Eastern Pacific Hurricane Season

Although some residents of the eastern United States may not pay as much attention to it as the Atlantic Season, the Eastern Pacific hurricane season also concludes on November 30.  The eastern Pacific is typically a little busier than the tropical Atlantic.  Both seasons were busier than average in 2017.  

NOAA data shows the eastern Pacific (west of Central America) sees 15 tropical storms, 8 hurricanes, including 4 “major” hurricanes in an average season.  This year featured 18 tropical storms and 9 hurricanes, of which 4 were major.  A “major” hurricane is defined as a Category 3 or greater storm on the Saffir-Simpson scale with sustained winds of 111 mph or greater.  Hurricane season in the eastern Pacific runs from May 15 through November 30, while the Atlantic season starts June 1. 

The eastern Pacific’s first tropical storm of 2017 occurred on May 10 when “Adrian” developed.  An otherwise unremarkable storm, Tropical Storm Adrian set a record for earliest named storm in the Eastern Pacific.  NOAA records show the previous record holder was 1990’s Hurricane Alma (that developed on May 12).  Tropical Storm Selma was the last named storm to develop in the eastern Pacific and dissipated on October 28, 2017. 

The eastern Pacific’s (sometimes abbreviated as “EPAC”) strongest storm of 2017 was Category 4 Hurricane Fernanda in mid-July.  At peak intensity, Fernanda had sustained winds of 145 mph and a minimum central pressure of 947 millibars (mb).  Despite being an active season, Fernanda was the EPAC’s weakest-strongest storm of the season since 2013.

Unlike the 2014-2015 seasons when several devastating EPAC hurricanes developed and made landfall (including Odile and Patricia), the only hurricane to make landfall in 2017 was Max.  “Max” was a minimal Category 1 storm that made landfall on September 14 on the west coast of Mexico.  

By comparison, the Atlantic Ocean Basin produced several destructive hurricanes in 2017.  Of the 17 tropical storms and 10 hurricanes, including 6 major hurricanes, the United States had three Category 4 hurricanes make landfall (Harvey, Irma, Maria).