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ARCHIVES
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1992 HURRICANE
ANDREW |
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DATES: 16- 28 August, 1992
HIGHEST WINDS: 175 mph
LOWEST PRESSURE: 922 mb |
DAMAGE: $26 Billion (1992 USD)
$45 Billion (2005 USD)
FATALITIES: 26 (Direct) 39 (Indirect) |
AREAS AFFECTED: Bahamas, Florida, Louisiana |
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Hurricane Andrew was catastrophic Category Five hurricane that
devastated portions of the Bahamas, Southern Florida and Louisiana in
August, 1992.
A tropical wave moved off the west coast of Africa
on August 14th, organizing into a Tropical Depression by the 16th. The
depression moved west-northwest, and reached Tropical Storm strength on
the 17th. Andrew intensified slightly before strong shear weakened the
system. By the 20th, Andrew was barely of storm strength. Moving
northwest, the system bypassed the Lesser Antilles, before slowing and
turning back to the west. At this time, Andrew entered a very favorable
environment and the storm quickly intensified, reaching hurricane
strength on the 22nd. Rapid intensification followed, and on the 23rd
the hurricane peaked at 175 mph. Andrew crossed portions of the Bahamas,
weakening slightly and then, just before landfall in Florida,
re-intensified to a Category Five hurricane, with sustained winds of 165
mph. At 5:00 a.m. on August 24th, Andrew made landfall near Homestead,
Florida, attended by winds of exceptional violence. The highest
officially recorded wind was 142 mph, with a peak gust of 169 mph, from
Fowey Rocks, when the instrument failed. The National Hurricane Center
recorded a gust to 164 mph and a privately-owned anemometer, 177 mph,
prior to those instruments failing. Post-analysis indicates that some
areas, in the core of the storm, experienced peak winds between
200-215mph. The devastation wrought by these extreme winds was nearly
indescribable, with large areas of Southern Dade county literally
flattened. The minimum pressure reported at landfall was 922mb
(27.22in). Andrew weakened slightly over land, but re-strengthened with
145 mph winds, over the Gulf of Mexico. On the 26th, Andrew turned
north-northwest and weakened before making a final landfall west of
Morgan City, Louisiana as a Category Three, with 115 mph winds. It
turned northeastward and dissipated over Tennessee on the 28th. Andrew
resulted in 65 deaths, 26 direct and 39 indirect. The hurricane
caused a total of $26 Billion (1992 USD), $45 Billion (2005 USD) , in
damage (mostly in
South Florida), making it the most damaging hurricane of record, at that
time. View a PDF the full 1992 seasonal report from the
Monthly Weather Review.
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Track of Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Andrew made a catastrophic landfall south of Miami on August 24, 1992. Hurricane Andrew approaches the Northern Bahamas on the morning of August 23, 1992. Less than 24 hours later, South Florida would experience the worst natural disaster in U.S. history, at that time. The last full sweep of the Miami WSR-57 radar before the radome was blown off the roof of the National Hurricane Center during a 164 mph gust. 4:35 a.m. (ET) August 24, 1992. Hurricane Warning flags fly at the Dinner Key marina in Coconut Grove, Florida during the approach of Hurricane Andrew on the afternoon of August 23, 1992. A relatively rare occurrence in the core of major hurricanes, lightning illuminates the landscape of Coconut Grove, Florida during Hurricane Andrew. This image was taken near the time that hurricane conditions were beginning to spread ashore, 3:20 a.m., August 24, 1992. A relatively rare occurrence in the core of major hurricanes, lightning illuminates the landscape of Coconut Grove, Florida during Hurricane Andrew. This image was taken near the time that hurricane conditions were beginning to spread ashore, 3:20 a.m., August 24, 1992. With the first light of day, the extent of Hurricane Andrew's devastation at Coconut Grove, Florida. August 24, 1992. A large amount of debris from the General Development Corporation/Terremark Centre, torn loose during Andrew's passage. August 24, 1992. Defoliated Royal Palms and Ficus trees bear evidence to Andrew's ferocious winds. August 24, 1992. A common scene in South Florida after Andrew's passage, felled Cocoanut Palms block a residential driveway in southern Miami-Dade county. Severe roof damage was extensive across South Florida during Hurricane Andrew's violent passage. August 24, 1992. Before - Mature Australian Pines and thick foliage frame the landscape of Southern Miami-Dade county before Hurricane Andrew.
After - Following Hurricane Andrew's intense winds, few trees remain standing, forever changing the landscape of the region. Most homes in Southern Miami-Dade county experienced moderate to severe structural damage during Hurricane Andrew. August 24, 1992 Hurricane Andrew's intense winds destroyed millions of acres of trees and vegetation across Southern Florida. August 24, 1992 Even large high-rise office buildings suffered severe damage during Hurricane Andrew. This image of the Datran Center along US1 in Kendall, Florida shows every window on the windward side of the building has been blown out. The lush tropical vegetation which created a natural hammock over Old Cutler Road, in Miami-Dade county, was decimated by Andrew's extreme winds. This image was taken near Matheson Hammock Park, two weeks after the storm's passage, after tons of impassable debris was cleared from the roadway. Winds of 175-195 mph obliterated the Dadeland Mobile Home park in Southwest Miami-Dade county during Hurricane Andrew's extremely violent passage, August 24, 1992. Sailboats, torn from their moorings, are lodged in defoliated mangroves along the South Florida coast as disaster relief helicopters canvas the area. This image from the coastal community of Gables by the Sea, clearly illustrates the nearly total obliteration of the region's trees and foliage by Andrew's extreme winds. The 110-foot research vessel 'Seaward Explorer', at anchor near Dinner Key marina in Coconut Grove, was dragged over 10 miles through Biscayne Bay during Andrew, eventually to be carried ashore in the backyard of a private residence near Cutler Ridge, Florida by the hurricane's 17 foot storm surge. This photo was taken on the coast, in the vicinity of Hurricane Andrew's peak storm surge and graphically shows the storm's devastating effects. At the height of the hurricane, this area was covered with over 17 feet of water and scoured by sustained winds of 165 mph and gusts of 195 mph. Even sturdy CBS constructed homes suffered severe structural damage from Hurricane Andrew's exceptionally intense winds, August 24, 1992. Wood frame construction in the Cutler Ridge, Florida sub-division of Lakes by the Bay proved incapable of withstanding Hurricane Andrew's onslaught. To appreciate the extent of Andrew's damage, aerial photos truly provide the appropriate medium. In this image, the almost indescribable devastation wrought by the hurricane's extreme winds is evident. This is the community of Lakes by the Bay near Cutler Ridge, Florida. This area experienced sustained winds of 165 mph and gusts of 195 mph. Andrew's extreme winds caused complete shear-wall failure on a multi-story apartment building in the community of Lakes by the Bay near Cutler Ridge, Florida in Southern Miami-Dade county. The world headquarters of Burger King were located on the right on the coast of Biscayne Bay, directly in the path of Andrew's core region. The building was devastated by winds of 165-195 mph and a 17 ft storm surge. This picture is of the CEO's office. In the devastated Cutler Ridge, Florida community of Pinewood Villas, trees are snapped in alternating directions, indicating that this area was close to the core of the storm and experienced intense winds before and after the passage of the center. Andrew's incredibly violent winds sliced this piece plywood through the trunk of a Palm tree in Homestead, Florida. Larger unreinforced structures, like this warehouse in Cutler Ridge, Florida were complete obliterated by Andrew's extreme winds. A multi-story hotel in Cutler Ridge, Florida was ravaged by Andrew's extreme winds. Contrary to some post-storm speculation, a grove of small sapling Cocoanut Palms in a South Miami-Dade nursery, graphically illustrate that the intense winds associated with Hurricane Andrew's core region were fully experienced at ground level. August 24, 1992 Incredibly intense "micro-bursts" were produced within the eyewall of Hurricane Andrew. Exhaustive post-analysis revealed the devastation at this Naranja Lakes, Florida subdivision of Leisure City, was the result of peak winds between 210-215 mph with a duration of 10-20 seconds and an extremely narrow swath, less than 100 yards in width. The results, appear strikingly like the damage of a tornado, however, this destruction was caused solely by the hurricane's phenomenal "straight-line" winds. August 24, 1992 The damage caused by Hurricane Andrew in extreme Southern Miami-Dade county was so severe and widespread that the basic infra-structure of many communities was lost entirely. With no power, water, transportation or communications available for several months...it was necessary to institute martial law to prevent rampant looting. August 24, 1992. A sea of splintered wood, twisted metal and scattered concrete bocks are all that remain of a single-story condominium in the Naranja Lakes, Florida subdivision of Leisure City. This unbelievable destruction was the result of peak winds between 210-225 mph with a duration of 10-20 seconds in an extremely narrow swath, less than 100 yards in width. While the results, appear strikingly like the damage of a tornado, this devastation was actually caused solely by the hurricane's phenomenal "straight-line" winds. August 24, 1992 Total devastation, characterictic of a Category Five hurricane was experienced by over 64,000 homes is Miami-Dade county during Hurricane Andrew. This home was no exception. The Naranja Lakes, Florida subdivision of Leisure City was literally flattened with the incredible violence of Andrew's peak winds. Gusts in this area were estimated to have been near 210-215mph. This residence in Homestead, Florida was completely gutted by Hurricane Andrew's violent winds. August 24, 1992. In shock and barely escaping with his life, Harold Wilkins stumbles through the sea of debris that was, only hours before, his home in Florida City, Florida, immediately following the extremely violent passage of Hurricane Andrew on August 24, 1992. The Black Point Marina in Southern Miami-Dade county was completely destroyed by Hurricane Andrew. A sailboat from the Black Point Marina in Southern Miami-Dade county has been pushed over a mile inland by the combined effects of storm surge and wind. The resulting 'scar' can be seen carved through mangroves and sawgrass. In hurricanes of Andrew's intensity, oddities become commonplace. In this photo, a 2x4 piece of plywood, carried by Andrew's intense winds has pierced the trunk of a Royal Palm tree in the Redlands of extreme Southern Miami-Dade county. August 24, 1992 The Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant, on the coast, east of Homestead, Florida, suffered extreme damage during Hurricane Andrew, clearly obvious in this photo. One of two red and white smoke stacks remains standing, the other, severely damaged by the storm, had to be destroyed. August 24, 1992 Cars parked in front of the National Hurricane Center were lifted and tossed by Andrew's exceptionally violent winds. "Burned" from sea spray being carried through the air by the intense winds of Hurricane Andrew, thick groves of Australian Pine are flattened in Bill Baggs State Park at Cape Florida on Key Biscayne. The park's foliage, once dominated by Australian Pine, was obliterated during Andrew's passage on August 24, 1992. The amount of debris left by Andrew was so staggering, large debris piles were created at various locations around the county and then burned as the quickest means of disposal. NOAA-11 visible image at 12:31 UTC on August 23, 1992 showing Hurricane Andrew at peak intensity, with 175 mph winds and a central pressure of 921 mb. NOAA-11 infra-red satellite image at 12:31 UTC on August 23, 1992, showing Hurricane Andrew at peak intensity, with 175 mph winds and a central pressure of 921 mb. Infra-red satellite image of Hurricane Andrew at landfall in South Florida on the morning of August 24, 1992. NOAA-11 infra-red satellite image at 5:16 a.m. (ET) on August 24, 1992, showing Hurricane Andrew at landfall in South Florida. Note the tiny "warm spot" in the western portion of the eye, roughly in the same location as the storm's minimum wind. Surface wind-field analysis of Hurricane Andrew, at landfall in South Florida, August 24, 1992. Hurricane Andrew at landfall in Miami-Dade county, as seen from the Melbourne, Florida WSR-88D radar. August 24, 1992.
Track of Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Andrew made a catastrophic landfall south of Miami on August 24, 1992.
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