Hurricane Jeanne was part of the very destructive and very active 2004 season. The 2004 season saw 5 hurricanes make landfall in the United States, and 4 of those made landfall in the US state of Florida. Jeanne was the 5th hurricane to make landfall in the United States, and the 4th hurricane to make landfall in the US state of Florida. In addition, Jeanne was a historic hurricane.

On September 10th a tropical wave moved off the coast of Africa. This wave maintained solid convection but did not have a closed circulation. Due to up welling from the powerful hurricane Ivan the wave did not develop for a few days. On September the 13th the tropical wave closed its circulation and convection really started to develop. The hurricane Center declared it a tropical Depression. The next day the depression became Tropical Storm Jeanne. Jeanne slowly intensified over the next few days brushing the US territory of Puerto Rico. On September 16th just north of the Dominican Republic Jeanne became a hurricane.

Later on the 16th Jeanne made landfall on the Haiti Dominican Republic Boarder as a 80 mph category 1 hurricane. Jeanne continued to move westward slowly. For a few days Jeanne caused flooding rains in Haiti which also caused mudslides. Later on the 17th Jeanne moved off the Northern Haitian coastline as a minimal tropical storm. It is possible the storm may have weakened to a depression due to Haiti's high mountains disrupting the storm's center.

A high Pressure in the North Central Atlantic pulled Jeanne northward. Computer models started to show Jeanne making a loop and then getting pushed southward into Florida. On September 18th Jeanne regained tropical storm status. As Jeanne was pulled northward it begin to rebuild its center. On the 19th Jeanne's winds increased to 60 mph. It was clear the storm was getting better organized due to a favorable environment. On the 20th Jeanne became a hurricane again with winds up to 80 mph.

For the next several days Jeanne slowly did a loop in the Atlantic, just west of the Gulf Stream. The hurricane slowly strengthened into a 100 mph category 2 hurricane. Also due to going over the same areas this created up welling so Jeanne altered between a 90 mph category 1 hurricane and a 100 mph category 2 hurricane. Around the 24th Jeanne started to get pushed farther south and as the models continued to show Jeanne would make landfall in Florida. As Jeanne tapped into the warmer waters the winds started to increase. On the 24th Jeanne's winds increased to 110 mph a high end category 2 hurricane.

On the 25th Jeanne became a major hurricane when its winds increased to 115 mph as the hurricane moved over the Gulf Stream. Late on the 25th early 26th Jeanne made landfall in Port St Lucie Florida as a 120 mph category 3 hurricane. This added insult to injury as the previous month Hurricane Frances did severe damage in the area. Jeanne produced a high storm surge over 10 feet and pounded that part of Florida with 120 mph winds. Jeanne would continue to produce hurricane force winds way inland. Jeanne was still a tropical storm when it entered Georgia on the 27th. Then Jeanne sped up and became an extra tropical low in Virginia.

Jeanne was a very deadly hurricane when it struck Haiti. Haiti's infastructure was no match for the hurricane force winds. The storm's slow movement caused over 2 feet of rain in some spots which created mudslides. In Haiti alone Jeanne killed 3,000 people. In the Dominican Republic Jeanne caused mudslides but due to better infastructure 20 people died still tragic but less deadly than the country's neighbor Haiti. Also Jeanne caused $ 1 Billion dollars in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

In the United States Jeanne caused $7.5 Billion dollars worth of damage and 50 deaths where attributed to the hurricane. Due to the ground being saturated from Frances, Gaston, and Ivan, Jeanne caused severe flooding in North Carolina and Virginia. Like most of the hurricanes from 2004. Jeanne caused a tornado outbreak in Florida, Georgia, Upland area of South Carolina and North Carolina. A total of 44 tornadoes was confirmed from Jeanne. Overall, Jeanne caused 3,070 deaths and $8.5 Billion dollars worth of damage. Most of the deaths where in Haiti while most of the damage was done in the USA.

Jeanne was another historic hurricane for several reasons. It was the deadliest Hurricane to strike Haiti in decades. Jeanne also helped create a political crisis in Haiti. The Haitian government was criticized for abandoning the people and leaving the country. Thus, Haiti was plunged into a civil war. Anarchy soon took over the country with looting, killings, and no law. When the Haitian President returned more civil rest followed and the government was overthrown. The civil war would continue well into 2005.

In addition, Jeanne was the 5th hurricane to strike the United States in 2004, and the 4th hurricane to strike Florida. Jeanne was the last powerful hurricane to strike the USA in 2004. All Hurricane Strikes came within a 7 week time period.

In conclusion, Jeanne was the deadliest hurricane of the 2004 season with 3,070 people perishing. It was also very destructive with $8.5 Billion damage being done in Haiti, Dominican Republic and the USA. Due to the high death toll and damage the name Jeanne was retired the following year. Moreover, Jeanne would be the 4th name retired from the year 2004 joining Charley, Frances, and Ivan. The 2004 season saw close to $60 billion dollars of damage done between the 4 destructive hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne. After Jeanne Hurricane Karl developed in the far Atlantic and would become a 140 mph category 4 hurricane. Originally it was feared Karl would threaten the United States to add insult to injury. Thankfully, Karl stayed out to sea did not impact any land.