1996 Pacific hurricane season

The 1996 Pacific hurricane season had below normal tropical cyclone activity, producing 9 tropical storms, of which 5 became hurricanes, with 2 of those intensifying into major hurricanes. With an Accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) index of 53.9, the season ranks among the least intense Pacific hurricane seasons on record. It officially began May 15, 1996, in the eastern north Pacific and on June 1, 1996, in the central north Pacific. It ended on November 30, 1996. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northeastern Pacific Ocean. The season slightly exceeded these bounds when tropical storm One-E formed on May 13.

Much of the season's activity was clustered near the coast of Southwest Mexico, with four hurricanes and one tropical storm making landfall along it. The most impactful were: Hurricane Alma, which was responsible for 20 deaths, and Hurricane Fausto, which left behind damage amounting to around $800,000 (1996 USD). Hurricane Douglas was the strongest storm of the season, reaching Category 4 intensity on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. Douglas developed in the Caribbean Sea, within the Atlantic basin, as Hurricane Cesar, before crossing into the Pacific as a tropical storm. Another crossover storm was Atlantic Hurricane Dolly, which hit the Mexican state of Veracruz along the Gulf of Mexico and later entered the eastern Pacific as a tropical depression.

Seasonal summary

The season officially began on May 15 in Eastern Pacific and on June 1 in Central Pacific; both ended on November 30. In addition, one Atlantic hurricane, Cesar, crossed into the Pacific as a tropical storm, at which time it was renamed Douglas. None of the systems in the eastern north Pacific crossed 140°W into the central Pacific. The last time that happened was in the 1979 season.

In the central Pacific, one tropical depression formed. In addition, a depression crossed the dateline from the western Pacific before dissipating in this basin. Neither of these systems reached tropical storm strength. In addition, data from the Joint Typhoon Warning Center, on September 1 Tropical Depression Rick crossed the International Dateline, entering into CPHC's area of responsibility; however, this storm was not included into CPHC database. The storm eventually became extratropical on September 3 over open waters.

In terms of the number of storms, the season was below average. Despite this, there were a large number of landfalls. Of note is the fact that three tropical cyclones approached close to, or made landfall on, Mexico during a ten-day span from June 23 to July 3. Wind shear steadily weakened the cyclone until it dissipated early on May 17. This system was the only tropical storm to form in May during the period from 1992 to 1999.

This storm was not assigned a name because it was determined to be a tropical storm after the season was over.

Hurricane Alma

The origins of Alma is believed to be related to the tropical wave which spawned Tropical Storm Arthur in the Atlantic. Satellite imagery and upper–air observations indicated that the disturbance crossed Central America during the middle of June, entering warming than average waters of the Pacific. Initially, the system was located within a sheared environment, although it did not hinder development. The convection soon became aligned with the low–level center and during the overnight on June 20 it was designated as a tropical depression. The depression intensified and it was upgraded to Tropical Storm Alma later that day. The wind shear relaxed it was upgraded to a hurricane at early on July 22 while tracking generally northwest. A mid–level trough located near Baja California and a mid-to-upper-level low over the southwest Gulf of Mexico began to steer Alma northward towards the southwest coast of Mexico, prior to reaching a peak intensity of 969 mb at 1200 UTC on June 23. Before long, the steering flow collapsed and the hurricane drifted further towards land. Later that day it made landfall near Lazaro Cardenas, although Alma quickly moved back over open water and meandered for about 36 hours. This made the hurricane the first of three consecutive storms to make landfall on, the Pacific coast of Mexico during a ten-day span. It weakened to a tropical storm over land, before moving back to the open waters. However, a small portion of the circulation of Alma was still over land, and thus it was severely disrupted by Mexico's high terrain. Alma was tracking slowly along a path roughly parallel to the coastline, it was further downgraded to a tropical depression on June 25. Alma remained weak and dissipated on June 27.

In anticipation for the storm, hurricane warnings were placed into effect along of coastline between the resorts of Zihuatenejo and Manzanillo. Hundreds of people were evacuated prior to the passage of the hurricane. Also, the Mexican government sent troops to the area to help with disaster relief, and the Michoacán state government sent five truckloads of bedding and medicines. Also, there were reports of swells up to along the coast. Alma ripped roofs off of some houses, downed power lines and uprooted numerous trees, Flooding for Alma left thousands homeless. Heavy rainfall resulted in major flooding in Puebla, which killed 17 people. In all, 20 deaths were reported in Mexico.

Hurricane warnings were issued for southern Mexico due to Boris. The caused ten deaths. One person was killed in Tecpan. Nearby, three other people drowned and five fishers were missing. In Acapulco, a child was killed when a roof collapsed. Trees were knocked down. A total of about 10,000 people were left homeless, and at least 70 people were injured. Rain was heavy throughout the impacted region, with the highest totals in Guerrero. A total of was recorded in Coyuca de Benítez. The heavy rain caused damaging floods on the Balsas River, which left at least 5000 homeless. In Tecpan, a countless number of homes were washed away. The storm flooded lobbies of hotels along the coast. Approximately 12 boats were sunk offshore. Tecpan bore the brunt of the storm, reporting heavy damage.

Tropical Storm Cristina

Cristina likely originated from area of thunderstorms that was affiliated with a tropical wave that had passed over Panama on June 29. By June 30, thunderstorm activity increased while located west the Pacific coast of Central America. At 1200 UTC July 1, as convective banding became organized, the National Hurricane Center initialed advisories Tropical Depression Five-E. At this time, the low located 300 miles (480 km) south of San Salvador, El Salvador. Quickly organizing, the depression was upgraded into Tropical Storm Cristina while 260 miles (420 km) south of Guatemala City, Guatemala. With warm water and low wind shear, Cristina strengthened to peak winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 991 mbar (hPa). Early on July 3, the center of Tropical Storm Cristina crossed the Mexican coast near Puerto Ángel at peak intensity. Within six hours, Cristina had weakened into a minimal tropical storm over the mountainous terrain of Mexico. By early July 3, the remnants of the tropical storm had completely dissipated.

On July 2, the Mexican government issued a tropical storm warning from the Mexico–Guatemala border to Punta Maldonado, Guerrero. Cristina was the third storm to hit the region in less than two weeks. Tropical Storm Cristina dropped extremely heavy precipitation over southern Mexico and over 1,350 sites received rain. Many areas received more than of rainfall and a peak of fell in San Pedro Tapanatepec. One fisherman drowned, another went missing, and another was found alive after their fishing boat sank off the coast of Oaxaca. In the latter state, 51 communities were flooded, thus leaving 350 people homeless. In addition, 62 people were declared missing when eleven fishing boats were reported missing on July 2. On July 18, President Zedillo held meetings with the victims of Hurricane Boris and Cristina in Tecpan and Acapulco.

Tropical Depression Six-E

On July 4, a persistent area of thunderstorms organized into a tropical depression. Weak steering currents slowly moved it northwest. Easterly wind shear inhibited the development of the system. Despite the wind shear, Six-E was forecast to strengthen into a tropical storm, but it instead weakened to a swirl of clouds and advisories were ended on July 5. Tropical Depression Six-E dissipated on July 6. At its peak strength, Six-E had winds of and a central pressure of .

Hurricane Douglas

Hurricane Douglas was a continuation of Atlantic Hurricane Cesar, which crossed Central America. Continuing Cesar's nearly due-west heading, it was still a tropical storm when it entered the Pacific on July 29, and quickly regained hurricane status.

Tropical Depression Seventeen-W

A tropical depression, which formed on August 13, from a cutoff area of low pressure area, crossed the dateline on August 14. It continued to head east, passing close to Midway Island. It dissipated on August 14, although the remnants of the system hung around the area for a few more days. At its strongest in the central north Pacific, Tropical Depression Seventeen-W had winds of and a pressure of .

Seventeen-W brought light winds, with gusts reaching gale-force, to Midway Island. It also brought about of rain. After the cyclone dissipated, showers and gusty winds continued to occur on Midway and Kure for a few more days.

Tropical Storm Elida

A tropical wave moved across the tropical Atlantic during mid to late August, developing a small area of thunderstorms each day. After it moved into the Pacific Ocean, thunderstorm activity became more concentrated. On August 30, and it developed into Tropical Depression Eight-E to the south of Mexico. It moved northwestward parallel to the coast of Mexico, and strengthened into Tropical Storm Elida on September 2. Despite some wind shear, Elida continued to strengthen as it developed rainbands. An upper low moved to the north of the system, slowing its forward movement and shifting its track more northerly in the direction of Baja California. Elida posed enough of a threat to the Baja California Peninsula to require a tropical storm warning and hurricane watches for the Baja California Peninsula south of Cabo San Lázaro on September 3. A combination of vertical wind shear and reduced sea surface temperatures weakened the storm. The cyclone was devoid of deep convection on September 5, and Elida dissipated the next day.

During Elida's passage, the storm killed 6 people offshore and affected more than 1,200 people. Moderate to heavy rains fell in association with the tropical cyclone across southwest Mexico and the Baja California Peninsula. Socorro Island was also affected. Many flights were canceled. Waves of up to walloped Pacific beaches along the southern tip of Baja California Sur and yachts were damaged. Rainfall peaked at 18.50 inches/470 mm at San Vicente de la Sierra. There was one casualty, a San Diego vacationier, who died by a downed power line. Overall damage in Mexico was minor, reaching $800,000 (1996 USD) in both Baja California and the mainland in Mexico. Fausto downed power poles, smashed windows, and disrupted the tourist business at Cabo San Lucas and La Paz.

Tropical Depression One-C

A tropical disturbance organized into a tropical depression on September 15. It headed west until September 17. That day, it turned to the west for two days before heading back west-northwest on September 19. It soon began to weaken and dissipated the next day. At its most intense, Tropical Depression One-C had winds of . Genevieve slowly got better organized, and reached its peak intensity of and on September 29.

Hernan led to hurricane warnings for southwestern Mexico. Country-wide; however, the highest total was recorded in Petacalco and La Union, with being measured at both locations. The National Water Commission reported waves of up to . Along the coasts of Colima and Jalisco, waves caused by Hernan were not as large, reaching 13 ft (3.9 m) in height. A boy was swept away in the Uxpana River and was reported missing. Due to flooding caused by the storm, three rivers in Veracruz overflowed their banks. Flooding from the storm also washed-out portions of two Mexico highways. Furthermore, telephone service was interrupted and power outages occurred. Around 1,000 homes were damaged or destroyed and 100 people were injured. Although the environment was initially favourable and the system was almost upgraded into a tropical storm as was forecast, wind shear kept the cyclone weak. Its convection was eventually destroyed, and the depression dissipated on November 11.

Storm names

The following list of names was used for named storms that formed in the North Pacific Ocean east of 140°W in 1996. This is the same list used for the 1990 season, except for Winnie, which had been interchanged with Wallis. No names were retired following the season, and so it was used again for the 2002 season.

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Alma
Boris
Cristina
Douglas
Elida
Fausto
Genevieve
Hernan

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.