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HurriTracker

2004 Atlantic hurricane season

Jun 1, 2004 – Nov 30, 2004 · Season ended

The 2004 Atlantic hurricane season produced 15 named storms, 9 hurricanes and 6 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 14.4, 7.2 and 3.2. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 227, 185% of the average.

2003 season2005 seasonAll Atlantic seasons
Named storms
15
Avg 14.4 (1991–2020)
Hurricanes
9
64 kt or stronger · avg 7.2
Major (Cat 3+)
6
Including 1 Category 5
Accumulated energy
≈1.9× normal
ACE 227 vs 1991–2020 avg 123
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Tracks colored by peak strengthTDTSC1C2C3C4C5

2004 season at a glance

  • Named storms: 15 (1991–2020 average 14.4).
  • Hurricanes (64 kt+): 9 (average 7.2).
  • Major, 96 kt+: 6, including 1 at Category 5 strength (average 3.2).
  • Accumulated cyclone energy: 226.7, 185% of the 123 average.
  • Named-storm days: 93.0, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
  • First named storm: Alex, August 1.
  • First hurricane: Alex, August 3.
  • First major storm: Alex, August 5.
  • Last storm to dissipate: Otto, December 5.
  • All systems tracked: 16, including 1 that stayed below tropical-storm strength.

Counts use 1-minute best-track winds: named storms reached 34 kt (39 mph), the next column 64 kt (74 mph) and major storms 96 kt (111 mph).

Every storm of the 2004 season

StormDatesPeakMin pressureLandfall
Alex – C3957 mb—
Bonnie – TS1001 mbCallaway, United States
Charley – C4941 mbAlquízar, Cuba
Danielle – C2964 mb—
Earl – TS1009 mb—
Frances – C4935 mbLucaya, Bahamas
Gaston – C1985 mbMount Pleasant, United States
Hermine – TS1002 mbNew Bedford, United States
Ivan – C5910 mbGulf Shores, United States
TD 10L – TD1009 mb—
Jeanne – C3950 mbSaint-François, Guadeloupe
Karl – C4938 mb—
Lisa – C1987 mb—
Matthew – TS997 mbHouma, United States
Nicole – TS986 mb—
Otto – TS995 mb—
  • Alex: Alex formed in the Atlantic in July 2004 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 957 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
  • Bonnie: Bonnie formed in the Atlantic in August 2004 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1001 mb. It made landfall near Callaway, United States. The system was tracked for 11 days.
  • Charley: Charley formed in the Atlantic in August 2004 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph (240 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 941 mb. It made 5 landfalls, first near Alquízar, Cuba and last near North Myrtle Beach, United States. The system was tracked for 6 days.
  • Danielle: Danielle formed in the Atlantic in August 2004 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 964 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 11 days.
  • Earl: Earl formed in the Atlantic in August 2004 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1009 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
  • Frances: Frances formed in the Atlantic in August 2004 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 935 mb. It made 3 landfalls, first near Lucaya, Bahamas and last near Perry, United States. The system was tracked for 17 days.
  • Gaston: Gaston formed in the Atlantic in August 2004 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 985 mb. It made landfall near Mount Pleasant, United States. The system was tracked for 7 days.
  • Hermine: Hermine formed in the Atlantic in August 2004 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1002 mb. It made landfall near New Bedford, United States. The system was tracked for 4 days.
  • Ivan: Ivan formed in the Atlantic in September 2004 and peaked as a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 165 mph (270 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 910 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Gulf Shores, United States and last near Port Arthur, United States. The system was tracked for 22 days.
  • TD 10L: This system formed in the Atlantic in September 2004 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1009 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
  • Jeanne: Jeanne formed in the Atlantic in September 2004 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 950 mb. It made 5 landfalls, first near Saint-François, Guadeloupe and last near Stuart, United States. The system was tracked for 16 days.
  • Karl: Karl formed in the Atlantic in September 2004 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 938 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 12 days.
  • Lisa: Lisa formed in the Atlantic in September 2004 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 987 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 14 days.
  • Matthew: Matthew formed in the Atlantic in October 2004 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 997 mb. It made landfall near Houma, United States. The system was tracked for 3 days.
  • Nicole: Nicole formed in the Atlantic in October 2004 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 986 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
  • Otto: Otto formed in the Atlantic in November 2004 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 995 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.

Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.

Strongest storm of 2004

Hurricane Ivan was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 165 mph (270 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 910 mb, on September 11. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.

14 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 4 matched it. It produced 31% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.

Landfalls in 2004

8 of the season’s 16 systems made landfall, 5 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.

  • August 12: Bonnie near Callaway, United States, 45 mph (tropical storm)
  • August 13: Charley near Alquízar, Cuba, 120 mph (Category 3)
  • August 13: Charley near Cape Coral, United States, 150 mph (Category 4)
  • August 13: Charley near Punta Gorda Isles, United States, 145 mph (Category 4)
  • August 14: Charley near Georgetown, United States, 80 mph (Category 1)
  • August 14: Charley near North Myrtle Beach, United States, 75 mph (Category 1)
  • August 29: Gaston near Mount Pleasant, United States, 75 mph (Category 1)
  • August 31: Hermine near New Bedford, United States, 40 mph (tropical storm)
  • September 2: Frances, 125 mph (Category 3)
  • September 3: Frances, 115 mph (Category 3)
  • September 3: Frances, 110 mph (Category 2)
  • September 4: Frances near Lucaya, Bahamas, 105 mph (Category 2)
  • September 5: Frances near Stuart, United States, 105 mph (Category 2)
  • September 6: Frances near Perry, United States, 60 mph (tropical storm)
  • September 14: Jeanne near Saint-François, Guadeloupe, 35 mph (tropical depression)
  • September 15: Jeanne near Arroyo, Puerto Rico, 70 mph (tropical storm)
  • September 16: Ivan near Gulf Shores, United States, 120 mph (Category 3)
  • September 16: Jeanne near Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, 80 mph (Category 1)
  • September 24: Ivan near Port Arthur, United States, 35 mph (tropical depression)
  • September 25: Jeanne near Cooper’s Town, Bahamas, 115 mph (Category 3)
  • September 26: Jeanne near Stuart, United States, 120 mph (Category 3)
  • October 10: Matthew near Houma, United States, 40 mph (tropical storm)

How 2004 ranks since 1980

The season ranks 14th of 47 Atlantic seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 5 other seasons), 9th for hurricanes (tied with 4 other seasons) and 3rd for accumulated cyclone energy.

The record since 1980 is 30 named storms, in 2020, and the highest ACE is 250, in 2005.

2004 storm names

The 2004 season used 15 names: Alex, Bonnie, Charley, Danielle, Earl, Frances, Gaston, Hermine, Ivan, Jeanne, Karl, Lisa, Matthew, Nicole, Otto.

1 system was tracked without a name and is listed by number.

Atlantic and East Pacific lists repeat every six years. See how storms are named.

The WMO later retired the names Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne, so they will not be used again.

2004 season FAQ

How many named storms were there in 2004?

The 2004 Atlantic hurricane season had 15 named storms, 9 hurricanes and 6 major hurricanes, from 16 systems tracked in all. The 1991–2020 average is 14.4 named storms, 7.2 at 64 kt or more and 3.2 major per season. The first to form was Alex and the last was Otto.

What was the strongest storm of 2004?

Hurricane Ivan. It peaked at 165 mph (270 km/h, 145 kt) with a lowest pressure of 910 mb on September 11. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 14 Atlantic storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 31% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.

When did the 2004 season end?

The official season ended on November 30, 2004, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Otto, dissipated on December 5. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 6 Atlantic storms since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.