As Floridians prepare for an active 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, the most serious threat may not come from wind, but from water.
As Floridians prepare for an active 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, the most serious threat may not come from wind, but from water. Data from the National Hurricane Center shows that 86% of all direct hurricane and tropical storm fatalities in the United States between 2013 and 2023 were caused by water impacts – freshwater flooding, storm surge and rip currents. Of those, more than half resulted from drownings due to inland flooding, highlighting the critical importance of accurate rainfall and flood forecasting.
Florida Atlantic University’s Sensing Institute (I-SENSE) has emerged as a vital contributor to the nation’s weather forecasting capabilities through its leadership of the Southeast Atlantic (SEA) Econet. This academic-led network of atmospheric and hydrological monitoring stations delivers real-time data that directly informs forecasts and warnings issued by the National Weather Service.
The SEA Econet, managed in partnership with Coastal Carolina University, spans from Key West to Waities Island, South Carolina, with the institute managing the entire Florida subnetwork. Operating 160 atmospheric and more than 30 water-level stations across 32 counties in Florida, FAU leads the largest academic mesonet of its kind – a network of automated weather stations – in the Southeast and the fourth largest in the U.S.
Read More: Florida Atlantic University
FAU I-SENSE operates 160 atmospheric and more than 30 water-level stations across 32 counties in Florida. (Photo Credit: FAU I-SENSE)
