Meteorological history of Hurricane Dennis

Hurricane Dennis

Map plotting the track and intensity of Hurricane Dennis according to the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale
Meteorological history
Formed	July 4, 2005 (classified a tropical depression)
Dissipated	July 18, 2005 (Remnant low after July 13)
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
Areas affected	Windward Islands Greater Antilles (particularly Cuba) Southeastern United States Ohio River Valley Ontario
Part of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season
History Meteorological history Effects Haiti Jamaica Cuba United States Florida Alabama Georgia Mississippi Other wikis Commons: Dennis images

The meteorological history of Hurricane Dennis spanned twenty-two days, beginning with its inception as a tropical wave over Africa on June 26, 2005, and terminating with its dissipation on July 18 over the Great Lakes of North America. The incipient wave that became Dennis emerged over the Atlantic Ocean on June 29 and moved briskly to the west. Dry air initially inhibited development, though once this abated the wave was able to consolidate into a tropical depression on July 4. The depression soon crossed Grenada before entering the Caribbean whereupon increasingly favorable environmental factors, such as low wind shear and high sea surface temperatures, fueled intensification. Turning west-northwest, the system achieved tropical storm status on July 5 and hurricane status the following day.

Formation of a well-defined eye and central dense overcast signaled Dennis's intensification into a major hurricane. The powerful storm soon struck Granma Province, Cuba, as a Category 4 early on July 8; violent winds battered the province and caused extensive damage. Paralleling the western coast of Cuba, Dennis attained its peak winds of 150 mph (240 km/h) later that day before making a second landfall in the country, this time in Matanzas Province. Interaction with the mountains of Cuba caused significant weakening; however, once Dennis emerged over the Gulf of Mexico on July 9, it was able to quickly reorganize. The hurricane reached Category 4 strength for a third time on July 10 as it approached Florida, weakening somewhat before striking the state. Dramatic weakening ensued once the cyclone moved ashore. Dennis lingered as a tropical depression and remnant low for roughly a week, traversing the Mississippi River Valley and Ohio River Valley before finally dissipating over Ontario on July 18.