Timeline of the 2004 Pacific hurricane season

Map showing paths of tropical cyclones that formed in the northeastern Pacific Ocean in 2004
Track map of all storms during the season

The 2004 Pacific hurricane season had 17 tropical cyclones, of which 12 became named storms, 6 became hurricanes, and 3 became major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher).[1][2] This timeline documents all the storm formations, strengthening, weakening, landfalls, extratropical transitions, as well as dissipation. It also includes information which was not operationally released, meaning that information from post-storm reviews by the National Hurricane Center, such as information on a storm that was not operationally warned on, have been included. The season officially began on May 15, 2004 in the eastern Pacific proper (June 1, 2004 in the central Pacific) and lasted until November 30 that same year.[3] Areas east of 140°W are under the purview of the National Hurricane Center (NHC); the area between the International Date Line and 140°W, or the central Pacific, is under the purview of the Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC).

The 2004 season got off to an early start with Tropical Storm Agatha, which formed a week after the season began.[4] No tropical cyclones were active in June, the first such occurrence since 1969.[5] July was more active, producing four tropical cyclones. Three of these (Blas, Celia, and Darby) became named storms, two (Celia and Darby) became hurricanes, and Hurricane Darby became the first major hurricane of the season.[6] Additionally, a tropical depression in the central Pacific became the only tropical cyclone to form within the Central Pacific Hurricane Center's area of responsibility during the year.[1] August was the most active month, producing six tropical cyclones, four named storms, and two hurricanes (Frank and Howard).[7] September saw a decline in activity, although all three storms that existed during the month were hurricanes, two of which (Howard and Javier) were major hurricanes. Hurricane Howard, which had formed in August, only became a major hurricane in September. Hurricane Javier – the final storm during the month – was the strongest storm of the season.[8] October saw the final three tropical cyclones of the year; two developed into named storms (Kay and Lester). Neither of these storms became hurricanes.[9]

Timeline of storms

Tropical Storm Lester (2004) Hurricane Javier (2004) Hurricane Howard (2004) Hurricane Darby (2004)

May

Image of a tropical storm over the Pacific Ocean. Mexico is visible on the top-right hand corner of the image.
Image of Tropical Storm Agatha late on May 22 at peak strength
May 15
May 21
May 22
May 23
May 24

June

June 1

July

July 2
July 3
July 4
July 5
July 12
July 13
July 14
July 18
July 19
July 21
July 22
July 24
Image of a hurricane over the Pacific Ocean.
Image of Hurricane Darby as a Category 2 hurricane on July 28
July 25
July 26
July 27
July 28
July 29
July 30
July 31

August

August 1
August 18
A tropical storm over the Pacific Ocean.
Tropical Storm Estelle near peak intensity
August 19
August 20
August 21
August 22
August 23
August 24
August 25
August 26
August 27
August 29
August 30
Path of a hurricane in the northeastern Pacific Ocean.
Hurricane Howard track map
August 31

September

September 1
September 2
September 3
September 4
September 5
September 7
Path of a hurricane in the northeastern Pacific Ocean.
Hurricane Isis track map
September 8
September 10
September 11
September 12
September 13
Image of a strong hurricane over the Pacific Ocean.
Hurricane Javier as a Category 4 hurricane
September 15
September 16
September 17
September 18
September 19

October

October 4
October 5
October 6
October 11
Path of a tropical storm close to Mexico.
Tropical Storm Lester track map
October 12
October 13
October 24
October 26

November

November 30

See also

Notes

  1. The distance between the location of Tropical Storm Blas's formation and Manzanillo, Mexico, was calculated using the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Latitude/Longitude Distance Calculator; in the Tropical Cyclone Report for Blas, its location at formation is given as 14.6°N, 105.5°W.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Nash, Andy; Craig, Tim; Matsuda, Roy; Powell, Jeffrey (February 2005). "Overview of the 2004 Central North Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season". Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Retrieved November 12, 2010.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Avila, Lixion A.; Pasch, Richard J.; Beven II, John L.; Franklin, James L.; Lawrence, Miles B.; Stewart, Stacy R. (August 2, 2005). "Annual Summary: Eastern North Pacific Hurricane Season of 2004" (PDF). American Meteorological Society. Retrieved November 14, 2010.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "FAQ: When is hurricane season?". Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory. Retrieved November 12, 2010.
  4. Avila (June 1, 2004). "Tropical Weather Summary for May 2004". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved November 18, 2010.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Stewart; Avila (July 1, 2004). "Tropical Weather Summary for June 2004". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved November 13, 2010.
  6. Stewart; Lawrence; Pasch; Beven; Franklin (August 1, 2004). "Tropical Weather Summary for July 2004". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved November 18, 2010.
  7. Blake; Franklin (September 1, 2004). "Tropical Weather Summary for August 2004". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved November 19, 2010.
  8. Pasch; Stewart; Avila; Beven (October 1, 2004). "Tropical Weather Summary for September 2004". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved November 19, 2010.
  9. Stewart; Avila; Beven; Lawrence; Franklin; Pasch (November 1, 2004). "Tropical Weather Summary for October 2004". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved November 19, 2010.
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 Avila, Lixion A. (June 2, 2004). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Tropical Storm Agatha". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 3, 2009.
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 Lawrence, Miles B. (July 17, 2004). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Tropical Depression Two-E". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 3, 2009.
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 "Tropical Cyclone Report: Tropical Depression One-C". Central Pacific Hurricane Center. February 28, 2005. Retrieved August 3, 2009.
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 Pasch, Richard J. (September 8, 2004). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Tropical Storm Blas". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 3, 2009.
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 14.6 Stewart, Stacy R. (December 2, 2004). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Celia". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved August 3, 2009.
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 15.5 15.6 15.7 15.8 15.9 15.10 15.11 Beven, Jack (December 13, 2004). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Darby". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved November 11, 2010.
  16. Avila; Beven; Franklin; Lawrence; Pasch; Stewart (December 1, 2004). "Tropical Weather Summary". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved November 12, 2010.
  17. 17.0 17.1 17.2 Franklin, James L.; Knabb, Richard D. (November 16, 2004). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Tropical Depression Six-E". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved November 11, 2010.
  18. 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 18.5 Avila, Lixion A. (November 3, 2004). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Tropical Storm Estelle". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved November 11, 2010.
  19. 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 19.4 19.5 19.6 Roberts, David P.; Lawrence, Miles B. (November 12, 2004). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Frank". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved November 11, 2010.
  20. 20.0 20.1 20.2 Pasch, Richard J. (November 12, 2004). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Tropical Depression Nine-E". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved November 11, 2010.
  21. 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 Stewart, Stacy R. (December 2, 2004). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Tropical Storm Georgette". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved November 11, 2010.
  22. 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 22.4 22.5 22.6 22.7 22.8 22.9 22.10 Beven, Jack (December 13, 2004). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Howard". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved November 12, 2010.
  23. 23.0 23.1 23.2 23.3 23.4 23.5 23.6 23.7 Franklin, James L.; Roberts, David P. (November 17, 2004). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Isis". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved November 12, 2010.
  24. 24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3 24.4 24.5 24.6 24.7 24.8 24.9 24.10 24.11 24.12 24.13 Avila, Lixion A. (November 15, 2004). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Javier". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved November 12, 2010.
  25. 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 25.4 Roberts, David P, Lawrence, Miles B. (November 20, 2004). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Tropical Storm Kay". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved November 12, 2010.
  26. 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 26.4 Pasch, Richard J. Roberts, David P. (December 10, 2004). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Tropical Storm Lester". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved November 12, 2010.
  27. 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 Stewart, Stacy R. (November 18, 2004). "Tropical Cyclone Report: Tropical Depression Sixteen-E". National Hurricane Center. Retrieved November 12, 2010.

External links

Preceded by
2003
Pacific hurricane seasons timelines
2004
Succeeded by
2005