List of retired Pacific hurricane names

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Retired Pacific hurricanes
Retired Pacific hurricanes

This is a list of all Pacific hurricanes that have had their names retired. Hurricane names are retired by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in a meeting in March or April of each year. Those hurricanes that have their names retired tend to be exceptionally destructive storms that often become household names in the regions they affected. Storm names are retired following a request made at the WMO meeting by one or more of the countries affected by a hurricane. Nine tropical cyclone names have been retired since the start of tropical cyclone naming in the eastern Pacific Ocean, including four storms named by the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. In addition, several names were removed from the naming list for various reasons other than retirement.

Contents

[edit] General information

Since 1960, 11 storms have had their names removed from the list of Pacific hurricane names, including two from the Central Pacific. Of these, two names, Adolph and Israel, were retired for political considerations [1] due to connections to Adolf Hitler and the country Israel. Two names prior to the start of modern naming in 1978 were removed from the lists for unknown reasons: Hazel was removed following its usage in 1965 and Adele was removed following its usage in 1970. The former made landfall on northwestern Mexico as a minimal tropical storm with no known effects, while Adele remained at sea for its duration. However, the name Hurricane Hazel was previously retired in the Atlantic basin. Since the standardization of Pacific hurricane naming in 1978, several names have been retired due to pronunciation ambiguity, a socially unacceptable meaning in another language, or because they represented a significant human disaster. The names of Knut in 1987 and Iva in 1988 were removed from naming lists without either having affected any landmass, and were replaced with Kenneth and Ileana. Hurricanes Fico and Fefa were removed from lists, as well. It is unknown whether the names were removed due to issues regarding the pronunciation or meaning of their names or due to their respective damages on Hawaii.[2]

Multiple names were altered slightly by changing the spelling of a tropical cyclone name. Kirsten in 1966 became Kristen in 1970, though was reverted back to Kirsten in 1974.[3] The name Dalilia, which was used in 1983 and 1989, was changed, perhaps inadvertently, to Dalila in 1995, a change which remains intact on the naming list.[4] The name Dolores, which was used in 1979 and 1985, was changed to Delores for the 1991 and 1997 seasons. In 2003 it was reverted back to Dolores, a change which remains on the list of Pacific tropical cyclone names.[3]

Prior to 1957, two storms in the Central Pacific Ocean received Hawaiian names and were never re-used. From 1957 until the late 1970s, names in the basin received names from the list of typhoon names for its year, though none were retired. Since the modern system of Central Pacific tropical cyclone naming began in the early 1980s, two names were retired for their effects on Hawaii. Iwa was replaced with Io following its usage in 1982, and Iniki was replaced with Iolana following its usage in 1992.[3] In 2006, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center changed or removed sixteen names in the basin, including several that were never used. Of the sixteen, two names were retired; Typhoon Paka was replaced with Pama following its usage in 1997, and Hurricane Ioke was replaced with Iopa following its usage in 2006. Typhoon Paka was named in the central Pacific Ocean, though attained peak strength and caused greatest impact in the western Pacific Ocean.[5]

[edit] Lists of retired names

[edit] Listed by intensity

Hurricane Kenna near its peak intensity
Hurricane Kenna near its peak intensity
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
TD TS 1 2 3 4 5

This lists all retired hurricanes by their peak intensity, which is determined by measurements of the minimum central pressure.

While the intensity of tropical cyclones is measured solely by central pressure, wind speeds are also estimated; the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale is used in the Pacific basin to rank hurricanes according to their strongest 1-minute sustained winds. While most hurricanes do not make landfall at their peak intensity, they are often referred to by their strongest Saffir-Simpson Category rather than by their landfall Category.

Of the storms in the Pacific whose names have been retired, two peaked as Category 1 hurricanes, one peaked as a Category 3 hurricane, three peaked as Category 4 hurricanes, and three peaked as a Category 5 hurricane. Many storms of high intensities have not had their names retired because most Pacific hurricanes do not make landfall.

Name Season Max. 1-min. average sustained wind[6] Min. central pressure[6]
Knots Km/h Mph Mbar (hPa)
Ismael 1995 70 130 80 983
Iwa 1982 80 145 90 968
Fefa 1991 105 195 120 959
Fico 1978 120 220 140 955
Pauline 1997 115 215 135 948
Iniki 1992 120 225 140 938
Ioke 2006 140 260 160 915
Kenna 2002 145 265 165 913
Paka 1997 160 295 185 901

[edit] Listed by total damages

Damage in Hawaii from Hurricane Iniki
Damage in Hawaii from Hurricane Iniki

This lists all retired Pacific hurricanes by their total damages (in 2008 USD). Hurricane names are generally retired for one of two reasons, either because they were particularly damaging or particularly deadly. Some data may be incomplete and account for damages in only one location while the storm affected several. Calculation of modern-day damage amounts is done using the Consumer Price Index.[7]

Name Season Damages (at the time) Damages (2008 USD)
Pauline 1997 $7.5 billion[8] $10.1 billion
Iniki 1992 $1.8 billion[9] $2.8 billion
Paka 1997 $584 million[10] $784 million
Iwa 1982 $308 million[11] $688 million
Kenna 2002 $101 million [12][13] $121 million
Ioke 2006 $88 million[14] $94 million
Ismael 1995 $26 million[15] $37 million
Fico 1978 $200,000[16] $660,000
Fefa 1991 Unknown Unknown

[edit] Listed by death toll

Hurricane Pauline near peak intensity
Hurricane Pauline near peak intensity

This lists retired Pacific hurricanes by the number of deaths they caused. Hurricane names are generally retired for one of two reasons, either because they were particularly damaging or particularly deadly. While many damaging storms caused little loss of life, most deadly storms also caused heavy damage. Most storms cause fatalities not by their high winds but rather through flooding - either storm surge or inland flooding due to rainfall. Storm surge has the highest potential for deaths; with modern forecasting, warning, and evacuation storm surge deaths can be almost eliminated, but the potential is still very high for catastrophe in places where warning systems are not in place or if warnings are ignored. Inland flooding, by contrast, is unpredictable because it depends heavily on a hurricane's interaction with the terrain and with other nearby weather systems.

There have been several deadlier hurricanes than the following that were not retired. Hurricane Tara killed at least 500 people in southern Mexico in 1961,[17], Hurricane Liza caused at least 425 deaths along the Baja California Peninsula in 1976.[18], and Hurricane Paul killed over 1,000 people in Central America.

Name Season Direct deaths Primary location
Pauline 1997 230 - 400 Oaxaca, Guerrero
Ismael 1995 116 Sonora, Sinaloa
Iniki 1992 6 Hawaii
Kenna 2002 4 Nayarit
Iwa 1982 1 Hawaii
Fico 1978 0 N/A
Fefa 1991 0 N/A
Paka 1997 0 N/A
Ioke 2006 0 N/A

[edit] Landfalls

Hurricane Ismael near its landfall on Mexico
Hurricane Ismael near its landfall on Mexico

Landfall of a tropical cyclone is defined as the moving of the center of the eye over land. Damages from a tropical cyclone are usually greatest where it makes landfall. In the below list, the retired hurricanes are listed in chronological order with their landfall locations listed under columns designating their strength on the Saffir-Simpson Scale at the time of landfall. Within a cell, landfalls are listed in chronological order. Four retired hurricanes, Hurricanes Fico, Iwa, Fefa, and Ioke never made landfall anywhere at any intensity. They are omitted from this list. The centre of Paka passed slightly to the north of Guam as a Category 4-equivalent storm, however this is not included as a landfall.

Name Season Landfall
Category 5 Category 4 Category 3 Category 2 Category 1 Tropical storm
Iniki 1992 Hawaii[19]
Ismael 1995 Sinaloa[20]
Pauline 1997 Oaxaca[21]
Kenna 2002 Nayarit[12]

[edit] See also

Tropical cyclones Portal

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ Gary Padgett, Jack Beven, and James Lewis Free (2006). What names have been retired in the Atlantic and East Pacific basin?. Hurricane Research Division. Retrieved on 2006-12-08.
  2. ^ World Meteorological Organization (2007). Regional Association IV (North America, Central America and the Caribbean) Hurricane Operational Plan (Report No. TCP30) Table IV, Names of Eastern North Pacific Ocean Storms Retired into Hurricane History, page 9-5. Retrieved on 2008-02-02.
  3. ^ a b c Atlantic Tropical Weather Center (2006). Tropical Cyclone Retirement. Ablaze Productions, Inc.. Retrieved on 2006-12-07.
  4. ^ Edward N. Rappaport (1995). Tropical Storm Dalila Tropical Cyclone Report. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved on 2006-12-07.
  5. ^ Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research (2007). 61st Interdepartmental Hurricane Conference Action Items. Retrieved on 2007-07-21.
  6. ^ a b Hurricane Research Division (2006). Hurricane Data for Pacific Hurricanes 1949-2005. NOAA. Retrieved on 2006-12-08.
  7. ^ Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis (2006). What is a dollar worth?. Retrieved on 2006-12-09.
  8. ^ Centro Nacional para la Prevención de Desastres (1999). Estadisticas Sobre Los Riegos a Atenuar de Fenomenos Perturbadores (Spanish). Retrieved on 2006-12-09.
  9. ^ National Hurricane Center (2004). Costliest U.S. Hurricanes 1900-2004 (unadjusted). Retrieved on 2006-12-09.
  10. ^ National Climatic Data Center (1997). Event Report for Guam. Retrieved on 2007-07-21.
  11. ^ United States Geological Survey (2005). Summary of Significant Floods, 1982. Retrieved on 2006-12-09.
  12. ^ a b James L. Franklin (2002). Hurricane Kenna Tropical Cyclone Report. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved on 2006-12-09.
  13. ^ Guy Carpenter (2003). 2002 Tropical Cyclone Review. Retrieved on 2007-01-01.
  14. ^ Advisory Council for Historic Preservation (2007). Spring 2007 Case Digest - Protecting Historic Properties (PDF). Retrieved on 2007-10-15.
  15. ^ Centro Nacional de Prevención de Desastres (2006). Impacto Socioeconómico de los Ciclones Tropicales 2005 (Spanish). Retrieved on 2006-11-09.
  16. ^ The State of Hawaii Data Book (2000). Geography and Environment of Hawaii. Retrieved on 2006-12-10.
  17. ^ Tony Burton (2001). Mexico in November - A Historical Review. Mexico Connect. Retrieved on 2006-12-08.
  18. ^ Emil B. Gunther (1977). Eastern North Pacific Tropical Cyclones of 1976. Eastern Pacific Hurricane Center. Retrieved on 2006-12-08.
  19. ^ Central Pacific Hurricane Center (1992). 1992 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season. Retrieved on 2006-12-09.
  20. ^ Max Mayfield (1995). Hurricane Ismael Tropical Cyclone Report. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved on 2006-12-09.
  21. ^ Miles B. Lawrence (1997). Hurricane Pauline Tropical Cyclone Report. National Hurricane Center. Retrieved on 2006-12-09.
v • d • e
Retired Pacific hurricane names
Eastern
Fico • Fefa • Ismael • Pauline • Kenna
Central
Iwa • Iniki • Paka • Ioke
Languages