the horizon and hopefully some cooler weather, people are going to start working on their yards. One of the best ways to dress up your homestead is with the color of flowers. One of the most popular varieties is the Impatiens plant. They love the cooler air that comes in the fall and winter months of east-central Florida. The impatiens plant is one of 500 species in the family Balsamineaceae. It was originally called Impatiens sultana. The plant was later renamed Impatiens wallerna, after Horace Waller, a British missionary. The plant was first discovered in Africa. Impatiens are an annual and they need adequate water and good soil conditions to thrive. They love the high humidity that our area provides most of the year. They should have some protection from the sun and they need regular watering. If the plants are grown under trees they will require more water and fertilizer as they are competing with the root systems of the trees themselves. Impatiens can also thrive very well in containers with a good grade potting soil. My personal favorite is Miracle Gro potting soil, which is available at K Mart.
Did you know that Hurricane Floyd in 1999 was the strongest hurricane to threaten the Treasure Coast area? The top wind speed reached 155 MPH as it moved through the Bahamas. The storm created the most intensive peacetime evacuation in history. I remember the storm all too well. I think I was more petrified of Floyd then I was of any other storm that I have ever tracked. I was one of the residents that did flee the area. Carol and I were very lucky to find a motel in Lakeland that accepted pets, since we had a cat and a dog to travel with. I vividly remember leaving my house not knowing if I was ever going to see it again. The weather reports had it going just off the coast of Florida. Any deviation to the west could of brought the eye wall over land causing extensive damage. Almost like a giant weed-wacker. The winds in Lakeland were very high when we got there. After we heard the danger was over and the storm was passing a safe distance to our east, we decided to head home. The drive was a nightmare. Traffic was backed up on highway 60 for at least 20 miles. If a similar situation were to materialize again, I would probably think twice before I evacuated again. The key is, if you are going to evacuate, do so very early so you don’t get caught in a traffic jam when the storm makes landfall.
Now, on to the Time Capsule!
October 2, l95l -- south Florida -- The center of a Tropical Storm crossed Florida from near Fort Myers to Vero Beach. Rainfall totals ranged from eight to l3 inches along the track, but no strong winds occurred near the center. The strong winds of 50 to 60 mph were all in squalls along the lower east coast and Keys, causing minor property damage. Greatest damage was from rains that flooded farms and pasturelands over a broad belt extending from Naples, Fort Myers, and Punta Gorda on the west coast to Stuart, Fort Pierce, and Vero Beach on the east. Early fall crops flooded out in rich Okeechobee farming area. Many cattle had to be moved out of flooded area, and quite a few were lost by drowning or starvation. Roadways damaged and several bridges washed out.
October 2-4, l994 -- northwest Florida -- The remnants of Tropical Depression l0 moved from the northeast Gulf of Mexico, across the Florida Panhandle, and into Georgia on the 2nd. High winds produced rough seas along west central and northwest Florida coasts causing minor tidal flooding and beach erosion. Eighteen people had to be rescued from sinking boats in the northeast Gulf of Mexico. Heavy rains in the Florida Big Bend and Panhandle accompanied the system causing extensive flooding to roadways, creeks and low lying areas and minor flooding of rivers. Damage estimates to roadways was more than $l million. Flooding was slow to recede in Leon, Wakulla and Hernando Counties where homes and roadways remained flooded through the l5th.
October 3 – 4, l966 -- south Florida and Keys -- Late on the 3rd Hurricane Inez began moving southwestward from a position about l00 miles east of Miami. The eye of Inez moved from Key Largo to Key West on the 4th. The highest wind reported on the Florida mainland was a gust to 80 mph at Homestead AFB. There were no sustained winds of hurricane force on the mainland. All of the Keys reported winds of hurricane force ranging up to l00-l25 mph in gusts. Rainfall totals were between 2-4 inches over the southeast portion of the peninsula and in the Keys. Three people were killed and eleven injured. Over $5 million in damage. Two tornadoes were reported in Putnam Co. on the evening of the 4th, far from the center of Inez.
October 3, l992 -- west central & north Florida -- A strong tropical disturbance in the eastern Gulf of Mexico spawned 10 tornadoes from the Tampa Bay area to Ocala, killing four and injuring 77. Hardest hit was Pinellas Co., where all the deaths occurred. 0940 - Pinellas Co. - A tornado heavily damaged a mobile home park in Indian Rocks. An elderly lady was killed when her mobile home was demolished. 1028 - Pinellas Co. -Tornado/ Waterspout - moved inland about l/2 mile south of Treasure Island Causeway. It severely damaged the roof of an apartment complex and moved across the Isle of Palms, damaging roofs and uprooting trees. -- Pinellas Co. -- Another tornado formed near the intersection of Hwy. 693 and the Seaboard Coast Line railroad, toppling trees south of the tracks. It then moved northeast severely damaging an apartment complex, continuing north it destroyed mobile homes and damaged homes. The tornado strengthened and moved across the Point Royale Village mobile home park. Many mobile homes were blown apart. Two people were killed as their mobile homes disintegrated. One woman was killed by falling debris as her garage roof collapsed on her. Other tornadoes were reported in Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando, Marion, Citrus and Levy counties without serious injury. Heavy rain with the low caused moderate to heavy flooding in northeast Florida, especially the Jacksonville area. High tides caused some minor coastal flooding and beach erosion on the Gulf
October 4, 1995 -- Opal developed over the south central Gulf of Mexico on the 2nd, and intensified to a category 4 hurricane during the early morning hours of the 4th, as it moved rapidly northeast across the Gulf of Mexico. Opal diminished to a marginal category 3 hurricane before making landfall near Pensacola Beach during the late afternoon of the 4th, yet was still the strongest hurricane to hit the Florida panhandle in 20 years. The center of the storm moved ashore at almost the same location as hurricane Erin about two months earlier. As Opal moved ashore, minimum central pressure was 942 mb, and estimated maximum sustained wind speeds were 115 mph. highest observed wind speeds were 84 mph gusting to 144 mph at Hurlburt Field in Mary Esther. The storm surge reached approximately 10 feet above mean sea level (MSL), with debris lines up to 25 feet above MSL. By far the greatest amount of damage from Opal in northwest Florida occurred due to devastating storm surge and waves along the beaches of Walton, Bay and Gulf counties. Almost 300 homes were destroyed with another 1,000 homes suffering major damage. The storm surge destroyed highway 399 that runs from Pensacola Beach to Navarre Beach, and U.S. highway 98 between Fort Walton Beach and Destin. Several tornadoes were reported with one fatality near Crestview. There were no reported deaths due to storm surge flooding. The most rainfall occurred at Ellyson Field where 15.45 inches fell on the 3rd and 4th. Crop damage was estimated at $5 million dollars. It was estimated that $50 million in damage was done to recreational boats, with almost 1,000 boats damaged, and about 70 boats lost or sunken. Insured property damage was estimated at $2 billion or more, ranking Opal as one of the costliest twentieth century U.S. hurricanes. The outer fringes of Opal caused tidal flooding and beach erosion as far south as the lower Florida Keys. In Key West, major beach erosion, with estimated restoration costs near $3 million occurred, and streets in old town were inundated with seawater. Many people in Florida were without water for several days. Inland, Opal downed numerous trees and knocked out power to nearly two million people.
October 4-5, l933 -- A hurricane passing through the Florida Straits spawned several tornadoes. Late on the 4th a tornado unroofed four homes and injured three people in Miami. Two other tornadoes struck Broward Co. early on the morning of the 5th. One tornado unroofed a home and a lumber company.
October 4 –5, l964 -- northwest Florida -- The remnants of Hurricane Hilda moved into Florida about 30 miles northwest of Pensacola the afternoon of the 4th, then continued to diminish in intensity and drift eastward through the western counties and along the Georgia-Florida border before moving into the Atlantic north of Jacksonville late on the 5th. Storm damage in Florida was minor. One person drowned in the surf of the Gulf of Mexico near Pensacola on the 4th. Wind gusts and squalls reached as high as 50 mph inland and up to 60 mph along the coast in the Pensacola area. Storm tides were less than 2 feet above normal and only minor tidal flooding occurred. Rainfall in the area west of Tallahassee reached as high as six to 8" and caused some local flooding.
October 5, l948 - - Keys/southeast Florida - A hurricane crossing the upper keys spawned at least three tornadoes. -- Broward Co., Pompano Beach - Tornadoes damaged or destroyed 29 homes and injured 27 people. -- Broward Co., Ft. Lauderdale - A tornado damaged five homes and a barn. A two-story house had its roof removed. Dade Co., Opa-Locka - A few homes were destroyed and others were damaged by a tornado.
October 6-7, 1941 -- south and northwest Florida -- A Hurricane struck near Miami early on the 6th with peak winds of 123 mph, causing considerable property damage. Five drowned in small boats capsized by high wind. The hurricane moved out into the Gulf of Mexico and made a second landfall near Apalachicola the morning of the 7th.
October 6, 1974 -- east coast - Coastal Flooding/High Wind/Heavy Rain. A low pressure system that had brought windy conditions to Florida since the 1st of the month, strengthened into a subtropical storm early on the 6th and moved northward just off the east coast causing extremely rough seas, coastal flooding, and beach erosion. Winds of 25 to 40 mph with higher gusts were reported. Locally heavy rain caused flooding along the east coast. Heaviest amounts were 14" at Boca Raton and 10" at Cocoa. No deaths or serious injuries were reported. Thousands of surfers were attracted by the extended period of rough seas and high surf along the east coast during the first week of October - some suffered cuts and bruises.
October 6, l976 -- Leon Co., Tallahassee -- Heavy rain caused flooding of streets, houses, and automobiles. A 60-ft concrete wall collapsed. Many snakes were driven onto lawns by high water.
October 7-8, 1946 -- west coast/northwest Florida -- A hurricane made landfall near Bradenton with 80-mph winds and a 6-foot storm surge. The storm weakened to a tropical storm as it move across Tampa Bay and reached the Florida/Georgia border early on the 8th.
October 7, l947 --Duval Co., Jacksonville - Tornado, spawned by a tropical depression, destroyed six trailers, damaged 25 others, and unroofed homes. Ten people were injured. Another tornado hit a trailer village at Green Cove Springs in Clay County.
October 7-8, 1996 -- Tropical Storm Josephine -Tracked northeast across the eastern Gulf of Mexico, with the center moving onshore over Apalachee Bay along the Florida Big Bend coast on the evening of the 7th, crossing the coast in a relatively uninhabited region of north Florida, in Taylor County, at about 2330 on the 7th. Storm surge heights were significant from the Tampa area northward to eastern Apalachee Bay. County officials estimated storm tides (storm surge plus astronomical tide) ranged from up to 9 feet in Levy County to 4 to 6 feet in Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties, and 3 feet as far south as Lee County. These tides produced widespread flooding of roads, dwellings, and businesses as far south as the lower Florida Keys. Josephine produced a record 22-documented tornadoes (21 F0, 1 F2, plus one waterspout) over central and northern Florida, making it the most prolific tornado producing tropical cyclone in Florida history. These caused mostly minor damage, primarily to trees. One tornado, however, had a 7-mile long, 400-yard wide track across Edgewater in Volusia County. It severely damaged 30 homes, while 200 others had minor damage. Rainfall amount of up to 8.5 inches were reported over northern Florida in association with Josephine. Property damage in Florida is estimated to be over 49 million. There were no deaths that could be directly attributed to Josephine. A woman suffered a heart attack during a tornado in Edgewater, and a surfer suffered a broken leg in Pinellas County.
October 8-9, 1896 -- south/central Florida -- A hurricane made landfall on the Gulf Coast near Punta Gorda and crossed the peninsula exiting into the Atlantic near Melbourne early on the 9th. This storm was responsible for 68 deaths.
October 8, - l959 -- northwest Florida -- Tropical Storm Irene came ashore in the extreme western panhandle.
October 9, l953 -- west central Florida --Tropical Storm Hazel quickly crossed central Florida from Charlotte Harbor to Vero Beach with winds of 60 to 70 mph. The peak gust of 80 mph was reported by the Corp of Engineers in a squall in Okeechobee. 64mph winds were reported at Patrick AFB. Hazel spawned a tornado at landfall in Lee County that destroyed several houses on Pine Island, near Ft. Myers. Three to five inches of rain from Hazel added to previous flooding problems and the upper St. Johns River reached the highest flood stage ever known, exceeding by l l/2 feet the previous record and covering six miles of Highway 192 between Melbourne and Kissimmee.
October 9, l969 -- Highlands Co., Sebring - Heavy rain caused flooding of citrus groves, homes, trailers and roads.
That’s it for this weeks Time Capsule. Keep a close watch on the tropics in the next few coming weeks! As always, for the latest in tropical updates go to JOESDISCOWESTHERCENTRAL.COM. You can also join me for a free cup of coffee and a free copy of The Hometown News at the Stuart K mart Garden Center every Saturday. You can e-mail me your weather questions and comments to JOESDISCOWEATHER@AOL.COM! I love to hear from you!