The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season will be remembered as one of history’s most active and destructive seasons. Throughout this article, the main focus will be the several storms that directly impacted Venice, Sarasota, and surrounding areas.
Initial predictions this year from several different sources including several governmental agencies, universities, and scientists were all predicting an above-average season. I won’t bore you with what each source predicted, but I will briefly mention NOAA’s (National Oceanic Atmospheric Association) pre-season forecast which was released on May 23rd and was forecasting 17-25 named storms, 8-13 hurricanes, and 4-7 major hurricanes (2024 Atlantic hurricane season, 2024). So, with that being said, what did the final numbers end up being you may ask? Well, we closed out the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season with 18 named storms, 11 hurricanes, and 5 major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher) (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Overall, NOAA’s pre-season forecast ended up being pretty accurate.
Hurricanes in Florida: A Season Overview
Before we get into the storms that impacted the state, I wanted to briefly mention the dull period that occurred at the end of August and the beginning of September, when we typically see “peak season” activity. If you remember we had a bunch of Saharan Dust that was out in the Atlantic and certainly had a major impact on the amount of storms that developed in August and the beginning of September. Unfortunately, little did we know that break was about to be over, but let’s also not forget the first storm that impacted the region at the beginning of August.
Three hurricanes made significant landfall in Florida during the 2024 season:
1. Hurricane Debby: Debby made landfall on August 5th near Steinhatchee, FL right around the same area that Idalia made landfall in 2023. Debby only ended up making landfall as a Category 1, but caused widespread impacts across the Gulf coast of Florida including moderate winds, heavy rainfall, flooding, and power outages.
2. Hurricane Helene: Making landfall near Perry, FL on September 26th as a Category 4 hurricane, Helene brought significant impacts across not only Florida, but far inland into portions of western North Carolina as well. Helene was also the strongest hurricane to hit Florida’s Big Bend region north of Tampa since 1851 (Mock, 2024). The big impact from Helene that will be remembered locally will be the storm surge that affected thousands of homes and businesses. More on that shortly.
3. Hurricane Milton: Two weeks after Helene, on October 9th, Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key as a Category 3 storm. Milton reached peak intensity over the central Gulf of Mexico as a Category 5. Milton broke several records for the lowest recorded pressure of 897 millibars making it the fifth most intense Atlantic hurricane. The storm also had gone through one of the fastest intensifications on record (NOAA Climate.gov, 2024).
The Impacts to Venice and Surrounding Areas
Among the many regions hardest hit during the 2024 season Venice, Sarasota, and surrounding areas were unfortunately among them. Debby, Helene, and Milton had significant impacts across the region.
Hurricane Debby:
Debby originated down in the Central Atlantic Ocean as a tropical wave in late July. It moved westward towards Cuba and was eventually designated a tropical depression near Cuba at the start of August. Debby then crossed over Cuba and strengthened into a tropical storm in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico as it moved generally northward parallel to the Gulf coast of Florida. Just before landfall in the Florida Big Bend, Debby strengthened into a Category 1 Hurricane (2024 Atlantic hurricane season, 2024).
As the storm passed off the coast of Sarasota County it ended up bringing major rainfall on the back side of it which contributed to localized rainfall amounts of over a foot of rain in some areas, especially within portions of northern Sarasota County. Fortunately, the wind speeds did not end up causing much of the damage across the region with only minimal tropical storm winds occurring (winds greater than 39 mph).
Here are some of the more notable and problematic rainfall amounts recorded across portions of the region during Debby (Powell, Hurricane Debby Post-Storm Summary Report 2024):
| Lakewood Ranch | 18.34 inches |
| Sarasota | 17.78 inches |
| Sarasota-Bradenton Airport | 11.06 inches |
| Bradenton | 14.48 inches |
| Ellenton | 14.60 inches |
| Vamo | 14.00 inches |
Aside from the flooding rainfall the rivers also crested across the region with the Myakka River reaching a peak height of 10.22 feet as a result of Debby.
Overall, Debby was certainly an eye-opener when it came to the impacts of what being on the “dirty side” of a tropical storm can do.
Hurricane Helene:
Helene originated in the northwestern Caribbean Sea by mid-September and became a potential tropical cyclone (PTC) on September 23rd. Within 24 hours the storm was then upgraded to a tropical storm. Once Helene entered the Gulf of Mexico it strengthened into a Hurricane. Helene reached peak intensity as a Category 4 hurricane and eventually made landfall near Perry, Florida on September 26th with winds of 140 mph (2024 Atlantic hurricane season, 2024).
While Helene took a similar path to Debby, some key differences ended up making huge differences locally for Sarasota and surrounding counties when it came to impacts. Debby was a slower-moving storm as it passed parallel to the coast which contributed to the rainfall, while Helene was quicker moving it was a much stronger system and was able to push a lot of water up along the coastline making the storm surge the biggest impact from the storm. Rainfall wasn’t much of an issue with Helene and winds only reached minimal hurricane force very briefly along the coast. The highest recorded wind gust (not sustained) locally was around 74 mph at Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (Powell, Hurricane Helene Post-Storm Summary Report 2024).
As far as storm surge goes, Sarasota County saw some of the highest water levels recorded in decades ranging between 4 and 8 feet above dry ground at times. The downtown areas of Sarasota and Venice were particularly affected, with streets turning into rivers. The floodwaters caused extensive damage to homes, businesses, and infrastructure. Many residents were forced to seek shelter in temporary accommodations as their homes became uninhabitable. Beaches were completely washed away along with many structures along the coast including our beloved Jetty Jack’s Snack Shack on the South Jetty in Venice. If you’d like to help out Jetty Jack’s you can do so by supporting here.
The response to Helene involved a massive coordinated effort between local, state, and federal agencies. Rescue operations were conducted to assist those trapped by floodwaters, and emergency shelters were set up to provide refuge for displaced residents. The National Guard was deployed to assist with relief efforts and to help clear debris from the hardest-hit areas.
Hurricane Milton:
Just when we thought one was enough and everyone wanted the season to end, Mother Nature said not this time. Just two weeks after Helene, Hurricane Milton came along to add to the devastation that had just occurred.
The early stages of Milton began in the western Gulf of Mexico in the Bay of Campeche and made its very slow trek eastward toward the Florida Peninsula by the first week in October. While crossing the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico Milton quickly decided to reach Category 5 strength, not once, but twice. Eventually, on October 9th Milton made landfall as a strong Category 3 hurricane near Siesta Key, FL. The last time Siesta Key saw any kind of landfalling storm was back in 2001 when Tropical Storm Gabrielle hit (Hurricane Gabrielle (2001), 2024).
Milton’s powerful winds and storm surge compounded the damage already inflicted by Helene. While Milton’s flooding was not as extensive as Helene’s, the winds caused significant structural damage especially inland. The area experienced widespread power outages as trees and power lines were downed, leaving thousands without electricity for days.
Here are some peak wind gusts recorded during Milton (Powell, Post-Storm Summary report on Hurricane Milton 2024):
| Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport | 102 mph |
| Tampa Skyway Fishing Pier | 103 mph |
| Venice | 97 mph |
| Punta Gorda | 81 mph |
As you can see comparing Debby and Helene, Milton had the highest recorded wind speeds around the local region and the main reason for that was due to a landfall near many of these areas with some areas experiencing the eyewall of Milton for some time.
When it came to storm surge only areas south of Siesta Key saw the surge with the bullseye unfortunately being Englewood and surrounding areas where beaches and beach properties were completely left to rubble.
The Aftermath and Recovery Efforts
The aftermath of the 2024 hurricanes saw Venice, Sarasota, and surrounding communities coming together to rebuild and recover. Local authorities, with the support of state and federal agencies, launched extensive recovery efforts. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assisted in the form of grants and low-interest loans to help residents and businesses rebuild. Could the government have helped more? Well, that’s a whole other article if ya know what I mean.
The community response was also marked by acts of kindness and solidarity. Volunteer groups and non-profit organizations played a crucial role in providing immediate relief, such as distributing food, water, and essential supplies. The resilience of the local population was evident as neighbors helped each other clean up debris and repair damage.
Local news outlets captured the destruction and the ongoing recovery efforts, highlighting the community’s resilience and determination. Their photographs and reports provided a stark visual representation of the damage and the hard work involved in the recovery process.
Preparing for Future Storms
As Florida moves forward, the experiences of the 2024 hurricane season will inform future preparedness and response strategies. Officials and residents are already taking steps to improve resilience against future storms. This includes updating building codes to ensure structures can withstand stronger winds and floods, enhancing emergency response plans, and improving drainage systems.
Educational campaigns are also being launched to increase public awareness about hurricane preparedness, emphasizing the importance of having a plan, securing properties, and understanding evacuation routes. The goal is to reduce the impact of future hurricanes and ensure that communities are better equipped to handle the challenges they bring.
Conclusion
The 2024 hurricane season tested the resilience of Venice, Sarasota, and nearby communities, revealing the power of unity and compassion. Neighbors rallied together, embodying strength and support during formidable challenges. As we prepare for the 2025 season, the lessons learned and the bonds formed in 2024 illuminate a hopeful path forward, reminding us that together we can overcome any storm.
~ Joey
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References:
Atlantic hurricane season races to finish within range of predicted number of named storms. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (n.d.). https://www.noaa.gov/news-release/atlantic-hurricane-season-races-to-finish-within-range-of-predicted-number-of-named-storms#:~:text=The%20Atlantic%20basin%20saw%2018,making%20landfall%20as%20major%20hurricanes.
Donate to help jetty Jack’s after Hurricane Helene, organized by Marina Williams. gofundme.com. (n.d.). https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-jetty-jacks-after-hurricane-helene
Hurricane Milton rapidly intensifies into category 5 hurricane, becoming the Gulf’s strongest late-season storm on record. NOAA Climate.gov. (2024, October 8). https://www.climate.gov/news-features/event-tracker/hurricane-milton-rapidly-intensifies-category-5-hurricane-becoming#:~:text=Based%20on%20pressure%2C%20Milton%20was,Category%205%20hurricane%20this%20season
McCloud, C. (2024, November 30). 2024 atlantic hurricane season ends with above-average number of storms. what’s ahead? Naples Daily News. https://www.naplesnews.com/story/weather/hurricanes/2024/11/30/atlantic-hurricane-season-florida-landfalls-records/76588213007/
Mock, C. (n.d.). How hurricane helene became a deadly disaster across 6 states. University of South Carolina. https://sc.edu/uofsc/posts/2024/10/conversation-hurricane-helene-deadly-disaster-six-states.php#:~:text=Helene%20was%20no%20doubt%20the,sustained%20winds%20of%20140%20mph.
Powell, E. (2024a). Hurricane Helene Post-Storm Summary Report. https://climatecenter.fsu.edu/images/docs/Hurricane-Helene-Summary-Report.pdf
Powell, E. (2024b). Post-storm summary report on hurricane milton. https://climatecenter.fsu.edu/images/docs/Hurricane-Milton-Report.pdf
Powell, E. (n.d.). Hurricane Debby Post-Storm Summary Report. https://climatecenter.fsu.edu/images/docs/Hurricane_Debby_Report.pdf
Wikimedia Foundation. (2024a, July 16). Hurricane Gabrielle (2001). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Gabrielle_(2001)
Wikimedia Foundation. (2024b, December 2). 2024 atlantic hurricane season. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_Atlantic_hurricane_season