thedrifter
07-10-05, 07:22 AM
Extremely dangerous Hurricane Dennis nears Gulf Coast
8:16 a.m. ET Sun.,Jul.10,2005
B. Bernard, Meteorologist, The Weather Channel
At 8:00 a.m. EDT, Dennis' maximum sustained winds remained at 145 mph making it an extremely dangerous category 4 hurricane. This is the second time that Dennis has reached category 4 status. The current central pressure of 930 mb (27.46") is the lowest so far recorded in the hurricane. Dennis continues to swirl toward the north-northwest at 15 mph and seems destined to thunder ashore somewhere between Mobile, Ala. and Ft. Walton Beach, Fla., this afternoon. A jog in Dennis' course over the past few hours suggests a growing likelihood of a strike on the western portion of the Florida Panhandle. Destruction of coastal property in this region will be extensive. Water rise is expected to be in the 12- to 18-foot range; thus, all people should be far away from low-lying areas.
Outer rain bands of Dennis are radiating northward now, flinging heavy rain and gusty winds into the Florida Panhandle, southern Alabama and southern Georgia well in advance of the eye. Gusty winds continue to batter much of the Florida Peninsula (particularly the western half of the state). Winds will increase rapidly across the Florida Panhandle today as Dennis approaches. A tornado watch remains posted until 3 p.m. EDT for the Florida Panhandle, southwest Georgia and southern Alabama. A tornado watch has also been issued for the west coast of the Florida Peninsula, generally north of Port Charlotte. This watch is valid until 2 p.m. EDT.
At U.S. landfall, Dennis may be as strong as when it hit the south-central coast of Cuba on Friday. And when the hurricane crashes into the Gulf Coast it will certainly be stronger than last year's Ivan. Rainfall amounts of 4-8 inches are forecast for the Florida Panhandle, southern Alabama and southern Mississippi. Locally higher amounts are likely along and east of where the center of circulation tracks.
Hurricane warnings remain in effect for the northern Gulf Coast from the Pearl River east to the Steinhatchee River with tropical storm warnings from the Steinhatchee River to Bonita Beach, Florida. The hurricane warning in the Florida Keys has been downgraded to a tropical storm warning from the Seven Mile Bridge to the Dry Tortugas. In Louisiana, tropical storm warnings are posted from Morgan City to the Pearl River, including New Orleans and Lake Ponchatrain.
Four Atlantic tropical cyclones -- Arlene, Bret, Cindy and Dennis -- reached tropical storm status by July 5 this year, the earliest there have been four named storms in the Atlantic. Only three major hurricanes (category 3 or higher) have hit the U.S. coast in July in the past 100 years. When Dennis' winds peaked at 150 mph on Friday, the storm became the strongest July Atlantic Basin hurricane on record and the strongest Atlantic hurricane so early in hurricane season.
Ellie
My Prayers and Thoughts are with All those in the path of Dennis
8:16 a.m. ET Sun.,Jul.10,2005
B. Bernard, Meteorologist, The Weather Channel
At 8:00 a.m. EDT, Dennis' maximum sustained winds remained at 145 mph making it an extremely dangerous category 4 hurricane. This is the second time that Dennis has reached category 4 status. The current central pressure of 930 mb (27.46") is the lowest so far recorded in the hurricane. Dennis continues to swirl toward the north-northwest at 15 mph and seems destined to thunder ashore somewhere between Mobile, Ala. and Ft. Walton Beach, Fla., this afternoon. A jog in Dennis' course over the past few hours suggests a growing likelihood of a strike on the western portion of the Florida Panhandle. Destruction of coastal property in this region will be extensive. Water rise is expected to be in the 12- to 18-foot range; thus, all people should be far away from low-lying areas.
Outer rain bands of Dennis are radiating northward now, flinging heavy rain and gusty winds into the Florida Panhandle, southern Alabama and southern Georgia well in advance of the eye. Gusty winds continue to batter much of the Florida Peninsula (particularly the western half of the state). Winds will increase rapidly across the Florida Panhandle today as Dennis approaches. A tornado watch remains posted until 3 p.m. EDT for the Florida Panhandle, southwest Georgia and southern Alabama. A tornado watch has also been issued for the west coast of the Florida Peninsula, generally north of Port Charlotte. This watch is valid until 2 p.m. EDT.
At U.S. landfall, Dennis may be as strong as when it hit the south-central coast of Cuba on Friday. And when the hurricane crashes into the Gulf Coast it will certainly be stronger than last year's Ivan. Rainfall amounts of 4-8 inches are forecast for the Florida Panhandle, southern Alabama and southern Mississippi. Locally higher amounts are likely along and east of where the center of circulation tracks.
Hurricane warnings remain in effect for the northern Gulf Coast from the Pearl River east to the Steinhatchee River with tropical storm warnings from the Steinhatchee River to Bonita Beach, Florida. The hurricane warning in the Florida Keys has been downgraded to a tropical storm warning from the Seven Mile Bridge to the Dry Tortugas. In Louisiana, tropical storm warnings are posted from Morgan City to the Pearl River, including New Orleans and Lake Ponchatrain.
Four Atlantic tropical cyclones -- Arlene, Bret, Cindy and Dennis -- reached tropical storm status by July 5 this year, the earliest there have been four named storms in the Atlantic. Only three major hurricanes (category 3 or higher) have hit the U.S. coast in July in the past 100 years. When Dennis' winds peaked at 150 mph on Friday, the storm became the strongest July Atlantic Basin hurricane on record and the strongest Atlantic hurricane so early in hurricane season.
Ellie
My Prayers and Thoughts are with All those in the path of Dennis