Hurricane

A new study by University of South Florida researchers shows warmer, lighter fresh water flowing into the Gulf in the path of Hurricane Idalia may have helped intensify it from a Category 1 to a Category 4 storm in one day.

South Florida TV forecaster John Morales said he was not confident he could predict the paths of storms this year, touching a nerve amid concerns about how federal cuts could affect hurricane season.

When hurricanes hit, we often measure the damage in downed power lines, flooded roads and wind-torn homes. But some of the most serious consequences are harder to see, especially for older adults who may struggle with mobility, chronic health problems and cognitive decline.

Floridians can receive a weekly benefit up to $275 if their employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted due to a major disaster.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts an above-normal hurricane season, with 13 to 19 named storms and 3 to 5 major hurricanes.

Senate Bill 180 includes some provisions to help storm-weary Floridians, but it also would weaken local efforts to build stronger structures after hurricanes — freezing any tougher rules for at least two years, potentially allowing developers to rebuild homes under the same codes that had failed to protect property.

As new buildings go up along the flood-prone Gulf coast at 15 to 20 feet off the ground, the future of Florida's infrastructure "looks high."

Accuracy will be crucial again in 2025, as meteorologists predict another active Atlantic hurricane season, yet cuts in staffing and threats to funding at NOAA are diminishing operations that forecasters rely on.

Ahead of the official start of hurricane season on June 1, officials at the National Hurricane Center are brushing off concerns over widespread cuts at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) offices — and reminding people about the importance of readiness instead.

With another potentially active Atlantic hurricane season on the horizon, Florida is preparing for the possibility the federal government won’t respond like it has in the past. After the state was hit by three hurricanes in 2024, Gov. Ron DeSantis jokes that Florida is due for a “break.”

FEMA says that over 48,000 applications for disaster assistance after last year's trio of hurricanes are still listed as "ineligible" because of a lack of documentation.

Monroe County has some new weapons to fight storms, including a new emergency operations center and a seawater desalination water treatment plant.