1988 Pacific hurricane season
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| First storm formed: | June 16, 1988 |
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| Last storm dissipated: | November 2, 1988 |
| Strongest storm: | Hector-935 mb |
| Total storms: | 15 |
| Major storms (Cat. 3+): | 3 |
| Total damage: | unknown |
| Total fatalities: | 3 |
| Pacific hurricane seasons 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990 |
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The 1988 Pacific hurricane season officially started May 15, 1988 in the eastern Pacific, and June 1, 1988 in the central Pacific, and lasted until November 30, 1988. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northeastern Pacific Ocean. The season was somewhat unusual in that the only landfall was in the Hawaiian Islands, although there were numerous near-misses.
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[edit] Seasonal activity
Overall, the season was below average. There were a total of thirteen cyclones in the Eastern Pacific, plus two in the Central. One cyclone moved in from the Atlantic. Seven cyclones peaked at storm strength. There were six hurricanes, of which two reached Category 3 intensity or higher on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. In the Central Pacific there was a tropical storm and a major hurricane. Notable storms include Tropical Storm Gilma, Hurricane Uleki, and Tropical Storm Miriam.
[edit] Storms
[edit] Tropical Storm Aletta
Tropical Depression Two-E formed on June 16 and strengthened into Tropical Storm Aletta six hours later. Aletta approached the Acapulco area but did not make landfall. Rains were heavy, and unofficially, one person was killed.
[edit] Tropical Storm Bud
Bud was a short-lived tropical storm that approached close to Mexico. There were no deaths and no damage.
[edit] Hurricane Fabio
As the cyclone moved near the Hawaiian islands, heavy rainfall fell across the chain, with a maximum amount of 18.75 inches/476 mm falling at the Papaikou Mauka 140.1 site.[1]
[edit] Tropical Storm Gilma
This cyclone was part of a 5 storm outbreak that occurred around August 1st. Gilma brushed or made landfall in most of the major Hawaiian Islands as a depression before dissipating August 3.
[edit] Hurricane Hector
Hurricane Hector was the strongest storm of the season, reaching Category 4 status over the open eastern Pacific. It was of no threat to land.
[edit] Hurricane Iva
Other than passing close to Socorro Island, Hurricane Iva had no effect on land. Iva's name was retired after this season for unknown reasons, speculatively to avoid confusion with Hurricane Iwa, whose name was retired from the lists of Central Pacific storms.[citation needed]
[edit] Tropical Storm John
John was a small, minimal tropical storm that looped as a depression and approached Baja California Sur before dissipating. No deaths or damage was reported.
[edit] Hurricane Kristy
Kristy caused heavy rains and flooding in Chiapas. Over 20000 people were evacuated, and a state of emergency was declared. Damage and casualty reports are not available.
[edit] Hurricane-Typhoon Uleki
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| Uleki satellite image and storm path | |
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On August 28, a tropical disturbance organized into Tropical Depression One-C. It intensified at a fair rate, and was upgraded to Tropical Storm Uleki the next day. It continued to strengthen, and reached hurricane intensity on August 31. It moved slowly westnorthwest until steering currents collapsed on September 1. Now a Category 3 hurricane, Uleki slowly edged north towards the Hawaiian Islands. After looping, Uleki resumed its westward path on September 4. Its stalling in the ocean had weakened it, and the hurricane passed midway between Johnston Island and French Frigate Shoals. Uleki crossed the dateline on September 7. It turned slightly to the north and meandered in the open Pacific days until it dissipated on September 14.
When Uleki was drifting towards the Hawaiian Islands, tropical storm watches were issued for Oahu, Kauai, and Niihau on September 3. In addition, reconnaissance missions were flown into the hurricane. However, the only significant effect Uleki had on the Hawaiian Islands was to cause heavy surf. This heavy surf flooded the southeastern runway on Midway Island. This surf also caused two drownings on Oahu.
[edit] Tropical Storm Miriam
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| Duration | October 23—November 2 | |||
| Intensity | 70 mph (110 km/h), 986 mbar (hPa) | |||
- Main article: Hurricane Joan-Miriam
Tropical Storm Miriam was a continuation of Hurricane Joan, which moved in from the Atlantic. The storm survived the passage over the isthmus and entered the Pacific, greatly weakened. Following the policy at the time, Joan was renamed Miriam.
Miriam brought heavy rains to parts of Central America. Flights to Tuxtla Gutierrez, and there was isolated flooding and mudslides, although casualties and damage reports are not available. Miriam then turned away from Central America and weakened to a depression. The depression stayed alive for over a week until it dissipated on October 30. Tropical Depression Miriam's remnants reformed the next day, and survived until November 2, when they dissipated for good.
[edit] Tropical Depressions
There were at least two tropical depressions that did not reach storm strength. Tropical Depression One-E formed 750 miles west of, and around the same time as, Aletta. Tropical Depression Seventeen-E was a continuation of Hurricane Debby from the Atlantic.
[edit] 1988 storm names
The following names were used for named storms that formed in the eastern Pacific in 1988. The names not retired from this list were used again in the 1994 season. This is the same list used for the 1982 season. Names that were not assigned are marked in gray.
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Two names from the Central Pacific list were used - Uleki and Wila. This was the first usage for both names.
[edit] Retirement
The World Meteorological Organization retired one name in the spring of 1989: Iva. It was replaced in the 1994 season by Ileana.
[edit] See also
- List of notable tropical cyclones
- 1988 Atlantic hurricane season
- 1988 Pacific typhoon season
- 1987-88 Southern Hemisphere tropical cyclone season
- 1988-89 Southern Hemisphere tropical cyclone season
- 1985-1989 North Indian cyclone seasons
[edit] References
- ^ Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. Tropical Cyclone Point Maxima. Retrieved on 2007-01-29.
