Looking back on 2004 hurricane season (Part 1)

The 2004 North Atlantic Hurricane Season will come to an end officially on Tuesday. There is a disturbance in the far eastern Atlantic that could develop into a subtropical or tropical cyclone over the weekend, so I may be adding to these statistics before Monday. Even if that does not happen, the 2004 Atlantic season will be a memorable one for the four hurricanes which struck the southeastern United States in August and September. Three of these systems were major hurricanes at the point of landfall, including Hurricanes Charley, which struck Southwest Florida on Friday, August 13th, Hurricane Ivan, which struck the Alabama coast on September 16th and Hurricane Jeanne, which struck the East Coast of Florida on September 25th.

During the 2004 season, a total of 14 Atlantic tropical cyclones reached tropical storm or hurricane force. Nine of these went on to become hurricanes. Six of the hurricanes went on to become major hurricanes (category three or higher.) These numbers are far above the 53 year seasonal averages of 9.6 named storms per year and 5.9 hurricanes. In an average year, there are 2.9 major hurricanes. Interestingly, there were twenty three days this year on which major hurricanes were in progress. The long term average is 5.0 days per year. The 2004 hurricane season ties the 1926 hurricane season for the most days with intense hurricanes.

Some interesting facts: There were no named storms in June or July, which is unusual given the impressive final statistics. The eight named storms in August were the most ever in that month. The eight named storms that struck the United States were the most tropical storms or hurricanes to make a U.S. landfall since eight occurred in 1916. The five hurricanes that made landfall along the U.S. coast were the most since 1985, when six occurred. Also, Alex brought hurricane force winds to the North Carolina Outer Banks, even though it did not technically make landfall. Three hurricanes made landfall in the Sunshine State, the most since Cleo, Dora and Isbell landed in Florida in 1964. More 2004 hurricane facts all weekend.