 After maintaining Category 5 status for about 12 hours , Ivan began a steady weakening trend due to another eyewall replacement cycle until reaching winds of 140 mph ( 225 km / h ) on September 10 . Early next day , the hurricane reorganized as it reached winds just shy of Category 5 status . However , weakening occurred again due to an eyewall replacement cycle , and at 0330 UTC on September 11 Ivan passed 23 miles ( 37 km ) south of Portland Point , Jamaica , its closest approach , with winds of 150 mph ( 240 km / h ) . The hurricane was previously forecast to make landfall on the island , though the weakening and a turn to the west kept the strongest winds offshore ; however , sustained winds of Category 4 status were reported . While passing to the south of the island , the hurricane dropped heavy rainfall , with several stations reporting over 2 feet ( 60 cm ) of precipitation . Ivan 's last @-@ minute turn to the west was due to a mid @-@ level high pressure system over the eastern Gulf of Mexico . A slight weakening trend continued after passing the island , due to its northern outflow being disrupted by an upper @-@ level low over the Bahamas . As it tracked further away from Jamaica , Ivan again rapidly intensified to Category 5 status , and early on September 12 it reached its peak intensity of 165 mph ( 265 km / h ) with a pressure of 910 mbar ( 26 @.@ 87 inHg ) . 
