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List of Pacific hurricane records
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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This is a list of notable Pacific hurricanes, subdivided by reason for notability. Notability means that it has met some criterion or achieved some statistic, or is part of a top ten for some superlative. It includes lists and rankings of Pacific hurricanes by different characteristics and impacts.
 | This article's factual accuracy may be compromised due to out-of-date information. (January 2013) |
Characteristics include extremes of location, such as the northernmost or most equator-ward formation or position of a tropical cyclone. Other characteristics include its central pressure, windspeed, category on the Saffir–Simpson scale, cyclogenesis outside of a normal hurricane season's timeframe, or storms that remain unnamed despite forming after tropical cyclone naming began in 1960. Another characteristic is how long a system lasted from formation to dissipation. These include the cost of damage, the number of casualties, as well as meteorological statistics such as rainfall point maximum, wind speed, and minimum pressure.
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Impact
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Retired names
The following names have been retired in the East Pacific (in chronological order): Hazel, Adele, Fico, Knut, Iva, Fefa, Ismael, Pauline, Adolph, Israel, Kenna, Alma, Manuel, Odile, Isis, Patricia,[1] Dora, Otis,[2] and John.
In addition, the following names have been retired in the Central Pacific (in chronological order): Iwa, Iniki, Paka, and Ioke.[1]
From the lists above, the names Hazel and Adele were retired for unclear reasons.[3] Also, the names Adolph, Israel, and Isis were retired because of political considerations.[1] In particular, the name Isis was pre-emptively removed in 2015 from the list of names for 2016 after being deemed inappropriate because of the eponymous militant group.[4]
Historically significant tropical cyclones, pre 1960
Deadliest tropical cyclones
Costliest tropical cyclones
Tropical cyclones listed here are listed with the value from the source providing the highest value. Due to source variation and inconsistency, some sources may state damage totals lower than what is listed.
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Seasonal activity and records
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In the Central Pacific Hurricane Center's (CPHC) area of responsibility (AOR), the season with the most tropical cyclones is the 2015 season with 16 cyclones forming in or entering the region. A season without cyclones has happened a few times since 1966, most recently in 1979.[41]
Highest
Lowest
Before 1971 and especially 1966, data in this basin is extremely unreliable. The geostationary satellite era began in 1966,[42] and that year is often considered the first year of reliable tropical records.[43] Intensity estimates are most reliable starting in the 1971 season. A few years later, the Dvorak technique came into use. Those two factors make intensity estimates more reliable starting in that year.[43] For these reasons, seasons prior to 1971 are not included.
Earliest storm formation by number
Naming history
Naming of tropical cyclones in the eastern north Pacific began in the 1960 season. That year, four lists of names were created. The plan was to proceed in a manner similar to that of the western Pacific; that is, the name of the first storm in one season would be the next unused one from the same list, and when the bottom of one list was reached the next list was started. This scheme was abandoned in 1965 and next year, the lists started being recycled on a four-year rotation, starting with the A name each year.[46] That same general scheme remains in use today, although the names and lists are different. On average, the eastern north Pacific sees about sixteen named storms per year.[47]
Named storms per month
Specific seasonal data in the Eastern Pacific basin was first compiled in 1949.[48] Therefore, seasons before 1949 are excluded from the "Most named" column.
Also, before 1971 and especially 1966, data in this basin is extremely unreliable. The geostationary satellite era began in 1966,[42] and that year is often considered the first year of reliable tropical records.[43] Intensity estimates are more reliable starting in the 1971 season. A few years later, the Dvorak technique came into use. Those two make intensity estimates more reliable starting in that year.[43] For these reasons, seasons before 1971 are not included in the "Fewest named" column.
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Off-season storms
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The Pacific hurricane season runs from May 15 to November 30.[49] Only systems that develop or enter during the off-season are included. The earliest off-season storm is Pali in 2016 whilst the latest off-season storm was Nine-C during 2015.
†Entered the basin on this date
Unnamed storms
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Tropical cyclones have received official names in the Eastern and Central Pacific beginning in 1960. Since then, 6 tropical storms or hurricanes have formed that did not receive a storm name. (Note: The "2006 Central Pacific cyclone" is excluded, as its status has never been officially determined.)
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Strength
Category 5
Since 1959, 20 Pacific hurricanes have attained Category 5 intensity. The only one to make landfall while at this intensity was Otis in 2023.[48]
Category 4
Since 1900, 141 Pacific hurricanes have attained Category 4 intensity, of which five made landfall at that strength.[48]
Category 3
Since 1970, 86 Pacific hurricanes have attained Category 3 intensity, of which three made landfall at that strength.[48]
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Duration records
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This lists all Pacific hurricanes that existed as tropical cyclones while in the Pacific Ocean east of the dateline for more than two weeks continuously. Hurricanes John and Dora spent some time in the west Pacific before dissipating. John spent eleven days west of the dateline; if that time was included John would have existed for a total of 30 days and 18 hours, while including Dora's time in the west Pacific would mean that it existed for 18 days.[48] One Atlantic hurricane, Hurricane Joan, crossed into this basin and was renamed Miriam,[62] giving it a total lifespan of 22 days,[63] but not all of that was in the Pacific. 1993's Greg formed from the remnants of Tropical Storm Bret (1993).[62] Its time as an Atlantic system is excluded.
All of these systems except Trudy, Olaf, and Connie existed in both the east and central Pacific, and all except Olaf were hurricanes. Hurricane Trudy of 1990 is thus the longest lived eastern Pacific hurricane to stay in the eastern Pacific. Tropical Storm Olaf of 1997 is hence the longest-lived eastern Pacific tropical cyclone not to reach hurricane intensity.[48]
No known tropical cyclone forming in the central north Pacific lasted for longer than 14 days without crossing into another basin.[48] The tropical cyclone forming in the central Pacific that spent the most time there was Hurricane Ana (2014) at 12.75 days from formation to extratropical transition.[64][65]
Before the weather satellite era began, the lifespans of many Pacific hurricanes may be underestimated.[43]
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Crossover storms
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From Atlantic to Eastern Pacific
This includes only systems which stayed a tropical cyclone during the passage or that maintained a circulation during the crossover.
It used to be that when a Pacific named storm crossed North America and made it to the Atlantic (or vice versa), it would receive the next name on the respective basin's list. However, in 2000 this policy was changed so that a tropical cyclone will keep its name if it remains a tropical cyclone during the entire passage. Only if it dissipates and then re-forms does it get renamed.[80]
From Eastern Pacific to Atlantic
This includes only systems which stayed a tropical cyclone during the passage or that maintained a circulation during the crossover.
From Eastern Pacific to Western Pacific
Neither eastern Pacific tropical cyclones passing 140°W, nor central Pacific tropical cyclones crossing the dateline, are notable events. However, very few eastern Pacific proper cyclones that enter the central Pacific make it to the dateline.
† System ceased to be a tropical cyclone and regenerated at least once during its life span.
‡ System formed in the eastern Pacific, but was not named until it crossed into the central Pacific.
In addition, Hurricane Jimena of 2003 is recognized per NHC, CPHC and JTWC as a storm that existed in all three areas of responsibility, but isn't recognized by the JMA as an official western Pacific tropical cyclone.[93][94][95]
From Western Pacific to Central Pacific
Tropical cyclones crossing from the western Pacific to the central Pacific are fairly rare, and this has happened only ten times. Of those ten times, six of them were storms which crossed the dateline twice; from the western to the central pacific and back (or vice versa). No tropical cyclone from the western Pacific has ever traveled east of 140°W.
† System crossed the dateline twice.
* Hurricane/Typhoon John formed in the eastern Pacific.
From Central Pacific to Eastern Pacific
Tropical cyclones crossing from the eastern Pacific to the central Pacific are routine; ones going the other way are not. That event has happened four times.
† System crossed 140°W more than once.
In addition to these, an unofficial cyclone formed on October 30, 2006 in the central Pacific subtropics. It eventually developed an eye-like structure.[106] Its track data indicates that it crossed from the central to the east Pacific because it formed at longitude 149°W and dissipated at 135°W.[107] NASA, which is not a meteorological organization, called this system a subtropical cyclone, and the Naval Research Laboratory Monterey had enough interest in it to call it 91C.[106] The system has also been called extratropical.[108] This cyclone is unofficial because it is not included in the seasonal reports of either Regional Specialized Meteorological Center.[109][110]
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Intensity records
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Ten most intense
Per lowest central pressure
The apparent increase in recent seasons is spurious; it is due to better estimation and measurement, not an increase in intense storms. That is, until 1988, Pacific hurricanes generally did not have their central pressures measured or estimated from satellite imagery.
* Estimated from satellite imagery
‡ Measured and adjusted
† Measured
~ Pressure while East of the International Date Line
Per highest sustained winds
Strongest storm in each month
Intensity is measured solely by central pressure unless the pressure is not known, in which case intensity is measured by maximum sustained winds.
† This tropical cyclone is the strongest to form in its month by virtue of its being the only known system.
Strongest landfalling storms
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Unusual landfall locations
California
- After October or before June, 1854 – A system considered a tropical cyclone makes landfall just north of the Golden Gate.[81]
- October 2, 1858 – A hurricane makes a direct hit on Southern California before dissipating. The hurricane may or may not have made landfall in San Diego County, due to uncertainty in the track reconstruction. San Diego experienced hurricane-force winds, with torrential rainfall recorded all across Southern California.
- After October or before June, 1859 – A system considered a tropical cyclone makes landfall between Cape Mendocino and San Francisco Bay.[81]
- September 25, 1939 – The 1939 California tropical storm makes landfall in San Pedro, California, killing 45[117] to 93 people.[118]
- September 6, 1972 – Tropical Depression Hyacinth makes landfall.[119]
- September 6, 1978 – Tropical Depression Norman makes landfall.[120]
Hawaii
- August 9, 1871 - Indigenous sources suggest that a Category 3 hurricane struck the Big Island and Maui.[6]
- August 7, 1958 – A tropical storm makes landfall on the Big Island of Hawaii.[121]
- August 7, 1959 – Hurricane Dot makes landfall on Kauai.[122]
- October 20, 1983 – Tropical Depression Raymond makes landfall on Molokai, Oahu, and Kauai.[123]
- August 3, 1988 – Tropical Depression Gilma makes landfall on Maui and Molokai.[124]
- September 11, 1992 – Hurricane Iniki makes landfall on Kauai, killing six throughout the islands.[57]
- September 14, 1992 – Tropical Depression Orlene makes landfall on the Big Island.[57]
- July 24, 1993 – Tropical Depression Eugene makes landfall on the Big Island of Hawaii.[125]
- August 8, 2014 – Tropical Storm Iselle makes landfall on the Big Island of Hawaii, killing one on Kauai.[126]
- July 24, 2016 – Tropical Storm Darby makes landfall on the Big Island of Hawaii.[127]
- September 12, 2018 – Tropical Storm Olivia makes landfall on Maui and Lanai.[128]
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Wettest tropical cyclones
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All of these values are point maxima.
Mexico
Hawaii
Continental United States
Overall
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Worldwide cyclone records set by Pacific storms
- Highest official wind speed ever recorded in a tropical cyclone: Hurricane Patricia with maximum sustained winds of 215 mph (345 km/h).[160]
- Fastest intensification (1-minute sustained surface winds): Hurricane Patricia 55 m/s (120 mph, 105 kt, 195 km/h), from 40 m/s (85 mph, 75 kt, 140 km/h) to 95 m/s (205 mph, 180 kt, 335 km/h) in under 24 h[161]
- Farthest-travelling tropical cyclone: Hurricane John travelled for 13,180 km.[162][163]
- Tropical cyclone at Category 4 or 5 intensity on the Saffir–Simpson scale for the longest: Hurricane Ioke was at that intensity for 198 consecutive hours.[109]
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See also
Notes
- Both Hurricane Ignacio in 1985 and Hurricane Iselle in 1990, the 9th named storm of their seasons, became tropical storms on July 21. However, Ignacio did so at 0600 UTC, whereas Iselle did so at 1200 UTC.
- Both Pauline and Skip became tropical storms at 0000 UTC on August 31, 1985.
- Although Seymour and Tina both became tropical storms on September 18, 1992, Seymour did so at 0000 UTC, whereas Tina did so at 1800 UTC.
References
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