 Dennis shortly before peak intensity while approaching the Florida panhandle on July 10 | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | July 4, 2005 |
| Remnant low | July 13, 2005 |
| Dissipated | July 18, 2005 |
| Category 4 major hurricane | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS/NWS) | |
| Highest winds | 150 mph (240 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 930 mbar (hPa); 27.46 inHg |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 90 (76 direct, 14 indirect) |
| Damage | $3.98 billion (2005 USD) |
| Areas affected |
|
| IBTrACS | |
Part of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season | |
| History
Other wikis | |
Hurricane Dennis was a deadly and destructive tropical cyclone that briefly held the record for the strongest Atlantic hurricane ever to form before August. Dennis was the fourth named storm of the record-breaking 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. It originated on July 4 near the Windward Islands from a tropical wave. Dennis intensified into a hurricane on July 6 as it moved across the Caribbean Sea. Two days later, it became a strong Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale before striking Cuba twice on July 8. After weakening over land, Dennis re-intensified in the Gulf of Mexico, attaining its lowest barometric pressure of 930 mbar (27 inHg) on July 10. That day, Dennis weakened slightly before making a final landfall on Santa Rosa Island, Florida as a Category 3 hurricane. After moving through the central United States, the circulation associated with former Hurricane Dennis dissipated on July 18 over Ontario. While Dennis was still active as a tropical cyclone, it lost its status as the strongest hurricane before August to Hurricane Emily, which also moved through the Caribbean.
In the Caribbean, the outer bands of Hurricane Dennis brought tropical storm-force winds and heavy rain to parts of Haiti, resulting in floods and landslides. A total of 3,058 homes were damaged and 929 were destroyed. Hundreds of livestock were killed, causing significant harm to Haiti's agricultural industry. The storm resulted in 56 fatalities and caused approximately $50 million in damages. In Jamaica, Dennis produced 24.54 in (623 mm) of rainfall in Mavis Bank. The resultant floods severely affected Jamaica's agriculture industry, killing nearly 160,000 livestock and leaving around 100,000 customers without electricity. The storm killed one person in Jamaica and resulted in over $34.5 million in damages. In Cuba, rainfall peaked at 43 in (1,092 mm). Approximately 120,000 houses were damaged and 15,000 homes were destroyed. Nationwide, 2.5 million people lost access to water while 70% of the water sources in Granma Province were contaminated. Its agricultural industry was also affected, with almost 27,000 hectares (67,000 acres) of agricultural land being destroyed in the provinces of Cienfuegos and Granma. The impact led to 16 fatalities and caused an estimated $1.4 billion in damage to the country.
The impact of Hurricane Dennis on the United States was also significant, resulting in $2.5 billion in damages and 17 fatalities. More than 1 million people lost power, and a power worker was killed while restoring electricity in Alabama. In Florida, the hurricane brought hurricane-force winds as strong as 121 mph (195 km/h) to the Florida Panhandle, while rainfall reached 8.70 in (221 mm) in Bristol. Additionally, Dennis produced a 6 to 9 ft (2 to 3 m) storm surge, which caused significant flooding along Apalachee Bay, well east of the landfall. The estimated damages in Florida amounted to $1.5 billion, and the hurricane killed 14 people. In neighboring Alabama, Dennis brought hurricane-force winds, a 3–6.5 ft (1–2 m) storm surge, and heavy rainfall peaking at 12.80 in (325 mm) in Camden. Due to the extensive damage, the name Dennis was retired by the World Meteorological Organization.