- The Windward Islands, especially Grenada.
- Jamaica
- Grand Cayman
- Cuba
- Alabama, Florida, and much of the eastern United States.
- After rebirth, Texas and Louisiana
| |
| Hurricane Ivan infrared satellite image, taken on September 16, 2004 at 1:45 am CDT. | |
| Formed | September 2, 2004 as Tropical Depression Nine |
| Highest Wind Speed | 165 mph (270 km/h) on September 11, 2004 |
| Highest Category | Five |
| Territories affected |
|
As Hurricane Ivan's sustained 200 km/h winds wreaked havoc in the Caribbean,
the swirling eye of the hurricane was photographed on September 11, 2004
from aboard the orbiting International Space Station(ISS) at an altitude
of about 230 miles. Photo by science officer and flight engineer Edward
Fincke.
Hurricane Ivan was the fifth hurricane of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season. It was a Cape Verde-type hurricane that reached Category 5 strength at its peak, and early in its path reached unprecedented intensity at low latitudes Category 4 at only 10.6° N.
After briefly being downgraded to Category 3 intensity, Ivan struck Grenada directly on mid-day September 7 with Category 3 winds. It travelled across the Caribbean Sea, reaching Category 5 intensity before passing close to the Jamaican coast and Grand Cayman and crossing the western tip of Cuba. After moving into the eastern Gulf of Mexico its strength lessened to a Category 4, and it continued on a track towards the north-northwest, making landfall in the U.S. near Gulf Shores, Alabama.
As Ivan approached landfall, Florida Lt. Governor Toni Jennings described it as "the size of Frances but [with] the impact of Charley". [1]
After landfall, Ivan moved north and then turned east, bringing heavy rainfall to large areas of the south-eastern United States. It then later looped south and through Florida, and regenerated into a tropical storm for a short time in the gulf and moved into Louisiana and Texas.
On September 2, 2004, Tropical Depression Nine formed about 555 miles (890 km) southwest of the Cape Verde Islands. The depression strengthened gradually to tropical storm status about 610 miles (980 km) southwest of the Cape Verde Islands, moving west-northwesterly at around 16 mph (25 km/h), and was given the name Ivan on September 3.
Early September 5, Tropical Storm Ivan's winds strengthened to hurricane status 1210 miles (1950 km) east-southeast of the Lesser Antilles. By 5pm EDT, Ivan had rapidly strengthened to a strong category three hurricane (nearly a category four) on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale with winds of 125 mph (200 km/h). The National Weather Service noted such rapid strengthening was unprecedented at such low latitudes in the Atlantic basin.
As Ivan travelled west, it weakened to a Category 2 hurricane. But on September 7, shortly after passing over Grenada on its way into the Caribbean Sea, it reattained Category 4 intensity with winds of 135 mph (215 km/h). St. Vincent, Grenada and Barbados were thereafter battered by the hurricane for several hours.
As Ivan was passing just north of the Windward Netherlands Antilles and Aruba on September 9, sustained wind speed increased to 160 mph (260 km/h) thus classifying Ivan as a Category 5 hurricane. Following this milestone, Ivan fluctuated between category 4 and 5 status, which is typical of intense hurricanes.
Hurricane Ivan just west of Grenada in the Caribbean Sea on September
7,2004 at 19:45 UTC(15:45 EDT). At the time, Ivan had maximum sustained
winds of 120 mph (195 km/h), placing it at Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson
Hurricane Scale. Visible satellite image courtesy NOAA.
Ivan continued west-northwest, heading straight for Jamaica. As Ivan approached the island late on September 10, it began a westward jog which kept the eye and the strongest winds to the south and west. After clearing Jamaica, it resumed its more northerly track, and reattained Category 5 intensity with sustained windspeeds of 165 mph (270 km/h). With minimum recorded central pressure at 910 millibars, Ivan is ranked as the sixth most intense Atlantic hurricane on record.
Ivan spent most of September 11 travelling west at Category 4 strength, staying just off the southern coast of Jamaica. Ivan's intensity continued fluctuating, with the storm temporarily reattaining Category 5 strength before passing within 30 miles (45 km) of Grand Cayman at Category 4, bringing hurricane force winds onto the island.
After passing the Cayman Islands, Ivan reattained Category 5 strength and brushed the western tip of Cuba late on September 13, with its eyewall coming on shore. With most of its central circulation staying offshore, Ivan was able to pass through the Yucatan Channel with no loss of strength. Once over the Gulf of Mexico, Ivan lost some strength, dropping back to a 140 mph (225 km/h) Category 4 hurricane, but maintained that intensity as it travelled north to the coast of the United States.
Around 2am CDT September 16 (0700 UTC), Ivan struck the US mainland near Gulf Shores, Alabama. At the time, Ivan's maximum sustained winds had dropped to 130 mph (210 km/h), just under Category 4 strength. This slight drop in strength was accompanied by a disruption of Ivan's eyewall. Both NEXRAD operators and Hurricane Hunters reported that the southwestern portion of the eyewall had all but disappeared in the hours before landfall.
Ivan continued inland, maintaining hurricane strength until it was over central Alabama. Late on the 16th, Ivan weakened to a tropical depression over northeastern Alabama. On September 18 the remnants of Ivan drifted off the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States into the Atlantic ocean and the low pressure disturbance continued to dump rain on the east coast of the United States.
Ivan lost tropical characteristics on September 18 while crossing Virginia. The remnant low crossed the coast of New Jersey later that day and advisories were discontinued. Nevertheless, on the morning of September 21, some of its remnants combined with a low-pressure system to pelt Cape Breton Island of Nova Scotia, Canada with hurricane-force winds, flooding some roads, felling trees, and leaving thousands without power. [2] pan>
Ivan reformed into a tropical depression on September 22,
2004 in the Gulf of Mexico after having travelled in a circular motion through
the southeastern United States, causing tremendous flooding.
An interesting development occurred on September 20 as a small surface low, caused by the southern remnants of Ivan, moved across the Florida peninsula. As it continued west across the northern Gulf of Mexico, the system organized and took on tropical characteristics. On September 22 the National Weather Service, "after considerable and sometimes animated in-house discussion [regarding] the demise of Ivan," [3] determined that the low was in fact a result of the remnants of Ivan and thus named it accordingly.
On the evening of September 23, the revived Ivan made landfall near Cameron, Louisiana. Ivan weakened quickly as it travelled overland into southeast Texas.
Hurricane Ivan at landfall on the extreme eastern Alabama Gulf Coast
Ivan passed directly over Grenada on September 7, 2004, killing at least 34 people. The capital of St. George's was severely damaged and several notable buildings were destroyed, including the residence of the prime minister. A prison on the island suffered extensive damage, allowing much of the inmate population to escape. The island has, in the words of a Caribbean disaster official, suffered "total devastation" As a result, extensive looting has been reported. A member of the Grenadan parliament estimated "85 percent devastation" to the small island [6].
Among the dead were 20 Jamaicans, a pregnant woman killed in Tobago, and a 75 year old woman who drowned in Barbados. There were also four deaths in the Dominican Republic, and four in Venezuela.
Ivan also damaged hundreds of homes in Barbados and at least 60 homes in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
On September 11, 12, Ivan passed over Jamaica, causing significant wind and flood damage. Early reports suggested at least 14 people had been killed. Looters were reported roaming the streets of Jamaica's capital city, Kingston (which appeared deserted), robbing emergency workers at gunpoint.
Governor Bruce Dinwiddy described damage in the Cayman Islands as "very, very severe and widespread." A quarter of buildings on the islands were reported to be uninhabitable, with 80% damaged to some extent. Much of Grand Cayman Island still remained without power, water or sewer services ten days later.
Ivan has killed at least 70 people in the Carribean and 52 in the United States. Sixteen of those people died in Florida. Tornadoes spawned by Ivan hit in communities along concentric arcs on the leading edge of the storm. [7] Blountstown, Florida and Panama City Beach suffered two of the most devastating tornados. A Panama City Beach news station was nearly hit by an F2 tornado during the storm. [8]
The heaviest damage as Ivan touches the US coastline was observed in Baldwin County in Alabama on the western side of the storm, and Pensacola, and Fort Walton Beach, Florida on the eastern, windy leading edge of the storm. Shattered windows from gusts and flying projectiles experienced throughout the night of the storm were quite commonly seen. Early estimates put damage in the U.S. at $515 billion.
Hurricane Ivan damage to I-10 bridge in Pensacola
In Pensacola, the Interstate 10 causeway across Escambia Bay was heavily damaged, with as much as a quarter-mile (400 m) of the road washed away. The bridge that carries U.S. Highway 90 across the northern part of the same bay was also heavily damaged. Virtually all of Perdido Key, an area on the outskirts of Pensacola that bore the brunt of Ivan's winds and rain, was essentially leveled. High surf and wind brought extensive damage to Innerarity Point, as well as Orange Beach, just over the border from the Key in Alabama.
Further inland, Ivan caused major flooding, bringing the Chattahoochee River near Atlanta and many other rivers and streams to levels at or near 100-year records. The Delaware River and its tributaries are expected to crest just below their all-time records set by Hurricane Diane in 1955.
In Western North Carolina many streams and rivers reached well above flood stage, causing many roads to be closed. The Blue Ridge Parkway, as well as Interstate 40 through the Pigeon River gorge in Haywood County, North Carolina sustained major damage.
Ivan caused deadly tornadoes as far north as Maryland [9]
After Ivan regenerated in the gulf, it caused further heavy rainfall, up to 8 inches (20 cm) in areas of Louisiana and Texas.
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