Weather watch: September 2004

摘要

The Atlantic Basin remained an active breeding ground for hurricane activity from late August through mid-September, spawning Hurricanes Frances, Ivan, Jeanne, and Karl. The first three of those hurricanes struck the eastern United States; Frances and Jeanne made landfall in the same location along Florida's east coast just three weeks apart. Direct hurricane strikes on Florida by Charley (August 13), Frances (September 4-5), and Jeanne (September 25-26) marked the first triple hurricane blow to one state in a single season since 1964, when Florida endured landfalls from Hurricanes Cleo, Dora, and Isbell in a seven-week span. In addition, Ivan made landfall on the 16th near Gulf Shores, Alabama, blasting southern Alabama and western Florida with high winds, heavy rain, and a large storm surge. The remnants of Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne all moved generally north across the East, resulting in monthly rainfall totals in excess of two feet at some locations in the southern Appalachians and causing widespread flooding as far north as the northern mid-Atlantic region.