Hurricane Hermine became a significant event in the 2016 Atlantic hurricane season, ending a notable period of quiet along the Florida coastline. This storm marked the first time in nearly eleven years that a hurricane had made landfall in Florida, a distinction previously held by Hurricane Wilma in 2005. The system’s track and power drew considerable attention from meteorologists and residents across the southeastern United States.
Official Classification and Peak Intensity
Hermine made landfall on the Florida Big Bend coast as a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. The storm achieved this classification on September 1, 2016, and maintained it until landfall. At the time of landfall, the system’s maximum sustained winds were estimated to be 80 miles per hour, placing it just above the threshold for hurricane status.
The minimum central pressure recorded near landfall was approximately 981 millibars; lower pressures correlate to stronger systems. A Category 1 designation indicates that well-constructed frame homes could see minor damage, while unanchored mobile homes would likely sustain more severe damage. The primary danger from this strength is often extensive damage to trees and power lines, which was observed across the affected areas.
Meteorological History and Geographical Track
The genesis of Hermine can be traced back to a tropical wave that moved off the west coast of Africa in mid-August. This disturbance tracked westward, eventually developing a defined circulation near the Florida Straits, where it was designated as Tropical Depression Nine on August 28, 2016. The system moved into the Gulf of Mexico, where it began to organize despite battling some upper-level wind shear.
The depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Hermine on August 31 while positioned in the eastern Gulf. As it accelerated toward the coast, environmental conditions became more favorable for development, and Hermine was officially upgraded to a hurricane on the afternoon of September 1. The storm made its U.S. landfall at 1:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time on September 2, 2016, along the Florida Big Bend coast, just east of St. Marks.
After moving ashore, the system rapidly weakened into a tropical storm within a few hours as it moved over the Florida Panhandle and into Georgia. Hermine maintained tropical storm strength as it tracked rapidly northeastward across Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. It then emerged over the Atlantic Ocean near the Outer Banks, where it transitioned into a post-tropical cyclone before finally dissipating near southeastern Massachusetts on September 8.
Immediate Coastal Damage and Aftermath
The most immediate and damaging impact from Hermine was the significant storm surge experienced along the Florida Gulf Coast. The highest observed surge reached 9.89 feet above mean sea level at Cedar Key, causing severe flooding in coastal communities. The storm also brought copious amounts of rainfall across a wide area.
The maximum reported storm-total rainfall reached 22.36 inches over a 72-hour period near Tampa, Florida. This heavy rain contributed to substantial inland flooding, particularly in the Tampa Bay area and Pasco County. The combination of wind and saturated soil led to widespread tree failures and downed power lines.
The state capital, Tallahassee, experienced extensive power outages, with approximately 80% of customers losing electricity. The storm’s effects continued as it moved northeast, with strong winds and heavy rainfall affecting Georgia and the Carolinas. The storm was responsible for at least two direct fatalities. The overall damage caused by Hermine was estimated to be around $550 million.