page_title: Effects of Hurricane Georges in Florida
section_title: South and Central Florida
hierarchical_section_title: Effects of Hurricane Georges in Florida / Impact / South and Central Florida
caption_attribution_description: This image shows downed trees and property damage in Key West, Florida from Hurricane Georges in September of 1998.
context_page_description: The effects of Hurricane Georges in Florida lasted for more than a week in late September and early October in 1998. After developing from a tropical wave to the south of Cape Verde on September 15, Georges moved steadily west-northwestward and peaked as a strong Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson scale on September 20. After weakening slightly to a Category 3, the cyclone proceeded to strike Antigua, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, and Cuba. Georges emerged into the Straits of Florida as a Category 1, but re-strengthened slightly to a Category 2 before making landfall in Key West, Florida, on September 25. The hurricane continued northwestward into the Gulf of Mexico and struck near Biloxi, Mississippi, on September 28. After moving inland, Georges turned eastward and crossing into the Florida Panhandle on the next day. By October 1, the system dissipated near the northeast Florida–southeast Georgia coast.
  With a landfall predicted along the mainland of Florida, the National Hurricane Center issued tropical cyclone warnings and watches, while more than 1.2 million people were ordered to evacuate.
context_section_description: The eye of the storm passed near Key West about midday on September 24. Upon making landfall, Hurricane Georges brought a storm surge of up to 12 ft (3.7 m) in Tavernier, with similar but lesser amounts along the Florida Keys. Wind gusts near the center of the storm reached 125 mph (205 km/h). The islands, some only 7 ft (2.1 m) high and 300 yd (270 m) wide, flooded easily, and with up to 10 ft (3.0 m) waves, many parts of the Overseas Highway were under water. Strong winds downed palm trees and power lines, leaving all of the Keys without power. Georges's waves overturned 2 boats in Key West, damaged 1,536 houses, and destroyed 173 homes, many of which were mobile homes. Rainfall amounts amounted to a maximum of 8.41 in (214 mm) in Tavernier, while other locations reported lesser amounts. Damage in the Florida Keys amounted to $200 million. 
  A long-tracked F0 tornado, originally forming as a waterspout, moved from Key Biscayne to Cutler Ridge. The tornado downed trees and power lines and left some damage to cars and homes. Another F0 tornado briefly touched down in Bal Harbour and left similar damage. Strong winds knocked down power lines, leaving about 200,000 people without power in the Miami area. In Palm Beach County, more than 10,000 Florida Power & Light customers lost electricity on September 25, though power was restored for most of them by nightfall. Wind gusts in the county peaked at 49 mph (79 km/h), leaving little damage other than some downed trees, tree limbs, and power lines.
  On September 25, a waterspout moved onshore near Sebastian and severely damaged a factory. Rated an F1, the tornado caused about $700,000 in damages. Thunderstorm winds associated with Georges left sporadic wind damage along the west coast of Florida. In Charlotte County another F0 tornado tracked for 5 mi (8.0 km), uprooting several trees along its path before dissipating.  In DeSoto County, a weak and short-lived tornado near Arcadia damaged some tree limbs and trees before lifting. Rainfall caused the Peace River to reach 12.7 ft (3.9 m) at State Road 70 in Arcadia, more than 1.5 ft (0.46 m) above flood stage. A few homes experienced flood damage as a result. Georges spawned two brief tornadoes in Polk County. The first twister damaged awnings, blew over a few sheds, and downed large trees limbs and power lines just south of Winter Haven. The other tornado, spawned about 7 mi (11 km) northwest of Lakeland damaged two barns and knocked a trailer off its foundation. Another tornado touched down in Hillsborough County near Lutz. However, it lifted before causing any damage.
caption: Downed trees in Key West along the old houseboat row on South Roosevelt Boulevard
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