The 2004 Atlantic hurricane season had an unusually late date of formation for the first tropical cyclone. It was also notable because more than half of the season's 16 tropical cyclones brushed or struck the United States. The hurricane season officially began on June 1, and ended on November 30. Despite an El Niño, the season was above average. The first storm, Alex, developed offshore of the Southeastern United States on July 31. It brushed the The Carolinas and the Mid-Atlantic, causing relatively minor impact. Other storms that resulted in minor impacts include Tropical Storms Bonnie, Earl, Hermine, and Matthew, and Subtropical Storm Nicole. In addition, Hurricanes Danielle, Karl, and Lisa, Tropical Depression Ten, and Tropical Storm Otto caused no impact on land while a tropical cyclone.
Hurricane Charley became the second-costliest hurricane in United States history, at the time, after striking Florida as a Category 4, leaving $14 billion in damage. Later in August, Hurricane Frances became the third costliest U.S. hurricane, primarily due to impact in Florida. The most significant storm in terms of intensity and damage was Hurricane Ivan. It was a Category 5 hurricane that devastated multiple countries adjacent to the Caribbean Sea, before entering the Gulf of Mexico and bringing catastrophic impact to the Gulf Coast of the United States. After becoming extratropical on August 18, the remnants executed a large cyclonic loop and regenerated into a tropical storm in the Gulf of Mexico on August 22. It later struck Texas and quickly dissipated. In the United State alone, Ivan caused $18.8 billion in losses, more than Hurricane Charley. The most significant tropical cyclone in terms of deaths was Hurricane Jeanne. In Haiti, torrential rainfall in the mountains resulted in mudslides and severe flooding, causing at least 3,006 fatalities. The storm also left 8 deaths in Puerto Rico, 18 in the Dominican Republic, and 5 in the United States, for a total of at least 3,036 people killed.
Collectively, the storms of this season caused at least 3,258 deaths and $50 billion in damage, making it the costliest Atlantic hurricane season at the time, until the following season. Additionally, 2004 was also the deadliest Atlantic hurricane season since 1998. With 6 hurricanes reaching at least Category 3 intensity, 2004 also had the most major hurricanes since 1964. However, that record would also be surpassed in 2005, with 7 major hurricane that year. In the spring of 2005, four names were retired, which were Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne – tying the then-record most names with 1955 and 1995 – but surpassed with five in 2005.
Read more about 2004 Atlantic Hurricane Season: Seasonal Forecasts, Season Effects, Storm Names
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—Lewis Mumford (1895–1990)
“Staid middle age loves the hurricane passions of opera.”
—Mason Cooley (b. 1927)
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