Effects of Hurricane Irma in Florida
Irma was the first major hurricane to strike the state since Wilma in 2005 and the first Category 4 hurricane to make landfall in Florida since Charley in 2004. The storm made landfall in Florida on the same date as Hurricane Donna, the last Category 4 hurricane to strike the Florida Keys. Irma was only the second hurricane to hit Florida since Wilma, the other being Hermine in 2016. Due to few very intense hurricanes since Hurricane Andrew in 1992, there was concern that many Floridians never experienced or did not recall experiencing a hurricane as strong as Irma was projected to be at landfall, with significant growth in population and assets during the previous 25 years.
Timeline of the 2015 Atlantic hurricane season
The year featured twelve tropical cyclones, of which eleven intensified into tropical storms and four further intensified into hurricanes (including two major hurricanes). Several storms caused generally minor damage throughout the season. In May, Ana moved ashore the coastline of South Carolina, becoming the earliest landfalling tropical storm on record in the United States and causing two fatalities. In June, the precursor to Tropical Storm Bill caused significant flooding across Central America before the cyclone made landfall in Texas; overall, eight people were killed. In July, Tropical Storm Claudette caused minor impacts along the East Coast of the United States and Newfoundland. In August, Hurricane Danny and Tropical Storm Erika affected the Lesser Antilles and Greater Antilles; the latter caused significant damage and killed 36 people. In August, Hurricane Fred prompted the first-ever issuance of a hurricane warning in Cape Verde. The following month, Hurricane Joaquin – one of the most intense cyclones to affect the Bahamas in recorded history – caused widespread and significant damage to the island country while contributing to historic flooding across the Southeastern United States. In November, Kate impacted the Bahamas; its remnants caused minor damage across the United Kingdom.