Which Hurricanes Hit Florida in 2004?

Florida is commonly known as the “Lightning Capital of the United States,” but it’s also a state that’s prone to hurricanes. 2004 was a particularly busy year for hurricanes in Florida, with a total of four making landfall in the state. In this article, we’ll take a look back at the hurricanes that hit Florida in 2004 and the impact they had on the state.

Hurricane Charley (August 13, 2004)

The first hurricane to hit Florida in 2004 was Hurricane Charley, which made landfall on August 13 as a Category 4 hurricane. Charley brought strong winds of up to 150 mph and heavy rainfall, causing widespread damage and power outages across central and southern Florida. The storm surge caused significant flooding in coastal areas, with water levels reaching as high as 8 feet in some areas.

Charley’s eye passed directly over the city of Punta Gorda, causing catastrophic damage to homes, businesses, and infrastructure. The storm’s impact was particularly severe in Charlotte County, where an estimated 60% of homes were damaged or destroyed.

Hurricane Frances (September 5, 2004)

Just a few weeks after Charley, Hurricane Frances made landfall in Florida on September 5 as a Category 2 hurricane. Frances brought strong winds of up to 105 mph and heavy rainfall, causing significant flooding and power outages across eastern and central Florida.

Frances’ slow movement over the state meant that the storm’s impact was felt over a larger area, with hurricane-force winds extending outward up to 40 miles from the center of the storm. The storm surge caused significant flooding in coastal areas, with water levels reaching as high as 6 feet in some areas.

Hurricane Ivan (September 16, 2004)

Hurricane Ivan made landfall in Florida on September 16 as a Category 3 hurricane. Ivan’s outer rain bands brought heavy rainfall and strong winds to the state, causing power outages and flooding across western and central Florida.

Ivan’s storm surge caused significant flooding in coastal areas, with water levels reaching as high as 8 feet in some areas. The storm’s impact was particularly severe in the Florida Keys, where an estimated 80% of homes were damaged or destroyed.

Hurricane Jeanne (September 26, 2004)

The final hurricane to hit Florida in 2004 was Hurricane Jeanne, which made landfall on September 26 as a Category 3 hurricane. Jeanne brought strong winds of up to 120 mph and heavy rainfall, causing significant flooding and power outages across eastern and central Florida.

Jeanne’s storm surge caused significant flooding in coastal areas, with water levels reaching as high as 8 feet in some areas. The storm’s impact was particularly severe in the state’s Space Coast, where an estimated 10,000 homes were damaged or destroyed.

Conclusion

2004 was a particularly busy and destructive year for hurricanes in Florida, with four storms making landfall in the state. Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne caused significant damage and disruption to Florida’s communities, infrastructure, and economy. While the state has taken steps to prepare for and respond to future hurricane threats, the memories of these storms will not soon be forgotten.