On This Date In 2004… Hurricane Ivan

At 51 minutes after midnight on 16 September 2004, the northern eyewall of powerful Hurricane Ivan (see landfall ) moved onto land near Gulf Shores as an upper Category 3 hurricane (Saffir-Simpson Scale). The official time of landfall was 2:02 AM CDT (ie. when the center of Ivan’s eye crossed land). Bringing with it 130 mph surface winds and a historic storm surge, preliminary estimates show that the magnitude and extent of the damage and destruction over Baldwin County Alabama and Escambia and Santa Rosa counties of northwest Florida likely exceeded that of both Hurricane Frederic (September 1979) and Hurricane Opal (October 1995). Additionally, Hurricane Ivan was very close to the magnitude of damage and destruction caused by the Hurricane of 1926 which ravaged the aforementioned counties east of Mobile Bay. Hurricane Ivan caused a preliminary total of 13 deaths in the following counties combined: Baldwin County, Alabama, Escambia County, Florida, Santa Rosa County, Florida. Damage over 5 billion dollars.

Ivan moved inland maintaining hurricane strength to near Uniontown (Perry County) around 11 AM. Ivan was downgraded to a Tropical Storm at 1 PM CDT as it was approaching Centreville (Bibb County). Ivan then tracked across the Birmingham Metropolitan Area between 4 and 8 PM. Ivan remained a Tropical Storm until reaching northeast Alabama, where it weakened to a Tropcial Depression around 10 PM.

Ivan produced estimated maximum winds of 60 to 80 mph generally southwest of line from Prattville to Livingston. A few spots may have reached 90 mph in this area. Most other locations across central alabama had estimated maximum wind speeds of 50 to 60 mph, with a few isolated spots reaching 75 mph. Damage was severe well inland… some of the hardest hit communities included Atmore, Brewton, Evergreen, Monroeville, Camden, and Demopolis.

Ivan produced a large swath of heavy rainfall. Central sections of the area received an average of 4 to 8 inches, with a few locations just over 10 inches. Areas along and near the Georgia and Mississippi state-lines received slightly lower amounts. Flash flooding was widespread, although temporary. The Birmingham Metropolitan area was especially hard hit with flooding.

Watch some of ABC 33/40’s live coverage below…

Hurricane Ivan – September 2004 from James Spann on Vimeo.

Below is the ABC 33/40 special… “Face To Face With Hurricane Ivan”

Tags: Ivan

Category: Met 101/Weather History