1985 Pacific hurricane season

1985 Pacific hurricane season
Season summary map
First storm formed June 5, 1985
Last storm dissipated November 21, 1985
Strongest storm Rick – 145 mph (230 km/h)
Waldo – 982 mbar (hPa) (29.01 inHg),105 mph (165 km/h) (1-minute sustained)
Total depressions 28
Total storms 24
Hurricanes 13
Major hurricanes (Cat. 3+) 8
Total fatalities Unknown
Total damage Unknown
Pacific hurricane seasons
1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987

The 1985 Pacific hurricane season was an event in tropical cyclone meteorology. It officially started on May 15, 1985 in the eastern Pacific, and on June 1, 1985 in the central Pacific, and lasted until November 30, 1985. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northeastern Pacific Ocean.

At the time, the 1985 season was the most active on record in the eastern north Pacific, with 25 tropical cyclones forming. Of those, 22 were named, 12 reaching hurricane intensity and 8 becoming major hurricanes by reaching Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson Scale. In addition, three additional systems formed in the central north Pacific, of which one became a hurricane and another became a typhoon before re-crossing the dateline.

Despite the activity, there were few notable systems this year. The only cyclone to make landfall was Hurricane Waldo, which caused damage in Mexico. Elsewhere, surf from Hurricane Pauline caused damage in Hawaii and either Pauline or the following system sank a sailing vessel. Hurricane Nele caused disruption in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, while Hurricane Ignacio caused scattered showers on Hawaii.

Contents

Season summary

This year, 25 tropical cyclones formed in the eastern north Pacific (140°W to North America. Of those systems, three never strengthened beyond the depression stage, while 22 were named. Of the named systems, ten peaked as tropical storms, 12 as hurricanes, and 8 reached the intensity of major hurricanes by attaining Category 3 strength or higher on the Saffir Simpson Hurricane Scale.[1]

In the central north Pacific (140°W to the dateline), three tropical cyclones formed. One of those stayed as a depression. Another strengthened into a hurricane, and the other one crossed into the northwestern Pacific before eventually returning to the central Pacific.[2]

At the time, this season was the most active on record, breaking the short-lived record held by the 1983 season.[3] The 1992 season has surpassed this record, but this season remains the second-most active overall.[4]

Storms

Tropical Storm Andres

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration June 5 – June 12
Intensity 70 mph (110 km/h) (1-min),  Unknown

On June 1, an area of thunderstorms south of Acapulco developed. It increased in size and, by June 5, was organized enough to be considered a tropical depression. It was upgraded to a tropical storm shortly after that. Andres headed roughly west, and, on June 7, reached its maximum intensity of 70 mph (110 km/h) when it was south of the Baja California Peninsula. It then slowly weakened as it moved around a weak upper-level high. It weakened to a depression on June 8. It stayed a depression as it continued west until it dissipated on June 12 as the cyclone gradually increased in speed. No deaths or damages were reported.[5]

The Monthly Weather Review reports that Tropical Storm Andres operationally started out as a tropical depression.[5] However, the HURDAT "Best Track" file does not give Andres an initial depression stage,[4] implying that Andres was considered to have initially started as a tropical storm post-operationally.

Hurricane Blanca

Category 3 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration June 6 – June 16
Intensity 120 mph (195 km/h) (1-min),  Unknown

A tropical depression formed on June 6 south of Mexico. It became a tropical storm shortly later, and became a hurricane by June 8, but Blanca did not intensify into a major hurricane until June 13. It held on to hurricane strength for a few more days before dissipating June 16. It did not affect any land.

Tropical Storm Carlos

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration June 7 – June 10
Intensity 40 mph (65 km/h) (1-min),  Unknown

A tropical depression formed on June 7. It became Tropical Storm Carlos the next day. It steadily weakened until dissipating by June 10, never to affect land.

Hurricane Dolores

Category 3 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration June 26 – July 5
Intensity 115 mph (185 km/h) (1-min),  Unknown

On June 26, a tropical depression formed off of Mexico. It became a tropical storm the next day and a major hurricane two days later. Dolores steadily weakened after peaking and died on July 5 without ever affecting land.

Tropical Storm Enrique

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration June 27 – July 5
Intensity 40 mph (65 km/h) (1-min),  Unknown

On June 27, a tropical depression formed. Shortly after, it became Tropical Storm Enrique. Enrique never strengthened beyond 40 mph (65 km/h) winds, and dissipated by July 5 without ever affecting land.

Tropical Storm Fefa

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration July 2 – July 6
Intensity 70 mph (110 km/h) (1-min),  Unknown

A tropical depression formed on July 2. It soon became Tropical Storm Fefa. It strengthened into a 70 mph (110 km/h) storm, but never was a threat to land, and dissipated by July 6.

Tropical Storm Guillermo

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration July 7 – July 12
Intensity 60 mph (95 km/h) (1-min),  Unknown

Guillermo formed on July 7. It reached a peak of 60 mph (95 km/h) shortly after, and dissipated five days later without affecting land.

Tropical Depression Eight-E

Tropical depression (SSHS)
Duration July 11 – July 12
Intensity 30 mph (45 km/h) (1-min),  Unknown

This depression lasted only twelve hours.

Tropical Storm Hilda

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration July 18 – July 20
Intensity 40 mph (65 km/h) (1-min),  Unknown

A tropical depression formed by July 18. It became Tropical Storm Hilda the next day, but it weakened shortly after, dissipating July 20 without affecting land.

Hurricane Ignacio

Category 4 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration July 21 – July 27
Intensity 135 mph (215 km/h) (1-min),  Unknown

A tropical depression formed on July 21 Southeast of Hawaii. It became Tropical Storm Ignacio later that day. Ignacio then rapidly intensified and peaked with 135 mph (215 km/h) winds on July 24. As fast as it strengthened, it weakened just as rapidly, dissipating by July 27. Its only impact was bringing light rainfall to Hawaii.

Hurricane Jimena

Category 4 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration July 20 – July 29
Intensity 135 mph (215 km/h) (1-min),  Unknown

Jiminea formed by July 20. It reached tropical storm strength two days later. It eventually peaked with 135 mph (215 km/h) winds, but it did not affect land, and dissipated by July 29.

Tropical Storm Kevin

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration July 29 – August 6
Intensity 65 mph (100 km/h) (1-min),  Unknown

Kevin formed on July 29 as a tropical depression. It became a tropical storm shortly afterwards. Kevin peaked at 65 mph (100 km/h) before wind shear killed it by August 6. It had no effects on land.

Tropical Storm Linda

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration July 29 – August 9
Intensity 50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min),  Unknown

Linda formed on July 29 from a depression. It became Tropical Storm Linda shortly later. It moved south of Hawaii, but did not affect the islands. It dissipated by August 9.

Hurricane Marty

Category 1 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration August 6 – August 13
Intensity 75 mph (120 km/h) (1-min),  Unknown

Marty was a weak hurricane that formed by August 6 and dissipated one week later. Marty had no effects on any land.

Tropical Storm Nora

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration August 19 – August 23
Intensity 45 mph (75 km/h) (1-min),  Unknown

Nora formed on August 19. It became a tropical storm by August 20, but hostile conditions caused it to dissipate by August 23, never to affect any land.

Tropical Depression One-C

Tropical depression (SSHS)
Duration August 20 – August 22
Intensity 35 mph (55 km/h) (1-min),  Unknown

This depression developed from a disturbance embedded in the trade wind flow south of the Hawaiian Islands.

Hurricane Olaf

Category 1 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration August 22 – August 31
Intensity 85 mph (140 km/h) (1-min),  Unknown

Olaf formed on August 22. It was named the next day and soon became a hurricane. It headed west slowly, but hostile conditions caused it to dissipate by August 31, without ever affecting any land.

Hurricane Pauline

Category 1 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration August 27 – September 9
Intensity 85 mph (140 km/h) (1-min),  Unknown

Hurricane Pauline caused heavy surf along the Big Island, which washed debris up onto roads. There was no damage reported. It threatened the islands enough to prompt a hurricane watch being issued, but the hurricane turned away.

Tropical Storm Skip

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration August 30 – September 8
Intensity 40 mph (65 km/h) (1-min),  Unknown

Tropical Depression Two-C formed August 30 and crossed the International dateline the next day. It strengthened into Typhoon Skip after crossing the line. It briefly threatened Wake Island before a Tropical Upper Tropospheric Trough (TUTT) recurved Skip to the northeast. It then recrossed the dateline as a rapidly transitioning tropical storm. Skip became extratropical on September 8 at hurricane strength.

Hurricane Rick

Category 4 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration September 1 – September 12
Intensity 145 mph (230 km/h) (1-min),  Unknown

Rick was the strongest storm of the season, and at the time had the second strongest winds recorded in a tropical cyclone in the Central Pacific. It may also have contributed to a sailing vessel being overdue.

Hurricane Sandra

Category 3 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration September 5 – September 17
Intensity 125 mph (205 km/h) (1-min),  Unknown

Sandra formed by September 5. It became a named storm by the next day, and soon afterwards became a hurricane. It became a major hurricane, and afterwards took a somewhat erratic track before dissipating on September 17 without ever affecting land.

Hurricane Terry

Category 3 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration September 15 – September 24
Intensity 115 mph (185 km/h) (1-min),  Unknown

Terry was a powerful major hurricane that formed by September 15. It became a major hurricane fours days later on September 19, but it did not affect land while doing so. It eventually dissipated due to hostile conditions on September 24, without ever impacting land.

Tropical Storm Vivian

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration September 18 – September 21
Intensity 40 mph (65 km/h) (1-min),  Unknown

Vivian formed on September 18. It became a named storm soon afterwards, but never exceeded having 40 mph (65 km/h) winds. Vivian dissipated on September 21, without ever impacting any land.

Tropical Depression Twenty-Two-E

Tropical depression (SSHS)
Duration October 1 – October 2
Intensity 30 mph (45 km/h) (1-min),  Unknown

This depression developed but never really separated from the ITCZ.

Hurricane Waldo

Main article: Hurricane Waldo (1985)
Category 2 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration October 7 – October 9
Intensity 105 mph (165 km/h) (1-min),  982 mbar (hPa)

Tropical Depression Twenty Three-E formed from a disturbance on October 7. In a favorable environment over warm waters, It rapidly intensified, reaching Tropical Storm intensity the same day it formed. A trough started re-curving Waldo towards the Mexican coast. Just after peaking as a Category 2 hurricane, Waldo made landfall southwest of Culiacán. Waldo rapidly dissipated over land. The storm caused moderate damage[6][7] and one indirect death in Kansas.[8]

Hurricane Nele

Category 1 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration October 23 – October 30
Intensity 90 mph (150 km/h) (1-min),  Unknown

The origins of Nele were from a tropical disturbance to the south-southeast of Hawaii on October 20. The system passed well south of the state, developing into Tropical Depression Three-C on October 23. Although difficult to observe on satellite imagery, the Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC) upgraded it to Tropical Storm Nele early on October 24. Continuing to intensify, the storm tracked northwestward, following a similar path to Hurricane Iwa in 1982 and Hurricane Nina in 1957, both late season storms. On October 25, Nele attained hurricane strength as it turned to the north. On October 26 it attained peak winds of 90 mph (150 km/h). It entered an area of weaker steering currents due to a nearby trough.[2] This caused concern for the CPHC, who noted that a continued path would result in the hurricane moving through the island chain.[9] However, Nele turned to the northwest and instead moved through the Hawaiian Leeward Islands, passing about 100 mi (160 km) west of French Frigate Shoals and very near Tern Island. While Nele fluctuated in intensity, the storm accelerated towards the north, transitioning into an extratropical cyclone by October 30. It was no longer a threat to shipping lanes the next day.[2]

With fears of a repeat of Hurricane Iwa, a hurricane watch was issued for Hawaii.[10][2] Officials moved beach equipment away from the beach in preparation. About 24 hours after the hurricane watch was issued, it was dropped as Neli moved away, alongside the cancellation of a high surf advisory.[11] The hurricane produced 10 ft (3.0 m) waves along south-facing beaches.[12] Upon passing through the Leeward Islands, a weather station recorded winds of 34 mph (55 km/h) with gusts to 50 mph (80 km/h), along with a pressure of 1,000 millibars. Many fishing boats spent a tough night at French Frigate Shoals due to high waves and seas.[2]

Hurricane Xina

Category 3 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration October 25 – November 5
Intensity 115 mph (185 km/h) (1-min),  Unknown

The first recorded twenty-second storm of a season formed October 25. It strengthened into Tropical Storm Xina early October 27. Xina began to start tracing out a huge oblong loop beneath an anticyclone. Xina peaked as a minimal major hurricane on October 29. As it finished the loop and left the cover of the anticyclone, Xina started falling apart. Cool waters took their toll on the cyclone, and Xina dissipated on November 5. Xina stayed at sea, and no casualties or damages were reported.

Tropical Depression Twenty-Five-E

Tropical depression (SSHS)
Duration November 21 – November 21
Intensity 30 mph (45 km/h) (1-min),  Unknown

This depression developed near the southwest tip of Baja California.

1985 storm names

The following names were used for named storms that formed in the eastern Pacific in 1985. No names were retired, so it was used again in the 1991 season. The name "Dolores" was misspelled as "Delores" in 1991. This is the same list used for the 1979 season, except for the added names. Storms were named Kevin, Linda, Marty, Nora, Olaf, Pauline, Rick, Sandra, Terry, Vivian, Waldo, and Xina for the first time in 1985. Names that were not assigned are marked in gray.

  • Andres
  • Blanca
  • Carlos
  • Dolores
  • Enrique
  • Fefa
  • Guillermo
  • Hilda
  • Ignacio
  • Jimena
  • Kevin
  • Linda
  • Marty
  • Nora
  • Olaf
  • Pauline
  • Rick
  • Sandra
  • Terry
  • Vivian
  • Waldo

Because of the level of activity, these names were added during the season:[13]

  • Xina
  • York (unused)
  • Zelda (unused)

One name from the Central Pacific list was used - Nele. It was the first usage for this name. One storm, Typhoon Skip, formed in the central Pacific but did not receive a name until it reached the west Pacific, therefore only Nele was used from the central Pacific list.

Later during the 80's, the added names were made a permanent part of the Eastern Pacific lists, and other names were added for even-numbered years.[13]

See also

References

  1. ^ E.B. Gunther & R.L. Cross (October 1986). "Eastern North Pacific Tropical Cyclones of 1985" (PDF). Monthly Weather Review. American Meteorological Society. pp. 1931. http://journals.ametsoc.org/doi/pdf/10.1175/1520-0493%281986%29114%3C1931%3AENPTCO%3E2.0.CO%3B2. Retrieved 2011-04-28. 
  2. ^ a b c d e "The 1985 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season". Central Pacific Hurricane Center. http://www.prh.noaa.gov/cphc/summaries/1985.php. Retrieved 2007-10-13. 
  3. ^ Gunther & Cross 1932
  4. ^ a b "Eastern North Pacific Tracks File 1949-2006". National Hurricane Center. 2007-06-07. Archived from the original on 2007-08-21. http://web.archive.org/web/20070821192043/http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/tracks1949to2006_epa.txt. Retrieved 2007-10-13. 
  5. ^ a b Gunther & Cross 1935-6
  6. ^ Gunther, E. B.; Cross (9-1986). "1985 Pacific hurricane season:TCR". Monthly Weather Review 1936 (10): 1931. Bibcode 1986MWRv..114.1931G. doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1986)114<1931:ENPTCO>2.0.CO;2. ISSN 1520-0493. http://journals.ametsoc.org/doi/pdf/10.1175/1520-0493%281986%29114%3C1931%3AENPTCO%3E2.0.CO%3B2. Retrieved 10-23-2010. 
  7. ^ "Eastern Pacific hurricane best track analysis 1949-2010". National Hurricane Center. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. March 2011. http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/tracks1949to2010_epa.html. Retrieved 2010-03-22. 
  8. ^ Staff Writer (10-11-1985). "One killed in flooding across the state". Junction City Daily Union. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=R7xEAAAAIBAJ&sjid=N7YMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1285,914233&dq=hurricane+waldo&hl=en. Retrieved 7-23-2011. 
  9. ^ "Hurricane Nearing Hawaii". Record-Journal. October 27, 1985. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rgpIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hwANAAAAIBAJ&pg=4149,5530243&dq=hurricane+nele&hl=en. Retrieved October 2, 2011. 
  10. ^ "Hurricane Nele aims for Hawaii, Juan stirs up Gulf". Star-News. October 26, 1985. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qeJOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yhMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5293,8025647&dq=hurricane+nele&hl=en. Retrieved October 2, 2011. 
  11. ^ "Hurricane Nele veers away from Hawaiian Islands". Gainseville Sun. October 28, 1985. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lz1WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3ekDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7029,3978341&dq=hurricane+nele&hl=en. Retrieved October 2, 2011. 
  12. ^ "From Wire Reports". The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta Constitution: pp. A/13. October 27, 1985. 
  13. ^ a b Gary Padgett (February 2002). "Monthly Global Tropical Cyclone Summary". http://australiasevereweather.com/cyclones/2002/summ0202.htm. Retrieved 2007-10-14. 

External links

Tropical cyclones of the 1985 Pacific hurricane season
Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale
TD TS C1 C2 C3 C4 C5
Book  · Category  · Portal  · WikiProject  · Commons
Previous: 1979 · 1980 · 1981 · 1982 · 1983 · 1984 · 1985 · 1986 · 1987 · 1988 · 1989 · Next: 1990