As the Gulf Coast of the U.S. deals with the remnants of Tropical Storm Cindy, Dennis continues to cut through the Caribbean. The pubescent storm looks like it’s going to grow up and become a great big category 3 hurricane.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami reported the storm was 350 miles east-southeast of Kingston Jamaica averaging 70 mile per hour winds. The storm is moving west-northwest at about 14 mph.
Hurricane warnings were issued f or Jamaica and southwest Haiti from the Dominican Republic border. A tropical storm warning is in effect for the southern coast of the Dominican Republic from Barahona west to the Haiti-Dominican Republic border.
A hurricane watch is in effect for the Cayman Islands and for Central and eastern Cuba, for the provinces of Sancit Spiritus, Ciego De Avila, Camaguey, Las Tunas, Granma, Santiago De Cuba, Guantanamo and Holguin.
Tropical storm winds lash out as far as 85 miles. Rain levels are expected to range 4 to 8 inches in most places, hitting 12 inches at some. The NHC reminds that big ugly Dennis could produce flash floods and mudslides.
Dennis looks to be aiming for Florida for his initial punch on the mainland. If Dennis achieved hurricane status, it could be quite reminiscent of Ivan from last year. Ivan and four other hurricanes wreaked tremendous havoc all over Florida last year.
As Dennis is the 4th named storm of the season and there’s never been 4 recorded by July 5th, many are worried about what might happen as the regular storm season approaches. Florida’s still not recovered from the hurricanes wars of 2004.
John Stith is a staff writer for Murdok covering technology and business.
