Ivan weakened to a tropical depression Thursday night after whipping coastal Alabama and the Florida Panhandle with 135 mph winds and torrential rain.
At 11 p.m. EDT the storm was 25 miles north-northwest of Gadsden, Ala., moving to the north-northeast at 14 mph and expected to take a turn toward the northeast as it slows its forward movement.
Maximum sustained winds of 35 mph are likely to decrease as the storm moves further inland. Rainfall of up to 12 inches in the storm zone is forecast through Saturday, with higher amounts possible in the southern Appalachian Mountains.
Hurricane Ivan slammed ashore at 2 a.m. near Gulf Shores, Ala., but its effects were felt from Louisiana well east into Florida.
At least 20 people died as Ivan roared inland from the northern Gulf coast, the Washington Post reported.
The storm has been blamed for more than 60 deaths on the Caribbean islands of Jamaica, Grenada and the Cayman Islands.
© Copyright 2004 by United Press International
