Hurricane Andrew

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For the 1986 storm, see Tropical Storm Andrew (1986).

Hurricane Andrew

Category 5 major hurricane (SSHWS/NWS)

Hurricane Andrew at peak intensity over the Bahamas on August 23

Formed August 16, 1992

Dissipated August 28, 1992

Highest winds 1-minute sustained:175 mph (280 km/h)

Lowest pressure 922 mbar (hPa); 27.23 inHg

Fatalities 65 total
 Damage $26.5 billion (1992 USD)

(Fifth costliest tropical cyclone inAtlantic basin; fourth

costliest inU.S. History)

Areas affected The Bahamas; South Florida, Louisiana, and other

areas of the Southern United States

Part of the 1992 Atlantic hurricane season

History

Meteorological history

Effects

The Bahamas

Florida

Other wikis

commons:Category:Hurricane Andrew

Hurricane Andrew was a Category 5 Atlantic hurricane that struck Florida in August 1992, the most
destructive ever to hit that state. It was the costliest hurricane to make landfall anywhere in
the United States until surpassed by Katrina in 2005. Andrew caused major damage in
the Bahamas and Louisiana, but the greatest impact was in South Florida, with sustained wind
speeds as high as 165 mph (270 km/h). Passing directly through the city of Homestead in Miami-
Dade County, it stripped many homes of all but their concrete foundations. In total, it destroyed more
than 63,500 houses, damaged more than 101,000 others, caused $26.5 billion in damage,[nb 1]and left
65 people dead.
Andrew began as a tropical depression over the eastern Atlantic Ocean on August 16. After
spending a week without significant strengthening in the central Atlantic, it rapidly intensified into a
powerful Category 5 hurricane while moving westward toward the Bahamas on August 23. Though it
briefly weakened to Category 4 while traversing the island nation, it regained its Category 5 status
before making landfall on Elliott Key and Homestead. With a barometric pressure of
922 mbar (27.23 inHg) at the time of landfall in Florida, Andrew is the fourth most intense hurricane
to strike the United States. Several hours later, the hurricane emerged over the Gulf of Mexico at
Category 4 strength, with the Gulf Coast of the United States in its path. After turning northwestward
and weakening further, Andrew moved ashore near Morgan City, Louisiana, as a low-end
Category 3 storm. After moving inland, the small hurricane curved northeastward and rapidly lost its
intensity, merging with a frontal system over the southern Appalachian Mountains on August 28.
Hurricane Andrew first inflicted structural damage as it moved through the Bahamas, especially
in Cat Cays, lashing the islands with storm surge, hurricane-force winds, and tornadoes. About
800 houses were destroyed in the archipelago, and there was substantial damage to the transport,
water, sanitation, agriculture, and fishing sectors. Andrew left four dead and $250 million in damage
throughout the Bahamas. In parts of southern Florida, Andrew produced severe winds; a wind gust
of 177 mph (282 km/h) was observed at a house in Perrine. The cities of Florida City, Homestead,
and Cutler Ridge received the brunt of the storm. As many as 1.4 million people lost power at the
height of the storm. In the Everglades, 70,000 acres (280 km2) of trees were downed, while
invasive Burmese pythonsbegan inhabiting the region after a nearby facility housing them was
destroyed. Rainfall in Florida was substantial, peaking at 13.98 inches (355 mm) in western Miami-
Dade County. In Florida, Andrew killed 44 and left a record $25 billion in damage.
Prior to making landfall in Louisiana on August 26, Andrew caused extensive damage to oil
platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, leading to $500 million in losses for oil companies. It produced
hurricane-force winds along its path through Louisiana, damaging large stretches of power lines that
left about 230,000 people without electricity. Over 80% of trees in the Atchafalaya River Basin were
downed, and the agriculture there was devastated. Throughout the basin and Bayou Lafourche,
187 million freshwater fish were killed in the hurricane. With 23,000 houses damaged, 985 others
destroyed, and 1,951 mobile homes demolished, property losses in Louisiana exceeded $1.5 billion.
The hurricane caused the deaths of 17 people in the state, 6 of whom drowned offshore. Andrew
spawned at least 28 tornadoes along the Gulf Coast, especially in Alabama, Georgia, and
Mississippi. In total, Andrew left 65 dead and caused $26.5 billion in damage. It is currently the
fourth costliest Atlantic hurricane to hit the United States, behind only Katrina, Sandy, and Ike, and
the fifth costliest Atlantic hurricane, behind those and Wilma.