Michael is the strongest storm to strike the Florida Panhandle. Key events: Conch Republic Independence Celebration (Key West), 7 Mile Bridge Run (Knights Key to Pigeon Key ). Mahi mahi, tarpon, wahoo, blue marlin and yellowtail are in their prime, so plan for a fishing adventure or two. It total, we saw $25 billion in damage from Michael, and around 60 deaths. For fishers, April is one of the best months of the year for snagging a big one. Farms suffered, leading to a loss in cattle and crops, and Michael caused $4.7 billion in damage to the Tyndall Air Force Base.Īs Michael weakened, it moved further into the Southeast, bringing wind damage and flooding to Alabama, Georgia and North Carolina. It destroyed many houses in the Florida Panhandle, and storm surge flooded the coast. 10 as a Category 5 hurricane, making it the third-strongest landfalling hurricane in the U.S. Michael made landfall near Panama City, Fla.

9 as it moved through the warm waters of the Gulf. 7, Michael quickly intensified into a hurricane a day later. Michael in 2018: The last storm on our list is Michael. Throughout the Florida Keys, you can visibly notice the snowbirds heading back north. March through May is optimal for a number of activities: fishing, spring festivals and a wonderful balance of locals and tourists. Overall, Sandy became one of the deadliest cyclones to hit the Northeast, killing 160 people, and the fifth costliest storm in recorded history with $65 billion in damage. If you want to sneak in a Florida Keys adventure before the thermostat reads a very humid 90 degrees, this is the time to do it. In West Virginia, rain turned to 3 feet of snow for some areas, leading to downed trees and hundreds of thousands of power outages. Sandy also flooded seven subway tunnels in NYC, the biggest disaster to happen to the subway system since it was built in the early 1900s. Many cities in New Jersey flooded, and authorities had to evacuate towns. It continued through the Atlantic, parallel to the East Coast, and made a northwest turn, slamming into the Northeast.Įven though winds were only at 80 mph at landfall in New Jersey, Sandy was a large storm that brought intense flooding. 22, Sandy made two landfalls before heading toward the U.S., one in Jamaica and one in eastern Cuba.

Sandy in 2012: Developing in the Caribbean Sea on Oct. until Hurricane Harvey in 2017, and a hurricane did not strike Florida until Hermine in 2016.įloodwaters from Sandy lifted cars in Long Beach N.Y., which trapped them in sand later on.

Wilma caused $19 billion in damage and killed 30 people.Īfter Wilma, a major hurricane didn’t strike the U.S. Water from storm surge submerged 60% of Key West, leaving many homes uninhabitable. Over 3 million people lost power, including 98% of Miami’s metro area, and Wilma destroyed or damaged tens of thousands of homes and cars in southern Florida. Click here to find out about our average. Surprisingly, rainfall amounts weren’t extremely high since the storm moved quickly across the state, so most of the damage came from the wind. In the Florida Keys & Key West you will find yourself in subtropic weather with hot summers and mild winters. Conditions deteriorated as the day went on, and by 6:30 p.m., Rizzo said wind gusts were measured up to 71 mph at Key West International Airport and 66 mph at the weather service’s Key West office. It then moved northeast, making its second landfall as a Category 3 hurricane at Cape Romano in southwestern Florida. Wilma has the lowest pressure ever recorded in a hurricane in the western hemisphere, going from 982 millibars to 882 millibars in just 24 hours. 17 in the Caribbean Sea, Wilma intensified quickly into a Category 5 hurricane before weakening to a Category 4 before its first landfall on Cozumel, Mexico. Key West has to be one of the sunniest and warmest places in the United States year round. Now that's nice to know when you are trying to shut that suitcase, with the extra 'Just In Case' jumper poking out from all sides.ĭon't tell us anymore we are on our way, but actually it gets better as its not just the landlubbers that are given the gift of perfect Florida Keys Weather.Īnyone who fancies getting into or on the sea will find it different from most places that they travel from, as the water temperature stays at somewhere in the 80's all year round too.Wilma in 2005: Springing up on Oct. Key West has a little claim of fame, as being the only place in America that has never had frost, or fallen below freezing.

It really is consistent.Īnd that can make all the difference if your are planing somewhere to go that guarantees sun. You see, the Florida Keys Weather will normally drop just a few degrees in temperature all year round. Many of the inhabitants of the mainland will use the Florida Keys as the place to come for weekend breaks, especially in the Winter months. Other areas of interest In The Florida Keys Weather section Water Spouts | Rainfall | Hurricanes

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