Hurricane Darby (1992) - Meteorological History

Meteorological History

The origins of Darby can be traced back to a tropical wave that emerged off the African 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.