Dennis now a Hurricane

[AlanUK]

Dennis has been battering Cuba overnight. Latest news reports state that there have been at least 10 fatalities . Please spare a thought for the people of Cuba

Having been travelling over land for the last 12 hours or so Dennis has now weakened from a category 4 storm to a category 2 storm. As he starts to travel into the Gulf of Mexico and is again over water Dennis is expected to gain strength again as conditions remain favourable.

The forcast models have shifted slightly again and look in pretty good agreement that landfall will be made anywhere between Florida's Eastern edge and Lousianna.

Here is the latest forcast tracks from all the wether models...

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Issued at: 2:46 AM EDT 7/9/05 (gateway).


Air force plane finds a weaker dennis, expected to re-strengthen,

A hurricane warning is in effect for cuba for the provinces of la habana, ciudad de la habana, matanzas, villa clara, cienfuegos, sancti spiritus, ciego de avila, camaguey, las tunas, granma, santiago de cuba, holguin and guantanamo. A hurricane watch remains in effect for the isle of youth and the province of pinar del rio. A large portion of the warning area may be discontinued soon.

A hurricane warning is in effect for the lower Florida keys from the seven mile bridge westward to the dry tortugas. A tropical storm warning and a hurricane watch are in effect for the remainder of the Florida keys, east of the seven mile bridge to ocean reef and florida bay.

A hurricane watch remains in effect for portions of the northeastern gulf coast from the steinhatchee river westward to the mouth of the pearl river. Hurricane warnings will likely be required for portions of this area early today.

A tropical storm warning remains in effect along the Florida west coast from anclote key southward, and along the Florida east coast from golden beach southward.

A tropical storm watch is in effect for the southeastern louisiana coast west of the mouth of the pearl river to grand isle, including metropolitan new orleans and lake ponchartrain.

A tropical storm watch remains in effect along the Florida west coast from north of anclote key northward to east of the steinhatchee river.

A hurricane or tropical storm warning means that hurricane or tropical storm conditions, respectively, are expected within the warning area within the next 24 hours. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion in the hurricane warning area. A hurricane or tropical storm watch means that hurricane or tropical storm conditions, respectively, are possible within the watch area, generally within 36 hours.

Interests elsewhere in the northwestern caribbean sea, the eastern gulf of mexico, and Florida should monitor the progress of dennis.

For storm information specific to your area, including possible inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued by your local weather office.

At 3 am edt, 0700z, the eye of hurricane dennis was located by the key west radar near latitude 23.5 north, longitude 82.6 west or about about 90 miles, 145 km, southwest of key west Florida.

Dennis is moving toward the northwest near 14 mph, 22 km/hr, and this general motion is expected to continue for the next 24 hours. This motion should move dennis away from cuba and bring the center to the southeastern gulf of mexico today.

Data from a reconnaissance plane indicate that dennis weakened while moving over cuba and maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 100 mph, 155 km/hr, with higher gusts. Dennis is a category two hurricane on the saffir-simpson scale. However, dennis is expected to re-intensify into a major hurricane as it moves over the southeastern gulf of mexico.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 65 miles, 100 km, from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 175 miles, 280 km.

Minimum central pressure reported by an air force reconnaissance aircraft was 973 mb, 28.73 inches.

Dennis is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 4 to 8 inches across the central and southern Florida peninsula, and the florida keys. Additional rain accumulations of 3 to 6 inches are expected over cuba and cayman islands, with isolated maximum storm total amounts of 15 inches possible. These rains could produce life-threatening flash floods and mudslides.

Storm surge flooding of 5 to 10 feet above normal tide levels, along with large and dangerous battering waves, are still

+...........................................................+

 

[Miffy2003]

Oh my. Those poor people in Cuba.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

As you can see the picture above has updated itself and Tampa is getting very wet

 

[wicket2005]

Nasty hurricane.

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Issued at: 2:54 PM EDT 7/9/05 (gateway).


Dennis continues to become better organized as it moves northwestward toward the northeastern gulf coast,

A hurricane warning remains in effect for the lower Florida keys from the seven mile bridge westward to the dry tortugas. A hurricane warning is also in effect for portions of the northeastern gulf coast from the steinhatchee river westward to the mouth of the pearl river.

A tropical storm warning is now in effect along the Florida west coast from east of the steinhatchee river southward, and along the southeast Florida coast from golden beach southward, including the florida keys from seven mile bridge eastward. A tropical storm warning is also in effect for the southeastern louisiana coast west of the mouth of the pearl river to grand isle, including metropolitan new orleans and lake pontchartrain.

A hurricane or tropical storm warning means that hurricane or tropical storm conditions, respectively, are expected within the warning area within the next 24 hours. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion in the hurricane warning area.

For storm information specific to your area, including possible inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued by your local weather office.

At 3 pm edt, 1900z, information from reconnaissance aircraft, satellite, and coastal doppler radars indicate the center of the eye of hurricane dennis was located near latitude 25.5 north, longitude 84.4 west. This is about 295 miles, south of apalachicola Florida and about 425 miles southeast of pascagoula mississippi.

Dennis is moving toward the northwest near 14 mph, and this motion is expected to continue today with a gradual turn toward the north-northwest tonight and Sunday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 100 mph, with higher gusts. Dennis is a category two hurricane on the saffir-simpson scale. Some strengthening is possible during the next 24 hours, and dennis could become a category 3 hurricane again by Sunday.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 35 miles, 55 km, from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 175 miles, 280 km.

The minimum central pressure recently measured by a reconnaissance aircraft of the air force reserve was 962 mb, 28.41 inches.

Dennis is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 4 to 8 inches across the central and southern Florida peninsula, the florida keys, the Florida west coast, the Florida panhandle, southern alabama, and southern mississippi. Additional rain accumulations of 3 to 6 inches are possible across central cuba, which could produce life-threatening flash floods and mudslides.

Storm surge will gradually decrease along the lower Florida keys today and tonight. A storm surge of 3 to 5 feet is possible along the southwest coast of Florida today and tonight. A storm surge of 8 to 10 feet is possible along and to the right of where the center of dennis crosses the northeastern gulf coast on Sunday.

Isolated tornadoes will be possible over central and southern florida peninsula and the Florida keys today, and across the florida panhandle tonight and Sunday.

Repeating the 3 pm edt position, 25.5 n, 84.4 w. Movement toward, northwest near 14 mph. Maximum sustained winds, 100 mph. Minimum central pressure, 962 mb.

The next advisory will be issued by the national hurricane center at 5 pm edt.


---------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[Obi Wan Kenobi]

Issued at: 2:23 AM CDT 7/10/05 (gateway).

Corrected wind speed to 145 mph in repeat section.

Extremely dangerous hurricane dennis with 145 mph winds.


A hurricane warning remains in effect for portions of the northern and northeastern gulf coast from the steinhatchee river westward to the mouth of the pearl river.

A tropical storm warning remains in effect along the Florida west coast from east of the steinhatchee river southward to bonita beach, and for the lower Florida keys west of seven mile bridge. A tropical storm warning is also in effect for the southeastern louisiana coast west of the mouth of the pearl river to grand isle, including metropolitan new orleans and lake ponchartrain.

A hurricane or tropical storm warning means that hurricane or tropical storm conditions, respectively, are expected within the warning area within the next 24 hours. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion in the hurricane warning area.

For storm information specific to your area, including possible inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued by your local weather office.

At 2 am cdt, 0700z, the center of hurricane dennis was located near latitude 27.4 north, longitude 85.9 west or about 195 miles south of panama city Florida and about 275 miles southeast of biloxi mississippi.

Dennis is mov

ing toward the northwest near 14 mph. A gradual turn toward the north-northwest is expected today. This motion will bring the center of dennis across the northern gulf coast later today.

Reports from an air force reserve hurricane hunter aircraft indicate that maximum sustained winds are now near 145 mph, with higher gusts. Dennis is a category four hurricane on the saffir-simpson scale. Some fluctuations in strength are likely before landfall.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 40 miles from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 230 miles. Hurricane force winds associated with dennis may occur as far as 150 to 175 miles inland along the track of the hurricane.

An air force hurricane hunter plane recently reported a minimum central pressure of 934 mb, 27.58 inches.

Storm surge flooding of 14 to 17 feet above normal tide levels, accompanied by large and dangerous battering waves, is possible near and to the east of where the center of dennis crosses the northern gulf coast on Sunday. A storm surge of 2 to 4 feet is possible along the southwestern coast of Florida this morning.

Dennis is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of 5 to 8 inches from the Florida panhandle, southern alabama, and southern mississippi northwestward into northern mississippi, with isolated maximum amounts of 12 inches possible near where dennis makes landfall on the gulf coast. Additional rainfall accumulations of 2 to 4 inches are possible over the Florida west coast, with 1 to 3 inches possible over the remainder of the Florida peninsula. Isolated tornadoes will be possible this morning over portions of north-central and northern Florida, and the Florida panhandle.

Repeating the 2 am cdt position, 27.4 n, 85.9 w. Movement toward, northwest near 14 mph. Maximum sustained winds, 145 mph. Minimum central pressure, 934 mb.

The next advisory will be issued by the national hurricane center at 4 am cdt.


---------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[AlanUK]

The latest information would state that Dennis is due to make landfall at between 2pm and 5pm local time tonight. It's looking likely to be an Alabama or Mississippi hit.

Dennis is currently a strong category 3 storm but is expected to continue to strengthen until landfall as a Category 4 storm.

According to an earlier NHC update once Dennis had passed over Cuba he strengthened at an "Insane" rate

For those people in the UK with Sky, FOX News will be covering this all day with live reports.