NEWS: Dennis Now A 'Dangerous Hurricane'

St. Teresa Beach (8:31 AM EST)

Looks like it's making that north curve now. Good luck to everyone in the path. We'll be saying a prayer for you all.

I just checked and compared the track of Ivan last year and if Dennis stays on the projected path it will make landfall in almost the exact same place that Ivan did.

Also if Dennis remains a cat. 4 storm when it makes landfall it would put this storm in the top 10 worst to impact the USA of all time.

We can only hope it weakens before landfall. We are looking at potential damage over a very large, populated area that could total in the many billions of dollars, leaving thousands to face dealing with catastrophic damage to homes and businesses.

When natural events like this happen I am always stunned to see how mankind with all of his impressive technology and weapons of mass destruction seems helpless and insignificant against the power of nature.

I wonder if we're on that list. heh. I saw something once that said how bad Andrew was, then didn't even mention Iniki even though Kauai was totally devistated by it. They had winds coming down the mountain at 200mph during that storm. There are places that STILL haven't recovered and it's 12 years later. I think the mainland forgets we're part of the US sometimes.

For "Live" local coverage from Mobile Alabama,

WKRG Streaming Video

This link might be very interesting as long as it stays up within the next few hours as Dennis approaches the area.

I feel bad for the people in the path of this storm for two reasons. One being that this storm looks to hit the exact same spot as Ivan did last year. The other reason is that this storm appears to be just about as strong as hurricane Andrew. The pressure in Andrew was 922mb. Right now Dennis is at 930mb. If the pressure manages to drop to 925 or lower watch for the NHC to upgrade this storm to a cat 5.

EDIT: Oops - I had my coastline mixed up! ** Good luck to all you Alabama/Florida peoples!

[edit on 7-10-2005 by Valhall]

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Latest reports has winds decreased to 140mph. The eye is tightening.

[edit on 7-10-2005 by ShadowHasNoSource]

The storm track has changed a bit, and the landfall zone has shifted a bit more to the east, it now looks like Pensacola could suffer a direct hit with the worst part of the storm.

The wind speed has died a bit, forward speed of the storm a bit faster, and the pressure has dropped. Not much if any further weakening is expected and if that is the case, this storm's impact on this area will go in the history books among the top ten worst hurricanes to hit the USA.


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[edit on 10-7-2005 by UM_Gazz]

Originally posted by Phoenix
For "Live" local coverage from Mobile Alabama,

WKRG Streaming Video

Great find Phoenix

I'm watching now, (broadband)

They are speculating about the reasons for such a dramatic and early start to the hurricane season.

Very interesting indeed.

It still looks like the very worst of this storm will hit Pensacola Florida. but there is about 40 miles either side that will also get the very strong winds.

If you have a broadband connection. Watch this streaming video while you still can.

Remember Ivan from last year?

Ivan was a category 3 hurricane and hit in just about the same area Dennis is now headed. Ivan caused billions of dollars in damage.

how could we forget Ivan?! Good ol' Ivan that got me stuck alone in Michigan for 2 days and didnt even hit us!!!!!!!!!

Just before landfall Dennis was downgraded to a cat. 3 storm. Strongest winds weakened rather quickly. It was almost a direct hit on the same areas as Ivan just 10 months ago.

Still a major storm by any and all standards for this early in the season.

All there is to do now is wait for damage reports to come in.

There is hope that it may not be as bad as some were expecting, only time will tell.

Current information on Dennis:

Dennis makes landfall as a Category 3 Hurricane

As of 5:00 PM EDT, Hurricane Dennis was a Category 2 Hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 105 mph. The lowest pressure is 950 millibars (28.05 inches). The storm has weakened since early this morning. Hurricane Dennis was centered at 30.8 north and 87.2 west, or about 20 miles north of Pensacola, Florida.

The storm made landfall about 3:25 pm EDT between Pensacola Beach and Navarre Beach, Florida, with maximum sustained winds of 115-120 mph. The storm is moving northward across extreme western Florida, and will continue moving inland and weakening tonight.

Dennis is a large storm, and the effects will be felt far and wide. Dennis' tropical storm force winds extend out over 200 miles to the north of the storm. Winds of hurricane force extend about 25 miles outward from the center. There will also be the risk for tornadic activity north and east of where the center comes inland.

Heavy rain will result in freshwater flooding across inland parts of the Florida Panhandle as well as in interior portions of Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and southeastern Louisiana. Residents living near rivers should be alert for abrupt rises in river levels.

[edit on 10-7-2005 by UM_Gazz]

im in the new orleans area and if you stand outside and look to the east, you can see it. you can see those dark, ominous storm clouds to the east, and when you look to the west, its almost clear. a frightening sight.

You can really feel the effects here too, i was on the lakefront a little while ago, and man! 25-30mph winds here, i can only imagine what alabama must be feeling.

my southeastern american bretherin, you are in my prayers.

Take care everybody!

--Kitsunegari