Hurricane Darby strengthens in Eastern Pacific; Cool waters, upper-level winds likely to protect Hawaii
Darby is the fourth named cyclone to form in the Eastern Pacific and forecast to strengthen.
Darby strengthened Sunday into a hurricane in the Eastern Pacific. Just Saturday Darby formed into tropical storm.
Hurricane Darby has maximum sustained winds around 75 mph and is moving westward at 17 mph. This is the fourth eastern North Pacific hurricane of the season.
The hurricane continues to strengthen as the storm moves over warmer sea surface temperatures. The National Hurricane Center forecasts the compact hurricane to reach Category 3 Tuesday.
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On the current projection, Darby will only be a threat to marine interests over the next week.
The cyclone is expected to start gaining latitude by midweek, which will have critical implications for the cyclone’s future and how close the system will venture to Hawaii.
A more northern track in the Eastern and Central Pacific means the cyclone will approach waters that are too cool to sustain tropical activity and upper level winds, known as shear, that will be not be conducive for strengthening.
Forecasters expect Darby to start feeling the effects of the more hostile environment by Wednesday, and the system could weaken back into a tropical storm by Thursday over cooler waters.
The cyclone is expected to still be about 900 miles east of Hawaii by the end of the workweek.
Forecast models show a continued deterioration of the system’s structure and organization beyond the forecast cone.
The cooler than average waters in parts of the Central Pacific and the increased wind shear are classic products of a La Niña that is in control of weather patterns.
Patches of blue represent water temperatures that are below normal. Water temperatures that are above normal are in orange and red. (NOAA)
According to recent satellite data, a large part of the real estate ahead of the cyclone has water temperatures in the mid to upper 70s, which is considered cool for tropical activity.
The National Weather Service says tropical cyclones generally need water temperatures above 80 °F to form.
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Hawaii has a history with the "Darby" name
If you have heard the name "Darby" associated with hurricanes before, your mind is not playing tricks on you.
The World Meteorological Organization reuses cyclone names every six years, if they don't meet the threshold for retirement.
"Darby" has been used to name tropical cyclones in the Eastern Pacific for decades, but during its last showing in 2016, the system impacted Hawaii.
Ocean temperatures and atmospheric conditions are quite different this year than six year ago, when the tropical storm impacted the islands in late July.
Tropical Storm Darby made landfall on the Big Island on July 23 with winds of around 40 mph.
Hurricane Darby weakened into a tropical storm before impacting Hawaii in July 2016. (NOAA)
The rare, landfalling tropical cyclone produced nearly a foot of rain, in higher elevations, that caused flash flooding.
According to NHC data, there have only been 16 landfalling cyclones in the Aloha State, many of which took place during or around El Niño weather patterns, when water temperatures are warmer, and there is less shear in parts of the Pacific.
Only 16 tropical cyclones have made landfall in Hawaii in recent memory. (National Hurricane Center)
There were no reported fatalities on the islands and most impacts were considered to be minimal.
Meteorologists say warmer than average water temperatures in 2016 and periods of reduced shear likely helped "Darby" stay intact longer and helped keep the system classified as a tropical storm as it impacted the Big Island.
Water temperature anomalies in 2016 shower warmer stretches of the Pacific than normal. (NOAA)
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Eastern Pacific keeps producing
The Eastern Pacific is running ahead of what is considered to be an average season.
Typically, the fourth named storm doesn’t form until July 15, and that generally is the same date when the season’s second hurricane is christened.
The Eastern Pacific has already seen five named storms and two hurricanes.
The apparent busier than average year is thanks in part to Bonnie, which formed in the Atlantic basin and crossed over into the Pacific.
Because of the cross-over, the hurricane season in the Eastern Pacific will be known for having two "B" named storms.
The next storm name will be "Estelle."
The hurricane season in the Eastern Pacific runs through November 30.
A table showing an alphabetical list of the 2022 Eastern Pacific tropical cyclone names as selected by the World Meteorological Organization. The official Eastern Pacific hurricane season runs from May 15 through Nov. 30. (FOX Weather)