Don’t underestimate a storm – Rapid Intensification
- December 22, 2020
Many Floridians have the mindset that a Category 1-2 hurricane is not life-threatening and that they will just get out of town if a storm appears to be growing to a cat 3 or above. Unfortunately this thought process is a dangerous one. See rapid intensification:
“The defining feature of the 2020 Atlantic hurricane season was the number of hurricanes that underwent rapid intensification and continued to intensify up until landfall. Rapid intensification occurs when a hurricane’s maximum sustained winds increase by 35 mph or more in a 24-hour period.
This season saw ten such hurricanes, many intensifying as they neared the coastline. Hurricane Hanna was the first, quickly organizing and gathering strength until its landfall on South Padre Island in Texas. Previously mentioned Hurricane Iota was the last, with its maximum sustained winds increasing by 80 mph in a 24-hour period. Hurricane Eta, the other November hurricane to strike Central America, underwent intensification at the same rate. Hurricane Laura, the strongest hurricane to make landfall in the state of Louisiana since 1856, went from a disorganized category 1 hurricane to a monster category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph in a day.” – Swiss Re
When a storm can increase from a category 1 to category 4+ overnight… Will you have time to simply “get out of town”?
The time to prepare is now…
Give us a call to protect your home/family.