Today in Hurricane History…
…In 1919, the 5th strongest hurricane ever to strike the United States struck South Florida. The lowest pressure (27.37 inches) was recorded at Dry Tortugas, west of Key West. Only the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, Camille, Andrew and Katrina were stronger at landfall.
…In 1960…extremely dangerous Hurricane Donna was taking aim on the Florida Keys for the first of her four United States landfalls. Gales began during the evening with the eye sweeping over the Middle Keys around 2:30 am on the 10th with top winds of over 150 mph. The storm would quickly recurve over Florida Bay and strike southwest Florida. Many locations in Florida recorded winds over 100 mph. Donna’s official lowest pressure was 27.46 inches, making it the sixth strongest hurricane ever to hit the United States.
…In 1961…the largest evacuation to date was in progress along the Texas and Louisiana coast as intense Hurricane Carla was taking aim on the Lone Star State. The huge hurricane’s circulation dominated the entire Gulf of Mexico.
…In 1964…Hurricane Dora is the first hurricane of record to strike the extreme northeast part of Florida from the east, ending the myth that the area was immune to hurricanes. Top winds were 125 mph at St. Augustine Florida and Jacksonville recorded the first hurricane force winds in 80 years of record keeping.
…In 1965… One day after striking extreme southern Florida, Hurricane Betsy struck southeastern Louisiana, with the eye crossing Grand Isle just before midnight. Tremendous damage was reported along the coast from the point of landfall east to Mobile, Alabama. Highest sustained winds of 136 mph were recorded at Port Sulphur, LA, with gusts to 160 mph reported along the Gulf Coast. The city of New Orleans was flooded when power to its elaborate flooding pumping stations was knocked out.
…In 1919, the 5th strongest hurricane ever to strike the United States struck South Florida. The lowest pressure (27.37 inches) was recorded at Dry Tortugas, west of Key West. Only the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, Camille, Andrew and Katrina were stronger at landfall.
…In 1960…extremely dangerous Hurricane Donna was taking aim on the Florida Keys for the first of her four United States landfalls. Gales began during the evening with the eye sweeping over the Middle Keys around 2:30 am on the 10th with top winds of over 150 mph. The storm would quickly recurve over Florida Bay and strike southwest Florida. Many locations in Florida recorded winds over 100 mph. Donna’s official lowest pressure was 27.46 inches, making it the sixth strongest hurricane ever to hit the United States.
…In 1961…the largest evacuation to date was in progress along the Texas and Louisiana coast as intense Hurricane Carla was taking aim on the Lone Star State. The huge hurricane’s circulation dominated the entire Gulf of Mexico.
…In 1964…Hurricane Dora is the first hurricane of record to strike the extreme northeast part of Florida from the east, ending the myth that the area was immune to hurricanes. Top winds were 125 mph at St. Augustine Florida and Jacksonville recorded the first hurricane force winds in 80 years of record keeping.
…In 1965… One day after striking extreme southern Florida, Hurricane Betsy struck southeastern Louisiana, with the eye crossing Grand Isle just before midnight. Tremendous damage was reported along the coast from the point of landfall east to Mobile, Alabama. Highest sustained winds of 136 mph were recorded at Port Sulphur, LA, with gusts to 160 mph reported along the Gulf Coast. The city of New Orleans was flooded when power to its elaborate flooding pumping stations was knocked out.