Hurricane Dennis

It has been a heck of a tropical weather season so far. Already four named storms by July 11, and all four have hit the Gulf coast of either the US or Mexico. Hurricane Dennis, which made landfall yesterday afternoon, was the first hurricane of the season and by far caused the worst damage seen yet this year. Dennis had two stints as a strong Category 4 storm during it's life, including a period just before landfall yesterday morning. Thankfully the storm weakened to a Category 3 before it hit, but damage was still severe.

The worst damage appears to be at Navarre Beach, which lies just east of the landfall point, where it received the strongest onshore winds. A gust of 121 mph was recorded there at the height of the storm. Storm surge and wave action were also extreme.

I have a strong personal attachment to the affected area. I have vacationed in the Florida panhandle 4 times, more than anywhere else, and I could identify most of the towns, highways, and landmarks shown on TV. Northwest Florida is my favorite place to vacation and I almost consider it a home away from home. In May 2002 I spent a week at Navarre Beach, which at the time was a small, developing resort area...just beautiful. The pictures I've seen of Navarre Beach after Dennis are just heartbreaking.

Being a weather geek, I love reading about and tracking hurricanes, but hopefully the rest of them curve out to sea and don't affect land.

And...don't look now, but the next one is beginning to form east of the Lesser Antilles. Get ready to say "wazzup" to Emily, as soon as later today.