Hurricane Ivan (2004)

Basin

North Atlantic

Dates

September 2, 2004 to September 24, 2004

Peak strength

Category 5, 145 kt (167 mph)

Lowest pressure

910 mb (26.87 inHg)

Landfall

Yes

Accumulated cyclone energy

70.4

Tropical-storm-force wind reached

250 nmi (463 km, 288 mi) from the center at its widest

Hurricane-force wind reached

100 nmi (185 km, 115 mi) from the center at its widest

Overall size

200 nmi (370 km, 230 mi) to the outermost closed isobar

Peak gust in the best track

175 kt (201 mph)

Fastest the center moved

23 kt (26 mph)

Identifier

AL092004

Radar at KLCH as it neared land, Sep 24, 02:00 UTC

The sources count different things and are not added together.

Landfall points the US agencies flagged in the best track. The nearest town is named from the site’s gazetteer, not from the report.

NOAA’s Storm Events database, the record National Weather Service offices compile months after a storm, as compiled March 2026.

Deaths

25 (25 direct, 0 indirect)

Injuries

138

Property damage

$7.1 billion

Crop damage

$53 million

Events recorded

793 in 133 reports from 21 states and marine areas

State by state

What was recorded

225 tropical storm, 147 flood, 140 high wind, 115 flash flood, 80 hurricane (typhoon), 32 tornado, 23 strong wind, 22 storm surge/tide, 4 high surf, 2 debris flow, 2 thunderstorm wind, 1 heavy rain.

32 tornadoes recorded in the United States, strongest first.

The Weather Prediction Center attributes 4,281 rain gauge totals over the contiguous United States to this storm. The wettest reached 17.00 inches (432 mm).

WPC’s storm rainfall file, 1900 to 2020, compiled by David Roth.

The strongest winds National Weather Service offices recorded with this storm. An estimated figure is a forecaster’s judgment from the damage, not an instrument reading.

From the Storm Events narratives, unedited.

Coastal flooding occurred along the coastal sector of Salinas, as the high surf generated by Hurricane Ivan when it was over 300 miles south of Puerto Rico, washed ashore, rocks and debris, which blocked the traffic along coastal highway 109, at barrio Las Ochenta, leading from Salinas to Guayama. The road remained closed for a period of 12 hours.

Southeast, Puerto Rico · High Surf · Sep 8, 12:00 UTC

As Hurricane Ivan was moving inland, a band of very heavy rainfall developed east of the center. Radar estimated that five to seven inches of rain fell in a two hour period across the area. This caused most of the roads in the west part of the county to flood. This was in addition to the surge and high winds that were blowing trees down. As the storm moved north, the water drained off the roads.

Escambia, Florida · Flash Flood · Sep 16, 09:00 UTC

As Hurricane Ivan was moving inland, a band of very heavy rainfall developed near and east of the center . Radar estimated that four to six inches of rain fell in a one hour period across the area. This caused most of the roads in the south part of the county to flood. This was in addition to the high winds that were blowing trees down. As the storm moved north, the water drained off the roads.

Monroe, Alabama · Flash Flood · Sep 16, 11:00 UTC

As Hurricane Ivan was moving inland, a band of very heavy rainfall developed near and east of the center . Radar estimated that four to six inches of rain fell in a one hour period across the area. This caused most of the roads in the west part of the county to flood. This was in addition to the high winds that were blowing trees down. As the storm moved north, the water drained off the roads.

Escambia, Alabama · Flash Flood · Sep 16, 11:00 UTC

The Clayton County Emergency Management Director reported that 31 roads were flooded and closed. Some of the roads sustained minor damage as a result. Major flooding occurred at the headwaters of the Flint River and various creeks which lead into the Flint river, all in far northern Clayton county near the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. At least six homes in the Springs Subdivision just south of Jonesboro sustained extensive damage from flood waters. The Tara Mobile Home Park and Edmonson Mobile Home Park were flooded. The county Emergency Management Office had to evacuate 37 people in this area by boat. Some businesses in the area also sustained flood damage. Upper Riverdale Road was flooded with one to two feet of water flowing over the road, blocking an entrance to Southern Regional Hospital.

Clayton, Georgia · Flash Flood · Sep 16, 20:00 UTC

The Cherokee County Emergency Management Director reported that a brief F1 tornado occurred at the end of a path of extensive damage caused by strong straight-lined winds. The tornado touched down near Georgia Highway 20, also known as Cumming Highway, near the town of White City about 8 miles east of Canton. The tornado continued north to north-northwest, roughly centered along Jack Page Lane, for about 1 mile before lifting. The damage path was determined to be approximately 400 yards wide. Dozens of trees were blown down in this area in a convergent pattern. Four people were injured on Georgia Highway 20 when trees fell on their vehicles during the tornado. North of Georgia Highway 20 and mostly west of Jack Page Lane, six homes suffered extensive damage, mostly from fallen trees.

Cherokee, Georgia · Tornado · Sep 16, 21:55 UTC

A landslide (debris flow) began at the top of Fishhawk Mountain and flowed through the Peeks Creek valley. The slide, consisting of water, boulders, trees, mud, and other debris, destroyed or severely damaged 20 to 30 homes and mobile homes. Four people and an unborn child were killed as their homes were overwhelmed by the debris.

Macon, North Carolina · Debris Flow · Sep 17, 02:30 UTC

A tornado touched down in western Frederick County, Virginia on the 17th. The path of the storm was 9 miles long. It touched down about one mile east of Middletown and Interstate 81. Roof damage was noted to many barns and outbuildings. A large two story brick garage was nearly destroyed when its roof was blown off from strong F1 tornado winds. In the western end of the Stonebrook Farm Subdivision, an estimated 100 oak and other hardwood trees ranging from 18 to 36 inches in diameter topped or snapped 20 to 50 feet up from the base in roughly a 2 block area. One home was completely destroyed and over 100 others damaged due to falling trees.

Frederick, Virginia · Tornado · Sep 17, 21:37 UTC

A thunderstorm moved into eastern Loudoun County from Fairfax County near the Dulles International Airport. The storm produced a tornado which touched down at Dulles International Airport and passed within one half mile of the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Sterling. This prompted the staff on duty to seek shelter in the office constructed saferoom. As the storm traveled north from the Dulles International Airport, it produced minor tree damage. More extensive damage occurred north of Waxpool Road at the Beaumede Corporate Park. Seven buildings were damaged. A wall collapsed in one of the buildings. A tractor trailer was overturned. The tornado also pushed two cars into the side of a building. The tornado weakened as it traveled north. The last damage in Loudoun County was reported just north of Route 7.

Loudoun, Virginia · Tornado · Sep 17, 22:12 UTC

Heavy rain with amounts of 4.5 to 7 inches caused flash flooding. The rain which fell from the 16th to the 18th was due to the remnants of hurricane Ivan. Most creeks and streams went out of their banks. Over 300 homes were affected by flooding with 132 having minor damage, 21 having major damage, and 4 being totally destroyed. 27 businesses were affected with 19 having minor damage and 8 having major damage. Dozens of roads and bridges were damaged. About 750 people had to evacuate their homes. Their was flooding where there had never been any before. One major bridge was destroyed.

Susquehanna, Pennsylvania · Flash Flood · Sep 18, 02:30 UTC

Heavy rain with amounts of 4 to 6 inches caused flash flooding. The rain which fell from the 16th to the 18th was due to the remnants of hurricane Ivan. Most streams and creeks went out of their banks. In addition the east and west branches of the Delaware River and the Beaver Kill had major flooding. 7 people were rescued by a New York State Police helicopter that NWS Binghamton recommended to be put into use. 26 homes were destroyed with another 60 with major damage and 60 more with minor damage. 15 businesses were affected. 2 campgrounds were destroyed. This was the worst flooding since hurricane Diane in 1955.

Delaware, New York · Flash Flood · Sep 18, 06:45 UTC

Heavy rain with amounts of 5 to 7 inches caused flash flooding. The rain which fell from the 16th to the 18th was due to the remnants of hurricane Ivan. Most creeks and streams went out of their banks. In addition, the Delaware and Lackawaxen Rivers had major flooding. At least 1000 homes were damaged, 10 of which were completely destroyed. The county Emergency Management Agency had damage to their office in the basement of the County Courthouse. Dozens of bridges were closed with 2 bridges destroyed. There were at least 50 roads that were damaged and /or closed due to the flooding.

Wayne, Pennsylvania · Flash Flood · Sep 18, 08:00 UTC

Heavy rain with amounts of 3 to 6 inches caused flash flooding. The heaviest amounts were at the highest elevations in the northwest section of the county. The rain which fell from the 16th to the 18th was due to the remnants of hurricane Ivan. Most streams and creeks went out of their banks. In addition, the Delaware River had major flooding. 300 homes and at least a dozen businesses had damage. Several campgrounds were completely wiped out. Livingston Manor was completely flooded. Across the county 1200 people were evacuated. 10 people were rescued in Roscoe and 19 in Callicoon.

Sullivan, New York · Flash Flood · Sep 18, 08:00 UTC

About a week after Hurricane Ivan impacted the area on September 16th, the remnants of the storm re-entered the Gulf of Mexico after making a large clockwise loop over the southeastern United States. As a result, high waves and surf action again impacted already heavily eroded area beaches . Pensacola Beach was still closed, but the high water hindered clean up efforts along the beach. The water also ended up under homes that had severe erosion a week earlier. As the remnants of Ivan slowly moved off to the northwest over the western Gulf, the high surf subsided.

Coastal Escambia, Florida · High Surf · Sep 23, 05:00 UTC

• Hurricane AlexNorth Atlantic · 2004Cat 3105 kt · 957 mb
• Tropical Storm BonnieNorth Atlantic · 2004Tropical Storm55 kt · 1001 mb
• Hurricane CharleyNorth Atlantic · 2004Cat 4130 kt · 941 mb
• Hurricane DanielleNorth Atlantic · 2004Cat 295 kt · 964 mb
• Tropical Storm EarlNorth Atlantic · 2004Tropical Storm45 kt · 1009 mb
• Hurricane FrancesNorth Atlantic · 2004Cat 4125 kt · 935 mb
• Hurricane GastonNorth Atlantic · 2004Cat 165 kt · 985 mb
• Tropical Storm HermineNorth Atlantic · 2004Tropical Storm50 kt · 1002 mb
• Unnamed tropical depressionNorth Atlantic · 2004Tropical Depression30 kt · 1009 mb
• Hurricane JeanneNorth Atlantic · 2004Cat 3105 kt · 950 mb
• Hurricane KarlNorth Atlantic · 2004Cat 4125 kt · 938 mb
• Hurricane LisaNorth Atlantic · 2004Cat 165 kt · 987 mb
• Tropical Storm MatthewNorth Atlantic · 2004Tropical Storm40 kt · 997 mb
• Tropical Storm NicoleNorth Atlantic · 2004Tropical Storm45 kt · 986 mb
• Tropical Storm OttoNorth Atlantic · 2004Tropical Storm45 kt · 995 mb

A best track is the record a warning agency settles on after the storm, not what it said at the time: position, maximum sustained wind and central pressure every six hours, revised against every observation that came in later. Category is the Saffir-Simpson scale, which runs from Category 1 at 64 kt to Category 5 at 137 kt and reads wind only, so it says nothing about surge or rain. Accumulated cyclone energy adds up the square of the wind through the storm's life, so it counts strength and duration together.

Storm history from NOAA NCEI’s International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship (IBTrACS), which merges the official best track of every warning agency. Live storms, cones, watches and warnings from the National Hurricane Center and the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Archived radar from NOAA’s Level II archive.

• Tropical cyclone report, National Hurricane Center
• Every advisory and discussion NHC issued while it was live
• Wikipedia article: Hurricane Ivan