The 2004 Pacific hurricane season consisted of the events that occurred in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation over the Pacific Ocean north of the equator and east of the International Date Line. The official bounds of each Pacific hurricane season are dates that conventionally delineate the period each year during which tropical cyclones tend to form in the basin according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC), beginning on May 15 in the Eastern Pacific proper (east of 140°W) and June 1 in the Central Pacific (140°W to the International Date Line), and ending on November 30 in both areas. However, tropical cyclogenesis is possible at any time of year. The first tropical cyclone of the season, Tropical Storm Agatha, developed on May 22; the final, Tropical Depression , dissipated on October 26.
Activity during the 2004 season was below average.
Impacts on land were unusually light during the season, largely on account of the aforementioned ridge steering the vast majority of tropical cyclones out to sea. No systems caused any confirmed fatalities, Javier and made landfall as tropical depressions in northwestern Mexico, where they caused minor flooding; also generated locally strong winds and a possible tornado. The remnants of both systems produced heavy rainfall in portions of the western United States. Hurricane Howard in early September washed out roads in western portions of the Baja California peninsula and prompted water rescues in California due to high surf. In mid-October, Tropical Storm Lester caused rainfall of up to in southern Mexico when it passed close to the coast.
Prior to 2015, two time zones were utilized in the Eastern Pacific basin: Pacific east of 140°W, and Hawaii−Aleutian from 140°W to the International Date Line. For convenience, each event is listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) first, using the 24-hour clock (where 00:00 = midnight UTC), with the respective local time included in parentheses. Figures for maximum sustained winds and position estimates are rounded to the nearest five units (knots, miles, or kilometers) and averaged over one minute, following National Hurricane Center practice. Direct wind observations are rounded to the nearest whole number. Atmospheric pressures are listed to the nearest millibar and nearest hundredth of an inch of mercury. This timeline documents the formation of tropical cyclones as well as the strengthening, weakening, landfalls, extratropical transitions, and dissipations during the season. It also includes information that was not released while the storm was active, meaning that data from post-storm reviews by the National Hurricane Center and the Central Pacific Hurricane Center is included.
Timeline of events
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May
thumb|Satellite image of Tropical Storm Agatha just before reaching peak intensity late on May 22|alt=A photograph of a tropical storm off the Pacific coast of Mexico. The cloud pattern is tightly wound and well-organized, and there is a dimple near the center of the storm, indicating that it was in the process of developing an eye-like feature. A band of clouds, oriented from west-southwest to east-northeast, can be seen to the south.
May 15
- The 2004 Eastern Pacific hurricane season officially begins.
- 12:00 UTC (5:00 a.m. PDT) at Tropical Depression strengthens into Tropical Storm Agatha about 480 mi (770 km) south of Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur.
July 3
- 00:00 UTC (5:00 p.m. PDT, July 2) at Tropical Depression attains peak winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of about 805 mi (1,295 km) west-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.
- 18:00 UTC (11:00 a.m. PDT) at The tropical depression strengthens into Tropical Storm Blas about 545 mi (880 km) south-southeast of Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur.
- 12:00 UTC (5:00 a.m. PDT) at The tropical depression strengthens into Tropical Storm Celia about 650 mi (1,045 km) south-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.
July 27
- 00:00 UTC (5:00 p.m. PDT, July 26) at Tropical Depression strengthens into Tropical Storm Darby about 805 mi (1,295 km) south-southwest of Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur.
- 18:00 UTC (11:00 a.m. PDT) at Hurricane Darby weakens to Category 2 intensity about 1,230 mi (1,985 km) west-southwest of Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur.
- 12:00 UTC (2:00 a.m. HST) at Tropical Depression Darby degenerates into a remnant low about 920 mi (1,480 km) east of Honolulu, Hawaii.
