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Hurricane Kate
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The Mission
The mission of the "Hurricane Kate - It Happened Here" web site is to archive North Florida's response and recovery efforts associated with the storm. Then to use the archive as part of an ongoing hurricane preparedness effort demonstrating that hurricanes have and will strike Florida's Big Bend Region.
| Hurricane Kate - The Big Picture |
The Storm
Hurricane Kate was the fourth destructive hurricane of an active 1985 Atlantic Hurricane Season. It wrought a 1,000-mile trail of destruction across Cuba, Florida and Georgia between November 18 and November 22, 1985, killed 15 people and causing $530 million (2005 US dollars) in damages. Hurricane Kate is also the latest-forming major hurricane on record in the Atlantic.In the fall of 1985, a strong high pressure system persisted over the southeastern United States, while a major trough existed over the southwestern United States. With the exception of a minor cold front, the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and western Atlantic Ocean remained favorable for tropical development up until November, with water temperatures near 27ºC, and little upper level shear. When a tropical wave reached a position north of the Lesser Antilles and Puerto Rico, it was able to organize under the favorable conditions, and became Tropical Storm Kate on November 15.
An anticyclone developed over the Florida Keys, providing Hurricane Kate with the opportunity to strengthen. After drifting northwestward, Hurricane Kate accelerated to the west over the southern Bahamas, becoming a hurricane on November 16 and a 110 mph hurricane on the 19th. It hit northern Cuba on the 19th, where 200,000 people in Havana were evacuated. With the eyewall over land, Hurricane Kate weakened to a 90 mph hurricane before emerging into the Gulf of Mexico on the night of the 19th. Hurricane Kate maintained its organization while crossing northern Cuba, and quickly re-strengthened in the Gulf of Mexico. It rapidly intensified on November 20 to a 120 mph major hurricane. An approaching frontal trough brought Hurricane Kate to the northeast, where slightly cooler waters over the northern Gulf of Mexico weakened the hurricane. It hit Mexico Beach, Florida late on the 21st as a 95 mph hurricane, and quickly weakened over land. After crossing Georgia, Hurricane Kate approached very cold waters and increasing upper level shear, causing the hurricane to become extratropical on November 23 while southeast of North Carolina.
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Late Formation
Hurricane Kate was unusual because it became a major hurricane in November, one of only 5 storms to do so. Other storms that became major hurricanes in November include Hurricane Greta of the 1956 season, a hurricane during the 1912 season, Hurricane Michelle in 2001 and Hurricane Lenny of 1999. Hurricane Kate was also the latest-season major hurricane, having become a major hurricane on November 20.
Overall Impact
The 125 mph gusts in Cuba uprooted trees and caused heavy damage to homes and buildings. Ten people in Cuba died in drowning accidents. The hurricane also devastated 2.5 million sugar cane harvest which plunged Cuba into an economic crisis. It was so bad that the United Nations was compelled to provide $2 million in emergency relief funds to areas hard-hit by Hurricane Kate.Hurricane Kate's strong winds and rained caused considerable damage to homes, buildings and water craft, amounting to $210 million (1985 US dollars). Five people were killed in Florida.
Retirement
Because the damage caused by Hurricane Kate was not extreme and the death toll relatively low, the name was not retired. The name Hurricane Kate was not used in 1991 or 1997 because those seasons did not reach it on their lists, but it was used for the 2003 season and will reappear on the list for the 2009 season.Other On-Line Resources
| Resource | Format |
| Satellite Hurricane Observations - Coastal Hurricane Impacts | HTML |
| Hurricane Kate - Florida's Big Bend |
The Storm
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Department Of Natural Resources Report
The State of Florida Department of Natural Resources issued a Post Storm Report on Franklin and Gulf Counties on Florida's Northern Gulf Coast.
| Report | Format |
| Post Storm Report |
Personal Survivor Stories
What follows is a listing of personal stories from Hurricane Kate survivors.
| Contributor | County | Format |
| Jessica Brooke | Leon County | |
| Centhia Christen | Wakulla County | |
| Doug Jones | Leon County | |
| Jean Raker | Leon County |
Submit Your Personnel Survival Story
If you have information, photos or newspaper clippings of Hurricane Kate response and recovery activities that you would be willing to share, please contact the Capital Area Chapter's Disaster Services Office in Tallahassee at:- Phone Number - 850/878-6080
Or use the following on-line reporting form: