Hurricanes are a fact of Florida life, and although
they can affect some vacations, most can enjoy a Florida vacation
without ever coming near one of these storms.
The Florida Hurricane Season officially starts on
June 1st and ends on November 30. August through October
are the more active months. Historically, September is the
most active month of the Florida hurricane season.
Hurricane direct hits on Florida
1851-2004
|
Area of Florida
|
Total Florida
Hurricanes
|
Major Hurricanes
(category 3-5)
|
Northwest
|
55
|
12
|
Northeast
|
22
|
1
|
Southwest
|
36
|
12
|
Southeast
|
41
|
15
|
Florida
total
|
110
|
35
|
Source: National Hurricane Center
|
Saffir-Simpson Scale
(Hurricane Category)
|
Saffir-Simpson
Category
|
Maximum
Sustained Wind Speed
|
Minimum
|
Storm
Surge
|
mph
|
m/s
|
kts
|
mb
|
ft
|
m
|
1
|
74-95
|
33-42
|
64-82
|
> 980
|
5
|
1.0-1.7
|
2
|
96-110
|
43-49
|
83-95
|
979-965
|
8
|
1.8-2.6
|
3
|
111-130
|
50-58
|
96-113
|
964-945
|
12
|
2.7-3.8
|
4
|
131-155
|
59-69
|
114-135
|
944-920
|
13-18
|
3.9-5.6
|
5
|
156+
|
70+
|
136+
|
< 920
|
19+
|
5.7+
|
|
Source: Atlantic Oceanographic & Meteorological
Laboratory
|
