Weather of 2004

Image:Palm Trees and Snow.jpg]]

In February, a snow storm dropped significant snowfall across eastern Canada.{{Cite web |first=Randi |last=Mann |title=Recalling when Nova Scotia and PEI were hit by Hurricane Juan and 'White Juan'|url=https://www.theweathernetwork.com/ca/news/article/this-day-in-weather-history-february-18-2004-white-juan|access-date=2022-01-26|website=The Weather Network |date=18 February 2021 |language=en-CA}}

In December, a snow storm killed 18 people and left US$800 million in damage.{{cite web |title=The Pre-Christmas 2004 Snowstorm Disaster in the Ohio River Valley |first=Stanley A. |last=Changnon |first2=David |last2=Changnon |date=April 2005 |url=https://www.isws.illinois.edu/pubdoc/CR/ISWSCR2005-03.pdf |website=Illinois State Water Survey |publisher=Illinois Department of Natural Resources}}

Another winter storm produced snowfall in Texas and extreme northern Mexico, causing the first ever recorded White Christmas for some areas.{{Cite web |title=White Christmas Dream Becomes Reality for the Lower RGV, 2004!|url=https://www.weather.gov/bro/2004event_christmasreport|access-date=2022-01-26|website=www.weather.gov|language=EN-US}}

Alaska's wildfire season was the worst on record in the state in terms of area burned.{{Cite web|title = 2015 wildfire season could be Alaska's worst ever|url = http://www.upi.com/Science_News/2015/07/27/2015-wildfire-season-could-be-Alaskas-worst-ever/8941438012240/|website = UPI|access-date = 2015-11-24}} In California, there were 7,898 fires that burned {{convert|311,024|acre|km2}} of land.{{cite web|url=http://www.fire.ca.gov/downloads/redbooks/2004_BW.pdf|title=2004 Wildfire Activity Stats|website=NIFC|date=February 14, 2005|access-date=August 1, 2018}}

In April, a high pressure system over California caused a record-setting heatwave to take place. Santa Maria recorded {{Convert|100|F|C|abbr=on}}, {{Convert|101|F|C|abbr=on}} in Long Beach, and {{Convert|106|F|C}} in Chino.{{Cite web |date=2004-04-30 |title=California Heatwave |url=https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/4441/california-heatwave#:~:text=The%20unusually%20hot%20weather%20peaked,C)%20in%20Chino,%20California. |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=earthobservatory.nasa.gov |language=en}} On July 20, Tokyo, Japan recorded its highest-ever temperature – {{Convert|39.5|C|F}}.{{Cite web|title=Tokyo Heat Wave Lasted Eight Days, Doubling All-Time Record; 55 Confirmed Dead in Japan | The Weather Channel - Articles from The Weather Channel | weather.com|url=https://weather.com/news/news/japan-heat-stroke-deaths-illnesses-2015-august-2|access-date=2022-01-26|website=The Weather Channel|language=en-US}}

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In May, flooding in Hispaniola killed 2,665 people.{{cite web |url=https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Human%20Cost%20of%20Disasters%202000-2019%20Report%20-%20UN%20Office%20for%20Disaster%20Risk%20Reduction.pdf |title=Human cost of disasters: An overview of the last 20 years (2000-2019) |publisher=UNDRR Center for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters |via=Reliefweb.int}}

Floods affected Japan in July, causing US$1.95 billion in damage and 20 deaths.{{Cite book|last=OECD|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3_vVAgAAQBAJ&q=typhoon%2520songda%2520damage%25202004%2520billion&pg=PA58|title=OECD Reviews of Risk Management Policies: Japan 2009 Large-Scale Floods and Earthquakes: Large-Scale Floods and Earthquakes|date=2009-02-25|publisher=OECD Publishing|isbn=978-92-64-05030-3|language=en}}

{{main|Tornadoes of 2004}}

During the year, there was a record-high total of 1,817 tornadoes in the United States alone, collectively resulting in 35 deaths.{{cite web|title=U.S. Annual Tornado Maps (1952–2011): 2004 Tornadoes|url=http://www.spc.noaa.gov/wcm/annualtornadomaps/2004.png|website=Storm Prediction Center|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|accessdate=May 14, 2015}}{{cite web|title=Annual U.S. Killer Tornado Statistics|url=http://www.spc.noaa.gov/climo/torn/fatalmap.php?yr=2004#tmap|website=Storm Prediction Center|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|accessdate=January 18, 2016}} This included an outbreak related to Hurricane Ivan, which resulted in 120 tornadoes, the most ever related to a tropical cyclone.{{Cite web|last=US Department of Commerce|first=NOAA|title=Major Hurricane Beulah - September 20, 1967|url=https://www.weather.gov/crp/Beulah|access-date=2022-01-26|website=www.weather.gov|language=EN-US}}

In addition to the United States tornadoes, a powerful tornado struck portions of North-Central Bangladesh in April, killing 111 and injuring nearly 1,500 others.{{cite web |url=http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/research/qr/qr169/qr169.pdf |title=Microsoft Word - QR169.doc |access-date=2012-11-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100606181213/http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/research/qr/qr169/qr169.pdf |archive-date=2010-06-06 }} Seven people were killed and 207 injured by a tornado that appeared on the evening of April 21 in Hengyang, Hunan, China.{{cite web |url=http://www.adrc.asia/view_disaster_en.php?NationCode=156&lang=en&KEY=708 |title=Asian Disaster Reduction Center（ADRC） |publisher=Adrc.asia |access-date=2012-11-07 |archive-date=2013-06-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130604234449/http://www.adrc.asia/view_disaster_en.php?NationCode=156&lang=en&KEY=708 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Tornado kills 7, injures 207 in central China |url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2004-04/23/content_325821.htm |access-date=19 January 2022 |work=China Daily |date=23 April 2004}}

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File:Gafilo 2004-03-06 0655Z.jpg, one of the strongest and deadliest cyclones to strike Madagascar]]

{{see also|Tropical cyclones in 2004}}

As the year began, Cyclone Heta was developing near Fiji,{{Cite web|title=IBTrACS - International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship|url=http://ibtracs.unca.edu/index.php?name=v04r00-2003359S15177|access-date=2022-01-26|website=ibtracs.unca.edu}} and a few days later, it devastated the South Pacific nation of Niue, resulting in damage equivalent to 25% of its gross domestic product (GDP).https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/publication/31136/economics-climate-change-pacific-brochure.pdf Also as the year began, Tropical Storm Darius was approaching Mauritius in the south-west Indian Ocean.{{Cite web|title=IBTrACS - International Best Track Archive for Climate Stewardship|url=http://ibtracs.unca.edu/index.php?name=v04r00-2003358S06067|access-date=2022-01-26|website=ibtracs.unca.edu}} Throughout 2004, a further 18 tropical cyclones developed in the south-west Indian Ocean,{{cite report|title=Cyclone Season 2003–2004|url=http://www.meteo.fr/temps/domtom/La_Reunion/webcmrs9.0/anglais/archives/publications/saisons_cycloniques/index20032004.html|work=RSMC La Réunion|publisher=Météo-France|access-date=June 21, 2017}}{{Cite web|title=Southern Hemisphere 2004-2005 Tropical Cyclone Season Review|url=http://australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/2005/summ2004-2005.htm|access-date=2022-01-26|website=australiasevereweather.com}} which included Cyclone Gafilo, the most intense tropical cyclone on record in that part of the world.{{Cite web |date=2014-03-06|title=10th Anniversary of Cyclone Gafilo's landfall|url=https://noaahrd.wordpress.com/2014/03/06/10th-anniversary-of-cyclone-gafilos-landfall/|access-date=2022-01-26|website=Hurricane Research Division|language=en}} In March, Gafilo struck Madagascar near peak intensity, killing 363 people.{{Cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2017/03/09/At-least-5-killed-when-cyclone-hits-Madagascar/6751489075127/|title = At least 5 killed when cyclone hits Madagascar}} A month prior to Gafilo, Cyclone Elita moved across the same country for the third time, dropping heavy rainfall that led to 33 deaths. In the Australian region, there were 14 tropical cyclones throughout the year, including Tropical Cyclone Raymond which lasted into early January 2005.{{Cite web|title=Southern Hemisphere 2003-2004 Tropical Cyclone Season Review|url=http://australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/2004/summ2003-2004.htm|access-date=2022-01-26|website=australiasevereweather.com}} The South Pacific Ocean had 15 tropical cyclones after Heta, most of them weak.{{cite report |publisher=Fiji Meteorological Service |access-date=May 20, 2024|title=Tropical Cyclone Summary 2003 — 2004 Season |url=http://www.pacificdisaster.net/doc/TC_Seasonal_Summary_2003-2004.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126144603/http://www.pacificdisaster.net/doc/TC_Seasonal_Summary_2003-2004.pdf|archive-date=January 26, 2022|url-status=live}}{{cite report |publisher=Fiji Meteorological Service |access-date=May 20, 2024|title=Tropical Cyclone Summary 2004 — 2005 Season |url=http://www.pacificdisaster.net/doc/TC_Seasonal_Summary_2004-2005.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126144604/http://www.pacificdisaster.net/doc/TC_Seasonal_Summary_2004-2005.pdf|archive-date=January 26, 2022|url-status=live}}

In addition to the previous tropical cyclones in the Southern Hemisphere, there was an unusual South Atlantic tropical cyclone named Cyclone Catarina, which became the first-ever recorded hurricane off the coast of Brazil. The body of water was previously thought to be hostile to the formation of tropical cyclones. Catarina caused about US$425 million in damage and 12 fatalities.{{Cite journal|last1=McTaggart-Cowan|first1=Ron|last2=Bosart|first2=Lance F.|last3=Davis|first3=Christopher A.|last4=Atallah|first4=Eyad H.|last5=Gyakum|first5=John R.|last6=Emanuel|first6=Kerry A.|date=2006-11-01|title=Analysis of Hurricane Catarina (2004)|url=https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/mwre/134/11/mwr3330.1.xml|journal=Monthly Weather Review|language=EN|volume=134|issue=11|pages=3029–3053|doi=10.1175/MWR3330.1|bibcode=2006MWRv..134.3029M|issn=1520-0493|doi-access=free}}{{cite conference |title=SYNOPTIC AND MESOSCALE ANALYSIS OF HURRICANE CATARINA, BRAZIL |book-title=Proceedings of 8 ICSHMO |p=1901–1907 |url=http://mtc-m16b.sid.inpe.br/col/cptec.inpe.br/adm_conf/2005/10.31.23.31/doc/1901-1908.pdf |conference=Foz do Iguaǧu, Brazil, April 24–28, 2006, INPE |author1=Augusto José Pereira Filho |author2=Raquel Silva Lima |date=2006}}

In the Northern Hemisphere, a record ten typhoons struck Japan, part of the active typhoon season, collectively causing 214 fatalities. Among the typhoons was Typhoon Songda, which left an estimated US$12.5 billion in damage.{{Cite web|title=Japan's Latest Billion-Dollar Typhoon: Hagibis|url=https://www.wunderground.com/cat6/Japans-Latest-Billion-Dollar-Typhoon-Hagibis|access-date=2022-01-26|website=www.wunderground.com|language=en}} There was a series of tropical cyclones affecting the Philippines in a two-week period from November to early December, resulting in 1,762 deaths.{{Cite web|title=Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary November 2004|url=http://australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/2005/summ0411.htm|access-date=2022-01-26|website=australiasevereweather.com}} In the north-east Pacific Ocean, there were 17 tropical cyclones, most of which remained away from land.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E4nFnuAUYtUC&q=2004%2520pacific%2520hurricane%2520howard%2520isis&pg=PA49|title=Mariners Weather Log|date=2005|publisher=Environmental Data and Information Service|language=en}}{{cite web |title=2004 Tropical Cyclones Central North Pacific |url=https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/CP2004_Seasonal_TCR.pdf |website=NOAA |author1=Andy Nash |author2=Tim Craig |author3=Roy Matsuda |author4=Jeffrey Powell |date=February 2005}} In the North Indian Ocean, there were nine tropical cyclones, with the practice of naming storms beginning in October. The season included a deadly cyclone in Myanmar that killed 236 people, and a depression that killed 273 people in India.{{cite report|title=Report on Cyclonic Disturbances Over North Indian Ocean During 2004|publisher=India Meteorological Department|date=January 2005|access-date=2015-05-24|url=http://www.rsmcnewdelhi.imd.gov.in/images/pdf/archive/rsmc/2004.pdf|archive-date=2015-04-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402104124/http://www.rsmcnewdelhi.imd.gov.in/images/pdf/archive/rsmc/2004.pdf|url-status=live}}{{cite report|work=International Federation of Red Cross And Red Crescent Societies|date=2004-06-08|title=Myanmar: Cyclone Rakhine Appeal No. 14/2004 Operations Update No. 1|publisher=ReliefWeb|access-date=2015-05-25|url=http://reliefweb.int/report/myanmar/myanmar-cyclone-rakhine-appeal-no-142004-operations-update-no-1|archive-date=2015-05-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526052903/http://reliefweb.int/report/myanmar/myanmar-cyclone-rakhine-appeal-no-142004-operations-update-no-1|url-status=live}}

In the north Atlantic Ocean, there were 16 tropical cyclones, most of which affected land in the Caribbean or the United States.{{Cite journal|last1=Franklin|first1=James L.|last2=Pasch|first2=Richard J.|last3=Avila|first3=Lixion A.|last4=Beven|first4=John L.|last5=Lawrence|first5=Miles B.|last6=Stewart|first6=Stacy R.|last7=Blake|first7=Eric S.|date=2006-03-01|title=Atlantic Hurricane Season of 2004|url=https://journals.ametsoc.org/view/journals/mwre/134/3/mwr3096.1.xml|journal=Monthly Weather Review|language=EN|volume=134|issue=3|pages=981–1025|doi=10.1175/MWR3096.1|bibcode=2006MWRv..134..981F|issn=1520-0493|doi-access=free}} Four hurricanes – Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne – affected Florida in a six-week period, the most to affect the state in a year.{{Cite web|last=Pflugradt|first=Evan|title=Four hurricanes in six weeks? Remember 2004, the year of hurricanes|url=https://www.news-press.com/story/weather/hurricanes/2019/09/16/hurricanes-charley-ivan-frances-and-jeanne-hit-florida-2004/2311606001/|access-date=2022-01-26|website=The News-Press|language=en-US}} Charley left US$16.9 billion in damage when it hit Cuba and Florida.{{cite web | url = https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/billions/dcmi.pdf | title = Costliest U.S. Hurricanes 1900–2004 (adjusted) |author1=Eric S. Blake |author2=Jerry D. Jarrell |author3=Max Mayfield |author4=Edward N. Rappaport |author5=Christopher W. Landsea | publisher = National Hurricane Center | date = July 28, 2005 | access-date = October 10, 2007 | work = NOAA Technical Memorandum NWS TPC-1: The Deadliest, Costliest, and Most Intense United States Tropical Cyclones from 1851 to 2004 (And Other Frequently Requested Hurricane Facts)}} Damage from Frances was estimated at US$9.8 billion. Ivan was the season's strongest, killing 92 people and causing US$26.1 billion in damage in the Caribbean and the United States.{{cite web |url={{NHC TCR url |id= AL092004_Ivan}} |title=Hurricane Ivan Tropical Cyclone Report |last=Stewart |first=Stacey |date= May 22, 2005|publisher=National Hurricane Center |access-date= August 20, 2010 }} Jeanne struck Hispaniola, causing 3,029 deaths on the island, mostly in Haiti, and later caused US$7.5 billion in damage in the United States.{{cite report|publisher=World Meteorological Organization |year=2005 |title=Twenty-seventh Hurricane Committee |access-date=July 10, 2014 |url=http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/tcp/documents/FinalHC27Report-English.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927230759/http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/tcp/documents/FinalHC27Report-English.pdf |archive-date=September 27, 2012 }}

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Category:2004-related lists