Hurricane Dennis

Infobox Hurricane
Name=Hurricane Dennis
Type=hurricane
Year=2005
Basin=Atl
Image location=Hurricane Dennis 10 july 2005 1615Z.jpg

UTC
Formed=July 4, 2005
Dissipated=July 13, 2005
1-min winds=130
Pressure=930
Da

Inflated=2
Fatalities=42 direct, 47 indirect
Areas=Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Cuba, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Tennessee and Ohio Valley regions
Hurricane season=2005 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Dennis was an early-forming major hurricane in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico during the horrific 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. Dennis was the fourth named storm, second hurricane, and first major hurricane of the season. In July, the hurricane set several records for early season hurricane activity, becoming both the earliest formation of a fourth tropical cyclone and the strongest Atlantic hurricane ever to form before August, the latter a title it held for only six days before being surpassed by Hurricane Emily.

Dennis hit Cuba twice as a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, and made landfall on the Florida Panhandle in the United States as a Category 3 storm less than a year after Hurricane Ivan did so. Dennis caused at least 89 deaths (42 direct) in the U.S. and Caribbean and caused $2.23 billion (2005 US dollars) in damages to the United States, as well as an approximately equal amount of damage in the Caribbean, primarily on Cuba.

Meteorological history

Hurricane Dennis began as Tropical Depression Four in the southeastern Caribbean Sea on the evening of July 4, the first storm of the season to form away from Mexico and Central America. Almost immediately, it made landfall on Grenada as a tropical depression with convert|30|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on winds. On the morning of July 5, it strengthened into Tropical Storm Dennis in the eastern Caribbean; this was the earliest formation of an Atlantic season's fourth storm (by comparison, during the 2004 season, Hurricane Alex formed in early August and Hurricane Charley made landfall in Cuba on August 12). The newly named Dennis began moving rapidly to the west-northwest.cite web|author=National Hurricane Center|title=Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Dennis|publisher=NOAA|accessmonthday=December 2 |accessyear=2005|format=PDF|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/TCR-AL042005_Dennis.pdf]

It was clear from early weather forecasting models that Dennis had the potential to be a major storm, and it was already predicted to reach hurricane status while it was still a tropical depression.Cite web|author=Avila|title=Tropical Depression Four discussion number 2|year=2005|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-03-08|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al042005.discus.002.shtml?] It reached hurricane strength on the afternoon of July 6 while approaching the southern coast of Hispaniola, and it quickly became a strong and well-organized Category 1 storm on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. The next day it strengthened rapidly to become a Category 4 major hurricane, the earliest in an Atlantic hurricane season that a storm had reached that strength since Hurricane Audrey in the 1957 season. After rapid strengthening, Dennis's track became slightly more northerly, bringing it between Jamaica and Haiti by July 7; both countries experienced high winds and heavy rain. As it approached Cuba and strengthened to just under Category 5 intensity, Dennis's track began to wobble. Meteorologists from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) stated, "this type of erratic motion is not unusual for intensifying major hurricanes."cite web|author=National Hurricane Center|title=Discussion for Hurricane Dennis, 11:00 a.m. EDT, July 8, 2005|publisher=NOAA|accessmonthday=December 2 |accessyear=2005|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al042005.discus.016.shtml] On July 7, Hurricane warnings were issued for Cuba at 11 a.m. EDT (1500 UTC). Dennis made landfall near Punta dal Inglés with 140 mph (220 km/h) winds late that day, and dropped down to a Category 3 storm while crossing the peninsula. As it moved back into the Gulf of Guacanayabo, its wind speed increased to a peak of 150 mph (240 km/h). Dennis then slammed into south-central Cuba just west of Punta Mangles Altos on July 8, again with 140 mph (220 km/h) winds.Crossing Cuba's mountainous terrain disrupted the storm's circulation, weakening Dennis to Category 1 intensity.Cite web|author=Stewart|title=Hurricane Dennis discussion number 17|year=2005|publisher=National Hurricane Center|accessdate=2008-03-08|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al042005.discus.017.shtml?] However, NHC forecasts continued to indicate the possibility of a rebound to Category 4 status after convection was re-established, and because conditions remained favorable. This prediction was borne out when Dennis rapidly reintensified on the afternoon of July 9 over the Gulf Loop Current, a reintensification described by NHC as having occurred "at a rate that bordered on insane."cite web|author=National Hurricane Center|title=Discussion for Hurricane Dennis, 10:00 p.m. CDT, July 9, 2005|publisher=NOAA|accessmonthday=December 2 |accessyear=2005|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al042005.discus.023.shtml] The storm reached Category 4 intensity again on the morning of July 10. At 1200 UTC, the storm reached its peak intensity of 930 mbar (27.47 inHg), surpassing Hurricane Audrey and setting a new record for the strongest storm to form prior to August; the new record stood for only six days before Hurricane Emily surpassed it by reaching a pressure of 929 mbar (27.43 inHg).

The storm continued moving north-northwest towards the central Gulf Coast, which had seen the landfalls of Tropical Storm Arlene in June and Hurricane Cindy the previous week. By the morning of July 10, hurricane warnings were in effect in the U.S. for the Florida Panhandle, Alabama, and Mississippi, with tropical storm warnings extending further east and west along the coast. The NHC predicted a landing at near full strength in the late afternoon. However, much like Hurricane Ivan which struck in the same area the previous year, the storm weakened just before landfall; its maximum sustained winds dropped from 145 mph (235 km/h, Category 4 strength) to 120 mph (195 km/h, Category 3 strength).

Continental landfall occurred at Santa Rosa Island, between Pensacola, Florida, and Navarre Beach, Florida, at 2:25 p.m. CDT (1925 UTC) on July 10. Dennis was a Category 3 hurricane with winds of 115 to 120 mph (185 to 195 km/h). The highest official wind speed reported was a 121 mph (195 km/h) wind gust at Navarre Beach.cite web|author=National Weather Service, Mobile-Pensacola Forecast Office|title=Public Information Statement|publisher=NOAA|accessmonthday=December 2 |accessyear=2005|url=http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mob/dennis_pns.shtml] The storm lost strength over the day and was a tropical depression by early on July 11. The depression persisted, however, and gained a little strength while stalled over Illinois the next day. It finally dissipated in Ontario on July 13, with advisories ceasing a full three days after landfall.

Preparations

Combined with Hurricane Cindy's landfall on the Gulf Coast of the United States, uncertainty over Dennis's final landfall helped push oil prices to a record high of $61.28 a barrel on July 6,cite news|title=Hurricane Dennis approaches Gulf of Mexico|publisher=Associated Press|date=July 6 2005|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2005/07/06/international/i173520D51.DTL] and again to $61.50 on July 7,cite news|title=Oil Prices surges to record|publisher=Bloomberg Television|Bloomberg|date=July 7 2005|url=http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000006&sid=aSz8CWOnmoDk&refer=home] although they dropped below $60 on July 8. Dennis was originally forecast to strike Louisiana, one of the oil-producing regions of the Gulf coast. Speculative spikes in oil prices due to Hurricane Dennis foreshadowed the far greater price spikes caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in late August and September.

In Haiti officials evacuated residents along the coastline, but noted that many were not obliging.cite news|title= Hurricane Dennis kills 10 in Cuba|publisher=BBC|date=July 11 2005|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4659163.stm] In Cuba more than 600,000 residents were moved from their homes to government shelters or other locations in anticipation of Dennis. All schools were closed, and most flights in the country were suspended or cancelled. [Cite web|author=Alex Morales and Jessica Brice|title=Hurricane Dennis Forces Florida and Cuba Evacuations (Update1)|year=2005|publisher=Bloomberg.com|accessdate=2008-04-09|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000086&sid=a.AlxDLznsbc&refer=latin_america]

In the United States, the governors of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana all declared states of emergency in their states. At 6 a.m. CDT (2300 UTC) on July 9, 2005, all southbound lanes on Interstate 65 from Mobile to Montgomery, Alabama, were closed. Traffic was redirected, making all four lanes northbound to allow evacuations. In Alabama residents in all parts of Mobile County, and those south of I-10 in Baldwin County, were ordered to evacuate.cite web|author=Amy Sieckmann|title=Dangerous Dennis|year=2005|publisher=Anniston Star|accessdate=2008-04-01|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=ANSB&p_theme=ansb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=10CD1B9FDDFF4E58&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM] Similar orders were issued in Mississippi for parts of Jackson, Hancock, and Harrison counties; and for coastal areas in the Florida Panhandle stretching from Escambia County to Bay County.cite web|author=Amy Sieckmann|title=Dangerous Dennis|year=2005|publisher=Anniston Star|accessdate=2008-04-01|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=ANSB&p_theme=ansb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=10CD1B9FDDFF4E58&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM] Likewise, military installations such as NAS Pensacola, Whiting Field, Eglin AFB, Hurlburt Field and Tyndall AFB were all evacuated days before the storm. Additionally, Red Cross officials opened 87 shelters across the state which were able to hold about 14,000 evacuees.Cite web|author=Garry Mitchell|title=Shelters on the Gulf Coast fill up as Dennis strengthens|year=2005|publisher=USA Today|accessdate=2008-04-01|url=http://www.usatoday.com/weather/stormcenter/2005-07-10-Dennis-shelters_x.htm]

In Florida, about 50,000 tourists in the Keys were forced to evacuate by July 8.cite web|author=ABBY GOODNOUGH|title=Residents in Storm Path Face More Tough Choices |year=2005|publisher=New York Times|accessdate=2008-03-11|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9503E5DF153DF93AA35754C0A9639C8B63] The MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa evacuated its aircraft to McConnell Air Force Base near Wichita.cite web|author=|title=Developments Regarding Hurricane Dennis|year=2005|publisher=NBC6|accessdate=2008-03-19|url=http://wtvj.weatherplus.com/weathernews/4699368/detail.html] 700,000 people in the Florida panhandle were evacuated in the days prior to Dennis, 100,000 of them in Escambia County alone.cite web|author=Alan Gomez|title=700,000 Panhandle residents flee this time|year=2005|publisher=Palm Beach Post|accessdate=2008-03-14|url=http://www.palmbeachpost.com/storm/content/local_news/epaper/2005/07/10/a21a_panhandle_0710.html] As a result of the large evacuations, more than 200 truckloads provided about 1.8 million gallons of gasoline.cite web|author=Ken Kaye and Linda Kleindienst|title=Hurricane Dennis grazes South Florida, sets dangerous course for Gulf Coast|year=2005|publisher=South Florida Sun-Sentinel|accessdate=2008-03-11|url=http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=29461&archive=true] The Red Cross also moved 60 mobile canteens capable of serving 30,000 hot meals each a day to the staging points of Hattiesburg and Jackson.cite web|author=|title=Thousands flee as Hurricane Dennis sets sights on Gulf Coast|year=2005|publisher="Daily Journal"|accessdate=2008-03-19|url=http://www.djournal.com/pages/archive.asp?ID=197106] National guardsmen were mobilized, and four emergency medical teams, each capable of setting up a small field hospital, were on standby.cite web|author=Gannett News Service|title=Savvy Florida residents brace for another hurricane|year=2005|publisher=|accessdate=2008-03-14|url=http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_fullstory.asp?id=37671] Also, at Eglin Air Force Base, about 20,000 military personnel were evacuated, and at Hurlburt Field, home to Air Force's 16^th Special Operations Wing, a mandatory evacuation was ordered for all 15,000 airmen and their families.cite web|author=Associated Press
title=Florida Panhandle Military Evacuation|year=2005|publisher=WTVY News|accessdate=2008-03-19|url=http://www.wtvynews4.com/home/headlines/1678482.html]

Impact

Retirement

The name Dennis was retired in the spring of 2006 and will never be used for an Atlantic hurricane again. It was replaced by Don on List III of the Atlantic hurricane naming lists that will be next be used in the 2011 season. [" [http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2006/s2607.htm Dennis, Katrina, Rita, Stan, and Wilma "Retired" from List of Storm Names] ." "NOAA." March 25, 2006.]

ee also

* List of tropical cyclones
* List of wettest tropical cyclones in Cuba since 1963
* List of wettest tropical cyclones in the United States
* List of Atlantic hurricanes
* List of 2005 Atlantic hurricane season storms
* List of retired Atlantic hurricane names
* Center for Natural Hazards Research at East Carolina University

References

External links

wikinewshas|related news
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* [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/TCR-AL042005_Dennis.pdf National Hurricane Center tropical cyclone report on Dennis] - A final report issued by the National Hurricane Center regarding Hurricane Dennis, including synoptic history, meteorological statistics, casualties and damage, forecasting critique, and information tables.
* [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/DENNIS.shtml The National Hurricane Center's archive on Hurricane Dennis]
* [http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical2005/DENNIS/DENNIS_archive.shtml The Hydrometeorological Prediction Center's archive on Hurricane Dennis] .
* [http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/dennis2005.html The Hydrometeorological Prediction Center's Rainfall page for Hurricane Dennis] .
* [http://www.nowpublic.com/node/12778/ NowPublic] - Photographs and videos of Dennis.
* [http://www.floridamemory.com/PhotographicCollection/photo_exhibits/hurricanes.cfm Historic Images of Florida Hurricanes (State Archives of Florida)]