October 11, 2001
The SeaWiFS satellite sensor flying high above the atmosphere captured this image on Monday of Hurricane Iris about to slam into the coast of Belize . A Category 4 storm, Iris blasted the southern coast with winds of 140 mph striking an area that had not been hit with a full strength hurricane in nearly 60 years. At least 15 American tourists on a diving expedition were killed. 13,000 people were left homeless and 95% of Belize's banana crop was detroyed. By Tuesday, Iris had weakened to a tropical depression as it crossed the the mountains of eastern Mexico.