The era of the Gulf: Ian joins list of 5 other destructive hurricanes in recent years
Hurricane Ian was a destructive Category 4 storm when it made landfall along Southwest Florida, but the storm is not in rare company - there have been five other significant hurricanes that have caused similar scenes of destruction over the last few years.
Since 2017, six major storms of either Category 4 or 5 strength have made landfall along the Gulf Coast. This means that winds were at least 130 mph and had a pressure of around 940 millibars or less.
The FOX Forecast Center says a host of atmospheric conditions must be in play for a hurricane to strengthen to one of these extreme levels.
HURRICANE IAN TIES 4TH STRONGEST STORM TO MAKE LANDFALL IN FLORIDA
A common theme among these destructive storms is that plenty of warm water in the Gulf of Mexico was available, and heat extended to significant depths.
Water temperatures were 1 -3° F above the average, which makes the Gulf feel more like a bathtub with sea surface temperatures in the mid to upper 80s. Typically, a tropical cyclone needs water temperatures of at least 79° F to organize and strengthen.
Aside from the warm water, the Gulf of Mexico is one of the few areas of the Atlantic basin that is climatologically favored for tropical activity during the entire 6-month season.
The Gulf’s favorability provides plenty of opportunities each year for a significant strike.
The Gulf of Mexico also holds one of the rare distinctions where if a cyclone makes it into the water body, it has to impact land due to the natural topography. There are few ways to escape without affecting Mexico or the United States.
The U.S. Census Bureau estimates 16 million residents live along the coastline that stretches from Texas to Florida.
HOW MANY CATEGORY 5 HURRICANES HAVE MADE LANDFALL IN THE US?
Here’s a summary of the significant hurricanes.
- Hurricane Ian (2022): Landfall location: Southwest Florida; Damage toll: TBD
- Hurricane Ida (2021): Landfall location: Southeast Louisiana; Damage toll: $81 billion (adjusted to 2022-dollar value)
- Hurricane Laura (2020): Landfall location: Southwest Louisiana; Damage toll: $20 billion (adjusted to 2022-dollar value)
- Hurricane Michael (2018): Landfall location: Florida Panhandle; Damage toll: $30 billion (adjusted to 2022-dollar value)
- Hurricane Irma (2017): Landfall location: Southwest Florida; Damage toll: $93 billion (adjusted to 2022-dollar value)
- Hurricane Harvey (2017): Landfall location: Southeast Texas; Damage toll: $151 billion (adjusted to 2022-dollar value)
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