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The 2004 Atlantic hurricane season officially started June 1, 2004, and will last until November 30, 2004. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic Ocean.
| Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Wind speed | Storm surge | ||
| mi/h (km/h) | ft (m) | |||
| | ||||
| 5 | >156 (>250) | >18 (>5.5) | ||
| 4 | 131–155 (210–249) | 13–18 (4.0–5.5) | ||
| 3 | 111–130 (178–209) | 9–12 (2.7–3.7) | ||
| 2 | 96–110 (154–177) | 6–8 (1.8–2.4) | ||
| 1 | 74–95 (119–153) | 4–5 (1.2–1.5) | ||
| | ||||
| Tropical storm | 35–73 (56–117) | 0–3 (0–0.9) | ||
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The 2004 season had numerous unusual occurrences. The first named storm of the season formed on August 1, giving the season the fifth-latest start since 1952. Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley became the first storms to hit the same U.S. state ( Florida) in a 24 hour period since 1906Events January 8 Landslide in Haverstraw, New York kills 20 January 31 Earthquake in Ecuador (8. 6 in Richter scale) February 11 Pope Pius X publishes the encyclical Vehementer nos''. February 15 Representatives of the Labour Representation Committee in t. For the remainder of the season, Florida was hit by three more hurricanes named FrancesFor other storms named Hurricane Frances, see Hurricane Frances (disambiguation). Hurricane Frances was the sixth named storm, the fourth hurricane, and the third major hurricane of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season. The storm's maximum sustained wind sp, IvanFor other storms of the same name, see Hurricane Ivan (disambiguation). Caribbean, the swirling eye of the hurricane was photographed on September 11, 2004 from aboard the orbiting International Space Station (ISS) at an altitude of about 230 miles (370 k, and JeanneThis article deals with the 2004 Hurricane Jeanne. For information on other storms of the same name, see Hurricane Jeanne (disambiguation). Hurricane Jeanne was the tenth named storm, the seventh hurricane, and the fifth major hurricane of the 2004 Atlant. This is the first time four hurricanes have hit one state in one season since four hurricanes hit the TexasTexas joined the United States of America as its 28th member state in 1845. It has the postal abbreviation TX . The state name derives from a word in a Caddoan language of the Hasinai, tejas meaning friends or allies Spanish explorers mistakenly applied t coast in 18861886 is a common year starting on Friday (click on link to calendar) Events January 18 Modern field hockey is born with the formation of The Hockey Association in England. January 29 Karl Benz patents the first successful gasoline-driven automobile. March, including the hurricane that destroyed the city of IndianolaIndianola Texas is a ghost town located on Matagorda Bay, and was formerly the county seat of Calhoun County. In 1875, the city had a population of 5,000. But on September 15 of that year, a powerful hurricane struck, killing between 150 and 300 and almos.
Other storms were individually unusual. Hurricane AlexThe name Alex has been used for two tropical cyclones in the Atlantic Ocean. 1998's Tropical Storm Alex a weak storm that never affected land 2004's Hurricane Alex a Category 2 hurricane that came within 10 miles (16 km) of the Outer Banks of North Caroli was the strongest hurricane on record to intensify north of 38 degrees longitude. One storm, Tropical Storm Earl, died out, crossed over into the Pacific Ocean, regenerated and became Hurricane Frank in the eastern Pacific.
August 2004 was unusually active, with eight named storms forming during the month. In an average year, only three or four storms would be named in August. The formation of eight named storms in August breaks the old record of seven for the month, set in the 1933 and 1995 seasons. It also ties with September 2002 for the most Atlantic tropical storms to form in any month.
The most unusual storm of the season was Hurricane Ivan. Ivan first impressed meteorologists by becoming the first major hurricane (category three or above) on record to form as low as 10 degrees latitude. Ivan was also recorded as the sixth most intense hurricane on record, with a minimum central pressure recorded at 910 millibars. One very unusual occurrence in relation to Ivan happened on September 22, when a remnant low from Ivan--which had travelled in a circular motion over the southeastern United States--was reclassified as a tropical depression as it moved over the Gulf of Mexico. The system was given the name Ivan and eventually strengthed into a respectable tropical storm with winds of 65 mph before making landfall along the coast of Texas, causing minimal flooding and damage.
As of late September the 2004 season was also very deadly, with nearly 2,000 deaths related to the flooding rains or winds caused by the storms. Around 1,650 deaths were in Haiti following the floods and mudslides caused by Tropical Storm Jeanne. This season has so far seen 15 tropical depressions, 14 named storms, 9 hurricanes, and 6 major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher). The Accumulated Cyclone Energy figure of 221 (253% of the long-term median) ranks this as the third most active season since 1950.