<P> On September 2, 2004, Tropical Depression Nine formed from a large tropical wave southwest of Cape Verde . As the system moved to the west, it strengthened gradually, becoming Tropical Storm Ivan on September 3 and reaching hurricane strength on September 5, 1,150 miles (1,850 km) to the east of Tobago . Later that day, the storm intensified rapidly, and by 5 pm EDT (2100 UTC), Ivan became a Category 3 hurricane with winds of 125 miles per hour (200 km / h). The National Hurricane Center said that the rapid strengthening of Ivan on September 5 was unprecedented at such a low latitude in the Atlantic basin . </P> <P> As it moved east, Ivan weakened slightly because of wind shear in the area . The storm passed over Grenada on September 7, battering several of the Windward Islands . As it entered the Caribbean Sea, Ivan reintensified rapidly and became a Category 5 hurricane just north of the Windward Netherlands Antilles (Curaçao and Bonaire) and Aruba on September 9 with winds reaching 160 mph (260 km / h). Ivan weakened slightly as it moved west - northwest towards Jamaica . As Ivan approached the island late on September 10, it began a westward jog that kept the eye and the strongest winds to the south and west . However, because of its proximity to the Jamaican coast, the island was battered with hurricane - force winds for hours . </P> <P> After passing Cuba, Ivan resumed a more northerly track and regained Category 5 strength . Ivan's strength continued to fluctuate as it moved west on September 11, and the storm attained its highest winds of 163 mph (262 km / h) as it passed within 30 miles (50 km) of Grand Cayman . Ivan reached its peak strength with a minimum central pressure of 910 millibars (27 inHg) on September 12 . Ivan passed through the Yucatán Channel late on September 13 while its eyewall affected the westernmost tip of Cuba . Once over the Gulf of Mexico, it weakened slightly to Category 4 strength, which it maintained while approaching the Gulf Coast of the United States . </P> <P> Just before it made landfall in the United States, Ivan's eyewall weakened considerably, and its southwestern portion almost disappeared . Around 2 am CDT September 16 (0700 UTC), Ivan made landfall on the U.S. mainland in Gulf Shores, Alabama as a Category 3 hurricane with 120 mph (190 km / h) winds; some hurricane information sources put the winds from Hurricane Ivan near 130 mph (210 km / h) upon landfall in Alabama and northwestern Florida . Ivan then continued inland, maintaining hurricane strength until it was over central Alabama . Ivan weakened rapidly that evening and became a tropical depression the same day, still over Alabama . Ivan lost tropical characteristics on September 18 while crossing Virginia . Later that day, the remnant low drifted off the U.S. mid-Atlantic coast into the Atlantic Ocean, and the low pressure disturbance continued to dump rain on the United States . </P>

When did hurricane ivan hit the cayman islands