Hurricane Kate - Indian Pass, Florida - November 21, 1985

On November 13th, a weak tropical wave began interacting with a trough to the northeast of the Lesser Antilles. Over the next two days, the system gradually became better organized and on November 15th was upgraded to Tropical Storm Kate while located 240 miles (385 km) northeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

After initially drifting northwestward, Kate accelerated to the west over the southern Bahamas reaching hurricane strength on November 16th. An unusually favorable upper-level environment allowed Hurricane Kate to strengthen steadily and the hurricane's winds reached 110 mph (95 kt) on November 19th prior to making landfall on the northern coast of Cuba. As the core of the hurricane moved inland over Cuba, Kate's winds weakened to 90 mph (75 kt) before the storm turned towards the northwest and emerged into the Gulf of Mexico later that day.

Despite its passage over land, Hurricane Kate maintained its organization while crossing northern Cuba and quickly re-strengthened in the Gulf of Mexico. The storm began to rapidly intensify on November 20th and maximum sustained winds reached a peak of 120 mph (105 kt) with a minimum central pressure of 954 mb (28.17 in) as the hurricane turned towards the north in response to an approaching frontal trough. At (18:00 UTC) on November 20th Hurricane Kate passed directly over a NOAA Data Buoy located at 26.0N 85.9W which recorded an 8-min average wind of 107 mph (93 kt) with a peak gust of 134 mph (117 kt) as well as a minimum pressure of 957 mb (28.26 in).

By the morning of November 21st, Hurricane Kate was beginning to accelerate towards the northeast over the cooler waters over the northern Gulf of Mexico. Slow weakening ensued as Hurricane Kate approached landfall in the Florida panhandle. The hurricane moved onshore near Mexico Beach, Florida at (22:30 UTC) on November 21st with maximum sustined winds near 100 mph (85 kt) and a minimum central pressure of 967 mb (28.56 in). The strongest observed surface winds from a land station were at Cape San Blas, Florida where a 1-min sustained value of 74 mph (65 kt) with a peak gust of 101 mph ( kt) was recorded at (20:12 UTC). This location also experienced the peak storm surge associated with Hurricane Kate with a value of 11 ft (3.3 m) recorded. The Apalachicola NWS recorded a peak wind of 85 mph (74 kt) at (22:15 UTC). The minimum pressure reported from a land station was 973.1 mb (28.74 in) at Panama City, Florida at (21:30 UTC); Cape San Blas reported a minimum pressure of 975.3 mb (28.80 in) at (22:08 UTC).

On the afternoon of November 21st through the early morning of the 22nd, storm chasers Michael Laca and Jim Leonard intercepted Hurricane Kate between Indian Pass and Cape San Blas, Florida. Our chase team was located near the RMW (Radius of Maximum Winds) in the right-front quadrant, on the immediate coastline, with direct onshore flow from St. Vincent Sound. We encountered sustained winds of 85 mph (74 kt) with peak gusts between 100-105 mph (85-90 kt) and a minimum pressure of 983.1 mb (29.04 in) at (21:40 UTC).

Hurricane Kate weakened rapidly while inland and, after crossing Georgia, Kate approached very cold waters and increasing upper-level shear. The system became post-tropical on November 23rd while southeast of North Carolina. Making landfall along the northern Gulf coast just two months after Hurricane Elena, Kate obliterated what was left of the oyster industry in Apalachicola Bay resulting in significant job loss in the oystering and fishing industries. Hurricane Kate was responsible for 15 fatalities and resulted in $530 million (2005 USD) in damage.

Kate has an unusual noteriety as one of the latest occurring major hurricanes on record, having reached category three intensity on November 20th. In addition, Kate now has the distinction of being the latest landfalling hurricane in U.S. history, as well as the strongest U.S. landfall in November.

Category:

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[moe405]

Wow this was filmed in 1985 and the quality is this good. Incredible. I bow down to thee. Incredible footage

[vmax135]

@moe405 Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed the clip and like the re-mastered quality.

[thetaker5648]

@vmax135 how did your car even stay on 4 wheels in 212 miles per hour winds.but anyway for 1985 that is some extreme footage u have got there. well done man. =)

[vmax135]

@thetaker5648 LOL..thanks so much! Chasing a significant hurricane in a car is definitely challenging, but with Kate the biggest threat we encountered was storm surge, which wound up stalling our car for a period of time (I didn't include that portion of my footage in this clip). As for the winds in Kate, peak gusts were about 100-105 mph where we were, if they'd been up around 200 mph our car (us included) would have been flying along with everything else. :)

[TornadoWarning]

What a year! Gloria and then good 'ole Kate. I was 9 years old but I remember this like it was yesterday. Great footage Michael!

[vmax135]

@TornadoWarning Thank you so much!!! The '85 season was incredible. Glad you enjoyed the clip.

[thetaker5648]

@thetaker5648 you must off been very scared at the time.

[omgthisiscrazy1]

I am so glad you captured a lot of wind and the trees swaying like crazy. It was awesome.

[larry2043]

Great video, Michael!!!!!!

[vmax135]

@NovaGypsy Thanks so much!!! Glad you like the re-mastered quality! :)