The National Hurricane Center says Hurricane Dennis is now a “category three” hurricane and may become a “category four” storm before reaching Cuba:
National Hurricane Center—REPORTS FROM AN AIR FORCE RESERVE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT INDICATE THAT DENNIS HAS CONTINUED TO STRENGTHEN…AND MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NOW NEAR 130 MPH…210 KM/HR…WITH HIGHER GUSTS. DENNIS IS A DANGEROUS CATEGORY THREE HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. SOME ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST BEFORE THE CENTER REACHES CENTRAL CUBA…AND DENNIS COULD BECOME A CATEGORY FOUR HURRICANE BEFORE REACHING CUBA. [. . .].
Update (7/8/2005 6:34am):
As expected, Hurricane Dennis has strengthened to a Category four storm:
National Hurricane Center—MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS REMAIN NEAR 135 MPH…215 KM/HR…WITH
HIGHER GUSTS. DENNIS IS A CATEGORY FOUR HURRICANE ON THE
SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. SOME ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING IS POSSIBLE
BEFORE LANDFALL IN CUBA. [. . .].
Update (7/9/2005 10:04am):
The latest information from the National Hurricane Center indicates Hurricane Dennis is reorganizing with maximum sustained winds near 100mph:
National Hurricane Center—…DENNIS CONTINUING TO RE-ORGANIZE OVER THE SOUTHEASTERN GULF…
…HURRICANE-FORCE WIND GUSTS OCCURRING ACROSS THE LOWER KEYS…
DATA FROM A NOAA HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT INDICATE MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 100 MPH…WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SOME FLUCTUATIONS IN INTENSITY ARE EXPECTED TODAY. [. . .].
Update (7/9/2005 7:55pm):
NHC: Hurricane Dennis has strengthened rapidly and is now a Category Three storm and may intensify into a Category Four storm before making landfall:
National Hurricane Center—REPORTS FROM AIR FORCE AND NOAA HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT INDICATE THAT DENNIS HAS STRENGTHENED RAPIDLY DURING THE PAST FEW HOURS. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NOW NEAR 115 MPH…WITH HIGHER GUSTS. THIS MAKES DENNIS A CATEGORY 3 HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING IS EXPECTED…AND DENNIS COULD BECOME A CATEGORY 4 HURRICANE BEFORE LANDFALL ON THE NORTHERN GULF COAST. [. . .].
Update (7/9/2005 10:04pm):
The NHC says hurricane Dennis continues to strengthen “rapidly”:
National Hurricane Center—…DANGEROUS CATEGORY 3 DENNIS CONTINUING TO STRENGTHEN RAPIDLY… [. . .]. REPORTS FROM AN AIR FORCE RESERVE HURRICANE HUNTER AIRCRAFT INDICATE THAT MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NOW NEAR 125 MPH…WITH HIGHER GUSTS. THIS MAKES DENNIS A CATEGORY 3 HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. ADDITIONAL STRENGTHENING IS EXPECTED…AND DENNIS COULD BECOME A CATEGORY 4 HURRICANE BEFORE LANDFALL ON THE NORTHERN GULF COAST. [. . .].
Update (7/10/2005 7:58am):
Hurricane Dennis is a powerful Category Four storm this morning:
National Hurricane Center—MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 145 MPH…230 KM/HR…WITH HIGHER
GUSTS. DENNIS IS A CATEGORY FOUR HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. SOME FLUCTUATIONS IN STRENGTH ARE LIKELY PRIOR TO LANDFALL. [. . .].
