Hurricane Darby (2004)

Hurricane Darby

Category 3 major hurricane (SSHWS/NWS)
Hurricane Darby intensifying in the open Pacific Ocean on July 28
Formed	July 26, 2004
Dissipated	August 1, 2004
Highest winds	1-minute sustained: 120 mph (195 km/h)
Lowest pressure	957 mbar (hPa); 28.26 inHg
Fatalities	None reported
Areas affected	Southwestern Hawaii
Part of the 2004 Pacific hurricane season

Hurricane Darby was the first Eastern Pacific major hurricane since Hurricane Kenna in 2002. The sixth tropical cyclone, fourth named storm, and second hurricane of the 2004 Pacific hurricane season, Darby developed from a tropical wave that emerged from the west coast of Africa on July 12. After crossing into the Eastern Pacific, the storm became a tropical depression on June 26. The system steadily intensified, and became a hurricane on 000 UTC July 28. Darby peaked as a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, though it quickly deteriorated due to cooler waters and increasing wind shear. While Darby dissipated on August 1, the remnants of the tropical cyclone affected the Hawaiian Islands. The system produced high waves and heavy rainfall that led to extensive flash flooding. Numerous roads were closed, while minor landslides and rockslides were reported. Despite the effects, no fatalities or severe damages occurred.

A tropical wave emerged from the west coast of Africa on July 12 and entered the Atlantic Ocean. The wave progressed westward, crossing the Atlantic and Caribbean Sea before crossing into the Eastern Pacific on July 20. The west began to exhibit signs of development on July 23. The next day, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) noted an associated area of showers and thunderstorms, indicating that gradual development was possible. The system had become better organized and on July 25, the NHC continued to remark upon the potential for the weak low pressure area—accompanied by disorganized convective activity—to develop. On July 26, the system became better-organized, and under favorable conditions it was upgraded to a tropical depression at 1200 UTC, while located about 760 miles (1,220 km) to the south-southwest of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Under the steering currents of a subtropical ridge of high pressure, the depression continued moving westward.