Lightning, torrential inland rains, and tornadoes wreak havoc far beyond the affected coastline. When Hurricane Andrew came into South Florida, it produced a prolific lightning demonstration, said Bob Goree, warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Tallahassee. The pattern of strikes in the eyewall matched the radar pattern. During Opal, lightning temporarily disabled the National Weather Service's warning system in Mobile. Flooding, though, can create far greater destruction as a storm moves inland.
Tornadoes often form during a hurricane's trek over land.
Goree said the air currents in front of an approaching storm affect whether and how much tornadic activity may occur. If winds at different levels are moving in different directions and at different speeds, it would be more conducive to tornadic activity. Waterspouts can also develop as a storm moves in, he said. Forecasting these weather events remains tricky, however.