Estimates by me may differ from official reports - Hurricane Ivan was a long-lived Category 5 hurricane during 2004. Ivan started off in the Atlantic's main development region and rapidly intensified. Although Ivan did not make landfall on the Lesser Antilles, hurricane (and possibly even major hurricane) force winds were felt there. Ivan then continued west, and became the southmost category 5 on record until that record was surpassed by Hurricane Matthew. Ivan weakened to a category 4 due to an eyewall replacement cycle. Ivan then made its closest approach to Jamaica as a high-end category 4 before weakening again due to another eyewall replacement cycle. Ivan then intensified again and achieved its peak of 165 MPH before quickly weakening again due to yet another eyewall replacement cycle. Ivan then intensified into a category 5 for a third time as it passed just to the west of Cuba. Upon entering the gulf, Ivan began its 4th eyewall replacement cycle and weakened again. Dry air also caused Ivan to further weaken to a category 3 before making landfall near Gulf Shores, Alabama. Ivan rapidly weakened, although it remained tropical upon re-emerging into the open Atlantic. Although most storms would move northeast towards Bermuda, Ivan's now extratropical remnants got pulled south by Hurricane Jeanne, which would hit Florida as a major hurricane a few days later. Ivan's remnants moved over Florida and redeveloped in the gulf. Ivan briefly attained tropical storm status before making landfall near Cameron, LA as a weak depression. Hurricane Ivan was, at the time of dissipation, the second costliest storm in Atlantic history, only behind Andrew. Ivan set numerous records, such as most ACE in the Atlantic (70.4), most tornadoes spawned by a tropical cyclone (120), and fastest underwater seafloor current. Ivan was also the third of 4 storms to bring hurricane force winds to Florida in 6 weeks - Tags: #Scratchmaster295 #TropicalCyclone #Hurricane #Meteorology #HurricaneIvan #Ivan #Florida #Weather #Animations
