2008 Pacific hurricane season

All you want to know about 2008 Pacific hurricane season

2008 Pacific hurricane season
First storm formed: May 28, 2008
Last storm dissipated: November 4, 2008
Strongest storm: Norbert - 945 mbar (hPa) (27.92 inHg), 140 mph (220 km/h) (1-minute sustained)
Total depressions: 18
Total storms: 16
Hurricanes: 7
Major hurricanes (Cat. 3+): 2
Total fatalities: 12 direct, 7 indirect
Total damage: $51.8 million (2008 USD)
Pacific hurricane seasons
2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010

The 2008 Pacific hurricane season was an event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. It officially started May 15, 2008 in the eastern Pacific, started on June 1, 2008 in the central Pacific, and lasted until November 30, 2008.

This season is the first since 1996 to have no cyclones cross into the central Pacific.[1] Activity this year was near average, with 16 storms forming in the Eastern Pacific proper and an additional 1 in the Central Pacific. There were 7 hurricanes, a low number compared to the typical 9, and only 2 major hurricanes, unlike the typical 5. There were only a few notable storms this year. Tropical Storm Alma made landfall along the Pacific coast of Nicaragua, becoming the first known storm to do so. It killed 9 and did $33 million in damage (2008 USD). Hurricane Norbert became the strongest hurricane to hit the western side of the Baja Peninsula on record, killing 8 and causing an unknown ammount of damage there.

Contents

Seasonal forecasts

Predictions of tropical activity in the 2008 season
for the Eastern North Pacific
Source Date Named
storms		 Hurricanes Major
hurricanes
NOAA Average[2] 15.3 8.8 4.2
NOAA[3] 22 May 2008 11 – 16 5 – 8 1 – 3
Record high activity 27 16 9
Record low activity 8 4 0
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Actual activity 16 7 2

On May 22, 2008, NOAA released their forecast for the 2008 Eastern Pacific and Central Pacific hurricane seasons. They predicted a below-normal level of activity in the Eastern Pacific, with 11 to 16 named storms, of which 5 to 8 were expected to become hurricanes, and 1 to 3 expected to become major hurricanes.[3]

The Central Pacific basin was also expected to be slightly below average, with three to four tropical cyclones expected to form or cross into the area.[4]

Storms

Tropical Storm Alma

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration May 28—May 30
Intensity 65 mph (100 km/h) (1-min), 994 mbar (hPa)
Main article: Tropical Storm Alma (2008)

An area of low pressure formed early on May 27 about 220 nm southwest of Nicaragua. [5] it then intensified and became the first tropical depression of the 2008 season late the next day. [6] It then strengthened into a tropical storm early on May 29, and was named Alma. [7] Alma then rapidly strengthened reaching her peak winds of 65 mph just before Alma made landfall on the Northwestern coast of Nicaragua near León at peak strength. [5]

León lost electricity and telephone services as the storm impacted the area, trees were toppled and some houses lost roofs. [8] In total nine people were killed with seven of them being indirect; the two direct deaths were in Nicaragua in León. [5] On May 30th the remnant low of Alma emerged into the Gulf of Honduras and merged with a tropical wave over the north western Caribbean sea which then became Tropical Storm Arthur later that day. [5] [9]

Hurricane Boris

Main article: Hurricane Boris (2008)
Category 1 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration June 27—July 4
Intensity 80 mph (130 km/h) (1-min), 985 mbar (hPa)

An area of low pressure slowly developed southwest of Central America in the fourth week of June. On June 27 at 2 a.m. PDT (0900 UTC), after several days over the warm waters south of the Baja Peninsula, it developed enough organized convection to be designated Tropical Depression Two-E. [10] After holding steady for about 48 hours, Boris intensified to a strong tropical storm late on June 29, and to a hurricane on July 1. Boris reached its peak the next day as an 80 mph hurricane.[11] Shortly after its peak, Boris moved over cooler waters and began to weaken and the remnant low dissipated July 6 .[12]

Tropical Storm Cristina

Main article: Tropical Storm Cristina (2008)
Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration June 27—June 30
Intensity 50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min), 1000 mbar (hPa)

An area of low pressure developed into Tropical Depression Three-E on June 27 to the west of Hurricane Boris. It strengthened the next day into Tropical Storm Cristina, and remained a relatively weak tropical storm as it tracked westward. It weakened to a tropical depression on June 30 as shear increased. Cristina dissipated later that day.

Tropical Storm Douglas

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration July 1—July 3
Intensity 40 mph (65 km/h) (1-min), 1003 mbar (hPa)
Main article: Tropical Storm Douglas (2008)

Tropical Storm Douglas was the fourth named storm of the 2008 Pacific hurricane season. Douglas developed out of a tropical wave that formed off the African coast on June 19 and traversed the Atlantic Ocean. On June 27, the wave crossed Central America and entered the Pacific Ocean. On July 1, the storm developed into Tropical Depression Four-E while located 245 nmi (250 km) southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico as it traveled to the northwest. Despite being dislocated from most of the convection by strong wind shear, the depression gradually became better organized and on the afternoon July 2, the depression was upgraded to Tropical Storm Douglas. Upon the upgrade, Douglas reached its peak intensity of 40 mph (65 km) and minimum pressure of 1003 mbar (hPa; 29.63 inHg). Douglas weakened to a tropical depression overnight on July 3. The depression became devoid of convection shortly after and was further downgraded to a remnant low-pressure area on the morning of July 4 as it turned towards the west. The remnant low continued to weaken and completely dissipated on July 6.

Due to the proximity to land, outer rain bands associated with Douglas produced tropical storm force winds in Manzanillo, Mexico.[13] Minor flood damage was reported along the coastline in Colima, Jalisco, and Nayarit.[14] On July 2, a ship located to the southwest of the center reported a sustained wind of 30 mph (50 km/h).[15]


Tropical Depression Five-E

Tropical depression (SSHS)
Duration July 5—July 7
Intensity 35 mph (55 km/h) (1-min), 1005 mbar (hPa)

In early July, a strong tropical wave southwest of the Mexican coast slowly developed. It became Tropical Depression Five-E on July 5. It then headed west-northwest before turning more northwest and making landfall near Lázaro Cárdenas, Mexico on July 7. The storm dissipated shortly after landfall. Its remnants brought rainfall to southern Mexico, but caused no severe flooding, casualties, or serious damage in its path.

Hurricane Elida

Category 2 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration July 12—July 19
Intensity 105 mph (165 km/h) (1-min), 970 mbar (hPa)
Main article: Hurricane Elida (2008)

Late on July 11, an area of low pressure situated a few hundred miles south of the Gulf of Tehuantepec acquired sufficient organized convection to be classified as Tropical Depression Six-E. The depression soon strengthened into Tropical Storm Elida. On July 13, Elida slowly gained strength as it was near Mexico. Overnight on July 14, Elida strengthened into the second hurricane of the season as it pulled away from the coast.

After remaining stable in intensity for two days, it rapidly strengthened on July 16 into a Category 2 hurricane. That day Elida peaked as a 105 mph (165 km/h) Category 2 hurricane, the strongest of the season at that time Only Hurricane Hernan was stronger. Elida was a Category 2 for about 36 hours and later weakened into a Category 1 hurricane.[16]

Twelve hours after Elida weakened to a Category 1, Elida weakened to a tropical storm. [17] Elida weakened to a tropical depression on July 19 as the low became exposed and dissipated that afternoon.

A few days later the wave slowly gained convection as it crossed in the CPHC area of responsibility, however as it neared Hawaii its chance of regeneration diminished.

Elida's outer rainbands reached Mexico. However, no watches or warnings were issued. Elida was briefly foretasted to make landfall in Hawaii. However Elida, dissipated before it hit the state. The remnants of Elida did give showers in Hawaii.

Hurricane Fausto

Category 1 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration July 16—July 22
Intensity 90 mph (150 km/h) (1-min), 977 mbar (hPa)

Tropical Depression Seven-E formed from an area of low pressure on July 16 about 560 mi (905 km) SE of Acapulco. It strengthened into Tropical Storm Fausto that afternoon. It strengthened gradually into a strong tropical storm on July 17 and a hurricane on July 18. It briefly reached Category 2 intensity on July 20 while southwest of the Baja California peninsula before weakening rapidly that afternoon back to a tropical storm. It dissipated on July 22 over cooler waters. After a post-storm analysis review, Fausto was found to have peaked just below Category 2 status.

Hurricane Genevieve

Category 1 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration July 21—July 27
Intensity 75 mph (120 km/h) (1-min), 987 mbar (hPa)

A vigorous tropical wave tracked across Central America (nearly becoming a tropical depression in the southwest Caribbean Sea) in the third week of July. It emerged into the Pacific and organized into Tropical Depression Eight-E on July 21. That afternoon it strengthened into Tropical Storm Genevieve. It remained a tropical storm as it fluctuated in intensity for the next several days while well southwest of Mexico. On July 25, it strengthened into Hurricane Genevieve, which it remained until weakening to a tropical storm early on July 26, and a remnant low the next day.

Hurricane Hernan

Category 3 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration August 6—August 13
Intensity 120 mph (195 km/h) (1-min), 956 mbar (hPa)
Main article: Hurricane Hernan (2008)

Late on July 31, a well defined area of low pressure developed into a tropical wave while located to the south-west of Mexico. The wave became less organized over the next two days as it slowly moved towards the north-northwest. On August 4, the wave became very disorganized and relocated to the south and east of its previous location. Over the next few days, the wave became better organized and by August 6, the National Hurricane Center determined that the system had developed enough convection to be declared Tropical Depression Nine-E while located 700 nmi (1,300 km) to the west of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico [18]

Tropical Depression Nine-E was being influenced by a high presser area located over Mexico, causing it to move at a quick pace of 16 mph (26 km/h) to the north-west. The depression was upgraded to Tropical Storm Hernan overnight as the storm became more organized. Although Hernan was located over warm waters, moderate wind shear prevented the storm from intensifying quickly as it continued towards the west-northwest at a slower pace.[19]

Hernan slowly became better organized and at 2AM August 7 the NHC upgraded Hernan to a 50 mph Tropical Storm.[20] Hernan quickly strengthened to a 60 mph Tropical Storm six hours [21] It became a 75 mph hurricane on the morning of August 8.[22] At 2 PM the NHC upgraded it to an 85 mph hurricane.[23] Twelve hours later the NHC upgraded to a Category 2 Hurricane. [24] Just an hour after that the NHC upgraded it to peak winds of 120 mph, which made it a Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson Scale. [25] It stayed at this intensity for 12 hours before weakening slightly at the very end of the day.[26]Hernan was still a major hurricane until 2 AM it became a Category 2.

Hernan kept on weakening, becoming to a Category 1 a few hours later due to an eyewall replacement cycle. However that morning they eywall replacement cycle was completed. Hernan changed little in strength because over the next few days. However, Hernan was still losing energy at some times causing the NHC to downgraded the winds from time to time. On August 12 Hernan was downgraded to a tropical storm due to cool waters of the Pacific.[27] It continued to weaken and was downgraded to a Tropical Depression Hernan. [28] Tropical Depression Hernan quickly weakened early August 13. Hernan degreated to a swirl of clouds that afternoon for the same reason, without moving in The CPHC area of Responsibility. Hernan remained out over open waters for the duration of its life. If any, there was very little surf. No deaths or damage were reported. No one was hurt and there was no recuses. No ships reported winds above 38 mph.

Tropical Storm Kika

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration August 6—August 12
Intensity 65 km/h (40 mph) (1-min), 1007 hPa (mbar)
Main article: Tropical Storm Kika (2008)

An area of disturbed weather to the southeast of Hawaiʻi organized enough to be classified as a tropical depression One-C on August 6, and strengthened into a tropical storm the same day and was named Kika (Keith in English) by the CPHC. [29] [30] Over the next few days as Kika moved westwards it maintained its peak intensity of 35 kts until late on August 8th when Kika was downgraded to a tropical depression. [31] However early the next day Kika reintensifed into a tropical storm [32] over the next few days Kika was kept at minimal tropical storm status until early on August 11 when it was downgraded to a tropical depression. The CPHC then downgraded Kika to a remnant low and issued its final advisory on August 12. [33]

Tropical Storm Iselle

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration August 13—August 16
Intensity 50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min), 999 mbar (hPa)

A disturbance southwest of Mexico developed into Tropical Depression Ten-E on August 13. It became Tropical Storm Iselle later that day. It never threatened land, and dissipated on August 16.

Tropical Storm Julio

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration August 23—August 26
Intensity 50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min), 998 mbar (hPa)
Main article: Tropical Storm Julio (2008)

On August 23, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) upgraded an area of low presure which was located in the eastern Pacific ocean south of Baja California to Tropical Depression Eleven E. [34] Later that morning, Tropical Storm Wactes went up. That afternoon, the depression intensified into a tropical storm after a ship report supported tropical storm intensity.[35] It made landfall in La Paz after becoming a tropical storm with 50 mph winds and a well-defined center, Mexico as a tropical storm on August 24, weakened, and dissipated August 26.

As Julio made landfall, it produced lightning and locally heavy rainfall,[36] which left more than a dozen communities isolated due to flooding. The flooding damaged several houses and killed two people.[37] Winds were generally light,[36] although strong enough to damage a few electrical poles and small buildings.[38] Moisture from Julio developed thunderstorms across Arizona, including one near Chandler which produced winds of 75 mph (120 km/h); the storm damaged ten small planes at Chandler Municipal Airport, as well as a hangar. The storms also dropped light rainfall, reaching over 1 inch (25 mm) in Gilbert, which caused flooding on Interstate 17.[39]

Tropical Storm Karina

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration September 2—September 3
Intensity 40 mph (65 km/h) (1-min), 1000 mbar (hPa)
Main article: Tropical Storm Karina (2008)

A disturbance tracked into the eastern Pacific near the end of August. It slowly organized itself, and was determined to have been a tropical Depression Eleven on the morning of September 2 a became a tropical storm that day and was named Karina. At first it was thought that it skipped tropical Depression status. On the afternoon of September 2 it reached it peak of 40 mph. Karina weakened to a tropical depression later the same day. The depression dissipated late the next morning.

Tropical Storm Lowell

Main article: 2008 Midwest floods
Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration September 6—September 11
Intensity 50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min), 998 mbar (hPa)

Tropical Storm Lowell developed out of monsoonal trough located off the southwest coast of Mexico on the morning of September 5. A weak area of low pressure was found embedded within a large area of scattered moderate and isolated strong convection.[40] The low failed to develop and was not mentioned in the tropical weather discussions for the rest of the day.[41] On September 6, a new low had formed on the western side of the trough. The low was poorly defined but global forecast models were anticipating cyclogenesis within the next two days.[42]

Southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico, the area of thunderstorms strengthened into Tropical Storm Lowell on the night of September 6. The system skipped tropical depression status and was named Lowell.[43] Lowell slowly strengthened into a 50 mph Tropical Storm. A tropical storm watch was issued for southern Baja California as the storm headed north, but it weakened to a tropical depression on September 9. The next day Tropical Depression Lowell made landfall with 35 mph winds. It moved inland and dissipated on September 11. The remnants of Tropical Storm Lowell continued across the United States and joined with a cold front bringing heavy rains to the central northern states before tracking into Canada. It caused the heaviest rainstorm ever recorded in Chicago since records began in 1877.

Lowell made landfall as a tropical depression in Baja California but its affects where felt at more inland areas. In Michoacan, Sonora, and Sinaloa, flooding from Lowell's remnants left more than 26500 people homeless. No deaths were reported.[44] Damage in Sonora totaled over 200 million pesos - $15.5 million in 2008 USD.[45]

Moisture from Lowell eventually joined with a cold front and the remnants of Hurricane Ike and caused significant damage. As this conglomeration of moisture traveled through the United States it caused extensive flooding in Illinois. In Chicago it broke flooding records dating back to 1871.[46]

Hurricane Marie

Category 1 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration October 1—October 6
Intensity 80 mph (130 km/h) (1-min), 984 mbar (hPa)

Marie originated from a tropical wave that emerged from the west coast of Africa on September 6. The wave moved quickly westward with little or no associated convection until it reached Central America about two weeks later. On September 24 when the wave emerged over the eastern North Pacific, a few weak bands of convection finally developed. However, this system showed no signs of having a closed surface circulation until September 28 when the system was located about 300 miles south of Manzanillo, Mexico. [47]

Tropical Depression Fourteen-E formed on October 1 from a broad area of low pressure SW of Baja California. It strengthened to become Tropical Storm Marie later the same day. Heading more or less westwards, by October 3 it became slow moving and strengthened into hurricane Marie, the sixth hurricane of the season. After unusually weak activity during the late August and September [35], Marie was the first hurricane since Hernan, two months earlier. Marie weakened at a steady pace until its winds reached 40 mph,a weak tropical storm. Shortly thereafter, it was downgraded to tropical depression status. As it was dissipating, Tropical Depression Marie degenerated into an open trough before being absorbed into Intertropical Convergence Zone on October 19.[48]

Hurricane Norbert

Category 4 hurricane (SSHS)
Duration October 3—October 12
Intensity 140 mph (220 km/h) (1-min), 945 mbar (hPa)
Main article: Hurricane Norbert (2008)

Late in September, a vigorous tropical wave moved off the west coast of Mexico. By October 1, the National Hurricane Center issued a high probability (over 50% chance of development in the next 48 hours) for development into a tropical cyclone, but as the wave stalled offshore, it began losing vigor, with the NHC reducing the likelihood to medium (20-50% chance for development in the next 48 hours) the next day. As of 2100 UTC October 3, the likelihood of development within the next 48 hours was high again. Then, late that night, the wave developed into Tropical Depression Fifteen-E, and then into Tropical Storm Norbert 24 hours later.

Norbert ultimately became a hurricane on October 7 and rapidly intensified to a Category 2 hurricane and it became a major hurricane on October 8, the second of the season and the first since Hurricane Hernan. It continued to strengthen into a Category 4 hurricane before weakening back to a Category 3 by the morning of October 9th, and weakened into a Category 1 hurricane that afternoon, but restrengthened into a Category 2 the next day, and became a minimal major hurricane the next morning, and it made landfall in Baja California as a Category 2 later that morning. Norbert then hit the mainland of Mexico as a Category 1 hurricane, killing 8. The final advisory on Norbert was issued on the morning of October 12.

Hurricane Norbert struck Mexico's Baja California peninsula on Saturday with torrential rains and winds of up to 155 km/h. Strong winds bent palm trees along coastal areas. Some streets were in knee-deep water in the town of Puerto San Carlos. Norbert was ripping off roofs, knocking down trees and left one person missing and more than 20,000 homes without electricity, local authorities say. Some 2850 people were housed in temporary shelters. Forty per cent of homes were totally or partially damaged on the islands of Margarita and Magdalena, mainly having lost their roofs, said a report from state protection services. La Paz international airport suspended its activities at midday local time Saturday, but the tourist resort of Los Cabos remained open. Hotel reservations were down by around 40 per cent mainly in Los Cabos and Loreto, local tourism officials said. [49]

Norbert was a Category 2 hurricane at landfall, which made Norbert the first October hurricane to strike the western Baja California peninsula since Hurricane Pauline forty years prior, and Norbert was the stronger of the two.

Tropical Storm Odile

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration October 8—October 12
Intensity 60 mph (95 km/h) (1-min), 997 mbar (hPa)

In early October, a tropical wave formed near Nicaragua. Remaining Stationary until October 6 or October 7, the wave dumped heavy rain on the area, although damages or deaths, if any, have yet to be reported. On October 8, the wave became better organized as the National Hurricane Center increased the odds of development from the system. Then, later that day, the wave developed into Tropical Depression Sixteen-E, the sixteenth tropical cyclone of the active season. On the morning of October 9, it became Tropical Storm Odile, a short lived storm while located southwest of Guatemala.

Odile slowly strengthened over the next few days. [50] On October 10 tropical storm watches were issued in Mexico as it strengthened into a tropical storm with winds of 60 mph.[51] That night Odile made it closest approach to the area it came within 50 miles (80 km). [52] After making it closest approach to Mexico, an Aircraft investigated Odile as it peaked as a 65 mph tropical storm.[53] Over the next several days, however, Odile slowly weakened and dissipated on October 12, the same day that Hurricane Norbert met it's demise.

Eighteen hours after it was named, a Tropical Storm Watch was issued form Punta Maalaldnado to Zihuatanejo. [54] It was replaced with a warning 12 hours later.[55] Before becoming a tropical wave, the precursor disturbance to Odile dumped heavy rainfall on Nicaragua, although as of 2100 UTC October 8, 2008, any impact is unknown. Odile also caused rain in Mexico, but any impact is unknown.

Tropical Depression Seventeen-E

Tropical depression (SSHS)
Duration October 23—October 24
Intensity 35 mph (55 km/h) (1-min), 1008 mbar (hPa)

Tropical Depression Seventeen-E formed rapidly on October 23 from an area of disturbed weather a few hundred miles south of Manzanillo.[56] It dissipated the next day while never reaching tropical storm status.

Tropical Storm Polo

Tropical storm (SSHS)
Duration November 2—November 4
Intensity 40 mph (65 km/h) (1-min), 1005 mbar (hPa)

On November 2, the National Hurricane Center designated an area of low pressure 990 mi (1590 km) south of the southern tip of Baja California as Tropical Depression Eighteen-E.[57] It slowly strengthened until it became a tropical storm and received the name Polo, the Seventeenth named storm of the very active season. When it was named the NHC forecasted Polo to become a strong tropical storm, but it remained a weak tropical storm with 40 mph winds, barely holding on to Tropical storm status. [58] It remained a tropical storm at the same intensity until November 4. At that time it weakened until it was downgraded to a depression. That same day the storm was declared dissipated because it had degenerated into an open trough.

Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE)

ACE (104kt²) (Source) — Storm:
1 19.3 Norbert 10 (1.59) Kika
2 12.1 Hernan 11 1.30 Iselle
3 11.5 Elida 12 1.21 Cristina
4 10.1 Fausto 13 1.18 Julio
5 7.68 Boris 14 0.980 Polo
6 5.76 Genevieve 15 0.830 Alma
7 4.94 Marie 16 0.613 Douglas
8 2.74 Odile 17 0.245 Karina
9 2.45 Lowell
Total: 83.0 (1.59)

The table on the right shows the ACE for each storm in the season. ACE is, broadly speaking, a measure of the power of the hurricane multiplied by the length of time it existed, so storms that last a long time, as well as particularly strong hurricanes, have high ACEs. ACE is only calculated for full advisories on tropical systems at or exceeding 34 knots (39 mph, 63 km/h) or tropical storm strength.

The figures in parentheses are for storms in the Central Pacific basin west of 140°W; those not in parenthesis are for the Eastern Pacific basin.

Timeline of recent events

Main article: Timeline of the 2008 Pacific hurricane season

October

October 23
  • 9 a.m PDT (1600 UTC): Tropical Depression Seventeen-E forms south of Manzanillo, Mexico.
October 24
  • 2 p.m PDT (2100 UTC): Tropical Depression Seventeen-E dissipates.

November

November 2
  • 1 p.m. PST (2100 UTC): Tropical Depression Eighteen-E forms.
  • 7 p.m. PST (0300 UTC November 3) Tropical Depression Eighteen-E strengthens into Tropical Storm Polo.
November 4
  • 7 p.m. PST (0300 UTC November 5) Tropical Storm Polo dissipates.

Storm names

The following names will be used for named storms that form in the northeast Pacific in 2008. This is the same list that was used in the 2002 season, except for Karina, which replaced Kenna. The retirement from 2002 was the first time a name was ever retired and then replaced on this list since 1978. The name Karina was used for the first time in 2008. Names that weren't used are marked in gray.

  • Rachel (unused)
  • Simon (unused)
  • Trudy (unused)
  • Vance (unused)
  • Winnie (unused)
  • Xavier (unused)
  • Yolanda (unused)
  • Zeke (unused)

For the central Pacific Ocean, four consecutive lists are used, with the names used sequentially until exhausted, rather than until the end of the year, due to the low number of storms each year.

  • Lana (unused)
  • Maka (unused)

Season impact

This is a table of the storms in 2008 and their landfall(s), if any. Deaths in parentheses are indirect; an example of such would be a traffic accident, but still storm-related. Damage and death totals include times when the storm was an extratropical storm or precursor wave.

Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
TD TS 1 2 3 4 5
2008 Pacific hurricane statistics
Storm Name Active Dates Storm category

at peak intensity

 Max

Wind

(mph)

 Min.

Press.

(mbar)

 ACE Landfall(s) Damage

(millions

USD)

 Deaths
Where When Wind

(mph)
Alma May 29 – May 30 Tropical Storm 65 994  0.83 León, Nicaragua May 29 65 33 2 (7) 
Boris June 27 – July 4 Category 1 Hurricane 80 985  7.68 none none  0 
Cristina June 27 – June 30 Tropical Storm 50 1000  1.21 none none  0 
Douglas July 1 – July 3 Tropical Storm 40 1003  0.61 none none  0 
Five-E July 5 – July 7 Tropical Depression 35 1005  N/A Lázaro Cárdenas, Mexico July 7 35 Minimal  0 
Elida July 12 – July 19 Category 2 Hurricane 105 970  11.5 none none  0 
Fausto July 16 – July 22 Category 2 Hurricane 100 975  10.1 none none  0 
Genevieve July 21 – July 27 Category 1 Hurricane 75 987  5.76 none none  0 
Hernan August 6 – August 13 Category 3 Hurricane 120 956  12.1 none none  0 
Kika August 6 – August 12 Tropical Storm 40 1007  1.59 none none  0 
Iselle August 13 – August 16 Tropical Storm 50 999  1.30 none none  0 
Julio August 23 – August 26 Tropical Storm 50 998  1.18 La Paz, Mexico August 25 45 Minimal  2 
San Marcos, Mexico August 26 35
Karina September 2– September 3 Tropical Storm 40 1000  0.25 Socorro Island (Direct hit, no landfall) September 2 40 none  0 
Lowell September 6– September 11 Tropical Storm 50 998  2.45 Cabo San Lucas, Mexico September 11 35 15.5 0 
Marie October 1 – October 6 Category 1 Hurricane 80 984  4.94 none none  0 
Norbert October 3 – October 12 Category 4 Hurricane 140 945  19.3 Puerto Charley, Mexico October 11 105 Unknown  8 
Southern Sonora October 12 85
Odile October 8 – October 12 Tropical Storm 65 996  2.74 Guerrero, Mexico (Direct hit, no landfall) October 11 65 Unknown  0 
Seventeen-E October 23 – October 24 Tropical Depression 35 1007  N/A none none  0 
Polo November 2 – November 4 Tropical Storm 40 1005  0.980 none none  0 
Season Aggregates
19 cyclones May 29 – November 4   140 945 82.98 7 landfalls 48.5 12 (7)

Retirement

Retired names, if any, will be announced by the WMO in the spring of 2009.

See also

Tropical cyclones portal

References

  1. ^ "Previous Tropical Systems in the Central Pacific". Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Retrieved on 2008-12-01.
  2. ^ Climate Prediction Center, NOAA (2006-05-22). "Background Information: East Pacific Hurricane Season". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved on 2007-05-22.
  3. ^ a b Climate Prediction Center, NOAA (2008-05-22). "NOAA: 2008 Tropical Eastern North Pacific Hurricane Outlook". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved on 2008-05-26.
  4. ^ Central Pacific Hurricane Center, NOAA (2008-05-22). "NOAA Expects Slightly Below Average Central Pacific Hurricane Season". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved on 2008-05-26.
  5. ^ a b c d Daniel P Brown (2008-07-07). "Tropical Storm Alma Tropical Cyclone Report". NHC. Retrieved on 2008-08-23.
  6. ^ "Tropical Depression 1E Advisory number 1". NHC. Retrieved on 2008-08-23.
  7. ^ "