2004 East Pacific hurricane season
May 15, 2004 – Nov 30, 2004 · Season ended
The 2004 East Pacific hurricane season produced 12 named storms, 6 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 15.6, 8.4 and 4.4. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 71, 56% of the average.
2004 season at a glance
- Named storms: 12 (1991–2020 average 15.6).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 6 (average 8.4).
- Major, 96 kt+: 3 (average 4.4).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 71.2, 56% of the 127 average.
- Named-storm days: 42.0, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Agatha, May 22.
- First hurricane: Celia, July 22.
- First major storm: Darby, July 29.
- Last storm to dissipate: Tropical Depression 16E, October 26.
- All systems tracked: 16, including 4 that stayed below tropical-storm strength.
Counts use 1-minute best-track winds: named storms reached 34 kt (39 mph), the next column 64 kt (74 mph) and major storms 96 kt (111 mph).
Every storm of the 2004 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agatha | – | TS | 997 mb | — |
| TD 2E | – | TD | 1007 mb | — |
| Blas | – | TS | 991 mb | — |
| Celia | – | C1 | 981 mb | — |
| Darby | – | C3 | 957 mb | — |
| TD 6E | – | TD | 1008 mb | — |
| Estelle | – | TS | 989 mb | — |
| Frank | – | C1 | 979 mb | — |
| TD 9E | – | TD | 1005 mb | — |
| Georgette | – | TS | 995 mb | — |
| Howard | – | C4 | 943 mb | — |
| Isis | – | C1 | 987 mb | — |
| Javier | – | C4 | 930 mb | Santa Rosalía, Mexico |
| Kay | – | TS | 1004 mb | — |
| Lester | – | TS | 1000 mb | — |
| TD 16E | – | TD | 1004 mb | Gabriel Leyva Solano, Mexico |
- Agatha: Agatha formed in the East Pacific in May 2004 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 997 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- TD 2E: This system formed in the East Pacific in July 2004 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1007 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Blas: Blas formed in the East Pacific in July 2004 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 991 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Celia: Celia formed in the East Pacific in July 2004 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 981 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Darby: Darby formed in the East Pacific in July 2004 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 957 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- TD 6E: This system formed in the East Pacific in August 2004 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 30 mph (45 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1008 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 1 day.
- Estelle: Estelle formed in the East Pacific in August 2004 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 989 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Frank: Frank formed in the East Pacific in August 2004 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 979 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- TD 9E: This system formed in the East Pacific in August 2004 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1005 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Georgette: Georgette formed in the East Pacific in August 2004 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 995 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Howard: Howard formed in the East Pacific in August 2004 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 943 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 11 days.
- Isis: Isis formed in the East Pacific in September 2004 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 987 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 13 days.
- Javier: Javier formed in the East Pacific in September 2004 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph (240 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 930 mb. It made landfall near Santa Rosalía, Mexico. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Kay: Kay formed in the East Pacific in October 2004 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1004 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Lester: Lester formed in the East Pacific in October 2004 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1000 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- TD 16E: This system formed in the East Pacific in October 2004 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1004 mb. It made landfall near Gabriel Leyva Solano, Mexico. The system was tracked for 2 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 2004
Hurricane Javier was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 150 mph (240 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 930 mb, on September 14. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
32 East Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 14 matched it. It produced 38% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 2004
2 of the season’s 16 systems made landfall, none of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
How 2004 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 39th of 47 East Pacific seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 2 other seasons), 38th for hurricanes (tied with 4 other seasons) and 43rd for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 25 named storms, in 1992, and the highest ACE is 294, in 2018.
2004 storm names
The 2004 season used 12 names: Agatha, Blas, Celia, Darby, Estelle, Frank, Georgette, Howard, Isis, Javier, Kay, Lester.
4 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.
Atlantic and East Pacific lists repeat every six years. See how storms are named.
The WMO later retired the name Isis, so it will not be used again.
2004 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 2004?
The 2004 East Pacific hurricane season had 12 named storms, 6 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes, from 16 systems tracked in all. The 1991–2020 average is 15.6 named storms, 8.4 at 64 kt or more and 4.4 major per season. The first to form was Agatha and the last was Lester.
What was the strongest storm of 2004?
Hurricane Javier. It peaked at 150 mph (240 km/h, 130 kt) with a lowest pressure of 930 mb on September 14. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 32 East Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 38% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 2004 season end?
The official season ended on November 30, 2004, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Tropical Depression 16E, dissipated on October 26. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 1 East Pacific storm since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.