Hurricane Danielle (2004)

Hurricane Danielle

Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS/NWS)
Hurricane Danielle at peak intensity in the open Atlantic
Formed	August 13, 2004
Dissipated	August 21, 2004
Highest winds	1-minute sustained: 110 mph (175 km/h)
Lowest pressure	964 mbar (hPa); 28.47 inHg
Fatalities	None
Damage	None
Areas affected	No land areas
Part of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Danielle was the first of several Cape Verde-type hurricane to form during the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season. Danielle was the fourth named storm and third hurricane of the season. Danielle formed on August 13, 2004 in the far eastern Atlantic Ocean and remained over the central Atlantic, peaking as a strong Category 2 hurricane on August 16 before weakening over cooler waters; becoming a remnant low on August 21 and dissipating on August 24. Danielle never approached land, although it briefly threatened the Azores as it made the northerly turn. As a result, there was no impact caused by the storm.

Hurricane Danielle began as a vigorous tropical wave over Africa. As the wave emerged into the Atlantic, it quickly became more organized due to favorable conditions, including low wind shear. The circulation consolidated and spawned Tropical Depression Four on the morning of August 13 south-southeast of the Cape Verde islands. The system was over somewhat cooler water at first with sea surface temperatures around 79°F (26°C); however, the low shear environment allowed the depression to continue to organize. Late that evening, the system strengthened into Tropical Storm Danielle.

As Danielle tracked westward into the open Atlantic early on August 14, the storm encountered warmer water southwest of Cape Verde and began to gradually intensify, becoming a moderate tropical storm with 50 mph (85 km/h) winds that morning. At that point, a bout of rapid intensification began to take place, and the storm was upgraded to Hurricane Danielle that evening as an eye began to form. Over a 24‑hour period ending in the morning of August 15, the pressure fell from 1004 to 978 mbar and the winds increased to 90 mph (145 km/h), making it a high-end Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale.