We hear about the “hurricane season” every year! When is it? What are the chances of it actually hitting Florida?
Here are some interesting information that may put some light on the subject.
Hurricane season in Florida starts June 1st and ends November 30th with the peak period from early August through the end of October.
In one season, the Atlantic region (that includes Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico) will typically experience 12 tropical storms with sustained winds of 39 mph,of which 6 will turn into hurricanes with winds reaching 74 mph or greater, and three major hurricanes category 3 or higher with sustained winds of at least 111 mph. It’s important to note that most of these hurricanes do not make landfall in the United States. On average, one to two hurricanes make landfall on the US East coast every year of which 40% will hit Florida. There was 37 (!!!!!) hurricanes that hit Florida since 1851
So there are the odds. Now lets talk how to prepar our trees for hurricane season.
Main thing is to have your trees properly trim. It’s important to thin the canopy and possibly remove few interior branches so the wind can easily go through the canopy.
It is also important to take a look at the roots and make sure they are not damaged. Damaged roots are prone to root decay what makes them weak. And then, tree that’s got weak root system is more likely to fall during the storm.