Which 2004 hurricane made landfall near Cayo Costa, Florida, as a Category 4 storm? Hurricane Charley.
Hurricane Charley made landfall at Cayo Costa, Florida, on August 13, 2004, as a Category 4 hurricane. Its maximum sustained winds had reached about 150 mph over the Gulf of Mexico, making Charley one of the strongest hurricanes to strike the United States at that time. It then crossed the peninsula near Punta Gorda, where the compact storm produced catastrophic wind damage.
Charley had strengthened dramatically after passing Cuba. Earlier that day, it had weakened over land and briefly reached Category 2 strength, but warm water and favorable atmospheric conditions helped it rapidly intensify before reaching Florida. The storm’s small size meant that its most extreme winds were concentrated near the eyewall, even though damage farther away was also substantial.
Charley was the first of four hurricanes to affect Florida in 2004, followed by Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne. The other choices were also 2004 hurricanes, which makes this question easy to confuse, but only Charley made the Category 4 Cayo Costa landfall.