THE DEVASTATION CAUSED BY HURRICANE IAN AS IT SWEPT THROUGH FLORIDA EARLIER THIS WEEK IS MAJOR. USDA METEOROLOGIST BRAD RIPPEY RANKS HURRICANE IAN’S PLACE IN HISTORY AMONG THE STRONGEST STORMS BY WIND SPEED TO REACH LANDFALL IN THE U.S. MAINLAND.
IAN RANKS AS THE 5TH STRONGEST STORM TO EVER STRIKE THE UNITED STATES. IT CAME ASHORE AS A CATEGORY 4, WITH WINDS AT 150 MILES PER HOUR. BY THE WAY, THAT LABOR DAY HURRICANE IN 1935 IS THE STRONGEST STORM EVER TO HIT THE U.S. WITH WINDS OF AT LEAST 185 MILES PER HOUR. THE EFFECT ON CROPS AND AGRICULTURE IN THE WAKE OF IAN HAS YEST TO BE DETERMINED, BUT REMEMBER, IT WILL MAKE LANDFALL AGAIN TODAY IN THE CAROLINAS
