Living in Florida comes with many benefits. Unfortunately, it also comes with a few drawbacks. First, there are mild drawbacks. Backed-up traffic during the tourist season is never pleasant. However, that’s only a minor nuisance compared to the threat of hurricanes. For Floridians and other Southern coastal states, the threat of hurricanes is present. Find out everything that you should know about hurricane season before next year’s season begins.
Atlantic Hurricane Season
Hurricane season is different depending on your location. If you live off of the Atlantic Coast like Floridians, then the season is from June 1 to November 30. On a global scale, hurricane season is usually in the late summer. It is the weakest in May and the strongest in September. Along the Atlantic coast, the peak of the season is usually September 10.
Of course, hurricanes are natural events. As such, they are unpredictable. Hurricanes can occur at other times of the year. Although it is rare for this to occur, it is possible. In the 1930s, a hurricane hit in January.
Hurricane Watch
During hurricane season, you need to be aware of the weather. The National Hurricane Center and the Weather Prediction Center watch the weather. They look for tropical cyclones. As they analyze the threats, the National Hurricane Center classifies the storms. They could be hurricanes, tropical storms, or tropical depressions. When they see a threat, they issue a warning to the public. Sometimes, the warnings turn out to be nothing. However, they can also turn into major storms.
It’s impossible to say for sure where a hurricane will hit or the category of the storm. However, the Hurricane Center provides an approximate forecast. As the hurricane approaches land, the forecast becomes more accurate. You may not know whether a hurricane will hit your town until it is very close to approaching land. When Hurricane Irma hit, it did not make landfall in the predicted area. It’s important to listen for regular updates during hurricane season and to be ready for anything.
Are Storms Getting Worse?
Unfortunately, global warming is changing weather around the world. Experts predict that this is a contributing factor to an increase in hurricanes. Last year, hurricane season was particularly devastating. In Texas, Harvey wreaked havoc. Then, Irma pounded Florida with one of the strongest hurricanes the state has seen.
According to records, the 2017 hurricane season was more active than previous seasons. There were more storms last year than in a typical year. In addition to having more storms than usual, those storms were also stronger than usual. Although there were other years that were more active or years that had more storms of high strength, last year was one of the worst seasons. It left a trail of destruction. For many, it was a reminder of the importance of hurricane preparations.
Preparing Your Home
As hurricane season approaches, there are several things that you can do to prepare. First, you should prepare your emergency supplies. If a hurricane hits and you choose to stay in your home, then you need supplies. You should load up on bottled water and canned food. Be sure to store it together in a way that will make it easy to access. When a hurricane threatens your home, you don’t want to head to the stores to buy supplies. Before Irma, many stores ran out of bottled water and canned food.
It’s also important that you store some emergency supplies with your food and water. Candles, matches, flashlights, and batteries can all come in handy. If possible, you might want to consider buying a generator. This can come in handy after a hurricane hits and knocks out your power. In addition to those items, you should also have a medical kit. Include bandages, antiseptic, and other medical supplies.
When you live in a hurricane-prone area, it’s important to have an evacuation plan. Think about where you might go if a hurricane threatens your town. You should also familiarize yourself with local hurricane shelters. If there is an emergency evacuation of your area, then you should know where to go. While you can figure this out during hurricane season, understanding the evacuation process beforehand can save you time and stress.
The Wright Protection
Whether or not you plan to stay for a hurricane, you want to protect your home. This means using hurricane shutters or installing hurricane impact windows and doors. When a hurricane hits, it can destroy homes beyond repair. But the right preparations can limit the damage. Hurricane windows and door can withstand the force of a hurricane. This protects your home from high winds, flying debris, and water damage.
With Wright’s Impact Window and Door, you can protect your home the Wright way. Our windows and doors can keep your home safe during a hurricane. In addition to providing you with protection, they also give you peace of mind. When hurricane season arrives, you don’t need to worry.
You can read more here about how to prepare for a hurricane