How Helene could prey on hurricane myths
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Hurricane Helene could bring historic and life-threatening storm surges to Tampa Bay, and oft-repeated myths about these natural disasters could leave residents underprepared for real dangers.
Why it matters: Helene's unusual size and path present a perfect storm of common hurricane misconceptions.
Threat level: Forecasters are especially concerned about the water dangers that Helene will bring — up to 8 feet of storm surge, not to mention the likelihood of widespread flash floods.
- Though the storm's eye is tracking well west of Tampa Bay, its potentially historic size means nearly every Florida city will see strong winds.
Reality check: Here are the facts on five hurricane misconceptions Floridians should avoid as Helene closes in, with help from Axios senior climate reporter Andrew Freedman:
- The National Hurricane Center's cone of uncertainty shows the probable track of the center of the storm — not the extent of its reach. Focusing on the center of the cone downplays the impact of a storm.
- Some people think the intensity of a storm's winds is the main threat. In reality, water is a bigger killer — both coastal storm surges and inland flooding from heavy rains.
- The category of a storm does not indicate the scale of danger you face — the Saffir-Simpson Scale only measures maximum sustained wind speeds. It does not account for storm surge, rainfall or even the area of impact.
- A storm's dangers don't vanish after landfall. "There are often significant impacts inland for days after landfall, such as flash flooding and tornado outbreaks," says Brian McNoldy, a senior research scientist at the University of Miami.
- Don't wait for bad weather to evacuate. Once a hurricane hits, roads and bridges close, and flooding can begin before it even arrives.
Plus: More storms in recent years have been rapidly intensifying, in some cases right through landfall.
- This has caused them to leap categories in 24 hours or less, making it more important than ever to stay on top of forecasts and act on any evacuation orders and advisories.