Kate was an unusually late-season, destructive hurricane that struck Cuba andthe southeastern United States during November 1985.This was the strongest November hurricane at landfall in the United States, andit was the latest hurricane to landfall in the United States.
The storm took shape as a tropical storm on Nov. 15 northeast of Puerto Rico.
Strengthening quickly as it tracked westward, Kate became a hurricane on the16th, then its highest sustained winds rose to 110 mph before a landfall onnorthern Cuba on the 19th.
Although weakened somewhat in crossing land, Kate stayed organized thenstrengthened anew upon reaching the Gulf of Mexico.
Storm strength peaked over the Gulf on Nov. 20, when Kate was a major Category3 hurricane packing 120-mph winds.
Landfall as a 95-mph hurricane happened on the Florida Panhandle late on the21st.
Story by AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Jim Andrews
