<Tr> <Th> Areas affected </Th> <Td> Jamaica, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Part of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season </Td> </Tr> <P> Hurricane Charley was the first of four individual hurricanes to produce winds of at least 75 mph in Florida in a single season--Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne . It 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 15, and at its peak intensity it attained 150 mph (240 km / h) winds, making it a strong Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir - Simpson Hurricane Scale . It made landfall in southwestern Florida at maximum strength, making it the strongest hurricane to hit the United States since Hurricane Andrew struck Florida in 1992 . </P> <P> After moving slowly through the Caribbean Sea, Charley crossed Cuba on Friday, August 13 as a Category 3 hurricane, causing heavy damage and four deaths . That same day, it crossed over the Dry Tortugas, just 22 hours after Tropical Storm Bonnie had struck northwestern Florida . It was the first time in history that two tropical cyclones struck the same state in a 24 - hour period . 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, before crossing over Bokeelia causing severe damage . Charley, the strongest hurricane to hit southwest Florida since Hurricane Donna in 1960, then continued to produce severe damage as it made landfall on the peninsula in Punta Gorda . It continued to the north - northeast along the Peace River corridor, devastating Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte, Cleveland, Fort Ogden, Nocatee, Arcadia, Zolfo Springs, Sebring, and Wauchula . Zolfo Springs was isolated for nearly two days as masses of large trees, power poles, power lines, transformers, and debris filled the streets . Wauchula sustained gusts to 147 mph (237 km / h); buildings in the downtown areas caved onto Main Street . Ultimately, the storm passed through the central and eastern parts of the Orlando metropolitan area, still carrying winds gusting up to 106 mph (171 km / h). The city of Winter Park, north of Orlando, also sustained considerable damage since its many old, large oak trees had not experienced high winds . Falling trees tore down power utilities and smashed cars, and their huge roots lifted underground water and sewer utilities . The storm slowed as it exited the state over Ormond Beach just north of Daytona Beach . The storm was ultimately absorbed by a front in the Atlantic Ocean shortly after sunrise on August 15, near southeastern Massachusetts . </P>

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