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1987 Pacific hurricane season
Season summary map |
| First storm formed: |
June 7, 1987 |
| Last storm dissipated: |
October 3, 1987 |
| Strongest storm: |
Max 155 mph (250 km/h) – Eastern
Peke – 105 mph (165 km/h) – Central |
| Total storms: |
20 |
| Hurricanes: |
10 |
| Major hurricanes (Cat. 3+): |
4 |
| Total fatalities: |
1 |
| Total damage: |
Unknown |
Pacific hurricane seasons
1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989 |
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The 1987 Pacific hurricane season officially started May 15, 1987 in the eastern Pacific, and June 1, 1987 in the central Pacific, and lasted until November 30, 1987. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northeastern Pacific Ocean.
Despite there being twenty cyclones, there were very few notable storms this year. Only three storms came anywhere near to threatening land. Hurricane Eugene was the first Pacific hurricane to make landfall in Mexico in July since at least the 1949 season and caused the season's only known fatality. Tropical Storm Pilar and Hurricane Norma also came close to land. The remnants of Hurricanes Ramon and Norma caused rain in the Continental United States. Elsewhere, Peke was a central north Pacific hurricane that crossed the dateline and became a typhoon.
[edit] Seasonal summary
This year, there were nine tropical storms, nine hurricanes, and four major hurricanes that reached Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale.[1] In the Central Pacific, one hurricane and one tropical storm formed. Two tropical storms entered this basin from the east by crossing 140°W.[2]
[edit] Storms
[edit] Tropical Storm Adrian
On June 7, a tropical depression formed. It strengthened into a tropical storm immediately thereafter. After peaking with a windspeed of 40 knots, on June 8, Adrian slowly weakened. It fell to a tropical depression on June 9 and dissipated later that day. During its life, Adrian paralleled the Mexican shoreline far offshore before looping counter-clockwise over its path when it was a depression.[1]
[edit] Tropical Storm Beatriz
On July 3, a tropical depression formed. It strengthened into a tropical storm later that day. Beatriz slowly strengthened and moved generally northwest as it stayed far offshore. On July 5, Beatriz reached its peak wind speed of 45 knots. It weakened thereafter, falling to a depression on July 6 and dissipating the next day.[1] Beatriz never approached land and its impact, if any, is unknown.
[edit] Tropical Storm Calvin
A tropical depression formed on July 5 and immediately strengthened into a tropical storm the next day. Calvin headed generally east. On July 8, it peaked with a windspeed of 55*nbsp;knots. It then gradually weakened, falling to a depression on July 9 and dissipating the next day.[1] Tropical Storm Calvin stayed at sea, and thus it is unknown if there were casualties or damage.
[edit] Tropical Storm Dora
A tropical depression that had organized on July 15 strengthened into a tropical storm that same day. Dora headed east northeast and slowly strengthened. It reached its peak windspeed of 50 knots on July 17. It then steadily weakened until it became a depression two days later. It dissipated on July 20.[1] Tropical Storm Dora's impact is not known.
[edit] Hurricane Eugene
A tropical disturbance developed into a tropical depression on July 22. It initially headed westward and strengthened into a tropical storm the same day it formed.[1] It strengthened into a hurricane, the first of the season, on July 24 as an upper-level cyclone pulled the system north.[3] After peaking as a Category 2 hurricane with winds of 85 knots on July 25,[1] land interaction weakened the hurricane to category 1 as it made landfall south of Manzanillo. The rough topography weakened Eugene, and the hurricane was only a depression when it emerged into the Gulf of California. It promptly dissipated on July 26.[3]
Hurricane Eugene caused extremely heavy rain in coastal parts of Mexico. The highest rain was 20.68 inches at Aquila, Michoacán.[3] Hurricane Eugene or its remnants are responsible for the highest tropical cyclone caused rainfall in the Mexican states of Aguascalientes, Michoacán, Querétaro, Tlaxcala, and Zacatecas between 1983 and 2007.[4] In Manzanillo, at least 60 people were rendered homeless.[5] Most of the damage was the scattering of debris and mud. Two to three hundred houses were destroyed in Colima. Elsewhere, Manzanillo Airport's control tower was damaged, necessitating closure for a few days. Six people were injured, and a man in Venustiano Carrazano was killed when a palm tree was blown over.[6]
Since at least the 1949 season, Hurricane Eugene was the only July hurricane to make landfall on the Pacific coast of Mexico. Since then, the only other one was 1993's Hurricane Calvin.[7]
[edit] Tropical Storm Fernanda
At a place more westerly than typical for eastern Pacific hurricanes, Tropical Depression Nine-E[2] formed on July 24. Heading west, the cyclone reached tropical storm intensity on July 25. Fernanda strengthened and reached its peak intensity of 55 knots on July 26, the same day it crossed 140°W and entered the central north Pacific.<[1] Fernanda headed in the general direction of the Hawaiian Islands as a trough approached. The trough caused wind shear, which weakened the cyclone into a tropical depression on July 28. Fernanda dissipated three days later.[2]
Tropical Storm Fernanda caused no reported impact in the Central Pacific Hurricane Center's area of responsibility.[2] It is unknown if there was impact elsewhere.
[edit] Hurricane Greg
A tropical depression which had organized on July 28 strengthened into a tropical storm the day after it formed. The cyclone steadily intensified as it roughly paralleled the Mexican coast for offshore. Greg became a hurricane on July 31 and peaked with windspeeds of 70 knots on August 1. It then weakened, falling to tropical storm intensity later on August 1, falling to depression intensity on August 2, and dissipating the next day.[1] Greg stayed at sea and any impact it had is unknown.
[edit] Hurricane Hilary
On July 31, a tropical depression formed and headed west-northwest, a heading it would maintain for its entire life. The cyclone strengthened at a regular pace and reached hurricane intensity on the first day of August. Hilary continued strengthening, and became a hurricane on August 2. On August 3, the cyclone reached Category 3 status on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, making it the first major hurricane of the season. At its peak strength, which it reached on August 4, Hilary had winds of 105 knots. It then weakened, and had fallen to Category 1 intensity on August 5. The hurricane then restrengthened, maintaining Category 2 intensity until August 6. The system then began a terminal weakening trend. By August 7 it was only a tropical storm. After falling to depression strength, Hilary dissipated on August 9.[1] Whatever impact Hurricane Hilary might have had is unknown.
[edit] Tropical Storm Irwin
A tropical depression formed on August 3 and immediately intensified into a tropical storm. Irwin fluctuated in strength, and closely paralleled the coast of Mexico. On August 6, Irwin reached its maximum windspeed of 55 knots; it maintained that velocity for over two days. Around August 8, Irwin turned nearly due west and headed out to sea. Irwin weakened to a depression on August 9 and immediately dissipated.[1] Although Tropical Storm Irwin closely paralleled the Pacific coast of Mexico, any effects it might have had there are unknown.
[edit] Hurricane Jova
A tropical depression formed on August 13 and intensified into Tropical Storm Jova the next day. It headed more-or-less westerly, a direction maintained until dissipation. Jova steadily strengthened and reached hurricane intensity on August 16. When it peaked on August 17, Jova was a 90 knot Category 2 hurricane. After peaking, Jova slowly weakened as it continued westwards. It was in a decling state when it crossed 140°W and entered the central north Pacific.[1] Jova continued to weaken, and was a depression by August 20. Jova dissipated two days later while due south of the Big Island of Hawaii, although it remnants were still visible south of Johnston Atoll until at least August 24.[2]
Hurricane Jova caused no impact in the Central Pacific Hurricane Center's area of responsibility.[2] It is not known if there was impact elsewhere.
[edit] Tropical Storm Oka
A disturbance in the intertropical convergence zone organized into Tropical Depression One-C on August 26. Twelve hours later, it was upgraded to a tropical storm and named Oka, which is Hawaiian for Oscar. Oka slowly moved west-northwest and reached its peak windspeed of 50 knots on August 27. The next day, troughing caused wind shear, which weakened Oka to a depression on August 29 and subsequently destroyed it.[2]
No reports of damage or casualties were received.[2]
[edit] Tropical Storm Knut
On August 28, a tropical depression formed. Twelve hours later, it strengthened into a tropical storm and was named Knut. Never attaining winds stronger than 35 knots, Knut stayed a tropical storm for one day. It weakened to a tropical depression on August 30 and dissipated later that day. The cyclone stayed out at sea for its entire life, and never threatened land.[1]
Knut's impact is unknown. However, its name was retired after this season. Possible explanations include "practical reasons such as a pronunciation ambiguity or a 'socially unacceptable' meaning in one of the languages" or "because they represented a significant human disaster."[8]
[edit] Hurricane Lidia
On August 29, a tropical despression formed and intensified into a storm the next day. Lidia headed northwest, paralleling the Mexican coast. It edged in a more westerly direction for a day before resuming its northwesterly path, and reached hurricane intensity on September 1. At its strongest windspeed, which was attained on September 1, Hurricane Lidia had a windspeed of 75 knots. Lidia then began weakening. It lost hurricane intensity on September 2, and dissipated on September 3, the same day it became a tropical depression.[1] It is not known what Hurricane Lidia's effects were, if any.
[edit] Hurricane Max
On September 10, a tropical depression which had formed the previous day intensified into a tropical storm. Heading west-northwest, Max steadily intensified. It became a hurricane on September 11, reached Category 2 intensity the next day, and became a major hurricane six hours later. On September 12, Hurricane Max reached Category 4 intensity. Max's maximum windspeed of 135 knots was the highest for the season, and the cyclone attained that strength on September 13. The hurricane's track then shifted north for a time, before turning to the west on September 15. That same day, the weakened to a tropical storm. The tropical cyclone dissipated on September 16.[1] Hurricane Max stayed out to sea during its lifespan, and any impact it might have had is unknown.
[edit] Hurricane Norma
A tropical depression formed on September 14. It took over a day to reach tropical storm strength. Norma paralleled the coast far offshore. On September 17, Norma turned to the north, and became a hurricane for twelve hours before weakening again. Norma continued north, and then edged slightly east when it weakened to a depression on September 19. The next day, Tropical Depression Norma dissipated just south of the Baja California Peninsula; it never made landfall.[1]
Hurricane Norma's remnants caused rainfall and thunderstorms in California on September 22 and September 23. The rain was a record 0.70 inches at Lindbergh Field, and 0.97 inches at Lemon Grove. There were numerous power outages and small fires, some road flooding, and some property damage.[9] Whatever impact Norma had in Mexico, if any, is unknown.
[edit] Hurricane Otis
A tropical depression formed on September 20 and strengthened into a storm later that day. Otis slowly tracked north-northwest. On September 21, Otis became a hurricane. It also began to slowly turn to the northwest. The next day, Otis reached its peak windspeed of 100 knots. It would oscillate irregularly between that strength and Category 2 intensity until September 24. That day, it began accelerating to the west as it lost strength. Otis fell to tropical storm strength on September 25 and a depression on September 26, the same day it dissipated.[1] Otis stayed at sea and whatever impact it might have had is unknown.
[edit] Hurricane Peke
Because of an El Niño in progress at the time, a "cloud cluster" situated southeast of Hawaii gathered enough convection and a closed circulation to become Tropical Depression Two-C on September 21. It immediately strengthened into a storm and was named Peke, which is Hawaiian for Becky. Peke continued to strengthen as it tracked north just east of the dateline. Peke intensified into a hurricane on September 23 and reached Category 2 intensity the next day. Peke continued heading north and shortly after weakening into a Category 1 hurricane, it turned to the northwest and crossed the dateline.[2] It reintensified, and peaked as a 100 knot typhoon on September 23. It accelerated to the northwest and began to take in drier air. This weakened Peke. On October 2, Peke recurved to the southeast. The last advisory on this tropical cyclone was issued on October 3 as it dissipated. Peke's remnants continued drifting erratically for over three days, first heading east, then northwest, and then southeast, at which time they were finally unidentifiable.[10]
Hurricane/Typhoon Peke caused no damages or deaths.[2][10] It was also the first tropical cyclone of hurricane strength to cross the dateline since 1967's Hurricane/Typhoon Sara to cross the dateline at that strength.[10] Regardless of strength, Peke was the third tropical cyclone in three years to exist on both sides of the dateline, after 1985's Typhoon Skip[11] and Typhoon Georgette.[12]
[edit] Tropical Storm Pilar
A tropical depression formed on September 30 while located south of the Baja California Peninsula. It headed north and peaked as a minimal, 35 knot tropical storm on October 1. After being a tropical storm for only six hours, the minimum possible, Pilar weakened to a depression and dissipated that same day. It never made landfall, dissipating just south of the southern tip of the Baja California Peninsula.[1] What ever impact it might have had after dissipating is unknown.
[edit] Hurricane Ramon
On October 5, a tropical storm formed, skipping the tropical depression stage. It headed gradually west-northwest. It intensified into a hurricane on October 7 and reached major hurricane status on October 8. At its most intense, an event which was attained on October 9 and October 10, Hurricane Ramon had winds of 120 knots. After peaking, Ramon turned to the northwest and steadily weakened. It became a tropical storm on October 11 and a depression on October 12. It dissipated shortly after that.[1]
The remains of this tropical cyclone caused moderate to heavy rains in southern California. The highest amount noted was 2.14 inches at Camp Pendelton.[9] Ramon's impact elsewhere, if any, is unknown.
[edit] Tropical Storm Selma
On October 27, a tropical depression formed and headed northwest, gradually recurving north. It intensified into a 35 knot tropical storm on October 28. Selma maintained that strength until the next day, when it weakened to a depression. Selma's recurving continued, and on October 29, it again intensified into a 35 knot tropical storm. Without further strengthening, it weakened into a tropical depression, headed north northeast, and dissipated on October 31.[1] Whatever effects Tropical Storm Selma might have had are unknown.
[edit] Other storms
Since Tropical Storm Fernanda, the sixth named system of the season, formed from Tropical Depression Nine-E, it follows that there were at least three other tropical depressions this year.[2] Information about them is unavailable.
[edit] 1987 storm names
The following names were used for named storms that formed in the eastern Pacific in 1987. The names not retired from this list were used again in the 1993 season. This is the same list used for the 1981 season. However, the names Xina, York, and Zelda were added to name lists for odd-numbered years sometime after 1985 due to that year's season threatening to exhaust the list.[13] Storms were named Pilar and Ramon for the first time in 1987, as the name Selma had been used on the older lists. Names that were not assigned are marked in gray.
- Adrian
- Beatriz
- Calvin
- Dora
- Eugene
- Fernanda
- Greg
- Hilary
|
- Irwin
- Jova
- Knut
- Lidia
- Max
- Norma
- Otis
- Pilar
|
- Ramon
- Selma
- Todd (unused)
- Veronica (unused)
- Wiley (unused)
- Xina (unused)
- York (unused)
- Zelda (unused)
|
Two names from the Central Pacific list were used - Oka and Peke. This was the first usage for both names.
[edit] Retirement
The World Meteorological Organization retired one Eastern Pacific name in the spring of 1988: Knut.[8] It was replaced in the 1993 season by Kenneth.[14]
[edit] Administrative Changes
This is the last season that the Eastern Pacific Hurricane Center in Redwood City, California was responsible for forecasting in this basin, a task it had performed since circa 1972.[15] The EPHC was folded into the National Hurricane Center, which took responsibility for this basin starting in spring, 1988.[16]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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Tropical cyclones of the 1987 Pacific hurricane season
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* Central Pacific system |
