Hurricane Dennis

Hurricane Dennis
	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	88
Damage	$3.98 billion (2005 USD)
Areas affected	Windward Islands; Greater Antilles (particularly Cuba); Southeastern United States (particularly Florida); Great Lakes region; Canada;
	IBTrACS
	Part of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season
	History Meteorological history; Other wikis Commons: Dennis images;

Hurricane Dennis was a tropical cyclone that originated early in the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico during the record-breaking 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. The storm marked the fourth named storm, the second hurricane, and the first major hurricane of the season. Developing in July, it became the strongest Atlantic hurricane ever to form before August at that time. However, it held this title for only six days before being surpassed by Hurricane Emily. Additionally, Hurricane Dennis also became the second-wettest tropical cyclone in the state of Kentucky, second only to the 1960 Texas tropical storm.

Dennis originated from a tropical wave near Africa and intensified into a tropical depression by July 4 near the Windward Islands, crossing over Grenada. Strengthening further, it developed into a tropical storm before intensifying into a Category 1 hurricane by July 6, moving towards the Jamaica Channel. Rapidly intensifying into a Category 4 hurricane, Dennis made its first landfall in Granma Province, Cuba on July 8. After a period of weakening and subsequent re-intensification, Dennis reached its peak with winds of 150 mph before making its second landfall in Matanzas Province, Cuba on the same day. Weakening to a Category 1 hurricane, it intensified once more into a Category 4 hurricane, reaching a secondary peak with winds of 145 mph. On July 10, Dennis made landfall on Santa Rosa Island, Florida as a Category 3 hurricane before transitioning into an extratropical cyclone, which was later absorbed by another extratropical cyclone.

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 59 homes were damaged or destroyed, causing significant harm to Haiti's agricultural industry. The storm resulted in 56 fatalities and caused approximately $50 million in damages. Additionally, Dennis brought torrential rain to Jamaica, with the heaviest amounting to 24.54 in (623 mm) in Mavis Bank. This severely affected Jamaica's agriculture industry, resulting in the loss of nearly 160,000 livestock and leaving around 100,000 customers without electricity. However, the storm only killed one person in Jamaica but resulted in over $34.5 million in damages. In Cuba, the storm dumped up to 27.67 inches (70.3 cm) of rain. Approximately 120,000 houses were damaged, and 70% of water sources in Granma Province were contaminated. The impact led to 16 fatalities and caused an estimated $1.4 billion, leaving 21 counties without power.

The impact of Hurricane Dennis on the United States was significant, resulting in $2.5 billion in damages and killing 15 people. In Florida, the hurricane brought hurricane-force winds to the Florida Panhandle, with wind gusts reaching up to 121 mph (195 km/h) and 8.70 in (221 mm) of rain fell near Bristol. Additionally, storm surges ranging between 6 to 9 ft (1.8 to 2.7 m) were reported, and a total of nine tornadoes were spawned. The estimated damages in Florida amounted to $1.5 billion, and the hurricane killed 14 people. Additionally, Dennis brought hurricane-force winds and heavy rain to Alabama, with a storm surge ranging from 3–6.5 ft (0.91–1.98 m) and recorded rainfall of up to 12.80 in (325 mm) in Camden. The hurricane left 291,128 individuals without power in Alabama and caused damages totaling $12 million. Approximately 55,000 individuals experienced power outages in Georgia caused by Dennis. One fatality was reported and the damages amounted to $120 million.