Hurricane
Disasters Live
Hurricane
Disasters Live
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Hurricane Andrew - Satellite Image of Hurricane Andrew
A tropical wave that emerged from the west coast of Africa on August 14 1992 would over the course of 10 days grow to become one of the most powerful hurricanes to hit the US in recorded history. The wave formed a tropical depression on August 16, which became Tropical Storm Andrew on August 17. The storm developed slowly, as the west-northwestward moving Andrew encountered an upper-level trough. In fact, the storm almost dissipated on August 20 due to vertical wind shear. By August 21, Andrew was half way between Bermuda and Puerto Rico and turning westward into a more favorable environment. Rapid strengthening occurred, with Andrew reaching hurricane strength on the 22nd and Category 4 status on the 23rd. After briefly weakening over the Bahamas, Andrew regained Category 4 status as it churned its way across south Florida on August 24. The hurricane continued westward into the Gulf of Mexico where it gradually turned northward. This motion brought Andrew to the central Louisiana coast on August 26 as a Category 3 hurricane. Andrew then turned northeastward, eventually merging with a frontal system over the Mid-Atlantic states on August 28.
Reports from private weather stations helped establish that Andrew's central barometric pressure at landfall in Homestead, Florida was 27.23 inches, which made it the third most intense hurricane of record to hit the United States. Andrew's top winds in south Florida were not directly measured due to destruction of the measuring instruments. An automated station at Fowey Rocks reported 142 mph sustained winds with gusts to 169 mph (measured 144 ft above the ground), and higher values may have occurred after the station was damaged and stopped reporting. The National Hurricane Center had a peak gust of 164 mph (measured 130 ft above the ground), while a 177 mph gust was measured at a private home. Additionally, Berwick, LA reported 96 mph sustained winds with gusts to 120 mph.
Andrew produced a 17 ft storm surge near the landfall point in Florida, while storm tides of at least 8 ft inundated portions of the Louisiana coast. Andrew also produced a killer tornado in southeastern Louisiana.
Andrew was responsible for 23 deaths in the United States and three more in the Bahamas. The hurricane caused $26.5 billion in damage in the United States, of which $1 billion occurred in Louisiana and the rest in south Florida. The vast majority of the damage in Florida was due to the winds. Damage in the Bahamas was estimated at $250 million.
An unfortunate side effect that is felt by the residents of Florida to this day is a tenfold increase in insurance due to the staggering losses incurred by insurance companies following Hurricane Andrew.
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The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
CATEGORY
Category 5 =
Category 4 =
Category 3 =
Category 2 =
Category 1 =
Tropical Storm =
Tropical Depression =
WIND SPEEDS
155 mph +
131 - 154 mph
111 - 130 mph
96 - 110 mph
74 - 95mph
39 - 73 mph
38 mph or less
Watch vs Warning - Know the Difference
A HURRICANE WATCH issued for your part of the coast indicates the possibility that you could experience hurricane conditions within 36 hours. This watch should trigger your family's disaster plan, and protective measures should be initiated, especially those actions that require extra time such as securing a boat, leaving a barrier island, etc.
A HURRICANE WARNING issued for your part of the coast indicates that sustained winds of at least 74 mph are expected within 24 hours or less. Once this warning has been issued, your family should be in the process of completing protective actions and deciding the safest location to be during the storm.
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