Hurricane Floyd (1987)

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Hurricane Floyd
Floyd at peak intensity near the Florida Keys on October 12
Meteorological history
FormedOctober 9, 1987
DissipatedOctober 13, 1987
Category 1 hurricane
1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS)
Highest winds75 mph (120 km/h)
Lowest pressure993 mbar (hPa); 29.32 inHg
Overall effects
Fatalities1 reported
Damage$500,000 (1987 USD)
Areas affectedCuba, Florida and The Bahamas
IBTrACSEdit this at Wikidata
Part of the 1987 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Floyd was the only hurricane to make

extratropical
and later dissipating on October 14.

Meteorological history

Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

The origins of Hurricane Floyd were from a

Hurricane Hunters flight confirmed the development of an organized circulation, which indicated that Tropical Depression Thirteen had developed. After continuing a southward drift, the depression turned to the north and later northwest due to a building ridge to its east. With an anticyclone aloft, the depression gradually organized, intensifying into Tropical Storm Floyd on October 10.[1]

After reaching tropical storm status, Floyd accelerated to the north in the western Caribbean Sea, due to an approaching

Bahamas, and Floyd was no longer a tropical cyclone by late on October 18. The circulation dissipated within the cold front early the next day.[3]

Preparations and impact

Rainfall totals for Hurricane Floyd

Around when Floyd first attained tropical storm status, a

Havana.[4] In preparation for the storm, Cuban officials in Pinar del Río Province evacuated 100,000 people, as well as 40,000 head of cattle. In addition, international flights were canceled for a day during Floyd's passage.[6] Despite passing over western Cuba as a tropical storm, Floyd left no serious damage or fatalities in the country.[2]

When Floyd was a tropical storm located over Cuba, the National Hurricane Center issued a hurricane warning for the Florida Keys as well as the southwest Florida coast to

Homestead Air Force Base to safer facilities. The American Red Cross opened 55 shelters in 10 Florida counties, housing about 2,000 people at some point, primarily in Lee County.[8] People in the hurricane's path prepared by purchasing supplies from supermarkets, gassing up their vehicles, and securing loose outside items.[9]

Floyd was the first named storm to strike southern Florida since

Daytona, peaking at 10.07 in (256 mm) in Fort Pierce.[11] While bypassing the Florida Keys, Floyd spawned a waterspout that moved ashore in Rock Harbor. It damaged a few boats and homes.[3] The hurricane produced rip tides as far west as the Texas coast, killing one person along South Padre Island.[12]

Across southern Florida, the hurricane left minor damage of around $500,000 (1987 USD),

Freeport International Airport reported sustained winds of 40 mph (64 km/h) from the remnants of Floyd.[14]

On October 15, British weather forecaster

worst storms in the United Kingdom in three centuries.[15] Though technically not a hurricane, the United Kingdom experienced wind gusts up to 120 mph (195 km/h).[16] Fish was criticized for incorrectly forecasting the storm and later claimed he was referring to Hurricane Floyd, but neglected to mention Florida.[17]

See also
  • Other storms of the same name

References

  1. ^ a b c Gilbert C. Clark (1987-10-27). "Hurricane Floyd Preliminary Report (Page 1)" (GIF). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2011-07-13.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Gilbert C. Clark (1987-10-27). "Hurricane Floyd Preliminary Report (Page 3)" (GIF). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2011-07-14.
  3. ^ a b c Gilbert C. Clark (1987-10-27). "Hurricane Floyd Preliminary Report (Page 2)" (GIF). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2011-07-13.
  4. ^ a b Gilbert C. Clark (1987-10-27). "Table 3. Watches and Warnings for Hurricane Floyd, October 1987" (GIF). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2011-07-14.
  5. ^ Staff Writer (1987-10-11). "Storms Cause Heavy Rains". The Victoria Advocate. Associated Press. Retrieved 2011-07-14.
  6. ^ a b c Staff Writer (1987-10-12). "Storm gains strength, nears Florida". The Dispatch. Associated Press. Retrieved 2011-07-14.
  7. ^ a b Gilbert C. Clark (1987-10-27). "Table 3. Watches and Warnings for Hurricane Floyd, October 1987 (page 2)" (GIF). National Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2011-07-14.
  8. ^ Richard Cole (1987-10-13). "Floyd Brushes Over Keys, Miami, Moves Out to Sea". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Associated Press. Retrieved 2011-07-14.
  9. ^ Mark Zaloudek (1987-10-13). "Floyd Misses Gulf Coast - Which Doesn't Miss Floyd". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Retrieved 2011-07-14.
  10. ^ Staff Writer (1987-10-13). "Floyd rolls over Florida". Star-News. Associated Press. Retrieved 2011-07-17.
  11. ^ David Roth (2005-09-25). "Hurricane Floyd - October 10-13, 1987". Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. Retrieved 2011-07-14.
  12. ^ Staff Writer (1987-10-13). "Hurricane Floyd causes riptide along Texas coast". The Bonham Daily Favorite. Associated Press. Retrieved 2011-07-17.
  13. doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1988)116<0939:AHSO>2.0.CO;2
    . Retrieved 2011-07-14.
  14. ^ Staff Writer (1987-10-14). "Floyd Nicks Bahamas, Fades Into Oblivion". Miami Herald. Retrieved 2009-07-03.
  15. ^ Patrick Scott and Ashley Kirk (2017-10-16). "Ophelia wind speed forecast: How likely are you to get hurricane-force gales?". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2019-02-07.
  16. ^ "The Great Storm of 1987". Met Office. 2017-10-10. Retrieved 2019-02-07.
  17. ^ "Michael Fish and the 1987 Storm". BBC. 2004. Archived from the original on 2004-10-01. Retrieved 2019-02-07.
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