Frances 2004: Weakened from Cat 4- Cat 2 prior to landfall.
Charley 2004: Strengthened from Cat 2- Cat 4 prior to Landfall
Isabel 2003: Weakened from Cat 5- Cat 2 prior to landfall
Lili 2002: Weakened from Cat 4 to Cat 1/2 prior to landfall
Isidore 2002: Hit Yucatan and weakened from Cat 3 to TS
Debby 2000: Was supposed to be significant threat to FL but dissipated shortly
Floyd 1999: Weakened from Cat 4 to Cat 2 before landfall
Bret 1999: Weakened from Cat 4 to minimal Cat 3 before landfall
Going back further Opal weakened from 150 MPH to 115-120
Just posting this to show that many severe hurricanes in the past few years have threatened to be extremely bad, but weakened before landfall, infact the only Cat 4 storm to hit in the past few years actually deepened prior to landfall rather than holding it's strength for a long period of time. I’m not saying that Ivan will weaken dramatically but it is still a long way out...so don't lose hope yet.
