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Hurricane Darby (1992)
Encyclopedia
Hurricane Darby was the fourth named storm of the 1992 Pacific hurricane season
. The origins of Darby were from a tropical wave which moved off the coast of Africa
on June 19. It traversed the Atlantic, and moved across Mexico
, where it re-emerged in the Pacific on June 29 and became a tropical depression on July 2, a tropical storm on July 5, and a hurricane on July 6. The storm remained well offshore, although it killed three people.
n coast on June 19. The wave tracked westward across the Atlantic Ocean
without further development, eventually passing over the Caribbean Sea
and tracked over Mexico
. The wave reached in the Pacific on June 29, as its organization began to improve. The system was designated Tropical Depression 5-E on July 2 while moving southwest as it continued to organize. On July 4, the depression attained tropical storm status and was named "Darby". The tropical storm intensified to hurricane status as it brushed by the southern tip of Baja California
. Although the storm remained well offshore, it contained a large circulation which produced tropical storm force winds extending up to 300 miles (480 km) away from the center.
As Darby passed by, Socorro Island
recorded a minimum pressure of 974 hPa.
The storm then reached its peak intensity of 968 hPa before beginning a weakening trend due to colder waters.
the huricane, now as a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
, was moving to the northwest near 20 mph (32 km/h).
Darby continued on a northwest track as it moved away from the Baja California
on July 6.
As the storm moved over cooler waters, deep convection decreased, and Darby was downgraded to a tropical storm on July 7.
Darby, now losing tropical characteristics, was downgraded to a tropical depression on July 9.
Darby soon dissipated, and moved into the southwest United States producing light rainfall.
By July 10, Darby had lost all of its tropical characteristics. As the remnant low pressure meandered across the southwest United States it moved north, and tracked offshore of California
, where it persisted as a remnant low and produced shower activity to parts of California.
.
The United States Coast Guard
reported two separate boating accidents in Los Angeles
, which were directly related to Darby. The first was a boat that experienced engine failure off the California
coast.
The seven people on board abandoned the boat, and were rescued. The second report was a boat that reported to be taking on water off the coast of California
, on July 8. A news source also reported that a tuna fishing boat experienced technical difficulties, but this is not official.
The effects from Darby were mostly minor, with three deaths reported by a Mexican newspaper. Four fishermen were reported missing, and onshore, 180 small stores were damaged along the Acapulco
city port. Rainfall was mainly light, although some locations picked up 5 inches (125 mm). In California, Darby's remnants produced overcast skies around the Edwards Air Force Base
. This caused the landing of the Space Shuttle Columbia
to be postponed for a day at the conclusion of STS-50
, as well as the landing happening at Kennedy Space Center
. Darby produced high humidity, fog, and heavy rain around Los Angeles. A 0.5 in (12.7 mm) fell in San Diego, setting daily records.
1992 Pacific hurricane season
The 1992 Pacific hurricane season was the most active Pacific hurricane season on record. The most notable storm was Hurricane Iniki, which caused billions of dollars of damage to the Hawaiian Islands. Hurricanes Lester, Virgil, Winifred, and Orlene also made landfall and killed several people, but...
. The origins of Darby were from a tropical wave which moved off the coast of Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
on June 19. It traversed the Atlantic, and moved across Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, where it re-emerged in the Pacific on June 29 and became a tropical depression on July 2, a tropical storm on July 5, and a hurricane on July 6. The storm remained well offshore, although it killed three people.
Meteorological history
The origins of Darby can be traced back to a tropical wave that emerged off the AfricaAfrica
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n coast on June 19. The wave tracked westward across the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
without further development, eventually passing over the Caribbean Sea
Caribbean Sea
The Caribbean Sea is a sea of the Atlantic Ocean located in the tropics of the Western hemisphere. It is bounded by Mexico and Central America to the west and southwest, to the north by the Greater Antilles, and to the east by the Lesser Antilles....
and tracked over Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. The wave reached in the Pacific on June 29, as its organization began to improve. The system was designated Tropical Depression 5-E on July 2 while moving southwest as it continued to organize. On July 4, the depression attained tropical storm status and was named "Darby". The tropical storm intensified to hurricane status as it brushed by the southern tip of 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...
. Although the storm remained well offshore, it contained a large circulation which produced tropical storm force winds extending up to 300 miles (480 km) away from the center.
As Darby passed by, Socorro Island
Socorro Island
Socorro Island is a small volcanic island in the Revillagigedo Islands, a Mexican possession lying some 600 kilometers off the country's western coast at 18°48'N, 110°59'W. The size is 16.5 by 11.5 km, with an area of 132 km².- Geology :...
recorded a minimum pressure of 974 hPa.
The storm then reached its peak intensity of 968 hPa before beginning a weakening trend due to colder waters.
the huricane, now as a Category 2 hurricane 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...
, was moving to the northwest near 20 mph (32 km/h).
Darby continued on a northwest track as it moved away from the 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...
on July 6.
As the storm moved over cooler waters, deep convection decreased, and Darby was downgraded to a tropical storm on July 7.
Darby, now losing tropical characteristics, was downgraded to a tropical depression on July 9.
Darby soon dissipated, and moved into the southwest United States producing light rainfall.
By July 10, Darby had lost all of its tropical characteristics. As the remnant low pressure meandered across the southwest United States it moved north, and tracked offshore of 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...
, where it persisted as a remnant low and produced shower activity to parts of California.
Preparations and Impact
Although Darby remained well offshore, the large size of the hurricane's circulation prompted the government of Mexico to issue tropical storm warnings for the southern tip of Baja CaliforniaBaja 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...
.
The United States Coast Guard
Coast guard
A coast guard or coastguard is a national organization responsible for various services at sea. However the term implies widely different responsibilities in different countries, from being a heavily armed military force with customs and security duties to being a volunteer organization tasked with...
reported two separate boating accidents in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, which were directly related to Darby. The first was a boat that experienced engine failure off 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...
coast.
The seven people on board abandoned the boat, and were rescued. The second report was a boat that reported to be taking on water off the coast of 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...
, on July 8. A news source also reported that a tuna fishing boat experienced technical difficulties, but this is not official.
The effects from Darby were mostly minor, with three deaths reported by a Mexican newspaper. Four fishermen were reported missing, and onshore, 180 small stores were damaged along 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...
city port. Rainfall was mainly light, although some locations picked up 5 inches (125 mm). In California, Darby's remnants produced overcast skies around the Edwards Air Force Base
Edwards Air Force Base
Edwards Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located on the border of Kern County, Los Angeles County, and San Bernardino County, California, in the Antelope Valley. It is southwest of the central business district of North Edwards, California and due east of Rosamond.It is named in...
. This caused the landing of the Space Shuttle Columbia
Space Shuttle Columbia
Space Shuttle Columbia was the first spaceworthy Space Shuttle in NASA's orbital fleet. First launched on the STS-1 mission, the first of the Space Shuttle program, it completed 27 missions before being destroyed during re-entry on February 1, 2003 near the end of its 28th, STS-107. All seven crew...
to be postponed for a day at the conclusion of STS-50
STS-50
-Backup crew:-Mission parameters:*Mass:**Orbiter landing with payload: **Payload: *Perigee: *Apogee: *Inclination: 28.5°*Period: 90.6 min- Mission highlights:...
, as well as the landing happening at Kennedy Space Center
Kennedy Space Center
The John F. Kennedy Space Center is the NASA installation that has been the launch site for every United States human space flight since 1968. Although such flights are currently on hiatus, KSC continues to manage and operate unmanned rocket launch facilities for America's civilian space program...
. Darby produced high humidity, fog, and heavy rain around Los Angeles. A 0.5 in (12.7 mm) fell in San Diego, setting daily records.
See also
- 1992 Pacific hurricane season1992 Pacific hurricane seasonThe 1992 Pacific hurricane season was the most active Pacific hurricane season on record. The most notable storm was Hurricane Iniki, which caused billions of dollars of damage to the Hawaiian Islands. Hurricanes Lester, Virgil, Winifred, and Orlene also made landfall and killed several people, but...
- List of California hurricanes