1992 Pacific hurricane season

The 1992 Pacific hurricane season was the most active Pacific hurricane season on record, featuring 27 named storms. The season also produced the second-highest ACE value on record in the basin, only surpassed by the 2018 season. The 1992 season officially started on May 15 in the eastern Pacific, and on June 1 in the central Pacific, and lasted until November 30. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northeastern Pacific Ocean. However, tropical cyclogenesis is possible at any time of the year, as demonstrated by the development of Hurricane Ekeka on January 28, and Tropical Storm Hali two months later.

The most notable storm was Hurricane Iniki, which caused billions of dollars of damage to the Hawaiian Islands, primarily in Kauai, along with six fatalities. Hurricanes Lester, Virgil, Winifred, and Orlene also made landfall, but were significantly less destructive. Hurricane Darby and Tropical Storm Agatha brought rains and more destruction to Mexico, without making landfall. Hurricane Tina was, in addition to being the strongest storm of the year, the longest-lasting Pacific hurricane at the time.

Season summary

The Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) index for the 1992 Pacific hurricane season (Eastern Pacific and Central Pacific combined) as calculated by Colorado State University using data from the National Hurricane Center was 294.3 units, the second highest value on record for a Northeastern Pacific season. The total represents the sum of the squares of the maximum sustained wind speed (knots) for every (sub)tropical storm's intensity of over , divided by 10,000 while they are above that threshold, so storms that last a long time, as well as particularly strong hurricanes, have high ACEs; calculations are not made for tropical depressions.

Warmer than usual sea surface temperatures due to an El Niño fostered the high level of tropical activity during the year. This El Niño, though, concluded in the late Summer into Autumn in 1992. The season officially started on May 15, 1992, in the eastern Pacific, and on June 1, 1992, in the central Pacific. It ended in both basins on November 30, 1992.

During the season, twenty-seven tropical cyclones formed in the Eastern Pacific (east of longitude 140°W), and twenty-four developed further and became tropical storms. Both of these figures constitute records in the basin, as the 1992 season surpassed the season with the most tropical cyclones (1982, 26) and the season with the most named storms (1985, 22). Of these, fourteen reached hurricane strength and eight became major hurricanes—storms that reach Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale.

This season had five storms reach tropical storm intensity or higher in the month of October, the first time on record that this had happened in this basin. In addition, Hurricanes or Tropical Storms Winifred through Zeke are the earliest twenty-first through twenty-fourth named storms in a season in the eastern north Pacific.

The Central Pacific (between 140°W and the International Date Line) saw similarly high levels of activity. Eleven tropical cyclones were tracked by the Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC) throughout the hurricane season. Of those, eight developed in the Eastern Pacific and crossed into the Central Pacific, and three formed within the basin. Two of the storms strengthened to major hurricane status within the Central Pacific's boundaries. Based on a combination of ship data and Dvorak intensity estimates, the system was upgraded into Tropical Storm Agatha on June 2. Agatha steered toward the north By 06:00 UTC June 5, the storm was downgraded back into tropical depression status prior to dissipating the next day. Following Agatha's turn towards the west early on June 3, the watches and warnings were discontinued. Roughly 1,500 people evacuated from coastal areas of Michoacán due to the threat of damaging winds and flooding. Although the center of Agatha remained offshore, heavy rains within the system's outer rainbands impacted southwestern and central Mexico. Widespread flooding and mudslides killed ten people and left thousands homeless. Along the coast, waves reportedly reached heights of .

Tropical Storm Blas

A tropical wave crossed Central America from June 14–16. The system entered the Eastern Pacific. On June 22, The tropical wave organized into the fourth depression of the season, south of the Baja California Peninsula. Early on June 23, the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Blas. However, later that day, Blas weakened back to a depression, and dissipated at 00:00 UTC June 24. The next day, Celia was upgraded into a hurricane. Celia's rate of intensification accelerated. Early on June 27, Celia became a Category 4 major hurricane with winds of and a minimal pressure of . Celia maintained this intensity for about 24 hours and then started to gradually weaken.

During Darby's formation, flooding from the cyclone's rainbands killed three people in Acapulco, where 180 shops were damaged. Four fishermen were reported missing, their fate unknown. Manzanillo, Colima, reported sustained winds just above tropical-storm force. The hurricane's remnants brought mainly light rain to the U.S. state of California, setting daily rainfall records. Cloud cover also delayed the landing of the Space Shuttle Columbia for one day. South-facing beaches of that state were pounded with waves up to in height.

Hurricane Estelle

The origins of Hurricane Estelle were from a tropical wave that began on June 23 off the African coast. After passing over northern South America, the wave was classified as a tropical depression. Eighteen hours later, the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Estelle. On July 11, Estelle intensified into a major hurricane.

Moving northwestward, Estelle began a weakening trend. By the afternoon, Estelle was downgraded into a Category 3 system. Winds soon fell below major hurricane force, only to re-intensify back to a major hurricane hours later. The depression intensified into Tropical Storm Frank on July 14. The storm tracked generally northwestward before turning to the west. Slow intensification continued, and Frank intensified to a Category 3 major hurricane on July 17. By July 20, the storm began to weaken and fell below major hurricane intensity. On July 21, Frank was downgraded to a tropical storm. Rapidly declining in strength, it weakened to a tropical depression on July 23. Later that day, Frank dissipated about northeast of Hawaii. During its formative stages, Georgette brought higher than average humidity to California. The hurricane turned westward, but a west-northwest track later resumed. On July 18, Georgette reached a peak of and a minimum pressure of ,

After wind shear increased, Georgette weakened for about two days, and on July 20 a ridge forced the hurricane southwestward. About 30 hours later, it weakened to a tropical depression, devoid of deep convection, and shortly thereafter entered the Central Pacific.

Tropical Storm Isis

Isis formed on July 28 as a depression and became a tropical storm the next day. Isis peaked as a strong tropical storm with winds on July 30. Due to cooler water, it weakened to a depression on the first and dissipated the next day. Isis degenerated to a broad area of low pressure on August 2.

Hurricane Javier

Hurricane Javier originated from a tropical wave that left Africa on July 17. Around the time it entered the Pacific on July 27, the system was declared a tropical depression on July 30 while moving westward. On August 2, the system was upgraded to a tropical storm. Around this time, Javier turned west-northwest, before turning west, and later, west-southwest. Shortly after turning west, Javier intensified into a hurricane.

Hurricane Lester

Tropical Depression Fourteen-E formed on August 20 from a tropical wave that began to show signs of organized on August 19. At the time of the upgrade, it was located about south-southwest of Manzanillo. The depression slowly strengthened and steadily organized attained tropical storm status late on August 20. The next day, Lester turned to the north. Lester intensified into a hurricane late on August 22 while located about west of La Paz. The hurricane continued to organize and Lester attained peak winds of on August 23 before making landfall as a minimal hurricane near Punta Abreojos, Baja California Sur. After passing through the northern Gulf of California, it made a second landfall in the state of Sonora as a tropical storm. Lester entered Arizona as a tropical storm on August 24, the first time since 1967 that a Pacific hurricane entered the United States as a tropical storm. The low-level circulation subsequently dissipated over New Mexico, though the remnants transitioned into an extratropical cyclone, and subsequently merged with the remnants of Hurricane Andrew and another frontal system on August 29.

Hurricane Lester produced heavy rainfall across its path with a peak rainfall occurring in Mulege. In addition, mudslides killed three people, and left 5,000 homeless. The remnants of Lester produced heavy rainfall across the Southwestern United States causing flash flooding of arroyos and moderate flooding in Denver. Snowfall from the storm generated traffic problems in mountainous areas. The remnants of Lester extended through the eastern United States,

Tropical Storm Newton

Newton was a fairly short-lived storm. It formed from a tropical wave on August 27. It became a tropical storm, was named Newton 18 hours later, and dissipated four days later on August 31.

Hurricane Orlene

Tropical Depression Seventeen-E formed in September 2, rapidly intensifying to a tropical storm the next day, being assigned the name Orlene, then it strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane late that day. Orlene peaked at Category 4 major hurricane status on September 6. The system held intensity for a day or so, with gradual weakening due to shear over the area, but the shear relaxed over the cyclone early on September 9, which brought about a quick restrengthening phase on September 9, although it stopped, and the weakening trend resumed later that day. Orlene downgraded back to a tropical storm on September 10, and finally a depression on September 12, around the same time that it moved into the Central Pacific. It dissipated two days later, on September 14, after making landfall as a tropical depression on the Big Island of Hawaii. The remnants caused downpours and washed out roads, and the damage was minimal, though some areas got up to of rain.

Hurricane Iniki

Forming on September 5 about southwest of Cabo San Lucas, the depression continued quickly westward and remained weak until September 8, when it strengthened into a tropical storm. Having been designated in the Central Pacific, the storm was given the name Iniki. Iniki continued westward and strengthened over the unusually favorable central Pacific; it reached hurricane status on September 9 while south-southeast of Hilo. The subtropical ridge, which typically keeps hurricanes well away from the Hawaiian Islands, weakened due to an approaching upper level-trough and allowed Iniki to turn to the northwest. With very favorable upper-level outflow and warm water temperatures, Iniki steadily intensified, and attained major hurricane status on September 10 while south-southwest of the island chain. As Iniki turned to the north, it continued to strengthen, reaching a peak of winds on September 11 while south-southwest of Kauai. It continued rapidly to the north-northeast, and made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. Iniki's large wind field caused nearly 30,000 people to evacuate to 110 public shelters in Oahu.

Hurricane Iniki's high winds caused extensive damage in Kauai. 1,421 houses were completely destroyed, and 63 were lost from the storm surge and wave action. A total of 5,152 homes were severely damaged, while 7,178 received minor damage. One person died when struck by debris, while another died when a portion of her house fell on her. Offshore, two humans died when their boat capsized. More than 100 injuries can be attributed to Iniki. In all, Iniki also was responsible for 6 deaths. though military effectively provided aid for their immediate needs. Amateur radio proved to be helpful during the three weeks after the storm, with volunteers coming from around the Pacific to assist in the recovery. Local operators assisted with the American Red Cross to provide disaster relief centers across Kauai. Many insurance companies left Hawaii after the storm, forcing Hawaii to launch a Hurricane Relief Fund in 1993 to help unprotected Hawaii residents, but it was stopped in 2000.

Hurricane Paine

The tropical wave from which Paine originated moved off the coast of Africa on August 25 and eventually crossed Central America. The circulation finally organized enough to be classified as Tropical Depression Nineteen-E early on September 11, a couple hundred miles southwest of Baja California. The depression moved west-southwest and intensified into Tropical Storm Paine.

Hurricane Roslyn

On September 13, a tropical wave developed into Tropical Depression Twenty-E, about south of Baja California. Despite initial disorganization, the system was upgraded to Tropical Storm Roslyn. On September 15, Roslyn quickly intensified but began a short weakening trend as it passed through the wake of Hurricane Paine. Later that day, Roslyn began interacting with the weakening and nearby Paine, absorbing its remnants, although this merger didn't affect Roslyn's intensity. On the September 18, Roslyn began gradually strengthening. By September 21, Roslyn reached hurricane intensity. The hurricane peaked at Category 2 status on September 22, with a quick decrease in strength thereafter. Roslyn was downgraded to a tropical storm just as it crossed into the Central Pacific, and over the next several days, Roslyn turned northeast, and then north. The system finally dissipated on September 30.

Hurricane Seymour

On September 17, a tropical wave was upgraded into a tropical depression. The next day, the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Seymour a couple hundred miles south of the southern tip of Baja California, and while continuing on a west-northwest and northwest track, Seymour reached hurricane strength on September 19. However, the system soon weakened to a tropical storm. Seymour began to turn west, and regained hurricane status on the September 23. However, Seymour only held hurricane intensity for a short period of time, and by that night, it had weakened back to a tropical storm. It then weakened to a depression two days later and dissipated on September 27.

Hurricane Tina

A tropical wave exited the African coast on September 5, which eventually reached the Pacific and became more defined on September 16 to the south of Mexico. Tina reached hurricane status at 18:00 UTC on September 20, reaching winds of before wind shear weakened it, and deep convection decreased. Tina briefly weakened back into a tropical storm, but regained hurricane intensity for another two days.

Due to its erratic track and slow motion, Tina was alive from September 17 to October 11— a span of 24 days. This is the record for the eastern Pacific Ocean, smashing the east/central record of 20 days held by Hurricane Fico in the 1978 season and surpassing Typhoon Rita's west Pacific 1972 record. It was itself surpassed just two years later by Hurricane John. Shortly after passing over Manzanillo, it weakened below tropical storm strength, and early on October 5, the weakened Tropical Depression Virgil exited into the Pacific, but no regeneration was expected, as strong westerlies and the weakened state of the system prevented any regeneration, and it dissipated shortly thereafter.

Prior to the arrival of the hurricane, several watches and warnings were issued. During the afternoon of October 2, a hurricane watch was first issued for areas west of Zinhuantatenjo. The next day, the watch was upgraded into a hurricane warning. Fifteen hours later the area east of Zinhuantatenjo, a tropical storm warning was issued. The watches were gradually dropped over the next few days, and by October 4. The NHC warned the possibility of mudslides and landslides and of rain in the high terrain of Mexico. Due to the sparsely populated area it struck, only minor damage was reported. Heavy rain and flooding were reported, peaking at over 10 inches (25 cm) in one location. One person was reported missing in the state of Colima, and three people were injured in Guerrero. More than 1,000 homes were damaged in Guerrero, Michoacán, and Colima, as was 7,400 acres (30 km<sup>2</sup>) of farmland. A flood on the Atoyac River washed away 500 homes in Guerrero, which prompted the evacuation of 2,500 people. A passenger train north of Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán, was derailed when it encountered washed-out roadbeds. The storm also caused power outages.

Hurricane Winifred

An area of disturbed weather developed into Tropical Depression Twenty Four-E a few hundred miles south of Acapulco. The next day, it was upgraded into Tropical Storm Winifred when satellite imagery showed increased convective banding features around the storm's center. Winifred was upgraded to a hurricane on October 8, subsequently an eye appeared on satellite imagery. Hurricane Winifred peaked at Category 3 status the next day, turning to the north-northeast just hours before landfall. Initially, the storm maintained major hurricane intensity; however, the eye had disappeared hours prior to landfall. Based on this, Winifred weakened into a Category 2 hurricane. On October 9, it made landfall just east-southeast of Manzanillo. At the time it was a weak Category 2 hurricane with winds of and a central pressure of . After moving ashore, Hurricane Winifred rapidly weakened to a depression over the mountainous terrain of Mexico by October 10, while continuing on a northeast track and finally degenerating to a remnant low later that day.

Three people were killed by floods. Damage was concentrated in Colima and Michoacán. High waves flooded portions of Highway 200 between Zihuatenajo, Ixtapa, and Lázaro Cárdenas. Electricity and water systems was knocked out in Colima. About of farmland were damaged. Total damage in one state was estimated at 16000 pesos (1992 MXP) or $5 million (1992 USD$,  USD). The highest point maximum reported was of , recorded at Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán. Elsewhere, Winifred forced a temporary closure of the port of Acapulco.

Tropical Storm Xavier

On October 13, a tropical wave developed a visible low level circulation center, developing into Tropical Depression Twenty Five-E later that day, several hundred miles south of Baja California. The system quickly reached tropical storm status, while moving west. On October 17, Xavier dissipated several hundred miles south of the tip of Baja California. Xavier was only the second tropical system to be named with an 'X' in the eastern Pacific basin, after 1985's Xina.

Tropical Storm Yolanda

On October 15 a tropical depression formed from the wave several hundred miles south of Manzanillo, and on October 16, it strengthened into Tropical Storm Yolanda. The storm turned to the northwest later that day, and maintained this track for the rest of its lifespan. Yolanda peaked as a strong tropical storm on October 19, but strong southwesterly shear removed all deep convection within the storm's circulation later that day, although there were several occasional flare-ups of convection for the next 12 hours or so. The storm weakened back to a depression the next day, while steering currents moved the weakening depression's center to the southwest, and then finally the west before dissipating in the Central Pacific on the October 22.

Tropical Storm Zeke

A tropical wave exited western Africa and eventually crossed Central America into the eastern Pacific between October 21–23. Over the following few days, the system became better organized. On October 25, the NHC classified it as Tropical Depression Twenty-Seven-E, about south of the southern tip of Baja California Sur, Mexico. The depression began moving west-northwest. On October 26, the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Zeke, the record-breaking twenty-fourth named storm of the year. The storm re-attained tropical storm intensity on October 28; however, shear over the system remained strong. Despite the unfavorable conditions, Zeke maintained its intensity and began to turn towards the northeast. Late on October 29, the storm attained its peak intensity with winds of with a barometric pressure of .

Other systems

Tropical Depression Two-E developed during June 16, about to the southwest of Mexico City. Over the next few days the system gradually developed further as it moved north-westwards, before it was classified as Tropical

Depression 21W by the JTWC during September 26.

On October 23, a tropical disturbance developed within the trade-wind trough of low pressure about to the south of Johnston Island. This was the same list used for the 1986 season. The NHC exhausted the naming list on October 25 when it named Tropical Storm Zeke, marking the first time that a storm name beginning with the letter "Z" was used on record in the basin. Zeke also continued the record of named storms in a single season in the eastern Pacific, being the 24th and final tropical storm. Storms were named Seymour, Tina, Virgil, Winifred, Xavier, Yolanda, and Zeke for the first time in 1992. No names were retired from the list following the season, and it was used again for the 1998 season.

{| width="90%"

Agatha
Blas
Celia
Darby
Estelle
Frank*
Georgette*
Howard

Isis
Javier*
Kay
Lester
Madeline
Newton
Orlene*
Paine

Roslyn*
Seymour
Tina*
Virgil
Winifred
Xavier
Yolanda*
Zeke

For storms that form in the North Pacific from 140°W to the International Date Line, the names come from a series of four rotating lists. Names are used one after the other without regard to year, and when the bottom of one list is reached, the next named storm receives the name at the top of the next list. Three named storms, listed below, formed in the central North Pacific in 1992. Named storms in the table above that crossed into the area during the year are noted (*).

Season effects

This is a table of all of the tropical cyclones that formed in the 1993 Pacific hurricane season. It includes their name, duration (within the basin), peak classification and intensities, areas affected, damage, and death totals. Deaths in parentheses are additional and indirect (an example of an indirect death would be a traffic accident), but were still related to that storm. Damage and deaths include totals while the storm was extratropical, a wave, or a low, and all of the damage figures are in 1992 USD.

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References

External links

[ftp://ftp.nhc.noaa.gov/pub/storm_archives/pacific/prelimep/ep1992/ NHC 1992 Pacific hurricane season archive]
Central Pacific Hurricane Center archive