Hurricane Central

Hurricane Questions
WINK NEWS SKYTRACKER Chief Meteorologist Jim Farrell answers some commonly asked viewer questions:


QUESTION: How far inland, from the Gulf, was the worst ever water damage (storm surge, etc)?
- J Sexton

ANSWER: Storm surge from Donna, Charley and Wilma was confined primarily to the coastline, but interestingly enough in 2001 Tropical Storm Gabrielle drove salt water all the way up to the Franklin lock in the Caloosahatchee River.
- Jim Farrell, Chief Meteorologist


QUESTION: Before Hurricane Charley hit here, your newscast said that "something had slipped down over us". What in the atmosphere slipped over us, and is it still there?
- Becky Uhle

ANSWER: No, the atmosphere is constantly changing and that trough of low pressure left the area with Charley.
- Jim Farrell, Chief Meteorologist


QUESTION: What are the safest hurricane shutters?
- Henry Sparks

ANSWER: The safest shutters are the ones that are on your windows and not left in your garage! Seriously, plywood is ok for a Category 1 or 2 hurricane, but are not recommended for a major hurricane so the best shutters are the ones rated to stay in place for a Category 3, 4 or 5 hurricane. Cheap corrugated aluminum or steel shutters work fine in most cases if they are installed correctly.
- Jim Farrell, Chief Meteorologist


QUESTION: With all of SWFL not being inconvenienced with hurricanes for the past 3 years, what are the odds of us getting hit with one this year? How much of an impact does La Nina have on us when trying to predict hurricane landfalls?
- Jennifer Trout

ANSWER: The odds are low for any given year. While La Nina seems to be fading, we are still expecting an above average season. Seasonal forecasts can be misleading because they attempt to predict the total number of hurricanes in a season but have little skill in forecasting if any will hit land.
- Jim Farrell, Chief Meteorologist


QUESTION: I hear about a weather alert radio, where do you purchase one at?
- Gary Krall

ANSWER: WINK NEWS is selling weather radios in conjunction with all area Publix stores this hurricane season.
- Jim Farrell, Chief Meteorologist


QUESTION: Regarding your story on generator safety I was wondering what ethanol does to the hoses in a generator if left in during hurricane season? I've seen what it does to boats, I know I get lots less mileage in my hybrid car, and now the state legislature has voted to make it mandatory at all gas stations in Florida.

ANSWER: The effects of ethanol may vary so consult the instruction manual or call the consumer answer line provided by the manufacturer of your generator.
- Jim Farrell, Chief Meteorologist


QUESTION: I purchased an aluminum shutter from Home Depot that is .061 in. thick. Does this meet the Miami Dade County requirement or must it be pre-certified by some agency?
- Patrick O'Connell

ANSWER: All shutters that meet the Miami-Dade standard will display that designation on the packaging or in the literature. Some shutters meet the Florida standard but not the Miami-Dade standard.
- Jim Farrell, Chief Meteorologist




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