How big is Dennis?

[Tigerfan]

Can someone compare the size of Dennis to Ivan. I should remember but wasn't Ivan a compact but powerful storm. Dennis looks pretty large in size. Would more areas of the gulf coast be affected with Dennis than were with Ivan? Thanks for any info.

[Brent]

It's a little smaller than Ivan but could grow in size...

At 5pm:

HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 65 MILES...100 KM...
FROM THE CENTER...AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP
TO 160 MILES...260 KM.

[Swimdude]

Could definately grow in size... Doesn't a temporary landfall [such as we're seeing now] break apart the storm, causing the winds to spread over a larger area?

[aumoore]

Actually Ivan had Hurricane force winds that extended up to 120miles from the Eye center so it had winds in excess of 74MPH in a 240Mile swath. At landfall the winds were around 131MPH or a strong Cat 3 storm. Most say Ivan's storm surge was comparable to a Cat 4 storm. IMHO the reason for this was the massive size of Ivan so it acted like a giant bulldozer pushing over 240 miles of water.

Dennis is now a smaller Cat 4 storm more like Hurricane Charlie last year. Higher winds just in a smaller area. If it hits within 50 to 60 miles of you you are in trouble. I think the hurricane force winds are a path 50 miles on each side of the eye or 100 total miles.

[Tigerfan]

Thanks - that is valuable info for people to think about.