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). 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 The National Hurricane Center (NHC) is the division of the United States' NOAA/National Weather Service responsible for tracking and predicting tropical weather systems between the Prime Meridian and the 140th meridian west poleward to the 3 ...

, 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. Areas east of 140° W are under the purview of the National Hurricane Center (NHC); the area between the

International Date Line The International Date Line (IDL) is an internationally accepted demarcation on the surface of Earth, running between the South and North Poles and serving as the boundary between one calendar day and the next. It passes through the Pacific O ...

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. No tropical cyclones were active in June, the first such occurrence since

1969 This year is notable for Apollo 11's first landing on the moon. Events January * January 4 – The Government of Spain hands over Ifni to Morocco. * January 5 **Ariana Afghan Airlines Flight 701 crashes into a house on its approach to ...

. 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. 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. August was the most active month, producing six tropical cyclones, four named storms, and two hurricanes (Frank and

Howard Howard is an English-language given name originating from Old French Huard (or Houard) from a Germanic source similar to Old High German ''*Hugihard'' "heart-brave", or ''*Hoh-ward'', literally "high defender; chief guardian". It is also probabl ...

). 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. October saw the final three tropical cyclones of the year; two developed into named storms (

Kay The name Kay is found both as a surname (see Kay (surname)) and as a given name. In English-speaking countries, it is usually a feminine name, often a short form of Katherine or one of its variants; but it is also used as a first name in its own ...

and Lester). Neither of these storms became hurricanes.

Timeline of storms

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May

;May 15 *The 2004 East Pacific hurricane season officially begins. ;May 21 *5:00 p.m. PDT (00:00 UTC May 22) – Tropical Depression One-E forms about to the southeast of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. ;May 22 *5:00 a.m. PDT (12:00 UTC) – Tropical Depression One-E strengthens into a tropical storm and is named Agatha. *5:00 p.m. PDT (00:00 UTC May 22) – Tropical Storm Agatha reaches its peak intensity of 60 mph (95 km/h). ;May 23 *5:00 p.m. PDT (00:00 UTC May 22) – Tropical Storm Agatha weakens into a tropical depression. ;May 24 *5:00 a.m. PDT (12:00 UTC) – Tropical Depression Agatha degenerates into an area of low pressure.

June

;June 1 *The 2004 Central Pacific hurricane season officially begins.

July

;July 2 *5:00 a.m. PDT (12:00 UTC) – Tropical Depression Two-E forms about to the southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula of Mexico. *5:00 p.m. PDT (00:00 UTC July 3) – Tropical Depression Two-E reaches its peak intensity of . ;July 3 *5:00 p.m. PDT (00:00 UTC July 4) – Tropical Depression Two-E degenerates into an area of low pressure. ;July 4 *2:00 p.m. HST (00:00 UTC July 5) – Tropical Depression One-C forms about to the south-southeast of Johnston Island. *2:00 p.m. HST (00:00 UTC July 5) – Tropical Depression One-C reaches its peak intensity of . ;July 5 *2:00 p.m. HST (00:00 UTC July 6) – Tropical Depression One-C dissipates. ;July 12 *5:00 a.m. PDT (12:00 UTC) – Tropical Depression Three-E forms south-southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico.The distance between the location of Tropical Storm Blas's formation and Manzanillo, Mexico, was calculated using the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration'
Latitude/Longitude Distance Calculator
in the Tropical Cyclone Report for Blas, its location at formation is given as 14.6° N, 105.5°W. *11:00 a.m. PDT (18:00 UTC) – Tropical Depression Three-E strengthens into a tropical storm and is named Blas. ;July 13 *5:00 a.m. PDT (12:00 UTC) – Tropical Storm Blas reaches its peak intensity of . ;July 14 *11:00 a.m. PDT (18:00 UTC) – Tropical Storm Blas weakens into a tropical depression. *11:00 p.m. PDT (06:00 UTC July 15) – Tropical Depression Blas degenerates into an area of low pressure. ;July 18 *5:00 p.m. PDT (00:00 UTC July 19) – Tropical Depression Four-E forms about south-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. ;July 19 *5:00 a.m. PDT (12:00 UTC) – Tropical Depression Four-E strengthens into a tropical storm and is named Celia. ;July 21 *5:00 p.m. PDT (00:00 UTC July 22) – Tropical Storm Celia strengthens into the first hurricane of the season. *11:00 p.m. PDT (06:00 UTC July 22) – Hurricane Celia reaches its peak intensity of . ;July 22 *11:00 a.m. PDT (18:00 UTC) – Hurricane Celia weakens into a tropical storm. ;July 24 *11:00 a.m. PDT (18:00 UTC) – Tropical Storm Celia weakens into a tropical depression. ;July 25 *5:00 p.m. PDT (00:00 UTC July 22) – Tropical Depression Celia degenerates into an area of low pressure. ;July 26 *5:00 a.m. PDT (12:00 UTC) – Tropical Depression Five-E forms about south-southwest of Cabo San Lucas. *5:00 p.m. PDT (00:00 UTC July 27) – Tropical Depression Five-E is upgraded to Tropical Storm Darby. ;July 27 *5:00 p.m. PDT (00:00 UTC July 28) – Tropical Storm Darby strengthens into a Category 1 hurricane. ;July 28 *11:00 a.m. PDT (18:00 UTC) – Hurricane Darby reaches Category 2 intensity. *11:00 p.m. PDT (06:00 UTC July 29) – Hurricane Darby reaches Category 3 intensity and becomes the first Pacific major hurricane since Hurricane Kenna in

2002 File:2002 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The 2002 Winter Olympics are held in Salt Lake City; Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and her daughter Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon die; East Timor gains East Timor independence, indepe ...

. *11:00 p.m. PDT (06:00 UTC July 29) – Hurricane Darby reaches its peak intensity of . ;July 29 *11:00 a.m. PDT (18:00 UTC) – Hurricane Darby weakens to Category 2 intensity. *5:00 p.m. PDT (00:00 UTC July 28) – Hurricane Darby weakens to Category 1 intensity. ;July 30 *5:00 a.m. PDT (12:00 UTC) – Hurricane Darby weakens into a tropical storm. ;July 31 *5:00 a.m. PDT (12:00 UTC) – Tropical Storm Darby weakens into a tropical depression. *5:00 p.m. PDT (2:00 p.m. HST 00:00 UTC August 1) – The NHC passes the primary warning responsibility of Tropical Depression Darby to the CPHC as Darby crosses 140°W. *11:00 p.m. PDT (06:00 UTC August 1) – Tropical Depression Six-E forms. *11:00 p.m. PDT (06:00 UTC August 1) – Tropical Depression Six-E reaches its peak intensity of .

August

;August 1 *2:00 a.m. HST (12:00 UTC) – Tropical Depression Darby dissipates. *11:00 p.m. PDT (06:00 UTC August 2) – Tropical Depression Six-E dissipates. ;August 18 *11:00 p.m. PDT (06:00 UTC August 19) – Tropical Depression Seven-E forms about to the southeast of

Hilo, Hawaii Hilo () is a census-designated place (CDP) and the largest settlement in Hawaii County, Hawaii, United States, which encompasses the Island of Hawaii. The population was 44,186 according to the 2020 census. It is the fourth-largest settlement i ...

. ;August 19 *11:00 p.m. PDT (06:00 UTC August 20) – Tropical Depression Seven-E intensifies into a tropical storm and is named Estelle. ;August 20 *11:00 p.m. PDT (8:00 p.m. HST; 06:00 UTC August 21) – The NHC passes primary warning responsibility of Tropical Storm Estelle to the CPHC as Estelle crosses 140°W. ;August 21 *2:00 a.m. HST (12:00 UTC) – Tropical Storm Estelle reaches its peak intensity of 70 mph (110 km/h). ;August 22 *2:00 p.m. HST (00:00 UTC August 23) – Tropical Storm Estelle weakens into a tropical depression. *11:00 p.m. PDT (06:00 UTC August 23) – Tropical Depression Eight-E forms from the remains of Tropical Storm Earl, which crossed over from the Atlantic basin. At this time, it is located about south of Cabo San Lucas. ;August 23 *5:00 a.m. PDT (12:00 UTC) – Tropical Depression Eight-E becomes a tropical storm and is named Frank. *11:00 a.m. PDT (18:00 UTC) – Tropical Storm Frank strengthens into a Category 1 hurricane. *11:00 a.m. PDT (18:00 UTC) – Tropical Depression Nine-E forms about west-southwest of the tip of Baja California. *5:00 p.m. PDT (00:00 UTC August 24) – Tropical Depression Nine-E reaches its peak intensity of 35 mph (55 km/h). *11:00 p.m. PDT (06:00 UTC August 24) – Hurricane Frank reaches its peak intensity of . ;August 24 *8:00 a.m. HST (18:00 UTC) – Tropical Depression Estelle degenerates into a remnant low. *11:00 p.m. PDT (06:00 UTC August 25) – Hurricane Frank weakens into a tropical storm. ;August 25 *5:00 p.m. PDT (00:00 UTC August 26) – Tropical Storm Frank weakens into a tropical depression. *11:00 p.m. PDT (06:00 UTC August 26) – Tropical Depression Frank degenerates into a remnant low. ;August 26 *5:00 a.m. PDT (12:00 UTC) – Tropical Depression Ten-E forms about south-southeast of the southern tip of Baja California. *11:00 a.m. PDT (18:00 UTC) – Tropical Depression Nine-E degenerates into a remnant low. *11:00 a.m. PDT (18:00 UTC) – Tropical Depression Ten-E strengthens into a tropical storm and is named Georgette. ;August 27 *5:00 a.m. PDT (12:00 UTC) – Tropical Storm Georgette reaches its peak intensity of 65 mph (100 km/h). ;August 29 *11:00 p.m. PDT (06:00 UTC August 30) – Tropical Storm Georgette weakens into a tropical depression. ;August 30 Howard 2004 track

*5:00 a.m. PDT (12:00 UTC) – Tropical Depression Eleven-E forms about to the southwest of

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, Mexico. *11:00 a.m. PDT (18:00 UTC) – Tropical Depression Georgette degenerates into a remnant low. *5:00 p.m. PDT (00:00 UTC August 31) – Tropical Depression Eleven-E intensifies into a tropical storm and is named Howard. ;August 31 *11:00 p.m. PDT (06:00 UTC September 1) – Tropical Storm Howard strengthens into a Category 1 hurricane.

September

;September 1 *11:00 p.m. PDT (06:00 UTC September 2) – Hurricane Howard rapidly intensifies and reaches Category 3 intensity. ;September 2 *5:00 a.m. PDT (12:00 UTC) – Hurricane Howard reaches Category 4 intensity. At the same time, it reaches its peak intensity of 140 mph (230 km/h). *11:00 p.m. PDT (06:00 UTC September 3) – Hurricane Howard weakens into Category 3 intensity. ;September 3 *5:00 a.m. PDT (12:00 UTC) – Hurricane Howard weakens to Category 2 intensity. *11:00 a.m. PDT (18:00 UTC) – Hurricane Howard weakens to Category 1 intensity. ;September 4 *5:00 a.m. PDT (12:00 UTC) – Hurricane Howard weakens into a tropical storm. *11:00 p.m. PDT (06:00 UTC September 5) – Tropical Storm Howard weakens into a tropical depression. ;September 5 *11:00 a.m. PDT (18:00 UTC) – Tropical Depression Howard degenerates into a remnant low. ;September 7 Isis 2004 track

*11:00 p.m. PDT (06:00 UTC September 8) – Tropical Depression Twelve-E forms about south of Cabo San Lucas. ;September 8 *11:00 a.m. PDT (18:00 UTC) – Tropical Depression Twelve-E becomes a tropical storm and is named Isis. ;September 10 *5:00 a.m. PDT (12:00 UTC) – Tropical Storm Isis weakens into a tropical depression. *11:00 a.m. PDT (18:00 UTC) – Tropical Depression Thirteen-E forms about south-southeast of Salina Cruz, Mexico. ;September 11 *5:00 a.m. PDT (12:00 UTC) – Tropical Depression Thirteen-E becomes a tropical storm and is named Javier. *5:00 p.m. PDT (00:00 UTC September 12) – Tropical Depression Isis restrengthens into a tropical storm. ;September 12 *11:00 a.m. PDT (18:00 UTC) – Tropical Storm Javier strengthens into a Category 1 hurricane. *11:00 p.m. PDT (06:00 UTC September 13) – Hurricane Javier reaches Category 2 intensity. ;September 13 Javier 2004-09-13 2040Z

*5:00 a.m. PDT (12:00 UTC) – Hurricane Javier reaches Category 3 intensity. *11:00 a.m. PDT (18:00 UTC) – Hurricane Javier reaches Category 4 intensity. *5:00 p.m. PDT (00:00 UTC September 14) – Hurricane Javier reaches its peak intensity of 150 mph (240 km/h), making it the strongest storm of the season. At this time, it is located south-southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico. ;September 15 *5:00 a.m. PDT (12:00 UTC) – Tropical Storm Isis strengthens into a Category 1 hurricane. At the same time, it reaches its peak intensity of , located west of Cabo San Lucas. *11:00 a.m. PDT (18:00 UTC) – Hurricane Isis weakens back into a tropical storm as the eye collapses. *5:00 p.m. PDT (00:00 UTC September 16) – Hurricane Javier weakens to Category 3 intensity. ;September 16 *5:00 a.m. PDT (12:00 UTC) – Tropical Storm Isis weakens into a tropical depression. *11:00 a.m. PDT (18:00 UTC) – Tropical Depression Isis degenerates into a remnant low. ;September 17 *5:00 a.m. PDT (12:00 UTC) – Hurricane Javier weakens to Category 2 intensity. *5:00 p.m. PDT (00:00 UTC September 18) – Hurricane Javier weakens to Category 1 intensity. ;September 18 *5:00 a.m. PDT (12:00 UTC) – Hurricane Javier weakens into a tropical storm. *5:00 p.m. PDT (00:00 UTC September 19) – Tropical Storm Javier weakens into a tropical depression. ;September 19 *4:00 a.m. PDT (11:00 UTC) – Tropical Depression Javier makes landfall on the west coast of Baja California. *11:00 a.m. PDT (18:00 UTC) – Tropical Depression Javier degenerates into a remnant low.

October

;October 4 *11:00 a.m. PDT (18:00 UTC) – Tropical Depression Fourteen-E forms about to the southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico. *11:00 p.m. PDT (06:00 UTC October 5) – Tropical Depression Fourteen-E strengthens into a tropical storm and is named Kay. ;October 5 *5:00 a.m. PDT (12:00 UTC) – Tropical Storm Kay reaches its peak intensity of . *11:00 a.m. PDT (18:00 UTC) – Tropical Storm Kay weakens into a tropical depression. ;October 6 *5:00 a.m. PDT (12:00 UTC) – Tropical Depression Kay weakens into a remnant low. ;October 11 Lester 2004 track

*11:00 a.m. PDT (18:00 UTC) – Tropical Depression Fifteen-E forms about south of Puerto Escondido, Mexico. ;October 12 *11:00 a.m. PDT (18:00 UTC) – Tropical Depression Fifteen-E strengthens into a tropical storm and is named Lester. *5:00 p.m. PDT (00:00 UTC October 13) – Tropical Storm Lester reaches its peak intensity of . ;October 13 *5:00 a.m. PDT (12:00 UTC) – Tropical Storm Lester weakens into a tropical depression. *11:00 a.m. PDT (18:00 UTC) – Tropical Depression Lester dissipates. ;October 24 *5:00 p.m. PDT (00:00 UTC October 25) – Tropical Depression Sixteen-E forms about south-southeast of the southern tip of Baja California. *11:00 p.m. PDT (06:00 UTC October 25) – Tropical Depression Sixteen-E reaches its peak intensity of . ;October 26 *3:00 a.m. PDT (10:00 UTC) – Tropical Depression Sixteen-E makes landfall on Sinaloa state in Mexico. *11:00 a.m. PDT (18:00 UTC) – Tropical Depression Sixteen-E dissipates over land.

November

;November 30 *The 2004 Pacific hurricane season officially ends.

Notes

References

External links

National Hurricane CenterCentral Pacific Hurricane Center
{{DEFAULTSORT:Timeline of the 2004 Pacific hurricane season * Pacific hurricane meteorological timelines Articles which contain graphical timelines