What to expect from a hurricane
Before the center of a hurricane makes landfall, a dense gray curtain of moisture will envelop the area. Bands of torrential rains will burst upon the coast and quickly sweep across the entire County. One stinging blast after another will send horizontal sheets of water in an unrelenting assault on each and every structure. At this point, residents must be inside a secure building. As the storm continues its approach, each new squall line may produce wind gusts capable of unexpected new levels of destruction.
at 60 mph -- Light structural damage will begin. Signs and aluminum awnings will be the first to go; carport structures will be next. Some larger tree branches will fall.
at 80 mph -- Screened enclosures will be blown out. Loud moaning, shrieking and whistling sounds may begin just outside your house. Sliding glass doors facing the wind will bow inward and rainwater will enter at window sills and doorjambs. Keeping water out will not be possible. At night, silent blue explosions will silhouette the distant sky as electrical transformers arc and explode. Some large trees will topple.
at 100 mph -- Houses will creak, buckle and shudder as the wind pulses increase in velocity. An unprotected window may explode. Fine jets of mist will fill the air near doors and windows facing the wind. Loud snaps and heavy thuds will be heard and felt as tree limbs break and strike the house.
at 120 mph -- Great structural damage may begin to occur. Most mobile homes will disintegrate and become airborne. Unprotected windows in remaining houses will explode on the side facing the wind. The sound of the storm is deafening. The house may quake and shudder as if it is being twisted from the ground, but those who are in an interior room have a very high probability of survival.
| Category | Sustained winds | Central pressure | Tide
at Daytona Beach (direct hit) |
Damage |
| 1 | 74-95 mph | 28.94-29.40 | 2-4 ft. | Minimal |
| 2 | 96-110 mph | 28.50-28.93 | 5-7 ft. | Moderate |
| 3 | 111-130 mph | 27.91-28.49 | 8-11 ft. | Extensive |
| 4 | 131-155 mph | 27.17-27.90 | 12-13 ft. | Extreme |
| 5 | 156 mph and up | less than 27.17 | 14-15 ft. | Catastrophic |
Current U.S. storm tracking information
Printable hurricane tracking chart (pdf file)
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