Hurricane Dennis (1981)

Infobox Hurricane| name=Hurricane Dennis
Image location=Hurricane Dennis (1981).jpg


Basin=Atl
Year=1981
Type=hurricane
Formed=August 7, 1981
Dissipated=August 22, 1981
1-min winds=70
Pressure=995
Da

Inflated=1
Fatalities=No fatalities reported
Areas=Windward Islands, Cuba, Florida, Carolinas
Hurricane season=1981 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Dennis was the second most destructive storm of the 1981 Atlantic hurricane season. Dennis took 12 1/2 days to reach hurricane status, a record beaten by Hurricane Arlene in the 1987 Atlantic hurricane season.

The tropical wave that later would be Dennis, formed off the African coastline on August 5. By August 7 the wave reached tropical depression status as it headed westward. On the same day the storm reached tropical storm strength and was named Dennis, the 4th named storm of the 1981 season. As Dennis approached the Caribbean Sea, strong upper level winds degenerated the storm back into a tropical wave by August 11. On August 15 Dennis regained tropical storm status as it crossed Cuba and moved into the Straits of Florida. On the 18th and 19th of August, Dennis traversed the Florida peninsula as a weak tropical storm and later moved offshore. Dennis then skirted the Carolinas and briefly reached hurricane strength before being declared extratropical on August 22.

Dennis left $15 million (1981 USD, $34.4 million in 2007 USD) in damage to the agriculture to Florida, with minor rainfall and effects farther north up the coast.

Meteorological history

Hurricane Dennis formed from a tropical system that was well organized after entering the Atlantic Ocean from Africa on August 5.cite web|author=National Hurricane Center|year=1981|title=Hurricane Dennis Preliminary Report (Page 1)|accessdate=2008-01-05|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1981-prelim/dennis/prelim01.gif] The system quickly intensified and became a tropical depression on August 7 as it headed westward. The depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Dennis about 12 hours later.cite web|author=National Hurricane Center|year=1981|title=Hurricane Dennis Preliminary Report (Page 10)|accessdate=2008-01-06|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1981-prelim/dennis/prelim10.gif] Dennis continued westward as a tropical storm for three days before entering an area of wind shear, which weakened the system. Dennis was downgraded to a tropical depression on August 11, and after entering the Caribbean Sea, weakening into a tropical wave. The wave continued westward, passing to the south of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands before turning to the northeast towards Cuba. The wave made landfall in Jamaica before stalling near Cuba.

While it was stationary, the tropical wave began to come back together, strengthening into Tropical Depression Dennis on August 15. The system quickly re-attained tropical storm status and crossed over Cuba. Slower, yet constant strengthening occurred, and Dennis began to form an eye on satillite photos. Dennis made landfall near Key West on August 18 and crossed across the state. During the day and the day after, Dennis crossed Florida and headed up the east coast. On August 21, Dennis turned away from the coast and strengthened into a hurricane, peaking at 80 mph (130 kilometres) that day. Dennis moved over colder waters and became extratropical on August 22.

Dennis took almost 13 days to reach hurricane status, a then-record. The record beaten by Hurricane Arlene in the 1987 Atlantic hurricane season.cite web
author=Harrold P. Gerrish
year=1987-10-16
title=Preliminary Report: Hurricane Arlene - Page 3
publisher=National Hurricane Center
accessdate=2008-01-06
url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1987-prelim/arlene/prelim03.gif] cite web
author=Harrold P. Gerrish
year=1987-10-16
title=Preliminary Report: Hurricane Arlene - Page 4
publisher=National Hurricane Center
accessdate=2008-01-06
url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1987-prelim/arlene/prelim04.gif]

Preparations and impact

As Dennis approached the Florida Keys, numerous watches and warnings were released on the system.cite web|author=National Hurricane Center|year=1981|title=Hurricane Dennis Preliminary Report (Page 3)|accessdate=2008-01-05|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1981-prelim/dennis/prelim03.gif] These included one hurricane watch from the Keys to Palm Beach. The rest were gale and tornado warnings for parts of the coastal states. Residents of the Florida Keys scrambled for last minute supplies at Dennis came close to landfall on August 17.cite web | author=Associated Press | year=1981-08-17
title=Tropical Storm Dennis Hits Florida With Heavy Winds, Rain
publisher=Marysville Journal-Tribune
accessdate=2008-01-06
url=http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?
] People also hurried away from the Myrtle Beach area, wanting to avoid the oncoming Tropical Storm Dennis. Rainfall in the state of Florida was beneficial, helping to cease a drought that was persistent through spring and early summer.cite web|author=National Hurricane Center|year=1981|title=Hurricane Dennis Preliminary Report (Page 2)|accessdate=2008-01-05|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1981-prelim/dennis/prelim02.gif] However, little rain fell in the Lake Okeechobee area, which needed considerable relief. Rains peaked around 20—25 inches (510—635 mm) in the Miami-Dade area, where at least 20 families had to be rescued by airboats and 4-wheel drive vehicles.cite web|author=David Roth|year=2008|title=Rainfall data for Hurricane Dennis|accessdate=2008-01-06|url=http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/dennis1981.html]

There were major losses to commercial and residential buildings due to roof failures caused by Dennis. However, heavier damage was sustained to the agriculture of Florida. due to prolonged water from Dennis. Damage was estimated at $15 million (1981 USD, $34 million in 2007 USD) in the Miami-Dade region alone. The standing water also caused health issues for local residents. There were two tornadoes reported in associated with Dennis, one on Plantation Key and one in northern Dade County. Minor damage was reported from both of the two tornadoes.

Regions north of Florida sustained lighter effects. Rainfall peaked at around 10 inches (250 mm) in parts of North Carolina. There were similar, but less extensive losses to agriculture to areas such as Georgia and South Carolina. Flooding stretched from Georgia to extreme parts of Virginia, where localized flooding and beach erosion occurred. $2 million (1981 USD, $4.54 million in 2007 USD) worth of damage was reported in the beach city of Myrtle Beach.cite web | author=Associated Press | year=1981-08-21
title=Hurricane Dennis heads out to sea
publisher=Marysville Journal-Tribune
accessdate=2008-01-06
url=http://www.thehurricanearchive.com/Viewer.aspx?
]

ee also

*List of Florida hurricanes (1975-1999)
*List of tropical cyclones
*List of Atlantic hurricanes

References

External links

* [http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1981.pdf Monthly Weather Review]
* [http://weather.unisys.com/hurricane/atlantic/1981/DENNIS/track.gifHurricane Dennis 1981 track (Unisys)]