Hurricane Irma Post-Storm Beach Conditions and Coastal Impact in Florida Report

Hurricane Irma made landfall on September 10, 2017, in the Florida Keys, and again on the Florida mainland at Marco Island. At landfall, Irma was a strong Category Four hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. This was Florida’s first landfall of a major hurricane in 12 years since Hurricane Wilma made landfall in 2005 just south of Marco Island at Cape Romano. With the track of Irma northerly up the peninsula of Florida, most of the state felt some impact from either the winds, rain or storm surge. Given the strongest winds, waves, and storm surge of Irma were from the east, the entire east coast of Florida was substantially affected. Beach erosion and coastal damage was the greatest along the northeast coast and central Atlantic coast of Florida, as well as in the Florida Keys and along the coast of Collier County in southwest Florida. This report documents the post-storm beach conditions and coastal impact of Hurricane Irma.