If you are planning on visiting or even moving to the Florida Keys, you may want to know about the weather. Specifically hurricanes!
When is hurricane season in Florida Keys?
The Florida Keys hurricane season is from June 1st to November 30th. It’s important to know that even when it’s not part of the season, you should still be prepared for a hurricane. Hurricanes can happen anytime, but they are most likely during these months.
The Florida Keys has been impacted by hurricanes many times before, so make sure you are ready! By being prepared with food and water, you can make it through a storm much easier.
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When Was The Last Hurricane In The Florida Keys?
At the time of writing this in the fall of 2021, the last hurricane to impact the Florida Keys was Hurricane Irma in 2017. Luckily, it only made a small impact on the area. Since 1955, there have been 23 hurricanes that have impacted the area.
What Month Has The Most Hurricanes In Key West?
The month of September has the most hurricanes in Key West. The month of August is right behind it. The two months draw even with each other in the number of storms. Key West has been hit by hurricanes in each month of the year, with Hurricane Irma in 2017 being the most recent.
What Was The Worst Hurricane To Hit The Florida Keys?
The worst hurricane to hit the area was the Labor Day Hurricane in 1935. This hurricane caused $108 million in damages, with $36 million of that in the Keys. The death count for the Labor Day Hurricane is now believed to be 300, with at least 28 of those deaths occurring in Key West. It’s devastating to think about, but luckily Florida has improved it’s preparedness for hurricanes since then.
How Does Key West Survive Hurricanes?
Although Key West has been hit by a number of devastating hurricanes, the area has developed some unique strategies for surviving these storms.
In 1893, a hurricane destroyed much of the island. But the survivors were determined to stay and rebuilt their town. Great care was taken to build high levels on top of old coral rock foundations that dated back hundreds of years! Even today, older buildings often have very high first floors above sea level.
By the 1930s, engineers had borrowed strategies from Europe and were building above sea-level foundations with multiple walls. This style of construction is often called “concrete rubble” or “hurricane proof”.
The Keys are also protected by a series of hurricane-proof canals. There are 18 of them today with over 200 miles of keys, all connected by water. These are government funded with federal money since they are considered to be a social necessity.
When you travel to Key West, you will notice that the “roofs” of these homes are covered in white. This is to protect the wood from rotting when it rains. The roofs are often extended out over the edges of the home. The extended portion of the roof is where people can live, and then there is a barrier wall that comes down from the home to protect against high winds.
The homes that are built into the water are also hurricane proof. Even the alligators there are!
People in Key West and South Florida also build very large homes that look small from the street. They will often have high ceilings and large windows for light, decor, and air flow. Most people live in these “chic” homes their entire lives. While they may seem simple to many people, they are very beautiful and sturdy!
The combination of different construction styles has made Key West more weather safe.
Conclusion
The Florida Keys hurricane season goes from June to November. It’s important to know this when you are planning your trip because even if it’s not part of the hurricane season, you should still be prepared for the possibility. Since Key West has been hit by hurricanes many times before, it’s important to know that you should always be prepared for natural disasters!