Hurricane Dennis

  • Released Monday, July 11, 2005
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The formation of Hurricane Dennis on July 5 made that the earliest date on record that four named storms formed in the Atlantic basin. Dennis proved to be a powerful and destructive storm in the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. It crossed over Cuba on July 8 and 9, leaving at least 10 dead, and caused additional deaths in Haiti. After re-emerging over open water, Dennis re-strengthened into a dangerous Category 4 hurricane with top wind speeds of 233 kilometers per hour (145 mph). The storm passed within 90 kilometers (55 miles) of Pensacola, Florida, and hit land about 80 kilometers (50 miles) east of where Hurricane Ivan struck in September, 2004. A large storm surge of more than 10 feet was created in certain areas, and many homes and businesses in low-lying areas were flooded.

This animation combines GOES-12 IR2 data with Terra and Aqua/MODIS data to generate a full hemispherical progressive view of Hurricane Dennis as it passes over Cuba and hits the Florida panhandle.

July 6, 2005 15:05 (UTC) In this image Tropical Storm Dennis spanned from the northern tip of Venezuela to the southern half of the island of Hispaniola. Dennis grew to winds of 110 kilometers per hour (70 mph).

July 6, 2005 15:05 (UTC) In this image Tropical Storm Dennis spanned from the northern tip of Venezuela to the southern half of the island of Hispaniola. Dennis grew to winds of 110 kilometers per hour (70 mph).

July 7, 2005 15:50 (UTC) Hurricane Dennis threads its way between Jamaica and Haiti on a direct course for Cuba. In this image, Dennis was just below a Category 3 hurricane, with winds of 175 kilometers per hour (110 miles per hour) and stronger gusts.

July 7, 2005 15:50 (UTC) Hurricane Dennis threads its way between Jamaica and Haiti on a direct course for Cuba. In this image, Dennis was just below a Category 3 hurricane, with winds of 175 kilometers per hour (110 miles per hour) and stronger gusts.

July 9, 2005 18:45 (UTC) After crossing Cuba, Dennis regained strength into a dangerous Category 3 hurricane with winds approaching 185 kilometers per hour (115 mph).

July 9, 2005 18:45 (UTC) After crossing Cuba, Dennis regained strength into a dangerous Category 3 hurricane with winds approaching 185 kilometers per hour (115 mph).

July 10, 2005 16:15 (UTC) In this image, with winds of 217 kilometers per hour (135 mph), Hurricane Dennis was a powerful Category 4 storm just hours away from making landfall. The eye of the storm was about 90 kilometers (55 miles) south, southeast of Pensacola, Florida, and the storm was moving northwest at about 29 kilometers per hour (18 mph).

July 10, 2005 16:15 (UTC) In this image, with winds of 217 kilometers per hour (135 mph), Hurricane Dennis was a powerful Category 4 storm just hours away from making landfall. The eye of the storm was about 90 kilometers (55 miles) south, southeast of Pensacola, Florida, and the storm was moving northwest at about 29 kilometers per hour (18 mph).

For More Information

See http://www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/lookingatearth/h2005_dennis.html

Credits

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio. Data provided by Jeff Schmaltz (SSAI, NASA/GSFC) and Jacques Descloitres via the MODIS Rapid Response Project.

This page was originally published on Monday, July 11, 2005.
This page was last updated on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at 1:56 PM EDT.

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