As Florida braces for a major hurricane to hit the Big Bend area, the question arises: What damage could a storm of this magnitude cause?
Meteorologists monitoring Hurricane Helene expect it to become a major hurricane by Thursday morning before it makes landfall in the Florida Panhandle in the evening. Helen could bring strong winds, intense storm surge and heavy rain to much of Florida’s Gulf Coast, including the Tampa Bay area.
According to a guide from the National Hurricane Center, the potential Category 3 storm could cause “devastating damage.”
A Guide to Hurricane Categories
Hurricanes are ranked on a scale from Category 1 to Category 5, with five being the strongest possible storm. Hurricanes are given their ratings based on wind speed. A Category 3 storm, with sustained winds between 111 and 129 mph, is considered a “major” hurricane.”
According to the NHC, a Category 3, 4 or 5 hurricane is considered a “major” hurricane due to the potential for “significant loss of life or damage.”
There are no Category 6 hurricanes. Any hurricane with winds greater than 157 mph is still classified as a Category 5 storm.
Hurricanes of all categories can produce deadly storm surges, floods, and tornadoes.
What can a category 3 hurricane do?
A hurricane center guide describes the damage from a Category 3 storm as “devastating,” with widespread winds and flying debris capable of destroying “almost all” mobile homes. Experts say mobile homes built before 1994 are especially susceptible.
But the winds of a Category 3 hurricane are also powerful enough to cause “extensive damage” to traditional homes, with the winds capable of ripping off roofing.
Meteorologist Mark Elliot explained in a Weather Channel video that Category 3 hurricane winds can be strong enough to blow the door off a building or tear the siding off a house.
Tree damage can also be a problem during a Category 3 storm.
“Many trees will be snapped or uprooted, blocking numerous roads,” the hurricane center in Miami said.
Falling trees can bring down power lines, often causing extended power outages. Additionally, utilities must wait for better weather conditions before sending crews out to make repairs.
The center said Category 3 hurricanes can leave electricity and water unavailable “for several days to weeks after the storm has passed.”
While the winds from these storms can cause serious damage, experts say it is the water that is of greatest concern.
These storms often bring heavy rains, which can make roads impassable due to flooding. But life-threatening storm surges are a bigger concern, experts say.
“Please take our evacuation orders seriously,” Jodie Fiske, Manatee County’s public safety director, said at a news conference in Helene this week. “We’re talking about five to eight feet of storm surge.”
A storm surge occurs when a hurricane pushes water from the ocean onto the coast, causing the water to suddenly rise several feet above the ground.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, storm surge is the deadliest component of a hurricane. About half of hurricane deaths are caused by storm surge.
“While hurricanes are known for their strong and destructive winds, hurricane storm surges pose the greatest threat,” NOAA writes in its hurricane guide. “Since much of the densely populated United States’ Atlantic and Gulf Coast coastlines are less than 10 feet above sea level, the danger from storm surges is enormous.”
Other Category 3 Hurricanes in Florida
An example of a Category 3 hurricane is Hurricane Wilma, which made landfall in South Florida in 2005.
The storm, which the hurricane center described as “massive and powerful,” caused an estimated $16.9 billion in widespread damage. It also spawned 10 tornadoes and killed five people in Florida.
The year before, Hurricane Jeanne made landfall near Palma Beach and was one of the deadliest Atlantic hurricanes on record, killing more than 3,000 people in Haiti, eight in Puerto Rico, and five in the continental United States. Total property damage in the U.S. was $7.5 billion.
The last Category 3 hurricane to make landfall in Florida recently was Hurricane Idalia, which also tore through the Big Bend area in 2023, destroying homes and flooding entire neighborhoods.
According to NOAA, Idalia’s estimated damage was $3.6 billion, with most of the damage affecting Florida’s agricultural sector in the Big Bend region and the northern parts of the state. Experts say it was the most powerful storm to hit the region in 125 years.
Weather Forecast: Helene Becomes Major Hurricane
If Helene continues on its current course, it will be the third storm to hit Big Bend in a year. Category 1 Hurricane Debby is expected to make landfall in the region in August.
But no two storms are the same, and there can be several factors that determine the severity of a hurricane, in addition to its category, such as the size, speed, and direction of the storm.
“Each tropical system can bring a variety of unique, life-threatening hazards to a particular location,” NOAA writes in its guide.
Experts also say it’s important not to become complacent.
“Even if you have survived a previous storm in your area, future hurricanes may bring different hazards,” NOAA writes.
That’s why NOAA urges people to be aware of their risk level, especially if they live in an area prone to storm surges or flooding.
One of the most important things you can do to prepare for a storm is to monitor local updates and start preparing a hurricane plan as soon as possible.
Hurricane Helene is expected to rapidly strengthen before making landfall, so now is the time to stock up on supplies and prepare.
