Ever a direct hit in Venice FL? - Anybody know?

[inotherwords]

The Venice Gondolier posted an article today, quoting a retired met who said he'd never seen a hurricane make direct landfall in Venice. He then goes on to mention storms that affected this area, but I think he's missing quite a few. Take a look:

http://www.venicegondolier.com/NewsArch ... p2vn11.htm

We had trop storm Gabrielle in 2001 which the NHC later revised to have entered Venice slightly above hurricane strength. However someone also posted some info a few weeks ago about a major storm that came in at Venice in 1944, I believe. He missed that one, too.

I live in a 1920s home 1 mile north of Venice (in a flood zone, 1/2 mi from the Venice inlet as the crow flies) and was told by a floor refinisher that there had once been water in my house. He could tell by the condition of my old heart pine floors. So I think this guy is wrong about his information.

The Gondolier often makes mistakes, I think there were a few hurricanes that came through that he missed mentioning. I know that Donna plowed through here, he missed that one, yet he oddly included Irene in 99, which we were not affected by at all, no wind or rain.

I was going to write to the paper, anyone want to contribute any info that they know of about any storms either landfalling directly at Venice, or major storms that directly affected Venice? BTW, Venice is about 20 miles south of Sarasota, in case you need to know.

[Brent]

Donna made landfall in the Fort Myers area, not Venice.

[inotherwords]

Right, but you misunderstood what I'm asking. If you read the article he says two things: 1. That no storm has made landfall in Venice, a fact which I believe not to be true, and 2. He lists storms that affected Venice, leaving out Donna and I believe quite a few others. Thought Donna made landfall in Ft Meyers, it definitely affected Venice, and it's missing from the article. I was just using it as an example of an omission.

I'd still like to hear from any storm historians who could shed some light on this.

[MortisFL]

TS Gabrielle made a close enough landfall in 2001 to Venice/Sarasota area...if were talking about named storms and not Hurricanes.

[Brent]

Right, but you misunderstood what I'm asking. If you read the article he says two things: 1. That no storm has made landfall in Venice, a fact which I believe not to be true, and 2. He lists storms that affected Venice, leaving out Donna and I believe quite a few others. Thought Donna made landfall in Ft Meyers, it definitely affected Venice, and it's missing from the article. I was just using it as an example of an omission.

I'd still like to hear from any storm historians who could shed some light on this.

Oh I see now.

[SouthernWx]

The October 1944 major hurricane made landfall in the Sarasota/ Venice/ Englewood area....a large cat-3 hurricane that remained destructive as it crossed the state....causing 11-12' storm surges both along the SW Fla coast from Sarasota to Naples...and also in the Jacksonville Beach area.

While that may be the only direct landfall at Venice, that area was inside the destructive core of a couple other major hurricanes since 1845....including the 1926 Great Miami hurricane (was still a 125-130 mph cat-3 as it exited SW Florida into the Gulf of Mexico).

The infamous 1935 Labor Day hurricane also passed within 30 miles of Venice. While of small diameter, this hurricane was still of at least cat-4 intensity as it passed west of Sarasota county....and gusts to 110 mph or more likely occurred along the beachfront (farther north, 110-115 mph gusts were estimated at Clearwater Beach).

I'm not sure of hurricane Donna's direct impact on Venice, but just to the north, Sarasota recorded 100+ mph gusts...just to the SE, 130 mph gusts were measured in Punta Gorda; so it's a good bet gusts exceeded 110 mph in Venice.

[weatherwindow]

here's a few more...let's call anything within 40 mi a direct hit.....dec 2, 1925 cat1 direct...sept 17, 1928 cat2 backdoor direct hit... sept 12, 1903 cat1 backdoor....finally the big one for venice..october 10, 1946 weakening cat2/3 direct hit between venice and sarasota...that one may have put the water in the house...rich

[inotherwords]

Thank you very much, very helpful everybody!