Formed August 9, 2004 Dissipated August 14, 2004 Highest winds 150 mph ‘, ‘Hurricane Charley at landfall in Florida. Formed August 9, 2004 Dissipated August 14, 2004 Highest winds 150 mph (240 km/h) Lowest pressure 941 mbar (hPa) Damages $16 billion (2004 USD) $16.4 billion (2005 USD) Fatalities 15 direct, 20 indirect Areas affected Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina Part of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season Hurricane Charley was the third named storm, the second hurricane, and the second major hurricane of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season. Charley lasted from August 9 to August 14, peaking as a 150 mph (240 km/h) Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale.
The hurricane made landfall on southwestern Florida at peak intensity, the strongest hurricane to hit the United States since Hurricane Andrew twelve years prior. After moving briskly through the Caribbean Sea, Charley crossed Cuba as a Category 3 hurricane, causing heavy damage and 4 deaths. On August 13, the hurricane crossed over the Dry Tortugas, just 22 hours after Tropical Storm Bonnie struck northwestern Florida. This was the first time in history that two tropical cyclones struck the same state in a 24 hour time period. Charley was one of two major hurricanes to hit Florida in 2004 and one of four hurricanes to directly affect the state. At its peak intensity of 150 mph (240 km/h) Hurricane Charley struck the northern tip of Captiva Island and the southern tip of North Captiva Island, causing severe damage. The strongest hurricane to hit the area since Hurricane Donna in 1960, Charley continued to produce severe damage as it made landfall near Port Charlotte.
The hurricane continued to the northeast, and passed through East Orlando while retaining wind gusts of up to 106 mph. Damage in the state totaled to over $13 billion (2004 USD). Charley, initially expected to hit further north in Tampa, caught many Floridians off-guard from a sudden change of track to the northeast. Throughout the United States, Charley caused 10 casualties and $15 billion in damage (2004), making Charley the third costliest hurricane in United States history. After moving briskly through the Caribbean Sea, Charley crossed Cuba as a Category 3 hurricane, causing heavy damage and 4 deaths. On August 13, the hurricane crossed over the Dry Tortugas, just 22 hours after Tropical Storm Bonnie struck northwestern Florida. This was the first time in history that two tropical cyclones struck the same state in a 24 hour time period. Charley was one of two major hurricanes to hit Florida in 2004 and one of four hurricanes to directly affect the state.
At its peak intensity of 150 mph (240 km/h) Hurricane Charley struck the northern tip of Captiva Island and the southern tip of North Captiva Island, causing severe damage. The strongest hurricane to hit the area since Hurricane Donna in 1960, Charley continued to produce severe damage as it made landfall near Port Charlotte. The hurricane continued to the northeast, and passed through East Orlando while retaining wind gusts of up to 106 mph. Damage in the state totaled to over $13 billion (2004 USD). Charley, initially expected to hit further north in Tampa, caught many Floridians off-guard from a sudden change of track to the northeast. Throughout the United States, Charley caused 10 casualties and $15 billion in damage (2004), making Charley the third costliest hurricane in United States history.