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CHARLEY MAKES LANDFALL AS A CATEGORY FOUR HURRICANE NEAR
CHARLOTTE HARBOR, FLA.
(DISCLAIMER: See the NOAA National Hurricane Center for the latest information on this storm. Complete advisories are posted at 11 a.m., 5 p.m., 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. All times are Eastern. Advisories are posted more frequently as the storm nears the USA mainland.)

NOAA satellite image of Hurricane Charley taken at 4:15 p.m. EDT on Aug. 13, 2004, after making landfall around Cayo Costa, just north of Captiva Island, Fla.Aug. 13, 2004 — At 5 p.m. EDT, the center of Hurricane Charley was located near latitude 26.9 north, longitude 82.2 west or about 30 miles west-northwest of Ft. Myers, Fla. This position is also about 115 miles south-southwest of Orlando. Charley is moving toward the north-northeast near 22 mph, and a gradual increase in forward speed is expected Friday night and Saturday. The forecast track moves Charley across Florida and off the northeast Florida coast overnight, according to the NOAA National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of Hurricane Charley taken at 4:15 p.m. EDT on Aug. 13, 2004, after making landfall around Cayo Costa, just north of Captiva Island, Fla. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)

Maximum sustained winds are near 140 mph with higher gusts. Weakening is forecast during the next 24 hours. However, hurricane force winds are expected to spread across Florida near the path of the center of the hurricane. At 4:32 p.m. EDT, Punta Gorda, Fla., reported sustained winds of 87 mph with a gust to 109 mph.

NOAA satellite image of Hurricane Charley making landfall Friday at around 3:45 p.m. EDT at Cayo Costa, Fla., which is just north of Captiva Island.Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center, and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 85 miles. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of Hurricane Charley making landfall Friday at around 3:45 p.m. EDT at Cayo Costa, Fla., which is just north of Captiva Island. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)

The last pressure measured by the hurricane hunter aircraft was 941 mb, 27.79 inches.

Storm surge flooding in the Florida Keys is subsiding. Storm surge flooding of 10 to 15 feet is occurring near and south of where the center moved inland. Storm surge flooding of 4 to 7 feet is expected along the northeast Florida and Georgia coasts with lesser flooding to the north and south.

NOAA satellite image of Hurricane Charley taken at 3:15 p.m. EDT on Aug. 13, 2004, about a half an hour before making landfall.Rainfall totals of 4 to 8 inches are likely along Charley’s path across portions of the eastern United States. These rains could cause life-threatening flash floods. (Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of Hurricane Charley taken at 3:15 p.m. EDT on Aug. 13, 2004, about a half an hour before making landfall. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)

Isolated tornadoes are possible across portions of the Florida peninsula Friday night.

A hurricane warning remains in effect from East Cape Sable northward to the Suwannee River on the Florida west coast and from Cocoa Beach, Fla., to Cape Lookout, N.C., on the southeast U.S. coast.

NOAA Key West, Fla., Doppler weather radar image of Hurricane Charley taken at 3:51 p.m. EDT on Aug 13, 2004, minutes after it made landfall.
(Click NOAA Key West, Fla., Doppler weather radar image for larger view of Hurricane Charley taken at 3:51 p.m. EDT on Aug 13, 2004, minutes after it made landfall. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”) 		NOAA satellite image of Hurricane Charley taken at 4:15 p.m. EDT on Aug. 13, 2004, after making landfall around Cayo Costa, just north of Captiva Island, Fla.
(Click NOAA satellite image for larger view of Hurricane Charley taken at 4:15 p.m. EDT on Aug. 13, 2004, after making landfall around Cayo Costa, just north of Captiva Island, Fla. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)

NOAA Hurricane Charley tracking map.A tropical storm warning remains in effect from Jupiter Inlet to Cocoa Beach, Fla., and for Lake Okeechobee. (Click NOAA Hurricane Charley tracking map for larger view.)

At 5 p.m. EDT, a tropical storm watch is in effect from Cape Lookout to Chincoteague, Va., including Pamlico and Albemarle Sounds and for Chesapeake By south of Smith Point.

Elsewhere, all watches and warnings are discontinued.

For storm information specific to your area, please monitor products issued by NOAA National Weather Service local forecast offices and statements from local emergency management officials.

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Relevant Web Sites
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Media Contact:
Frank Lepore, NOAA Hurricane Center, (305) 229-4404