Andrew's Mean Streak

On this date in 1992, Hurricane Andrew made landfall in South Florida.  Andrew was the third of only three Category 5 hurricanes on record to make landfall in the United States.  The first two were the 1935 Labor Day hurricane that hit the Florida Keys and Hurricane Camille that struck the Gulf Coast in 1969.  Hurricanes didn’t start receiving names until 1950, so the 1935 hurricane is known as the “Labor Day” storm.

Being a Category 5 hurricane – as strong as hurricanes get on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Intensity Scale – Andrew caused unspeakable devastation in South Florida.  Hurricanes become a Category 5 when maximum sustained winds around the center or “eye” exceed 156 mph.  Andrew’s sustained winds at landfall – south of Miami near Homestead – were 165 mph.  Andrew made a second landfall along the Gulf Coast as a weaker Category 3 hurricane. 

Hurricane Andrew caused approximately $26.5 billion dollars in damage (adjusted for inflation) – making it the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history.  That’s a distinction Andrew had until Katrina in 2005.  Andrew is now the 4^th costliest natural disaster in U.S. behind Katrina, Hurricane Ike in 2008 and Sandy in 2012.  However, Andrew remains the last Category 5 hurricane to make landfall in the United States.

Unlike 22 years ago, there are no hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean today.  Tropical Storm Cristobal is a weak storm with sustained winds of 45 mph bringing portions of Bahamas a lot of gusty winds, heavy rains and dangerous surf.  The storm is expected to veer northeast and not directly affect the U.S. East Coast.  However, some higher than normal surf and rip currents are likely this week across the East Coast due to the Tropical Storm.  So it is important to listen to local authorities about whether or not it’s safe to swim.  Cristobal should be gone before Labor Day weekend.