Tropical Storm Fay is threatening one of the most popular boating regions in the United States, and the forecast as of Sunday evening has the storm hitting the Florida keys Monday night.
Southern Florida is no stranger to storms. Hurricanecity.com, a non-governmental website, ranks 12 south Florida cities in the top 25 for frequency of activity since 1871. The rankings are compiled from 155 cities in the U.S., Mexico and the Caribbean islands and “activity” is defined as a direct hit or storm passing within 60 miles.
Affected by 50 hurricanes or tropical storms in 137 years, Key West comes in at 21st -- behind several beach cities along Florida’s Atlantic coast. For now, though, Fay seems headed to Florida’s Gulf coast.
Until the track becomes more clear, the biggest threats are tides 2 to 4 feet above normal in the Florida Keys and the potential for tornadoes both in the Keys and Florida’s southern peninsula, according to the National Hurricane Center.
