What a few days…

What became “Hurricane Nicole” was first labeled a “subtropical” storm…

I texted my brother Todd, (eyeonlakeo.com) inquiring and he sent me a NOAA article about tropical, subtropical, and extratropical storms. Hmmm?

When I posted a video on Facebook as Nicole approached, showing South Sewall’s Point Road underwater, I was asked: “Is this the worst it has ever flooded?” This got me thinking about my photo archives so  I pulled out old pictures of the November Thanksgiving Day Storm that former Sewall’s Point Mayor, and friend, Don Winer shared with me.

Below are videos of Sewall’s Point from November 9, 2022 as Hurricane Nicole approached the east cost of Florida. Next, are photos from 1984 after the Thanksgiving Day Flood. Both storms are for the Florida November record books -that’s for sure! Looking at the photographs, and considering all the variables, what do you think? Nichole or Thanksgiving Day Storm?

-Above: Sewall’s Point is a peninsula in Martin County, FL surrounded by the Indian River Lagoon on the east and St Lucie River on the west. The east side is lower in elevation and sometimes experiences flooding. The town of Sewall’s Point is working hard to change this and the new work in the area of Mandalay held up according to Mayor Tompeck.

I. HURRICANE NICOLE, made landfall late November 9, 2022. Storm surge proceeded impact. JTL

-At Ridgeview 11-9-22 at 11:48am

-Riverview 11-9-22 at 11:42am

-Post storm 

-Post storm

-Below: Entrance to South SP Rd. November 9, 2022 at 11:51pm 

-North Sewall’ Point Road at entrance to Indialuice, approaching midnight after landfall. Courtesy of my brother law Mike Flaugh and my sister, Jenny Flaugh.

Sewall’s Point Park, post storm, November 10, 2022.

 

II. THANKSGIVING DAY STORM, November 22, 1984

Jacqui,

Below added 11-12-22 an email from Mark Perry, Executive Director of Florida Oceanographic  -this history is so interesting!

Hi Jacqui,

“Great Blog on the comparison of Hurricane Nicole and the Thanksgiving Day Storm of 1984.  Florida Oceanographic established the St. Lucie Inlet Coastal Weather Station at the House of Refuge in October 1984, just before the “Thanksgiving Day Storm”.  The weather Station has been upgraded over the years and is a display at the House of Refuge showing “real” time weather conditions to visitors while providing weather to over 200 callers each day, boaters, fishermen,etc..  The weather information is also valuable to ocean and coastal research efforts and reporting pending storm conditions.  I recall the major storm surge and how glad I was that our weather station held up.  Back then we used a TR180 computer and a Realistic answering machine from Radio Shack.  Do you rember George Gross?  He and his father (Chemistry professor at FIT) were the owners of the 1^st Radio Shack in Stuart.  George was on our Board at the time and he along with Bill Chase (also FIT computer teacher) installed the first coastal weather station in October 1984.  It was the first in our area and it is still going (with updated equipment of course);

Weather | Florida Oceanographic Society  (click on the one at House of Refuge)

Just some history I thought you might enjoy.

Mark

Mark D. Perry

Executive Director & CEO

Florida Oceanographic Society

890 NE Ocean Blvd.

Stuart, Florida  34996

11-28-22

Of interest Thanksgiving Day Storm article TCPalm regarding damage along Vero Beach, FL (available to subscribers only November, 2022)