The Boca Raton Airport... Incredible Destruction...

[MiamiensisWx]

Has anyone seen the Boca Raton Airport and areas surrounding the airport after Hurricane Wilma? I did as I went past the airport on Airport Road, which parallels I-95. The amount of destruction there is simply incredible... it makes me wonder if winds in the Boca Raton area were much stronger than thought, especially since I experienced very strong winds and gusts further east in eastern Boca Raton as well.

I wish I had photos of the destruction at the airport, but I don't... sorry! I'll try to desribe it.

As I went past it, I saw an incredible amount of damage to the plane hangars. At least two of the hangars were COMPLETELY KNOCKED DOWN AND DESTROYED, with planes crushed under the collapsed hangars peeking out (e.g., the noses and parts of the wings). Those of the hangars that were not destroyed, meanwhile, received SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE, especially to the roofs, with many parts of the roofs (and even some parts of the walls and other things) COMPLETELY RIPPED OFF. The remains from the damaged or collapsed hangars are now being collected and placed in front of the airport buildigs on the left-hand side of Airport Road.

Not only that, but new powerlines on the left-hand side of the road (they were newer, wooden powerlines) that were said by FPL to withstand sustained winds up to near 115MPH (Category Three force) were COMPLETELY KNOCKED DOWN OR SNAPPED IN HALF.

I can't believe the Sun-Sentinel says that Boca Raton overall has received meerly "mild to moderate structural damage", since I have seen significant damage to structures and roofs and other things all over the city.

Any comments or thoughts or more news/pictures on the Boca Raton Airport or Boca Raton?

[gatorcane]

Yes, I drive past it frequently and saw there was a lot of destruction.

Boca got hit very hard, especially E. Boca. Take a drive up Federal Highway in Boca.

I've seen powerlines and poles collapsed onto the highway and trees with bases nearly 10ft in diameter (banyan trees) completely uprooted.

[MiamiensisWx]

My area also received lots of damage to landscaping and homes, with endless shingles and gutters ripped off or dangling from homes. The damage to trees has been just incredible... think about that, along withj structural damage, all the money required to replace landscaping (e.g., fallen or leaning plants or trees such as palms and Weeping Figs [FICUS] trees).

I wonder why Sun-Sentinel said that the city of Boca Raton overall had "mild to moderate structural damage"... even western areas of Boca Raton received damage.

In addition, Mizner Park received just as, if not more, damage than last year during Frances and Jeanne. Lots of lampposts in Mizner Park have been completely knocked down, with damage to some structures and lots of branches knocked down as well, like areas all over Boca Raton.

[gatorcane]

I can't see why they would say that. Most of Palm Beach County's damage was to South Palm Beach (e.g. Boca/Delray).

Power will not be fully restored here until Nov. 22nd.

[WxGuy1]

My area also received lots of damage to landscaping and homes, with endless shingles and gutters ripped off or dangling from homes. The damage to trees has been just incredible... think about that, along withj structural damage, all the money required to replace landscaping (e.g., fallen or leaning plants or trees such as palms and Weeping Figs [FICUS] trees).

I wonder why Sun-Sentinel said that the city of Boca Raton overall had "mild to moderate structural damage"... even western areas of Boca Raton received damage.

Were any WELL-BUILT structures destroyed? I don't think hangars are considered well-built by most. I've heard of a couple of downed outer walls, but aside from those, I'd call downed trees, powerlines, and destroyed outhouses / hangars / etc to be "moderate" structural damage. If I saw a house without a roof and downed outer walls, I'd call that severe structural damage. I do think Cat 2 winds were reponsible for the damage. Just remember, you can still get 120-125+ mph gusts with a Cat 2 storm.

[MiamiensisWx]

I agree, boca_chris. Do you think Boca Raton got at least gusts to or near Category Three strength? I think so... do you?

Also, WxGuy1, I saw several more well-built structures that lost parts of their roofs in Boca Raton. Who else saw that?

[Scorpion]

Well Boynton had a 118 mph gust so Boca could have had gusts in the 120's or more.

[gatorcane]

possibly CAT 2/3 gusts here although many will argue that the storm was a strong CAT 1 by the time it got over to this side of FL.

[MiamiensisWx]

Are there any reports on winds from Boca Raton during Wilma? What were the strongest gusts or winds observed in Boca Raton during Wilma? Please respond!

Personally, I think we had gusts close to Category Three strength at least. I find it odd that newer powerlines could be knocked down by winds supposedly less than or less than near Category Three force, unless the poles were not installed in the ground properly.

[WxGuy1]

Are there any reports on winds from Boca Raton during Wilma? What were the strongest gusts or winds observed in Boca Raton during Wilma? Please respond!

Personally, I think we had gusts close to Category Three strength at least. I find it odd that newer powerlines could be knocked down by winds supposedly less than or less than near Category Three force, unless the poles were not installed in the ground properly.

Don't have specific numbers for Boca Raton, but here's a list of max winds and gusts from the Miama WSFO http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mfl/text.php?si ... &version=0 , and here's their page on Wilma --> http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mfl/events/?id=Wilma

As I said above, remember that you can still get 120-125+ mph gusts with a Cat 2 storm! Nearly all the obs from east Florida that I've seen support Cat 1 sustained winds, there though is an ob or two supporting Cat 2 winds. Gusts were as much as 10-30mph higher than the sustained winds, and these higher gusts likely caused the more significant damage.

In addition, I heard that southeastern Florida has had a VERY wet year. Such a thing could quite readily explain how some poles or trees or knocked down (not snapped), since the wet soil has a much weaker capacity to retain poles and tree roots. So, winds of Wilma's strength could have uprooted trees and downed poles this time, but wouldn't have done the same damage if the soil wasn't wet.

[wxmann_91]

One of those small but powerful microbursts/vortices that was described in another thread could've hit the airport and caused locally higher damage.

[thunderchief]

hangars-generally built of aluminum siding with little internal framing or roof support, are very weak structures.

[CharleySurvivor]

It's a shame the media doesn't report the TRUE picture of what Wilma did in damages.

People really need to see and know the destruction a lower Cat hurricane can do. It seems people think it will not be 'that bad' unless it is a Cat 4 or 5.

[gatorcane]

yes, this is true.

At the same time, I think many people think this was a major hurricane in South Florida when in reality it was just a strong CAT 1. So people still don't understand what a major CAT 4 or CAT 5 could do.

The difference would be not only the trees/landscaping would be damaged but there would be *alot* more structural damage.

Unfortunately South Florida is still waiting an impact from a major hurricane.

[boca]

I had 150ft Ficus trees topple over from those winds and those trees are 75 years old.

[MiamiensisWx]

Even tall, old Ficus trees can topple easily in rather weak winds.