Fausto (2014)

A small tropical cyclone formed from a tropical wave in the eastern North Pacific in early July 2014. A low pressure area developed along the wave axis about 0600 UTC 6 July roughly 750 nautical miles south‑southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula. The system became a tropical depression at 1200 UTC 7 July about 950 n mi south‑southwest of Baja California and strengthened to Tropical Storm Fausto by 1800 UTC that day. Fausto moved generally westward to west‑northwestward on the south side of a subtropical ridge and lost its organized circulation, degenerating into a trough before 1200 UTC 9 July. The remnant trough continued westward within the Intertropical Convergence Zone and passed south of the Hawaiian Islands about a week later.

Fausto remained well offshore during its lifetime and did not make landfall. No tropical cyclone watches or warnings were issued for any land area.

The storm’s peak intensity was estimated at 40 knots (46 mph) with a minimum central pressure near 1004 mb, reached around 1800 UTC 7 July. Fausto never reached hurricane strength and was classified as a tropical storm at its peak.

Because Fausto stayed far from land, there were no reports of storm surge or measured coastal inundation tied to the system. Likewise, there were no reports of significant rainfall totals or flooding impacts at named cities or counties associated with Fausto.

There were no confirmed deaths, direct or indirect, and no reports of damage linked to Fausto. Post‑analysis showed Fausto likely formed about 12 hours earlier than operationally recognized; genesis was not well predicted in advance, and intensity forecasts had a high bias because the storm did not strengthen as expected, likely due to dry stable air and interaction with the surrounding tropical convergence zone.