Legends and Weather Patterns Explain Hurricane Behavior

Posted by Regina Brassil

There is an old legend in this region that says early Florida settlers used to come to what is now the Sarasota area during the "Big storms". They felt it was a safe haven from what we can assume were the hurricanes that visited annually.

Modern science and documentation seems to have proven their theory correct. In a recent study by the Sarasota Herald Tribune, "hot spots" were identified - those areas most likely to be hit by hurricanes. These areas included a 300 mile swath from Key West to St. Lucie County, centering in Miami; the North Carolina Coastline; and the Florida Panhandle west through to Louisiana.

In contradiction, Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte Counties were listed as areas LEAST prone to being hit by a major hurricane. In fact, the last major hurricane to blow into Sarasota was in 1966, when Alma passed offshore.

The clustering of the storms in "hot spots" has to do with broad weather patterns and geography. One of the main factors is the summertime location of the Bermuda High, which tends to steer storms through well-travelled "alleys". The hot-spots are located at the end of these alleys. In 2004 , the high was centered closer to Bermuda than usual - resulting in Charley, Frances and Jeanne hitting southern Florida. In 2005, however, the high was centered relatively close to the Atlantic coast, creating almost a protective barrier around Florida for most of the hurricane season.

As scientists and meteorologists get more knoweldgeable about these weather patterns, everyone will ultimately be safer. Although no area can be considered completely "safe" from hurricanes, history and science seem to agree that the Sarasota area is far less prone to a major storm than other areas in Florida; lending even more credence to residents belief that we live in a golden city on the Gulf.