minimal atlantic hurricane struck florida panhandle september season eighth storm fifth hurricane season florence developed western caribbean tropical wave near jamaica september produced heavy rainfall nearby island later caused damage western cuba storm quickly intensified hurricane moved north gulf_of_mexico florence maximum sustained winds reached mph september hurricane hit sparsely populated region western florida shortly landfall extratropical cyclone damage florence houses damaged destroyed winds destroyed roofs evacuation shelters resulting injury city florida temporarily isolated storm impact deaths associated florence damage totaled usd million usd extratropical remnants continued northeast producing rainfall path dissipating september southeast new_england meteorological history origins tropical wave moved lesser antilles eastern caribbean_sea september wave tracked generally westward spawned tropical storm september southeast jamaica given florence storm steadily intensified developing defined circulation observed september day florence attained hurricane status yucatán_peninsula western tip cuba turning north entering gulf_of_mexico florence quickly intensified hurricane hunters estimating winds mph official peak intensity reported mph pressure inhg estimate peak winds high ships region confirm september began quickly weakening combination colder water temperatures cool air utc day florence landfall sparsely populated area fort florida winds mph hours moving ashore hurricane transitioned extratropical cyclone near borders florida alabama georgia remnants florence turned northeast cold crossing georgia emerging near savannah storm paralleled carolinas offshore dissipating september southeast new_england preparations impact storm developing florence dropped heavy rainfall jamaica isolated villages blocked roads early existence produced strong winds waves west coast cuba producing locally heavy damage prior hurricane making landfall united_states gulf_coast weather_bureau issued warnings recommended evacuations credited preventing deaths major injuries florida alabama national_guard activated event heavy damage caused ultimately required air_force flew hundreds planes away region safety addition drove beach warn people approaching hurricane florida people evacuated warnings related hurricane lowered new_orleans weather_bureau office september offshore united_states_coast_guard ship came hours morning september early morning hours september battling cyclone gulf_of_mexico strongest winds recorded mph florence landfall florida heaviest rainfall related florence alabama intense rainbands center responsible heaviest rainfall hurricane including hourly rainfall rates reported millimetres hour period combination winds heavy rainfall caused minor crop damage florida panhandle southeastern alabama coast florence damaged houses destroyed winds destroyed roofs shelters florida forcing leave safer areas person injured process winds destroyed roofs houses strong waves reaching height damaged fishing pier waves washed portions near leaving city isolated power lines downed strongest winds affecting sparsely populated area near coast overall damage united_states minor estimated usd million usd heavy rainfall reported portions alabama including total inch shy hour precipitation record montgomery set rainfall backed sewer drains flooding homes cars storm left people electricity area florence moved southeastern united_states heaviest rainfall fell near left center interaction cold
Hurricane Florence (1953)