As the school year ends, many students will be booking it for the beaches to enjoy a summer of relaxation and leisure. That is, if the weather holds up. Every Florida resident knows that it will rain at 3:30 p.m., but that is something we can work around. But every Floridian also dreads the H-word: Hurricane.
Florida has been lucky so far, with no major (category 3 or above) storms since 2005, when Dennis and Wilma hit the state. Perhaps that most notable storm in the Winter Park area was 2004’s Charlie, whose eye ran just miles from Trinity, according to the National Weather Service.
With a ten-year hurricane drought, Florida has been lucky enough to avoid the brunt of most storms in the recent years. The Weather Company (TWC) predicts that this storm season will be the most active since 2012, but that isn’t saying much for Florida, where we have been below average for a number of years. TWC’s forecast calls for 14 named storms, eight hurricanes and three major hurricanes. These numbers include January’s Hurricane Alex, a rare winter hurricane that hit the Azores earlier this year. TWC’s predictions are actually higher than compiled averages, which forecast 12 named storms, six hurricanes and three major hurricanes.
Hurricanes once again should not be a problem for desperate vacationers trying to catch a break from Florida’s wet season. However, it is important for residents to plan for anything, so now is the time to think about what to do if the day comes. Ready.gov advises that people in hurricane-prone areas stock up on non-perishable goods, gallons of water, a small first aid kit, extra batteries and flashlights. In addition, homeowners should clean out their gutters to prevent water damage and trim branches that may easily break in high winds. And last but not least, don’t forget to buy some fun games, comics and books to maximize your free time!
