Hurricane Dennis developed in the eastern Caribbean on the 5th and moved northwest and exited the northwest coast of Cuba early on the 9th. The center of Hurricane Dennis passed 220 miles east of Fort Myers Beach around 9 PM EDT on the 9th and passed 200 miles east of Cedar Key around 10 AM EDT on the 10th. Tropical force sustained winds were intermittent within rain bands around Dennis. These bands did produce 7 tornadoes and 1 waterspout in southwest and west central Florida. No significant wind damage was reported. The maximum storm surge of 3 feet did not affect the area until Sunday the 10th around 4 AM EDT. The surge caused moderate beach erosion and destroyed up to 80 percent of the sea turtle nests. Seas were 5 to 7 feet with some waves up to 10 feet. Four to six inches of rain fell near Punta Gorda and Fort Myers but no significant flood damage was reported.

    In Lee County, maximum winds were estimated at 40 MPH with gusts to 50 MPH along Sanibel Island. No significant damage was reported. In Charlotte County, maximum winds at the Punta Gorda airport were measured at 40 MPH with gusts to 50 MPH. Three Cape Coral residents drowned around 11 PM EDT on the 10th when their Sports Utility Vehicle overturned into a ditch filled with rainwater near the intersection of Bermont Road (SR 74) and Ronco Road. The road was covered with 6 inches of water and caused the vehicle to hydroplane into a ditch where it flipped upside down. The victims were still wearing their seat belts when found. Two other vehicles hydroplaned into a ditch in the same area but they managed to get out of their vehicles without injury.

    In Sarasota and Manatee counties sustained winds remained 3-5 knots below tropical storm force In Hillsborugh County, a maximum wind gust of 55 MPH was recorded in Temple Terrace from a home weather station 100 feet above the ground on a condominium. The gusty winds broke off a 1000 pound church steeple near Hyde Park in Tampa. In Pinellas County, maximum winds were recorded at 44 MPH with gusts to 58 MPH at the Saint Petersburg/Clearwater International Airport. There was one minor injury as a pickup drove off a downslope of the Howard Frankland Bridge about 1 PM Sunday as the driver overcompensated when a strong gust of wind pushed him into the left hand lane.

    In Pasco County sustained winds remained 5 knots below tropical storm force. In Citrus County, winds estimated at 40 MPH with gusts to 55 MPH 4 miles northeast of Crystal River downed several large trees and caused minor damage to a metal roof. The estimated damage was $1,500. In Levy County, Cedar Key recorded sustained winds of 40 MPH with gusts to 46 MPH. Damage of $500 thousand on Cedar Key was related to surge flooding and not wind damge. A spotter in Cheifland recorded wind gusts to 56 MPH using his handheld anemometer.

    A bubble of storm surge from Hurricane Dennis moved north along the west Florida Gulf Coast during day. The surge peaked at Fort Myers around 3:30 AM EDT, in Pinellas County between 8-9 AM EDT, and at Cedar Key just before noon. The surge into Tampa Bay was one to two hours later than the surge along the coast. Southwest Facing beaches along the Gulf of Mexico received average wave heights of 5 to 7 feet with occasional waves of 10 feet.

    Damage amounts listed occurred in Manatee, Pinellas, and Levy counties only and were a mix of beach erosion, flooded homes, and damage to marinas.

    Lee County: Fort Myers - Storm Surge 3.08 feet at 3:36 AM EDT, Storm Tide 3.20 feet at 4:54 AM EDT Minor beach erosion was reported.

    Charlotte County: Stump Pass Beach - Storm Surge estimated at 3 feet around 5 AM EDT. The surge and high surf from Hurricane Dennis delayed beach restoration projects and ate up 15 feet of beach and may have destroyed up to 80 percent of the area's sea turtle nests. A monetary amount regarding beach damage was not available.

    Sarasota County: Venice - Estimated Storm Surge 2.00 feet at 7:12 AM EDT Battering waves and high water on the 10th washed out part of a paved road at Turtle Beach Park and destroyed an 8-inch water main serving two condominiums in the area. Longboat Key suffered serious erosion and lost part of a $21 M beach restoration project that began in June. A monetary amount regarding beach damage was not available.

    Manatee County: Port Manatee - Storm Surge 2.87 feet at 8:36 AM EDT, Storm Tide 4.09 feet at 8:36 AM EDT Battering waves took 20 percent of the shoreline on parts of Anna Maria Island while other areas on the island gained sand. Damage was estimated at $1.75 million to replace 250,000 yards of sand from Anna Maria Island to Manatee Beach. Roughly 140 people evacuated to a shelter during the storm.

    Hillsborough County: McKay Bay - Storm Surge 3.39 feet at 9:54 AM EDT, Storm Tide 4.84 feet at 9:54 AM EDT Old Port of Tampa - Storm Surge 3.20 feet at 9:36 AM EDT, Storm Tide 4.63 feet at 9:36 AM EDT Tampa police closed a flooded portion of Bayshore Boulevard Sunday as the sea spray washed through the railing and accumulated on the road. No significant damage was reported.

Pinellas County: Clearwater - Storm Surge 3.88 feet at 7:48 AM EDT, Storm Tide 5.15 feet at 7:48 AM EDT St. Petersburg - Storm Surge 3.19 feet at 8:54 AM EDT, Storm Tide 4.55 feet at 8:24 PM EDT

    A marina in St Petersburg suffered at least $2 million in damage as heavy winds and waves broke apart floating boat docks. About 45 of the 50 vessels made it out of the marina safely but a 64 foot yacht sank as it tried to dock at a nearby marina and six other boats received minor damage. Several neighborhoods and a few homes were flooded, including most streets in Madeira Beach and Redington Beach that face Boca Ciega Bay. Only 274 people heeded the recommendation to evacuate mobile homes and low lying areas. Major beach erosion was noted at Pass-a-Grille where 40 feet of the 100 feet beach was lost. Other areas with minor to major beach erosion included areas around Sand Key, Redington Beach and Redington Shores. Dennis destroyed 60 of 71 turtle nests on the beaches in the county.

    Hernando County: Coastal flooding came up to the sea wall with wave action topping the wall. Three homes had minor damage in the coastal area west of Spring Hill.

    Citrus County: Fort Island Trail Beach west of Crystal River was overwashed due to the 3 foot above normal tides and one home in Ozella reported water damage.

    Levy County: Cedar Key - Storm Surge 4.81 feet at 11:12 AM EDT, Storm Tide 7.79 feet at 1:54 PM EDT About 3 feet of water covered State Road 23 west of the #4 Bridge and the airport and numerous roads were closed in Cedar Key due to the above normal tides. Yankeetown streets were covered with 10 inches of water and County Road 40A west of the city was closed due to water on the road. Moderate beach erosion was reported on Cedar Key. Water damage at Cedar Key was limited to 20 business and $500 thousand.