Hurricane in Florida, September 17 to 18, 2000

Hurricane Gordon moved northeast across the eastern Gulf of Mexico and brought mainly 30 to 40 mph sustained winds and 50 to nearly 70 mph tropical storm force wind gusts to mainly coastal areas of Southwest and West Central Florida throughout the daylight hours of the 17th. Gordon's ill-defined center made landfall near the Suwannee River around midnight of the 18th. Official, maximum sustained winds of 53 mph, with gusts as high as 68 mph, were observed at the C-MAN automated weather sensor at Cedar Key in Levy county prior to landfall near the mouth of the Suwannee River during the late evening of the 17th.Hurricane Gordon produced maximum storm tides above mean sea level of 2 to 4 feet from Lee north to Manatee county, 4 to 5.5 feet along the Pinellas and Hillsborough county coastlines, and 2 to 4 feet from Pasco north to Levy county on the 17th.Coastal flooding from storm surge was minimal from Lee county north to the Tampa metropolitan area. Near downtown Tampa, a foot of water covered the south and northern lanes of Bayshore Boulevard during midday on the 17th. Coastal flood waters between one and two feet covered coastal roads along Longboat Key in Manatee county and Siesta and Casey Keys in Sarasota county. In Pinellas county, nearly a foot of water covered coastal roads from St. Pete Beach to Clearwater. The Courtney Campbell Parkway, seperating Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, was closed, due to storm surge flooding, from nearly 5 to 9 pm on the 17th.Beach erosion was minor from Lee north to Charlotte, moderate to severe along Sarasota and Manatee counties, minor to moderate over Manatee, Pinellas, Pasco and Hernando counties. At Bradenton Beach in Manatee county, nearly 100 feet of pristine beach, five to six feet in depth, was stripped away by wave action from Hurricane Gordon. In Sarasota county, storm surge and wave action from Gordon caused nearly 1.1 million dollars in beach erosion while in Manatee county, beach erosion was estimated at 500 thousand dollars.Inland flooding from rainfall occurred over low-lying and urban areas in mainly Lee, Charlotte, Sarasota, Manatee, Hardee, DeSoto, Highlands and southern Polk counties (see flood entries).Eastern rain bands of Hurricane Gordon spawned at least five known tornadoes, two F1's and three F0's over Central and Southwest Florida (see tornado entries).Damage in Levy county was confined to roofs and toppled trees, mainly in the Cedar Key area, where a total of $100,000 dollars was estimated.Damage in Citrus county was confined to a few downed trees, power lines and snapped branches from Sulphur Springs south to Ozello mounting to less than $25,000 dollars.Damage in Hernando county was confined to ten homes that suffered floodwater damage along the coast along with a few toppled trees and downed power lines. Damage in Hernando county was estimated at $100,000 dollars.Damage in Pasco county was confined to 15 roof damaged villas, downed trees and damaged vehicles in the New Port Colony Villas subdivsion in New Port Richey estimated at $250,000 dollars.In Pinellas county, 51 single-family homes, 32 mobile homes, 27 multi-family homes and 24 businesses sustained minor wind or water damage. Estimated cost of the damage in Pinellas county was nearly $500,000 dollars.In Hillsborough county, 40 homes in low lying coastal areas from Ruskin to Gibsonton to Riverview, incurred flooding from storm surge. Also, several homes were damaged from wind toppled trees and large branches throughout Hillsborough county. Estimated cost of the damage in Hillsborough county was near $500,000 dollars.In Manatee county, 25 homes and businesses were flooded in Bradenton Beach and several homes incurred minor to moderate roof damage in Anna Maria. At Coquina Beach in Manatee county, 60 mph wind gusts, associated with an outer feeder band of Gordon, toppled life guard towers and destroyed an anemometer. Property damage from Hurricane Gordon was estimated at nearly $500,000 dollars in Manatee county.In Sarasota county, eight foot high waves, caused nearly $600,000 in property damage to the Venice Municipal Fishing Pier. The hurricane induced waves ripped a 20 foot section and three 50 foot concrete pilings from the northern section of the pier.In Lee county, tropical storm force winds caused roof, awning and lanai damage to nine homes, toppled several large trees and branches, and downed power lines across Cape Coral and Ft. Myers. Also, tornadoes, associated with outer feeder bands of Hurricane Gordon, caused significant damage on Sanibel Island of extreme western Lee county (see Lee county tornado entries).Max Wind Gust: 68 mph - Cedar Key, Levy Co. 2153 EST 09/17Lowest Pressure: 994.2 mb - Cedar Key, Levy Co. 2200 EST 09/17Max Rainfall: 6.39 in - Page Field, Ft. Myers, Lee Co. 0000-2400 EST 09/17