On this day 33 years ago, among the most defining Hurricanes (debatably until Katrina) of American Meteorological History impacted mainland USA – striking Miami directly. Seen in the image attached is a rare view from a radar located at the National Hurricane Center – in fact, an old WSR-57 that was digitalized after nearly 25 years of operations – as the Key’s adjacent to downtown Miami were in the midst of the eye. Fortuitously, downtown Miami was spared the worst impacts from the Northern Eyewall, but the radar itself was not to be so lucky.
In fact just minutes after that final fateful sweep came in, the radar was blown away from the top of the National Hurricane Center roof. After analysis of wind data from the roof it was found that the radar was actually topped from a wind gust measured up to 164mph (equivalent to a high-end EF-3 tornado) Roger Edwards, a renowned Meteorologist in the NHC building at the time, reported that everyone knew the radar was lost as it’s impact shook the building with a deep, resounding boom – this heard from 6 stories below the roof level, no less. This incident in fact left the area without proper radar coverage for some time until the expansion of the WSR-88D network (which also at a distance captured Andrew – the nearest being in Melbourne, Florida).
All said and done Andrew would come to inflict $27 billion dollars in damage – in 2025 dollars, equivalent to some $62 billion dollars – and would claim the lives of 65 residents. Thanks to timely evacuations, many of the worst impacted areas saw comparatively few casualties. Seen left is a FEMA aerial impact of a mobile home park, with much of the damage resembling that of the most violent tornadoes. In more than one instance, storm surge and wind/debris effects coalesced to wipe even site built, sturdy homes from their concrete foundations. Do you have any memories of Hurricane Andrew? Definitely be sure to let us know.
