2004 Pacific hurricane season
Encyclopedia
The 2004 Pacific hurricane season officially started on May 15, 2004 in the eastern Pacific, and on June 1, 2004 in the central Pacific, and lasted until November 30, 2004. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northeastern Pacific Ocean.
This season was the first since 1990 to result in no deaths.
in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur
. The depression moved to the northwest into an area of light vertical shear, and intensified into Tropical Storm Agatha shortly after forming. Agatha reached a peak of 60 mph (95 km/h) on May 23, though the development of an eye
feature suggests it could have been stronger. Cool waters and dry air was entrained into the system, causing Agatha to weaken and degenerate into a remnant low on May 24. The remnant low drifted erratically for two days until dissipating on May 26. Agatha never affected land.
. Due to cooler waters, the depression failed to develop further, and the system degenerated into a remnant area of low pressure on July 4. The low dissipated a day later without effecting land.
. Blas never affected land.
The remnants of the storm caused heavy rainfall over Hawaii, though caused no damage or deaths. http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~535835 As a hurricane, Darby also produced strong waves of four to eight ft on eastern Hawaii. http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~535830
, Baja California Sur
. It moved westward without organizing, and quickly dissipated. Operationally, the depression developed early on July 29, though further analysis indicated a circulation did not exist. Also operationally, forecasters issued tropical cyclone advisories until August 3.
, Baja California Sur
. The depression rapidly organized, and strengthened into a hurricane just 12 hours after forming, an unusual occurrence. Frank continued to strengthen as it moved to the northwest, and reached a peak intensity of 85 mph on August 24. Shortly after peaking, the hurricane passed over cooler water temperatures, and Frank quickly weakened, degenerating into a remnant low by August 26. The low drifted to the southwest, and dissipated on August 27 while 750 mi west of the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula
. The storm never affected land. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2004frank.shtml?
, Baja California Sur
.http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2004nine-e.shtml? Despite initial predictions of the depression intensifying to a 45 mph tropical storm,http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2004/dis/ep092004.discus.001.shtml? cool water temperatures and south-southwesterly wind shear
prevented strengthening, and the depression degenerated into a remnant area of low pressure on August 26. The low dissipated on August 28.http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2004nine-e.shtml?
. Deep convection quickly organized, and the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Georgette shortly after forming. Georgette reached a peak of 65 mph on August 27, but weakened due to upper level shear. The storm briefly restrengthened on August 28, but again weakened until degenerating into a remnant low on August 30. The low continued to the west-northwest until dissipating on September 3 to the east of Hawaii. Georgette never affected land. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2004georgette.shtml
about 400 mi southwest of the Mexican port of Acapulco
, Guerrero
. It strengthened as it moved to the northwest, becoming a tropical storm on August 31. On September 1, Howard intensified into a hurricane, and with favorable conditions the hurricane rapidly intensified to attain peak winds of 140 mph, a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale
. Cool waters caused the hurricane to weaken to a tropical storm on September 4, and Howard degenerated into a remnant low on September 5. A ridge of high pressure turned the low to the southwest, a motion it would keep until dissipating on September 10. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2004howard.shtml
As a Category 4 hurricane, Howard produced 6 to 12 ft waves on the California
coastline. Because it was Labor Day
weekend, 575,000 people went to Orange County
beaches, resulting in over 1,000 lifeguard rescues. The hurricane did not cause any casualties or damages.
, developed into Tropical Depression Twelve-E on September 8 while located 530 mi south of the Mexican port of Cabo San Lucas
, Baja California Sur
. It moved westward and strengthened into Tropical Storm Isis later on September 8, though vertical shear weakened the storm to a tropical depression on September 10. Wind shear decreased, and Isis re-attained tropical storm status on September 12. It remained a minimal tropical storm until September 15, when Isis rapidly intensified to hurricane strength. Shortly after reaching hurricane status, Isis moved over cooler water temperatures, causing it to quickly weaken to a remnant low on September 16. The remnant low drifted to the west until dissipating on September 21. Isis never affected land. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2004isis.shtml
on September 10. It slowly moved northwest, being designated Tropical Storm Javier on the morning of September 11. It was upgraded to a hurricane on the afternoon of September 12, and peaked at Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
after rapidly strengthening on September 13. Warnings began to be issued on September 15 for Baja California
. While Javier peaked at Category 4, with windspeeds of 150 mph (240 km/h), it weakened dramatically before striking land south of San Ignacio, Baja California Sur
, as only a tropical depression. Its remnants continued over Baja and inland.
Javier produced moderate damage across northwestern Mexico. In the United States, the storm's rainfall brought relief to a severe drought.
developed into Tropical Depression Fourteen-E on October 4 about 590 mi (949.5 km) to the southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico, based on satellite imagery indicating a circulation. It moved generally westward due to a ridge to its north, and only slow intensification was predicted due to the presence of wind shear. Its appearance was asymmetric due to the shear, but the depression was able to intensify into Tropical Storm Kay on October 15. Due to the shear, its center of circulation was at the northern edge of the convection, and Kay only reached winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) before starting to weaken. The center of circulation became displaced from the area of deep convection, and Kay was reduced to a small low-level swirl of clouds with intermittent thunderstorms. Late on October 5, Kay weakened to tropical depression status, and after turning to the southwest it dissipated on October 6. There were no reports of casualties or damage.
The Mexican government issued a Tropical Storm Warning
along the Guerrero
coast from Punta Maldonado to Zihuatanejo
. The storm produced three to five in of rainfall across Mexico http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2004lester.shtml, causing moderate damage in the Acapulco
area. The rainfall caused at least one mudslide and downed 14 trees. http://www.esmas.com/noticierostelevisa/mexico/398233.html
. It continued slowly westward, and moved to into an area 520 mi south of Baja California Peninsula
. There, it combined with an area of disturbed weather due to two previous tropical waves. The system organized as deep convection concentrated into curved bands, and a tropical depression formed on October 25 while 315 mi south-southeast of the Baja California Peninsula
. The depression moved northward around the western periphery of a high pressure system. Due to anticipated strengthening, the Government of Mexico issued a tropical storm warning
for portions of the country's western coast. However, vertical shear prevented further strengthening. The depression continued northward, and made landfall in Sinaloa
, midway between Guasave
and Topolobampo
, on October 26. It quickly dissipated.
The depression dropped heavy rainfall in western Mexico, including a peak 24 hour total of 7.1 in in Sinaloa
. The media reported a possible tornado in Culiacán
when the storm was making landfall. The depression's mid-level circulation produced strong thunderstorms and locally heavy rainfall across the U.S. states of New Mexico
, Texas
, and Oklahoma
.
This season was the first since 1990 to result in no deaths.
Tropical Storm Agatha
A tropical wave, combined with a stationary trough of low pressure, developed into a tropical depression on May 22 while located 575 mi (925.4 km) south-southeast of Cabo San LucasCabo San Lucas
Cabo San Lucas , commonly called Cabo, is a city at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, in the municipality of Los Cabos in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. As of the 2010 census, the population was 68,463 people...
in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur
Baja California Sur
Baja California Sur , is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. Before becoming a state on October 8, 1974, the area was known as the South Territory of Baja California. It has an area of , or 3.57% of the land mass of Mexico and comprises...
. The depression moved to the northwest into an area of light vertical shear, and intensified into Tropical Storm Agatha shortly after forming. Agatha reached a peak of 60 mph (95 km/h) on May 23, though the development of an eye
Eye (cyclone)
The eye is a region of mostly calm weather found at the center of strong tropical cyclones. The eye of a storm is a roughly circular area and typically 30–65 km in diameter. It is surrounded by the eyewall, a ring of towering thunderstorms where the second most severe weather of a cyclone...
feature suggests it could have been stronger. Cool waters and dry air was entrained into the system, causing Agatha to weaken and degenerate into a remnant low on May 24. The remnant low drifted erratically for two days until dissipating on May 26. Agatha never affected land.
Tropical Depression Two-E
On June 17, a tropical wave moved off the coast of Africa, and entered the eastern Pacific Ocean on June 25. A circulation developed, and the system organized into Tropical Depression Two-E on July 2 while located 750 mi (1,207 km) southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California PeninsulaBaja California Peninsula
The Baja California peninsula , is a peninsula in northwestern Mexico. Its land mass separates the Pacific Ocean from the Gulf of California. The Peninsula extends from Mexicali, Baja California in the north to Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur in the south.The total area of the Baja California...
. Due to cooler waters, the depression failed to develop further, and the system degenerated into a remnant area of low pressure on July 4. The low dissipated a day later without effecting land.
Tropical Depression One-C
Tropical Depression One-C formed in the Central North Pacific southwest of Hawaii on July 5, and did no damage, it stayed over waters for its lifetime, and One-c dissipated the next day.- CPHC archive for 1C.
Tropical Storm Blas
On July 11, a tropical wave organized into Tropical Depression Three to the southwest of Mexico, and strengthened into Tropical Storm Blas later that day. It moved to the northwest around a mid-level anticyclone, and intensified to reach a peak of 65 mph (100 km/h) on July 12. Cooler water temperatures weakened the storm to a remnant low on July 14, though it remained large and well-defined. The remnant low continued to the west-northwest until dissipating on July 19 to the west of the Baja California PeninsulaBaja California Peninsula
The Baja California peninsula , is a peninsula in northwestern Mexico. Its land mass separates the Pacific Ocean from the Gulf of California. The Peninsula extends from Mexicali, Baja California in the north to Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur in the south.The total area of the Baja California...
. Blas never affected land.
Hurricane Celia
A tropical wave that moved off the coast of Africa entered the eastern Pacific Ocean. It entered an area of favorable upper level winds and water temperatures, and formed into Tropical Depression Four-E on July 19. The depression quickly strengthened to tropical storm status, and slowly intensified to attain hurricane strength on July 22. Celia reached a peak of 85 mph (140 km/h) before moving into an area of cool waters and dry air, thus weakening it. The storm weakened into a tropical depression on July 24, and dissipated two days later.Hurricane Darby
Tropical Depression Five-E formed south of Mexico on July 26. Later that day, it was upgraded to Tropical Storm Darby, and was upgraded to a hurricane on July 28. It moved due west at this point, aiming directly for the big island of Hawaii. It reached Category 3 strength on July 29, the first major hurricane in the northeastern Pacific basin since 2002. However, long before it reached Hawaii, it lost strength and dissipated on the evening of July 31. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2004darby.shtmlThe remnants of the storm caused heavy rainfall over Hawaii, though caused no damage or deaths. http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~535835 As a hurricane, Darby also produced strong waves of four to eight ft on eastern Hawaii. http://www4.ncdc.noaa.gov/cgi-win/wwcgi.dll?wwevent~ShowEvent~535830
Tropical Depression Six-E
An area of disturbed weather organized into a tropical depression on August 1 while located 1,265 mi southwest of the Mexican port of Cabo San LucasCabo San Lucas
Cabo San Lucas , commonly called Cabo, is a city at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, in the municipality of Los Cabos in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. As of the 2010 census, the population was 68,463 people...
, Baja California Sur
Baja California Sur
Baja California Sur , is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. Before becoming a state on October 8, 1974, the area was known as the South Territory of Baja California. It has an area of , or 3.57% of the land mass of Mexico and comprises...
. It moved westward without organizing, and quickly dissipated. Operationally, the depression developed early on July 29, though further analysis indicated a circulation did not exist. Also operationally, forecasters issued tropical cyclone advisories until August 3.
Tropical Storm Estelle
A tropical wave organized into Tropical Depression Six-E on August 19 while located 1,440 mi east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii. The next day it strengthened into a tropical storm, and Estelle gradually strengthened to reach a peak of 70 mph on August 21. Strong shear weakened the storm, and it weakened to a tropical depression on August 23. It turned to the west-southwest, degenerated into a remnant low on August 24, and dissipated on August 25. Estelle never effected land. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2004estelle.shtmlHurricane Frank
The remnants of Atlantic Ocean Tropical Storm Earl entered the eastern Pacific Ocean on August 18. Deep convection steadily organized, and the system developed into a tropical depression on August 23 while 415 mi south of the Mexican port of Cabo San LucasCabo San Lucas
Cabo San Lucas , commonly called Cabo, is a city at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, in the municipality of Los Cabos in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. As of the 2010 census, the population was 68,463 people...
, Baja California Sur
Baja California Sur
Baja California Sur , is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. Before becoming a state on October 8, 1974, the area was known as the South Territory of Baja California. It has an area of , or 3.57% of the land mass of Mexico and comprises...
. The depression rapidly organized, and strengthened into a hurricane just 12 hours after forming, an unusual occurrence. Frank continued to strengthen as it moved to the northwest, and reached a peak intensity of 85 mph on August 24. Shortly after peaking, the hurricane passed over cooler water temperatures, and Frank quickly weakened, degenerating into a remnant low by August 26. The low drifted to the southwest, and dissipated on August 27 while 750 mi west of the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula
Baja California Peninsula
The Baja California peninsula , is a peninsula in northwestern Mexico. Its land mass separates the Pacific Ocean from the Gulf of California. The Peninsula extends from Mexicali, Baja California in the north to Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur in the south.The total area of the Baja California...
. The storm never affected land. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2004frank.shtml?
Tropical Depression Nine-E
On August 8 a tropical wave moved off the coast of Africa. It entered the eastern Pacific Ocean on August 15, and after slowly organizing the wave developed into a tropical depression on August 23 while located 920 mi west-southwest of the Mexican port of Cabo San LucasCabo San Lucas
Cabo San Lucas , commonly called Cabo, is a city at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, in the municipality of Los Cabos in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. As of the 2010 census, the population was 68,463 people...
, Baja California Sur
Baja California Sur
Baja California Sur , is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. Before becoming a state on October 8, 1974, the area was known as the South Territory of Baja California. It has an area of , or 3.57% of the land mass of Mexico and comprises...
.http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2004nine-e.shtml? Despite initial predictions of the depression intensifying to a 45 mph tropical storm,http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2004/dis/ep092004.discus.001.shtml? cool water temperatures and south-southwesterly wind shear
Wind shear
Wind shear, sometimes referred to as windshear or wind gradient, is a difference in wind speed and direction over a relatively short distance in the atmosphere...
prevented strengthening, and the depression degenerated into a remnant area of low pressure on August 26. The low dissipated on August 28.http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2004nine-e.shtml?
Tropical Storm Georgette
A tropical wave that entered the eastern Pacific on August 24 developed into a tropical depression on August 26 while located 600 mi south-southeast of the southern tip of the Baja California PeninsulaBaja California Peninsula
The Baja California peninsula , is a peninsula in northwestern Mexico. Its land mass separates the Pacific Ocean from the Gulf of California. The Peninsula extends from Mexicali, Baja California in the north to Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur in the south.The total area of the Baja California...
. Deep convection quickly organized, and the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Georgette shortly after forming. Georgette reached a peak of 65 mph on August 27, but weakened due to upper level shear. The storm briefly restrengthened on August 28, but again weakened until degenerating into a remnant low on August 30. The low continued to the west-northwest until dissipating on September 3 to the east of Hawaii. Georgette never affected land. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2004georgette.shtml
Hurricane Howard
Tropical Depression Eleven-E formed on August 30 from a tropical waveTropical wave
Tropical waves, easterly waves, or tropical easterly waves, also known as African easterly waves in the Atlantic region, are a type of atmospheric trough, an elongated area of relatively low air pressure, oriented north to south, which move from east to west across the tropics causing areas of...
about 400 mi southwest of the Mexican port of Acapulco
Acapulco
Acapulco is a city, municipality and major sea port in the state of Guerrero on the Pacific coast of Mexico, southwest from Mexico City. Acapulco is located on a deep, semi-circular bay and has been a port since the early colonial period of Mexico’s history...
, Guerrero
Guerrero
Guerrero officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Guerrero is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 81 municipalities and its capital city is Chilpancingo....
. It strengthened as it moved to the northwest, becoming a tropical storm on August 31. On September 1, Howard intensified into a hurricane, and with favorable conditions the hurricane rapidly intensified to attain peak winds of 140 mph, a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
The Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale , or the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale , classifies hurricanes — Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms — into five categories distinguished by the intensities of their sustained winds...
. Cool waters caused the hurricane to weaken to a tropical storm on September 4, and Howard degenerated into a remnant low on September 5. A ridge of high pressure turned the low to the southwest, a motion it would keep until dissipating on September 10. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2004howard.shtml
As a Category 4 hurricane, Howard produced 6 to 12 ft waves on the California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
coastline. Because it was Labor Day
Labor Day
Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers.-History:...
weekend, 575,000 people went to Orange County
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
beaches, resulting in over 1,000 lifeguard rescues. The hurricane did not cause any casualties or damages.
Hurricane Isis
A tropical wave, possibly the same one that spanwed Atlantic Ocean Hurricane FrancesHurricane Frances
Hurricane Frances was the sixth named storm, the fourth hurricane, and the third major hurricane of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season. The system crossing the open Atlantic during mid to late August, moving to the north of the Lesser Antilles while strengthening. Its outer bands affected Puerto...
, developed into Tropical Depression Twelve-E on September 8 while located 530 mi south of the Mexican port of Cabo San Lucas
Cabo San Lucas
Cabo San Lucas , commonly called Cabo, is a city at the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, in the municipality of Los Cabos in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. As of the 2010 census, the population was 68,463 people...
, Baja California Sur
Baja California Sur
Baja California Sur , is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. Before becoming a state on October 8, 1974, the area was known as the South Territory of Baja California. It has an area of , or 3.57% of the land mass of Mexico and comprises...
. It moved westward and strengthened into Tropical Storm Isis later on September 8, though vertical shear weakened the storm to a tropical depression on September 10. Wind shear decreased, and Isis re-attained tropical storm status on September 12. It remained a minimal tropical storm until September 15, when Isis rapidly intensified to hurricane strength. Shortly after reaching hurricane status, Isis moved over cooler water temperatures, causing it to quickly weaken to a remnant low on September 16. The remnant low drifted to the west until dissipating on September 21. Isis never affected land. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2004isis.shtml
Hurricane Javier
Tropical Depression Thirteen-E formed out of an area of low pressure south-southeast of the Gulf of TehuantepecGulf of Tehuantepec
Gulf of Tehuantepec is a large body of water on the Pacific coast of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, southeastern Mexico, at . Most of the hurricanes that form in the Eastern Pacific organize in or near this body of water...
on September 10. It slowly moved northwest, being designated Tropical Storm Javier on the morning of September 11. It was upgraded to a hurricane on the afternoon of September 12, and peaked at Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
The Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale , or the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale , classifies hurricanes — Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms — into five categories distinguished by the intensities of their sustained winds...
after rapidly strengthening on September 13. Warnings began to be issued on September 15 for Baja California
Baja California
Baja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North...
. While Javier peaked at Category 4, with windspeeds of 150 mph (240 km/h), it weakened dramatically before striking land south of San Ignacio, Baja California Sur
San Ignacio, Baja California Sur
San Ignacio is a palm oasis town in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur, located between Guerrero Negro and Santa Rosalía. The town had a 2010 census population of 667 inhabitants and grew at the site of the Cochimí settlement of Kadakaamán and the Jesuit Mission San Ignacio founded in 1728 by...
, as only a tropical depression. Its remnants continued over Baja and inland.
Javier produced moderate damage across northwestern Mexico. In the United States, the storm's rainfall brought relief to a severe drought.
Tropical Storm Kay
A disturbance in the intertropical convergence zoneIntertropical Convergence Zone
The Intertropical Convergence Zone , known by sailors as The Doldrums, is the area encircling the earth near the equator where winds originating in the northern and southern hemispheres come together....
developed into Tropical Depression Fourteen-E on October 4 about 590 mi (949.5 km) to the southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico, based on satellite imagery indicating a circulation. It moved generally westward due to a ridge to its north, and only slow intensification was predicted due to the presence of wind shear. Its appearance was asymmetric due to the shear, but the depression was able to intensify into Tropical Storm Kay on October 15. Due to the shear, its center of circulation was at the northern edge of the convection, and Kay only reached winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) before starting to weaken. The center of circulation became displaced from the area of deep convection, and Kay was reduced to a small low-level swirl of clouds with intermittent thunderstorms. Late on October 5, Kay weakened to tropical depression status, and after turning to the southwest it dissipated on October 6. There were no reports of casualties or damage.
Tropical Storm Lester
An area of disturbed weather organized into Tropical Depression Fifteen-E on October 11 while located 90 mi off the coast of Mexico. With a weak anticyclone near the system, the depression slowly strengthened, and intensified into a tropical storm on October 12. Lester neared the coast of Mexico, and weakened due to land interaction and interaction with a system to its southwest. The storm weakened to a tropical depression on October 13, and dissipated shortly thereafter. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2004lester.shtmlThe Mexican government issued a Tropical Storm Warning
Tropical cyclone warnings and watches
Warnings and watches are two levels of alert issued by national weather forecasting bodies to coastal areas threatened by the imminent approach of a tropical cyclone of tropical storm or hurricane intensity. They are notices to the local population and civil authorities to make appropriate...
along the Guerrero
Guerrero
Guerrero officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Guerrero is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 81 municipalities and its capital city is Chilpancingo....
coast from Punta Maldonado to Zihuatanejo
Zihuatanejo
Zihuatanejo or Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, is the fourth-largest city in the Mexican state of Guerrero. Politically the city belongs to the municipality of Zihuatanejo de Azueta in the western part of Guerrero, but both are commonly referred to as Zihuatanejo...
. The storm produced three to five in of rainfall across Mexico http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2004lester.shtml, causing moderate damage in the Acapulco
Acapulco
Acapulco is a city, municipality and major sea port in the state of Guerrero on the Pacific coast of Mexico, southwest from Mexico City. Acapulco is located on a deep, semi-circular bay and has been a port since the early colonial period of Mexico’s history...
area. The rainfall caused at least one mudslide and downed 14 trees. http://www.esmas.com/noticierostelevisa/mexico/398233.html
Tropical Depression Sixteen-E
A tropical wave moved off the coast of Africa on October 8, and moved westward across the unfavorable Atlantic Ocean. The wave entered the eastern Pacific Ocean on October 18, and developed an area of low pressure the next day while south of GuatemalaGuatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
. It continued slowly westward, and moved to into an area 520 mi south of Baja California Peninsula
Baja California Peninsula
The Baja California peninsula , is a peninsula in northwestern Mexico. Its land mass separates the Pacific Ocean from the Gulf of California. The Peninsula extends from Mexicali, Baja California in the north to Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur in the south.The total area of the Baja California...
. There, it combined with an area of disturbed weather due to two previous tropical waves. The system organized as deep convection concentrated into curved bands, and a tropical depression formed on October 25 while 315 mi south-southeast of the Baja California Peninsula
Baja California Peninsula
The Baja California peninsula , is a peninsula in northwestern Mexico. Its land mass separates the Pacific Ocean from the Gulf of California. The Peninsula extends from Mexicali, Baja California in the north to Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur in the south.The total area of the Baja California...
. The depression moved northward around the western periphery of a high pressure system. Due to anticipated strengthening, the Government of Mexico issued a tropical storm warning
Tropical cyclone warnings and watches
Warnings and watches are two levels of alert issued by national weather forecasting bodies to coastal areas threatened by the imminent approach of a tropical cyclone of tropical storm or hurricane intensity. They are notices to the local population and civil authorities to make appropriate...
for portions of the country's western coast. However, vertical shear prevented further strengthening. The depression continued northward, and made landfall in Sinaloa
Sinaloa
Sinaloa officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sinaloa is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 18 municipalities and its capital city is Culiacán Rosales....
, midway between Guasave
Guasave
Guasave is a city and its surrounding municipality in the Mexican state of Sinaloa. It is located in the northwestern part of the state, southeast of the city of Los Mochis. It stands at ....
and Topolobampo
Topolobampo
Topolobampo is a port on the Gulf of California in northwestern Sinaloa, Mexico. It is the fourth-largest town in the municipality of Ahome , reporting a 2005 census population of 6,032 inhabitants....
, on October 26. It quickly dissipated.
The depression dropped heavy rainfall in western Mexico, including a peak 24 hour total of 7.1 in in Sinaloa
Sinaloa
Sinaloa officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sinaloa is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 18 municipalities and its capital city is Culiacán Rosales....
. The media reported a possible tornado in Culiacán
Culiacán
Culiacán is a city in northwestern Mexico, the largest city in the state of Sinaloa as well as its capital and capital of the municipality of Culiacán. With 675,773 inhabitants in the city , and 858,638 in the municipality, it is the largest city in the state of Sinaloa...
when the storm was making landfall. The depression's mid-level circulation produced strong thunderstorms and locally heavy rainfall across the U.S. states of New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, and Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
.
See also
- List of Pacific hurricanes
- List of Pacific hurricane seasons
- 2004 Atlantic hurricane season2004 Atlantic hurricane seasonThe 2004 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, 2004, and lasted until November 30, 2004. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin...
- 2004 Pacific typhoon season2004 Pacific typhoon seasonThe 2004 Pacific typhoon season has no official bounds; it ran year-round in 2004, but most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between May and November...
- 2004 North Indian Ocean cyclone season2004 North Indian Ocean cyclone seasonThe 2004 North Indian Ocean cyclone season had no bounds, but cyclones tend to form between April and December, with peaks in May and November. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northern Indian Ocean.-Season summary:In 2004, RSMC New...
- South-West Indian Ocean cyclone seasons: 2003–04, 2004–05
- Australian region cyclone seasons: 2003–04, 2004–05
- South Pacific cyclone seasons: 2003–04, 2004–05