Hurricane Alex was the first named storm, the first hurricane, and the first major hurricane of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season. It never made landfall, but the center approached within 10 miles (16 km) of the North Carolina coast and produced damage from flooding and high winds. Alex strengthened to a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale off the coast of New England. Alex is only the second hurricane on record to have reached Category 3 strength north of 38N latitude. The other storm was Hurricane Ellen in the 1973 Atlantic hurricane season, and Alex was the stronger of the two.

Alex marked the fifth-latest start to a hurricane season in fifty years; the latest start to a hurricane season since 1954 was Hurricane Andrew in 1992.

Storm history

Alex formed out of a disorganized area of thunderstorms east of the Bahamas, reaching tropical depression status on July 31, 2004 175 miles south-southeast of Charleston, South Carolina. By August 1 the depression's winds were strong enough that it was classified as a tropical storm. The storm meandered for most of the next day, until it took on a slow motion to the northeast.

Early on August 3 (2am EDT), Alex was officially designated a hurricane. Hurricane Alex continued to strengthen, becoming a category 2 storm, and that afternoon came within 10 miles (16 km) of the Outer Banks of North Carolina without making landfall. Damage was limited to flooding and wind damage, and in Dare County, North Carolina was estimated at $2.4 million. Total insured damage was about $2 million, and total damage at about $5 million. One death was attributed to Alex, a man who drowned off Nags Head, North Carolina two days after the storm passed. One minor injury was reported. Hatteras, North Carolina and Ocracoke Island were the hardest hit.

Late on August 4 Alex moved out to sea. It defied forecasts that it would begin to weaken over colder water by strengthening to a 120 mi/h (195 km/h) Category 3 hurricane.

At 11am AST, August 6, a weakening Alex was classified as an extratropical storm. The remnants continued out into the north Atlantic where they caused gale conditions. Alex's remnants sank the Pink Lady, a rowboat carrying four British rowers attempting to break the record for fastest crossing from St. John's, Newfoundland to Falmouth, Cornwall. They were rescued by a Danish cargo ship, and injuries were limited to a mild concussion and a case of hypothermia. The rowers were roughly two weeks and 370 miles (595 km) from their destination. The group had been on track to break the 1896 record of 54 days by 10 days.

External links

• NHC Tropical Cyclone Report on Hurricane Alex
• NHC advisory archive on Hurricane Alex