Resource Links | Important Numbers | Terms To Know | Storm News
It’s that time of year again. Florida’s hurricane season lasts from June 1 until November 30. If you’re new to the state or just in need of information on how to keep yourself and your loved ones safe, the Central Florida Public Media news team has compiled links to some of the most important information you’ll need.
Stay Safe this hurricane season and remember, Central Florida Public Media is here to keep you up-do-date with life and property saving information.
RESOURCE LINKS
CENTRAL FLORIDA COUNTY EMERGENCY INFORMATION, SHELTERS AND EVACUATION ZONES:
Brevard | Lake | Marion | Orange | Osceola | Polk | Seminole | Sumter | Volusia | Flagler
STATE/NATIONAL RESOURCES:
NOAA | Fla. Div. Of Emergency Management | FEMA
MORE RESOURCE LINKS:
Disaster Supply Kit Checklist
Flood maps
Know your Zone
Evacuation plan
Shelters
Preparing your homes
Medicine refills
Hurricane safety for people with dementia
Special Needs Registry
Planning for your pet
Horse owner hurricane preparation
Mental health help during a disaster
What to do if you lose power
Power outage map
Dangers after a hurricane
Cleanup after a hurricane
Food Safety
Generator safety
Where to find gas
Report price gouging
Mosquitoes after a storm
Encountering wildlife after a hurricane
Beekeeper preparedness
IMPORTANT NUMBERS
Emergency help: 911
SAIL Hotline: 1-800-342-3557
FEMA: 1-800-621-FEMA (3362)
Non Emergency Support Services: 211
TERMS TO KNOW
Language surrounding hurricanes and other storms can often be confusing. With that in mind, we’ve also compiled a list of terms and their definitions.
Tropical Cyclone: Low pressure system that forms over warm tropical waters.
Tropical Depression: A tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 38 mph or less.
Tropical Storm: A tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph.
Hurricane: A tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 74 mph or higher.
Major hurricane: A tropical cyclone with maximum sustained winds of 111 mph or higher. These are category 3, 4 or 5 hurricanes.
Tropical storm warning: A tropical storm warning is issued when sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph are expected in an area within the next 36 hours.
Tropical storm watch: A tropical storm watch is issued when tropical storm conditions are possible within the next 48 hours.
Hurricane Warning: A hurricane warning is issued when sustained winds of 74 mph or greater are expected in an area within the next 36 hours.
Hurricane Watch: A hurricane watch is issued when hurricane force winds are possible in an area within the next 48 hours.
Eye: The center of the hurricane.
Eyewall: The band or ring of clouds that surrounds the eye of a hurricane.
Landfall: The moment the center of the hurricane reaches the coastline.
Outer bands: An outer ring of rainfall and thunderstorms that surrounds a hurricane. Usually this is the first part of the storm to make landfall.
Storm surge: A rise in sea level corresponding with a hurricane or other intense storm at sea.
Cone of uncertainty: A diagram showing the projected path of a tropical storm or hurricane over the next five days.
Spaghetti plot: A diagram showing multiple paths a tropical storm or hurricane could take based on different prediction models.
Hurricane names: Any tropical cyclone that becomes a tropical storm or hurricane gets a name. Here’s the list of this year’s names.
National Hurricane Center: The National Hurricane Center or NHC issues watches, warnings and advisories for tropical weather.
Hurricane season: The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30. This is when tropical cyclones are most likely to form in the Atlantic.
The peak of hurricane season: September 10 is the peak of hurricane season. Most hurricanes form between mid-August and mid-October.
Saffir Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale (ranking): The scale ranks a hurricane’s potential to do property damage based on its maximum sustained wind speeds. Hurricanes can be category 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 storms.
Latest Storm News
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A weak cold front will lower rain chances and also bring slightlly lower humidity values for much of Florida for part of this week. -
Hurricane Isaias made landfall just outside of Pensacola on Friday. After reaching major hurricane status, the cyclone weakened before landfall. -
Damaging winds, tornadoes, and flash flood risk will continue throughout the weekend across the Southeast into the Mid-Atlantic. -
Numerous damaging tornadoes are possible even after the hurricane moves inland and weakens; the heavy rains will continue throughout Saturday morning across the Florida Panhandle. (Version in Spanish here, too) -
Landfalling tropical systems have a history of producing tornadoes, but the atmospheric ingredients around Hurricane Isaias appear conducive for supercells and tornadoes across northern Florida. -
Isaias strengthened into a Category 3 hurricane on Friday and is expected to make landfall near Pensacola by Saturday morning. -
Tropical Storm Isaias is expected strengthen into a Category 2 hurricane on Friday. The cyclone is headed towards the northern Gulf but moisture will impact much of Florida. -
Florida faces continued heavy rain and flooding concerns as the strengthening tropical system moves toward the northern Gulf Coast, with landfall possible late Friday or early Saturday. -
A strengthening El Niño could bring Florida a wetter, cloudier and stormier dry season. Here is why the risk of flooding, squall lines and tornadoes typically increases—especially across Central and South Florida. -
Gradual development is possible this week, but it will likely take the whole week for anything to develop. Rain across Florida this week is due to a front and local effects. -
Tropical downpours are expected this weekend across the western Florida Panhandle. Local flash flooding will be possible -
The Atlantic has produced eight named storms in 2026—but no hurricanes. Here is how a strengthening El Niño helped create the historic lull and why the season’s shift toward the Caribbean and Gulf still matters for Florida.
