The 2005 hurricane season was a wild hurricane season. It ranks second in terms of named storms with 28. Until 2020 it held the record for most named storms in a season. The 2020 set the record with 30 named storms.
July 2005 featured two very powerful hurricanes. In fact, these hurricanes were named Dennis and Emily. For now I want to focus on Hurricane Dennis. Before I begin I think it is important to point out why the 2005 season was very active. First, 2005 was influenced by a La Nina a weather pattern that causes favorable conditions in the Atlantic for tropical development. Second, water temperatures were well above average especially in the Caribbean. In fact, it was described as a soup bath for tropical development. I was a student in college for the 2005 Hurricane Season. My professors turned it into a lesson in my earth and atmospheric science classes. Later in the season my professors would show us models and charts on some of the hurricanes.
In early July a tropical low emerged in the Eastern Caribbean. This low quickly acquired tropical characteristics. It was quickly named Tropical Storm Dennis. As Dennis moved into the Central Caribbean the storm really got going. In the Central Caribbean Dennis became Hurricane Dennis. Hurricane Dennis quickly strengthened into a category 2 hurricane and then a category 3 hurricane. This made Dennis a major hurricane, but the storm was not done strengthening.
Dennis became a high end category 4 hurricane with winds of 150 mph before striking Cuba. Going over the mountains of Cuba weakened Dennis. It emerged in the Gulf of Mexico as a category 1 hurricane. Most of the models showed Dennis becoming a major hurricane again and striking the Panhandle of Florida. Once over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico Dennis began to restrengthen. Dennis became a high end category 2 hurricane. After becoming a category 2 hurricane Dennis rapidly intensified to a 140 mph category 4 hurricane and was poised to strike Florida.
A trough pulled some dry air into Dennis right before its Florida landfall. Still, Dennis made landfall on Santa Rosa Island in Florida as a 120-125 mph category 3 hurricane. Dennis produced high storm surge and dangerous winds. However, Dennis was not done.
Dennis continued to cause problems inland including damaging winds, flooding rains, and tornadoes. The remnants of Dennis made it into my state. My area had gusty winds and several inches of rain from Dennis.
Dennis was a destructive storm. In Cuba the hurricane was believed to have caused $1.5 Billion dollars worth of damage. In the USA Dennis caused $3 Billion dollars worth of damage. Overall, Dennis caused $4.5 Billion dollars worth of damage and 88 deaths. Most of the deaths were in Cuba. The following year the name Dennis would be retired along with Katrina, Rita, Stan, and Wilma.
Being a student I was amazed at how powerful Dennis was for a July Hurricane. A tropical system forming in the Caribbean is typical for July. On the other hand, it was unusual to get a major hurricane in July. The official peak was a pressure of 930 millibars and 150 mph maximum winds as I stated this made Dennis a high end category 4 hurricane. Dennis held the record for strongest July hurricane until a week later when it was passed by the stronger Hurricane Emily, which was a category 5. It is rare we have major hurricanes in July. Normally we do not see major hurricanes (categories 3,4,and 5) until August, September, October, and sometimes even November. August, September, and October is when a category 4 or 5 hurricane is likely to form. Indeed, Dennis was a historic storm.
The 2005 hurricane season was a wild hurricane season. It ranks second in terms of named storms with 28. Until 2020 it held the record for most named storms in a season. The 2020 set the record with 30 named storms.
July 2005 featured two very powerful hurricanes. In fact, these hurricanes were named Dennis and Emily. For now I want to focus on Hurricane Dennis. Before I begin I think it is important to point out why the 2005 season was very active. First, 2005 was influenced by a La Nina a weather pattern that causes favorable conditions in the Atlantic for tropical development. Second, water temperatures were well above average especially in the Caribbean. In fact, it was described as a soup bath for tropical development. I was a student in college for the 2005 Hurricane Season. My professors turned it into a lesson in my earth and atmospheric science classes. Later in the season my professors would show us models and charts on some of the hurricanes.
In early July a tropical low emerged in the Eastern Caribbean. This low quickly acquired tropical characteristics. It was quickly named Tropical Storm Dennis. As Dennis moved into the Central Caribbean the storm really got going. In the Central Caribbean Dennis became Hurricane Dennis. Hurricane Dennis quickly strengthened into a category 2 hurricane and then a category 3 hurricane. This made Dennis a major hurricane, but the storm was not done strengthening.
Dennis became a high end category 4 hurricane with winds of 150 mph before striking Cuba. Going over the mountains of Cuba weakened Dennis. It emerged in the Gulf of Mexico as a category 1 hurricane. Most of the models showed Dennis becoming a major hurricane again and striking the Panhandle of Florida. Once over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico Dennis began to restrengthen. Dennis became a high end category 2 hurricane. After becoming a category 2 hurricane Dennis rapidly intensified to a 140 mph category 4 hurricane and was poised to strike Florida.
A trough pulled some dry air into Dennis right before its Florida landfall. Still, Dennis made landfall on Santa Rosa Island in Florida as a 120-125 mph category 3 hurricane. Dennis produced high storm surge and dangerous winds. However, Dennis was not done.
Dennis continued to cause problems inland including damaging winds, flooding rains, and tornadoes. The remnants of Dennis made it into my state. My area had gusty winds and several inches of rain from Dennis.
Dennis was a destructive storm. In Cuba the hurricane was believed to have caused $1.5 Billion dollars worth of damage. In the USA Dennis caused $3 Billion dollars worth of damage. Overall, Dennis caused $4.5 Billion dollars worth of damage and 88 deaths. Most of the deaths were in Cuba. The following year the name Dennis would be retired along with Katrina, Rita, Stan, and Wilma.
Being a student I was amazed at how powerful Dennis was for a July Hurricane. A tropical system forming in the Caribbean is typical for July. On the other hand, it was unusual to get a major hurricane in July. The official peak was a pressure of 930 millibars and 150 mph maximum winds as I stated this made Dennis a high end category 4 hurricane. Dennis held the record for strongest July hurricane until a week later when it was passed by the stronger Hurricane Emily, which was a category 5. It is rare we have major hurricanes in July. Normally we do not see major hurricanes (categories 3,4,and 5) until August, September, October, and sometimes even November. August, September, and October is when a category 4 or 5 hurricane is likely to form. Indeed, Dennis was a historic storm.
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