Tropical Storm Keith (1988)

Tropical Storm Keith was the eleventh Atlantic tropical cyclone of the 1988 Atlantic hurricane season. It developed out of a tropical wave in the Caribbean Sea on November 17. It reached a peak intensity of 70 mph shortly before striking the northeastern tip of the Yucatán Peninsula. It turned northeastward in the Gulf of Mexico, and made landfall near Sarasota, Florida, on November 23.

About Tropical Storm Keith (1988) in brief

Summary Tropical Storm Keith (1988)Tropical Storm Keith was the eleventh Atlantic tropical cyclone of the 1988 Atlantic hurricane season. It developed out of a tropical wave in the Caribbean Sea on November 17. Under generally favorable conditions, it reached a peak intensity of 70 mph shortly before striking the northeastern tip of the Yucatán Peninsula. It turned northeastward in the Gulf of Mexico, and made landfall near Sarasota, Florida, on November 23. Keith accelerated its forward motion under the influence of a cold front, and became extratropical near Bermuda on November 24. Keith produced moderate to heavy rainfall in Honduras, Jamaica, and Cuba. It was the last of four named tropical cyclones to hit the United States during the season, and was the second latest on record for the Continental United States, only behind a hurricane in the 1925 season. The storm produced moderate rainfall, rough storm surge, and gusty winds across central Florida.

Overall damage was fairly minor but widespread, totaling USD 7. 3 million. Near the coast of Florida, damage occurred mainly from storm surge and beach erosion. Further inland there were floods, downed trees and power lines. No fatalities were reported. Keith restrengthened and deepened into a powerful extratopical cyclone, attaining hurricane-force winds and a minimum pressure of 945 mbar. It was last observed on November 26 northeast of Newfoundland. It is the last tropical storm to make landfall in the U.S. since Hurricane Gilbert in August 1983, which was still recovering from the effects of Hurricane Gilbert two months prior. Keith is one of the few storms to have been named by the National Hurricane Center during the 1988 hurricane season, along with Hurricane Gilbert and Hurricane Hugo.