Hurricane Ivan...September 2004

Additional Data Available Here!!

Hurricane Ivan made landfall near Gulf Shores, Alabama at 210 AM CDT on Thursday September 16, 2004. At landfall, Hurricane Ivan's strength was estimated around 130 mph, which would be a high end category three hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. NOAA Research Aircraft measured the minimum central pressure at 943mb near the time of landfall. This data is preliminary and the National Hurricane Center will make an official statement after further review.

Hurricane Ivan will compare with the worst hurricanes to ever to affect the Alabama Gulf Coastal Region since 1900, including Frederic in September 1979, Opal in October 1995, and the September 1926 Hurricane.

Hurricane 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. Tree and power line damage was extensive.

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.

Here are some peak wind gusts and storm total rainfall amounts, associated with Hurricane Ivan as it passed over Central Alabama.

*** DISCLAIMER *** The information contained below has been quality controlled only for consistency. The accuracy of the equipment used has not been measured. The observations were taken from ASOS, AWOS, AWS, EMA wind equipment and personal wind equipment. This data is preliminary. Additional information will added when received.

Peak Wind Gusts

Location	County	Speed (mph)
Demopolis (estimated)	Marengo	90
Greensboro (estimated)	Hale	78
Lake Harding	Lee	72
Sumter County (estimated)	Sumter	70
Maxwell Airforce Base	Montgomery	67
Anniston (9th & Noble St.)	Calhoun	67
Billingsley	Autauga	67
Montgomery (Dannelly Field)	Montgomery	58
Gadsden (Etowah Co. EMA)	Etowah	57
Tuscsloosa Regional AP	Tuscaloosa	55
Hackleburg	Marion	55
Birmingham International AP	Jefferson	54
Childersburg Middle School	Talladega	52
Troy Municipal AP	Pike	52
Gadsden Municipal AP	Etowah	49
Birmingham Race Course	Jefferson	47
Attalla (Etowah Co. Middle School)	Etowah	47
Anniston Municipal AP	Calhoun	44
Birmingham, Jimmie Hale Mission	Jefferson	41
Guin (Marion Co. High School)	Marion	41

Storm Total Rainfall

Location	County	Rainfall (inches)
Alabaster	Shelby	6.00
Alexander City	Tallapoosa	5.59
Alpine	Talladega	7.22
Anniston	Calhoun	6.66
Ashland	Clay	6.72
Ashville	St. Clair	6.50
Auburn	Lee	5.93
Bessie	Chilton	5.81
Birmingham	Jefferson	9.81 (corrected)
Blount Springs	Blount	5.29
Blue Pond	Cherokee	5.33
Calera	Shelby	7.28
Carbon Hill	Walker	5.68
Childersburg	Talladega	7.18
Clanton	Chilton	5.26
Collins Chapel	Chilton	6.38
Cordova	Walker	4.56
Crudup	Etowah	3.76
Dadeville	Tallapoosa	5.38
Dearmanville	Calhoun	3.95
Fayette	Fayette	2.39
Gadsden	Etowah	5.10
Gaylesville	Cherokee	5.46
Gorgas Steam Plant	Walker	7.64
Hackneyville	Tallapoosa	4.01
Hamilton	Marion	3.14
Heflin	Cleburne	2.12
Helena	Shelby	4.72
Hollins	Clay	6.97
Horseshoe Bend	Tallapoosa	4.50
Indian Springs	Shelby	7.61
Jackson Shoals	Talladega	4.05
Ketona	Jefferson	9.69
Manchester	Walker	4.35
Montgomery	Montgomery	5.32
Newell	Randolph	4.67
Northport	Tuscaloosa	3.80
Oak Grove	Jefferson	5.28
Palmerdale	Jefferson	7.03
Pinson	Jefferson	4.94
Prattville	Autauga	5.45 (corrected)
Selma	Dallas	8.87
Talladega	Talladega	5.60
Tannehill	Jefferson	9.76
Troy	Pike	6.50
Trussville	Jefferson	8.97
Vance	Tuscaloosa	6.59
Vestavia Hills	Jefferson	8.65
Wadley	Randolph	6.25
Wedowee	Randolph	5.20 (updated)

For individual assistance for damage caused in your county by Hurricane Ivan, please call 1-800-621-FEMA (1-800-621-3362), or visit http://www.fema.gov for further information.

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