2004 Pacific hurricane season facts for kids
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| Season summary map | |
| First storm formed | May 22, 2004 |
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| Last storm dissipated | October 26, 2004 |
| Strongest storm | Javier – 930 mbar (hPa) (27.47 inHg), 150 mph (240 km/h) (1-minute sustained) |
| Total depressions | 17 |
| Total storms | 12 |
| Hurricanes | 6 |
| Major hurricanes (Cat. 3+) | 3 |
| Total fatalities | 0 |
| Total damage | Unknown |
| Pacific hurricane seasons 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 |
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The 2004 Pacific hurricane season was a time when many big storms, called tropical cyclones, formed in the eastern and central Pacific Ocean. It officially started on May 15, 2004, in the eastern Pacific. For the central Pacific, it began on June 1, 2004. The season ended for both areas on November 30, 2004.
These dates are chosen because most tropical cyclones usually form during this period each year.
Contents
Powerful Pacific Storms of 2004
Hurricane Darby: A Strong Start
| Category 3 hurricane (SSHS) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| Duration | July 26 – August 1 | ||
| Intensity | 120 mph (195 km/h) (1-min), 957 mbar (hPa) | ||
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Tropical Depression Five-E started forming south of Mexico on July 26. Later that same day, it grew stronger and became Tropical Storm Darby. Just a few hours later, early on July 27, it became Hurricane Darby.
The hurricane moved west, heading straight for the big island of Hawaii. On July 29, it reached Category 3 strength. This made it the first major hurricane in this part of the Pacific since 2002. However, Darby lost its power before it reached Hawaii and disappeared by the evening of July 31.
Hurricane Howard: A Category 4 Giant
| Category 4 hurricane (SSHS) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| Duration | August 30 – September 5 | ||
| Intensity | 140 mph (220 km/h) (1-min), 943 mbar (hPa) | ||
Tropical Depression Eleven-E began as a tropical wave (a type of weather disturbance). It formed about 400 miles southwest of Acapulco, Mexico. The storm moved northwest and kept getting stronger.
Howard briefly became a Category 4 hurricane, which is very powerful. After peaking, it started to get weaker. By the time Howard was near the Baja peninsula, it was only a tropical storm. Howard weakened even more, becoming a tropical depression on September 5. It then turned into a remnant low, which is just a leftover area of low pressure. This low pressure area then moved southwest. Howard completely disappeared on September 10 without ever hitting land.
Hurricane Javier: The Strongest Storm
| Category 4 hurricane (SSHS) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| Duration | September 10 – September 19 | ||
| Intensity | 150 mph (240 km/h) (1-min), 930 mbar (hPa) | ||
Tropical Depression Thirteen-E formed from an area of low pressure south of the Gulf of Tehuantepec on September 10. It slowly moved northwest. On the morning of September 11, it was named Tropical Storm Javier.
Javier became a hurricane on the afternoon of September 12. It quickly got much stronger on September 13, reaching Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. This scale measures how strong hurricanes are.
Warnings were issued on September 15 for Baja California. Even though Javier had very strong winds of 150 miles per hour (240 km/h) at its peak, it weakened a lot. It hit land south of San Ignacio in Baja Sur as only a tropical depression. The remains of the storm continued over Baja and further inland.
Tropical Storm Lester: Close to Shore
| Tropical storm (SSHS) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| Duration | October 11 – October 13 | ||
| Intensity | 50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min), 1000 mbar (hPa) | ||
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An area of tropical disturbance, about 90 miles (150 km) south-southwest of Puerto Angel, Mexico, became Tropical Depression Fifteen-E on the afternoon of October 11. Because it was so close to land, people paid attention to it right away. Mexico started issuing warnings early the next day.
On October 12, it grew into a tropical storm and was named Lester. It mostly stayed in one place just off the coast of Mexico. For most of October 13, it was only 25 miles (40 km) west of Acapulco. In the afternoon, it became clear that Lester was breaking apart. It was downgraded to a tropical depression and quickly disappeared.
Related Information
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