Hurricane Darby (2016)

This article is about the Pacific hurricane of 2016. For other uses, see Hurricane Darby.
Hurricane Darby
Category 3 major hurricane (SSHWS/NWS)

Hurricane Darby shortly before peak intensity on July 16
Formed July 11, 2016
Dissipated July 26, 2016
Highest winds 1-minute sustained: 120 mph (195 km/h)
Lowest pressure 958 mbar (hPa); 28.29 inHg
Fatalities None
Damage Minor
Areas affected Hawaii
Part of the 2016 Pacific hurricane season

Hurricane Darby was a strong tropical cyclone which affected Hawaii as a tropical storm. The fifth named storm of the busy 2016 Pacific hurricane season, Darby originated from one of several low pressure areas that developed in the Eastern Pacific during July 2016, which developed into a tropical depression on July 11. The depression was upgraded to Tropical Storm Darby the next day. Further intensification ensued, and Darby became a hurricane on July 13. Over the next three days, Darby slowly strengthened to Category 3 status on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, becoming a major hurricane.[1] Cool waters and dry air caused Darby to weaken over the next three days, however Darby slightly strengthened as the storm neared Hawaii. Just after midnight on July 24 (2:00 PM on July 23 HST), Darby made landfall on the Big Island, and weakened into a remnant low two days later. Before and after landfall, tropical storm watches and warnings were issued for all of Hawaii, and warnings continued to remain in effect for islands further west, until the storm dissipated.

Meteorological history

Map plotting the track and intensity of the storm according to the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale

In the first two weeks of July, a series of low pressure areas formed off the coast of Mexico.[2] The fourth of these was spawned by an area of disturbed weather several hundred miles south-southeast of Acapulco, Mexico, first noted by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) on July 9.[3][4] Amid favorable conditions, convection associated with the low developed and increased in organization,[5] and a tropical depression formed on the afternoon of July 11 well southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico.[2] Despite moving over sea surface temperatures of at least 82°F (28°C), moderate northeasterly wind shear hindered development, however the depression soon obtained sufficient organization to be upgraded to a tropical storm and given the name Darby.[6] On July 13, the shear decreased, and as a result Darby began to intensify quickly, strengthening into a hurricane just 30 hours after becoming a tropical storm.[7] At that time, Darby was located about 570 miles (920 km) south-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula.[8]

Slow intensification continued thereafter, and on July 15, Darby became a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale.[9] Despite decreasing ocean temperatures, Darby intensified further to attain winds of 105 mph (165 km/h).[10] Strengthening was no longer expected as Darby moved over sea temperatures of less than 79°F (26°C), however on July 16, Darby managed to develop an annular structure. Convection became more symmetric and outer rainbands dissipated, and Darby reached peak intensity as a Category 3 hurricane with winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 958 mbar (hPa; 28.29 inHg).[1] However, twelve hours later, Darby weakened back to a Category 2 hurricane as convection deteriorated.[1] Embedded in a stable air mass and moving over increasingly cool sea surface temperatures,[11] Darby began a gradual weakening trend, degrading to a Category 1 hurricane by July 18.[1] Despite warming convection, Darby exhibited a well-defined circulation and a ragged eye feature, remaining a minimal hurricane through July 18.[12] However, Darby finally weakened to a tropical storm on July 19.[13] Darby continued to degrade as it crossed 140°W into the Central Pacific, and entered the jurisdiction of the Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC) on July 20 with winds of 60 mph (95 km/h).[14]

Just after 00:00 UTC on July 24 (2:00 p.m. HST July 23), Darby made landfall on the Big Island near the village of Pahala in the Kaʻū District, with winds of 40 mph (65 km/h).[15] This marks only the fifth time that a tropical cyclone of tropical storm intensity or higher has made landfall on one of the major islands in the state of Hawaii since record keeping began in 1949, with the others being an unnamed tropical storm in 1958, Hurricane Dot in 1959, Hurricane Iniki in 1992, and Tropical Storm Iselle in 2014.[16] Like Iselle, Darby made landfall near Pahala in the Kaʻū District. After crossing the Big Island, Darby began accelerating northwestwards while maintaining as a minimal tropical storm. On July 25, Darby weakened into a depression, and degraded into a remnant low the following day.

Preparations and impact

Tropical Storm Darby near landfall over Big Island on July 23

As Darby approached Hawaii on July 21, a tropical storm watch was issued for Hawaii County and Maui County.[17] These were modified to tropical storm warnings by noon the next day.[18][19] A tropical storm watch was issued for Oahu late on July 22 as Darby continued to move closer to Hawaii,[20] and was modified to a tropical storm warning the next morning.[21] Eventually, after Darby made landfall in Kau District in the afternoon of July 23,[15] the tropical storm warning was extended to all islands in the state of Hawaii.[22]

In advance of the storm, Governor of Hawaii David Ige declared a state of emergency, urging people to "follow emergency instructions, prepare for the storm and take steps to protect your families, employees and property".[23] Flights to and from the region were delayed or cancelled; Island Air, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, and United Airlines waived change fees for affected customers.[24] The Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association cancelled its championship due to be held on July 24.[25]

Despite not being hit by a named storms in decades, the Big Island was directly hit twice in a three-year period with Tropical Storm Iselle making landfall 23 months prior to Darby, doing so in almost the same exact location. Heavy rainfall occurred along the windward slopes within the range of 5 to 8 in (130 to 200 mm), peaking at 7.41 in (188 mm) near the Kawai Nui Marsh. Flash flooding occurred in the South Kohala, Kau, and Hamakua districts which forced the closure of numerous roads. However, Hilo, located between these heavily impacted districts, recorded a relatively modest 1.77 inches of rain on July 23 and 24. After passing over the Big Island, Darby proceeded northwestward via the Kauai Channel, while resulting in heavy rains over southern slope of Haleakala on Maui. These rains forced the closure of a local highway. Island-wide, a peak 24 hours rainfall total, 8.51 in (215 mm), was measured in Wailuaiki. In Oahu, rainfall, sometimes at rates of 3 to 4 in (76 to 102 mm) per hour, caused flash flooding in several areas within the urban core of Honolulu and along windward slopes. A stream in Kalihi overflowed a nearby bridge and also inundated several upstream properties. In all, peak storm totals on the island during the night of July 24 exceeded 7 in (180 mm) in Oahu, including 10.8 in (275 mm) in Kaneohe. Despite the widespread flooding, there was no loss of life during the passage of Tropical Storm Darby.[26]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 John P. Cangialosi (November 29, 2016). Hurricane Darby (PDF) (Report). Tropical Cyclone Report. Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  2. 1 2 John P. Cangialosi (July 11, 2016). "Tropical Depression Five-E Discussion Number 1". Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  3. ↑ John P. Cangialosi (July 9, 2016). "5-Day Tropical Weather Outlook 1100 am PDT Sat Jul 9 2016". Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  4. ↑ Robbie J. Berg (July 9, 2016). "5-Day Tropical Weather Outlook 500 pm PDT Sat Jul 9 2016". Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  5. ↑ Stacy R. Stewart (July 10, 2016). "5-Day Tropical Weather Outlook 1100 am PDT Sun Jul 10 2016". Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  6. ↑ Robbie J. Berg (July 12, 2016). "Tropical Storm Darby Discussion Number 2". Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  7. ↑ Robbie J. Berg (July 13, 2016). "Hurricane Darby Discussion Number 9". Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  8. ↑ Robbie J. Berg (July 13, 2016). "Hurricane Darby Advisory Number 9". Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  9. ↑ Robbie J. Berg (July 15, 2016). "Hurricane Darby Discussion Number 16". Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  10. ↑ Robbie J. Berg (July 15, 2016). "Hurricane Darby Discussion Number 17". Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  11. ↑ John P. Cangialosi (July 17, 2016). "Hurricane Darby Discussion Number 23". Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  12. ↑ John P. Cangialosi (July 19, 2016). "Hurricane Darby Discussion Number 31". Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  13. ↑ David P. Roberts (July 19, 2016). "Tropical Storm Darby Discussion Number 32". Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  14. ↑ Michael J. Brennan (July 20, 2016). "Tropical Storm Darby Discussion Number 36". Miami, Florida: National Hurricane Center. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  15. 1 2 "Tropical Storm Darby Discussion Number 50". Honolulu, Hawaii: Central Pacific Hurricane Center. July 24, 2016. Retrieved July 24, 2016.
  16. ↑ Masters, Jeff. "Darby Falling Apart as it Makes Landfall on Hawaii's Big Island". Weather Underground. Weather Underground. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
  17. ↑ "Tropical Storm Darby Advisory Number 41". Honolulu, Hawaii: Central Pacific Hurricane Center. July 21, 2016. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  18. ↑ "Tropical Storm Darby Advisory Number 43". Honolulu, Hawaii: Central Pacific Hurricane Center. July 21, 2016. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  19. ↑ "Tropical Storm Darby Advisory Number 45". Honolulu, Hawaii: Central Pacific Hurricane Center. July 22, 2016. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  20. ↑ "Tropical Storm Darby Advisory Number 46". Honolulu, Hawaii: Central Pacific Hurricane Center. July 22, 2016. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  21. ↑ "Tropical Storm Darby Advisory Number 48". Honolulu, Hawaii: Central Pacific Hurricane Center. July 23, 2016. Retrieved July 24, 2016.
  22. ↑ "Tropical Storm Darby Advisory Number 50". Honolulu, Hawaii: Central Pacific Hurricane Center. July 23, 2016. Retrieved July 24, 2016.
  23. ↑ O'Brien, Brendan; Herskovitz, Jon (July 23, 2016). "Tropical Storm Darby nears Hawaii, emergency declared". Retrieved July 24, 2016.
  24. ↑ "Airlines to waive change fee for customers due to Tropical Storm Darby". Hawaii 24/7. July 23, 2016. Retrieved July 24, 2016.
  25. ↑ Scheuring, Ian (July 24, 2016). "Sunday's OHCRA championship cancelled as Darby nears". Hawaii News Now. Retrieved July 24, 2016.
  26. ↑ National Weather Service in Honolulu, Hawaii (August 4, 2016). July 2016 Precipitation Summary. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Report). National Weather Service. Retrieved August 7, 2016.

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