Power Outage in Orlando, FL

Hurricane Nicole's extensive wind field led to a period of tropical storm force winds and heavy rain in Orange County. Scattered reports of trees downed and some minor structural damage due to strong winds, which surface observations indicated peaked between 55 to 65 mph through the county. At the height of the storm, 76,000 customers were left without power. Two indirect storm-related fatalities were reported when a 23-year-old man and his twin sister came in contact with a downed power line near the intersection of Bayfront Parkway and East Pershing Ave in Conway.

Hurricane Ian's slow movement and large wind field led to a long period of tropical storm force winds in Orange County. Scattered reports of trees and power lines downed, as well as generally minor damage to roofs, awnings, fences, and pool enclosures due to strong winds, which surface observations indicated peaked between 60 and 70 mph. A 75-year-old male died at a hospital after falling from a ladder at his home while cleaning debris left in the wake of Ian (indirect). A 79-year-old female died at an Orlando area hospital days after being transported from a Fort Myers area nursing facility where she fell and was unable to receive proper medical treatment due to damages from the storm (indirect). A 65-year-old female died after suffering burns and inhalation injury while cleaning debris left in the storm's wake (indirect).

Local broadcast media reported wind damage along Walker Road in Apopka just along the eastern edge of Lake Apopka. Three palm trees were knocked over, one fell and damaged the roof of a home, and another downed nearby power lines.

Orlando Health Emergency Management reported several downed trees causing damage to a couple of vehicles at the Dr. Phillips Hospital. Also, broadcast media relayed reports of downed power lines on Turkey Lake Road.

A thunderstorm become severe just west of Orlando International Airport then moved over the airfield. Downed powerlines were reported by a trained spotter, approximately 3 miles west of the airfield. The airport ASOS (KMCO) measured peak gusts of 60 mph at 1551LST and then 69 mph at 1554LST.

Pictures relayed by local broadcast media shows a large tree that fell on a car and caused power outages in the area. Winds were estimated at 50-55 mph with the strong storm.

Category 3 Hurricane Irma made landfall near Naples during the late afternoon of September 10. Irma then moved northward across west-central Florida during the evening and overnight while weakening to a Category 2 hurricane approximately 60 miles west of Orlando. A long duration of damaging winds occurred across Orange County, with a period of gusts to minimal hurricane force. The highest measured sustained wind was recorded at the Orlando International Airport ASOS (KMCO; 59 mph from the east at 0019LST on September 11) and the highest measured peak gust was 79 mph from the northeast at 1744LST on September 10. A peak wind gust of 91 mph was recorded at the top of the Disney Contemporary Resort in Orlando (106 feet above ground level) at 1950LST on September 10. The total estimated damage cost was $110 million. Damage occurred primarily to roof shingles, soffits, awnings, and pool enclosures. Numerous trees were uprooted or snapped, some falling onto homes resulting in additional structural damage. There were 6 fatalities indirectly related to Hurricane Irma, one resulting from an vehicle accident during heavy rain and strong winds, two due to electrocutions (downed power line and on ladder trimming trees during clean-up when ladder touch a power line) and three from carbon monoxide poisoning associated with a generator running in a laundry room.

As major Hurricane Matthew passed east of the Space Coast during the morning of October 7, winds gusted to tropical storm force for over 12 hours across Orange County. One death was indirectly related to the hurricane. A 70-year old woman died after her medical device failed during a power outage.

A large tree was toppled and damaged an adjacent home in the Pine Hills area of Orlando. Power lines were downed.

A weather spotter estimated winds over 60 mph downed large trees limbs and powerlines.

A strong thunderstorm became locally severe, with winds uprooting multiple large trees in Audubon Park within Orlando. Numerous power lines were also downed.

Several trees were toppled in Orlando due to severe thunderstorm winds. The trees were downed on Raeford Road, taking down power lines.

A severe thunderstorm downed home awnings and powerlines in central Orange County.

Severe thunderstorm winds downed a tree and powerlines near the intersection of Conroy Windermere and Doctor Phillips Blvd.

Thunderstorm winds blew down power lines and poles in Orlando.

Thunderstorm winds blew down trees and power lines in the Disney area. Some homes were damaged by falling trees.

Thunderstorm wind blew down trees and power lines and damaged the roof of a house. Falling trees damaged some houses.

A strong weather system was moving across the northeastern Gulf of Mexico and the Florida peninsula. Ahead of this system winds across central Florida were from the southwest, bringing in plenty of deep moisture from the Gulf. Strong daytime heating, combined with the presence of the approaching storm system led to the development of numerous strong to severe thunderstorms across east central Florida in the afternoon. Severe thunderstorms impacted the Orlando Metro area, as well as Lake, Volusia, Brevard, and St. Lucie counties. Many reports of downed trees and power lines, damage to roofs and other weak structures were received. Wind gusts in excess of 60 mph were measured at the Kennedy Space Center in Brevard County, and hail was reported in Orange and Seminole Counties.

An isolated thunderstorm quickly strengthened over Winter Garden and produced a locally severe microburst which damaged several trees and power lines.

A stationary upper-level disturbance, strong onshore flow, and a weak frontal boundary produced persistent heavy rainfall and squalls across a large portion of east central Florida on October 7-8. ||A strong gale then formed over the Bahamas on October 9 and moved northwest and onto the Brevard and Volusia County coast late in the evening. As the gale approached the coast, heavy convective bands and storm-force winds developed west of the center of circulation. While not a tropical storm, the system briefly possessed some tropical/sub-tropical characteristics. Winds gusted between 50 and 80 mph along much of the coast. Additional heavy rains added to the totals of the previous several days. The combination of the saturated grounds and high wind gusts caused numerous, mostly small trees, to be toppled, mainly across coastal Brevard and Volusia Counties. Tree branches were also downed and many power outages occurred. ||A large portion of east central Florida received 72-hour storm total rainfall greater than 5 inches, with parts of Brevard, Indian River, and Osceola Counties reaching 10 to nearly 17 inches of rain. Unseasonably dry soil conditions prior to the event minimized significant flooding, however, minor flooding, and high levels of standing water were experienced within several counties.

A rare Florida derecho affected the region during the late afternoon and early evening, well ahead of a strong cold front. The rapidly moving squall line, contained multiple bow echoes as it moved across the central portion of Florida at 60 mph. Widespread wind damage resulted. Multiple observations of 65 to 74 mph winds were reported. The majority of damage was caused by falling trees, with many landing on homes, powerlines and vehicles. Eighteen homes in Seminole County neighborhood experienced structural damage, with isolated structural damage reported in Osceola and Brevard Counties. Hen egg sized hail (2 inch diameter) fell in Palm Bay, with multiple reports of penny to quarter sized hail across the region.

On the morning of August 19th, Tropical Storm Fay came onshore in southwest Florida, moving north-northeast toward Lake Okeechobee. Fay remained well formed and actually intensified over land, exhibiting a classical tropical cyclone eye as it reached peak intensity over the western shore of Lake Okeechobee. Wind gusts of 58 mph were reported in the town of Okeechobee. By the early morning of August 20th, Tropical Storm Fay had moved to southern Brevard County, producing widespread wind gusts over 50 mph. Patrick AFB reported a gust to 62 mph. Fay produced torrential rain along the Space and Treasure coasts on the 20th as the circulation center moved up the Brevard County coast and into the near shore Atlantic waters near Edgewater. Rainfall amounts on the 20th were near 8 to 9 inches in Martin, Saint Lucie and Indian River counties and from 5 to 16 inches in Brevard County. On August 21st Fay drifted onshore in northern Volusia County and produced an additional 6 to 13 inches of rain in Brevard County and about 5 inches of rain in southern Volusia County. Orlando Executive Airport had a wind gust to 56 mph and Sanford reported a gust to 53 mph. A 35 year old woman drowned in the rough surf while swimming at Daytona Beach. On August 22nd, as Tropical Storm Fay moved across the Florida peninsula north of Ocala, an additional 7 to 10 inches of rain fell over Volusia County. In Indian River County a 43 year old male motorist died after hydroplaning on a high water road and crashing his vehicle. ||In Okeechobee County, about 70 homes were damaged by flood waters from heavy rain. A few homes received minor wind damage and 4300 homes were without power. Property damage was near $100 thousand. Wind gusts of 58 mph were reported in the town of Okeechobee. ||In Brevard County, the heaviest rain from Tropical Storm Fay fell, with widespread reports of 20 plus inches and a maximum of 27.65 inches in Melbourne. The rain flooded or damaged over 1,600 homes and businesses, producing a loss of near $60 million. An additional $10 million in damage to public infrastructure was reported. Three days of rough surf produced moderate beach erosion. An EF1 tornado tore through a large manufactured home community in Barefoot Bay. ||In Volusia County, Tropical Storm Fay produced widespread rainfall amounts of 10 inches with isolated reports of 20 inches. Over 200 homes were damaged by flood waters. Frequent wind gusts over 45 mph produced minor wind damage and power loss to 16,000 homes. Rough surf produced significant beach erosion at New Smyrna Beach where 50 feet of new sand was washed away. Estimated wind gusts were near 45 mph along the southeast coast. ||In Seminole County, as much as 15 inches of rain fell, with widespread coverage of 10 inches. About 500 homes were damaged by local rainfall flooding. Damage amounts were near $15 million. Wind gusts to 47 mph produced minor wind damage and power loss to 4,000 homes. | |In St. Lucie County, rainfall amounts of 10 to 15 inches fell over most of the coastal region, flooding over 900 homes. Damage estimates were over $70 million. Wind gusts estimates were near 50 mph. A short lived EF0 tornado slightly damaged a building near Ft. Pierce. ||In Orange County, heavy rain of 10 to 13 inches fell, flooding only 5 homes. Wind gusts to 56 mph produced only minor wind damage. Total damage estimates were near $100 thousand. ||In Martin County, rainfall amounts of 10 to 15 inches fell over most of the coastal region, flooding over 55 homes. Damage estimates were over $70 million. Wind gusts in the western part of the county near Lake Okeechobee were estimated to be near 50 mph. A short-lived EF0 tornado overturned a panel truck in Stuart. | |In Lake County, rainfall ranged from about 15 inches in Eustis to only 4 inches in the southwest part of the county. Only minor urban flooding was reported with the heavy rain.| |In Indian River County, rainfall amounts of 15 to 22 inches fell over most of the coastal sections of the county. No flood damage was reported. Wind gust in the western part of the county near Lake Okeechobee were estimated to be near 50 mph.

Hurricane Charley made landfall over southwest Florida as a category four hurricane with estimated sustained wind speeds of 150 mph. Moving north northeast at about 25 mph Charley crossed central Florida maintaining hurricane intensity through Osceola, Orange, Seminole, and Volusia counties. In Osceola County, widespread power outages and damage were reported, mostly to roofs, pool enclosures, awnings, weak buildings, and mobile homes. Much of the damage was due to the thousands of trees blown down. The greatest damage occurred in northwest Osceola County as the eye wall passed over the communities of Poinciana, Kissimmee and St. Cloud. Dozens of planes and numerous hangars were destroyed at Kissimmee airport. The roof was blown off the gymnasium at Poinciana High School. Wind gusts to 65 knots (75 mph) were reported at the Kissimmee airport, but much of the area was subjected to winds similar to the 91 knots (105 mph) reported to the north at Orlando International Airport. Three tornadoes were reported with the hurricane. One was an F0 tornado associated with the outer rain bands. The other two tornado-like events produced large but narrow areas of blown down trees in the eye wall. A 32 year old man was killed when his vehicle hit a tree across a road. In Orange County, similar damage occurred as the eye wall moved north northeast over the Orlando metro area, just east of the Interstate 4 corridor. A wind gust to 91 knots (105 mph) was reported at Orlando International Airport. A head-on collision at an intersection where a traffic light was out killed a 48 year old man. A wind gust blew a moving van over on a vehicle killing a 7 year old girl. During cleanup a 37 year old man fell to his death while clearing branches from a tree. Orlando International and Orlando Executive airports also received extensive damage to planes and hangers. Total estimated damage for the county was $881 million. In Seminole County Charley continued to maintain hurricane strength as the eye wall moved over most of the county. This resulted in in widespread power outages and damage to roofs, mobile homes, and boats and docks on the St. Johns River. Planes and hangars were also damaged at Sanford airport where winds of 80 knots (92 mph) were recorded. Damage at the airport was estimated at $4 million. No fatalities were reported in the county. Total estimated damage for the county was $47 million.