User:Jarda2020/2023 Pacific hurricane season

2023 Pacific hurricane season
Season summary map
Seasonal boundaries
First system formedMay 16, 2023
Last system dissipatedSeason ongoing
Strongest storm
NameHenriette
 • Maximum winds145 mph (230 km/h)
(1-minute sustained)
 • Lowest pressure939 mbar (hPa; 27.73 inHg)
Seasonal statistics
Total depressions13
Total storms13
Hurricanes8
Major hurricanes
(Cat. 3+)
3
Total fatalities6
Total damage> $160 million (2023 USD)
Related articles
Pacific hurricane seasons
2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025

The 2023 Pacific hurricane season is an ongoing event of the annual tropical cyclone season in the northern hemisphere. The season officially began on May 15 in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, and will begin on June 1 in the Central Pacific; both will end on November 30. These dates historically describe the period each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Pacific Ocean basin and are adopted by convention. However, the formation of tropical cyclones is possible at any time of the year.

There has been above average activity in the eastern Pacific so far this season, with eight named storms, four hurricanes, and one major hurricane forming. One named storm formed in the central Pacific, in late July.

Seasonal forecasts edit

Record Named
storms
Hurricanes Major
hurricanes
Ref
Average (1991–2020): 15 8 4
Record high activity: 1992: 27 2015: 16 2015: 11
Record low activity: 2010: 8 2010: 3 2003: 0
Date Source Named
storms
Hurricanes Major
hurricanes
Ref
May 17, 2023 SMN 16–21 8–11 3–6
May 26, 2023 NOAA 12–19 6–10 1–4
Area Named
storms
Hurricanes Major
hurricanes
Ref
Actual activity: EPAC 12 8 3
Actual activity: CPAC 1 0 0
Actual activity: 13 8 3

Forecasts include weekly and monthly changes in important factors that help determine the number of tropical storms, hurricanes, and major hurricanes within a particular year. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the average hurricane season in the Eastern and Central Pacific between 1991 and 2020 contained approximately 15 tropical storms, 8 hurricanes, and 4 major hurricanes. The NOAA generally classifies a season as above average, average, or below average based on the cumulative ACE index, but occasionally the number of tropical storms, hurricanes, and major hurricanes within a hurricane season is also considered. Factors they expected to reduce activity were near- or below-average sea surface temperatures across the eastern Pacific and the El Niño–Southern Oscillation remaining in the neutral phase, with the possibility of a La Niña developing, corresponding to a low chance of an El Niño.

Seasonal summary edit

Saffir–Simpson scale

The season officially began on May 15. On May 16 it however began with the formation of Tropical Depression One-E, which later strengthened to a Tropical Storm Adam at 06:00 UTC the same day.

Systems edit

Tropical Storm Adam edit

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
DurationMay 16 – May 20
Peak intensity50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min);
1006 mbar (hPa)

In early May, the passage of a convectively-coupled kelvin wave (CCKW) enhanced the eastern Pacific monsoon trough, leading to an area of disturbed weather. This disturbance interacted with a Gulf of Tehuantepec gap wind event, which led to the formation of an ill-defined low-pressure area. Despite a marginal environment of wind shear and dry air, the system slowly organized and developed into a tropical depression around 06:00 UTC on May 16. Six hours later, it intensified into Tropical Storm Adam. Adam maintained peak winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) as it curved north-northwest, and the compounded effects of colder waters and drier air atop moderate wind shear instead caused the system to begin weakening. All associated convective activity dissipated by 06:00 UTC on May 20, when Adam was downgraded to a remnant area of low pressure. The low curved west on May 21 and dissipated later that day.

There are no reports of damage or casualties associated with Tropical Storm Adam; however, some other rainstorms associated with Adam produced heavy rainfall in Southwestern Mexico. Moisture from the storm caused intense rain and even a hailstorm as far east as the State of Mexico, including in the state's capital, Toluca. Vehicles became stranded in floods, some small trees got knocked over, and about 50 houses were damaged by a flooding river. 30 cars were also stranded in a flooded parking lot of a church in Metepec.

Hurricane Bonnie edit

Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS)
DurationJune 2 – June 8
Peak intensity75 mph (120 km/h) (1-min);
984 mbar (hPa)

On May 25, the NHC began monitoring the southeastern Pacific south of the coast of Central America, where a low pressure area was expected to form within a few days. The anticipated disturbance formed on May 30, far south of the coasts of Guatemala and El Salvador, producing some disorganized showers. By June 2, the disturbance had become sufficiently organized to be classified as a tropical depression by the NHC. By 03:00 UTC on June 3, the depression had strengthened, with a well defined low-level structure and a tight band of persistent deep convection near the center, and was upgraded to Tropical Storm Bonnie. Then, after being hindered by northeasterly shear later that same day, intense convection was able to wrapped completely around the center and Bonnie rapidly intensified into a hurricane by 03:00 UTC on June 4. Twelve hours later, the sustained winds near the system's center were at 75 mph (120 km/h). It became weaker, however, as the day went on, apparently due to the inflow of dry air into its core and the effects of wind shear, and its winds fell to 70 mph (115 km/h) by day's end. The gradual weakening continued, and at 09:00 UTC on July 19, Bonnie weakened further to 60 mph (95 km/h) when its center was located just north of Clarion Island. Bonnie's upper-level cloud shield became more symmetric later that day, due to reduced wind shear and increased convection that had wrapped around the storm's northern region. By 15:00 UTC on June 8, however, the storm had weakened to a tropical depression as it moved west-northwestward over the open ocean. Later that day the system became a remnant low.

Tropical Storm Cody edit

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
DurationJune 14 – June 25
Peak intensity65 mph (100 km/h) (1-min);
998 mbar (hPa)

On June 9, The NHC began to forecast that an area of low pressure would form during the next few days south or southwest off the coast of Central America. A trough of low pressure formed a couple of hundred miles southwest of the coast of Nicaragua two days later. The convective structure within the low became better organized and at 21:00 UTC on June 14, the NHC classified the disturbance as a tropical depression while it was situated 205 mi (330 km) south-southwest of San Salvador, El Salvador. On the next day, the system strengthened into a tropical storm, and was assigned the name Cody. Soon afterward however, the storm's overall satellite presentation began to degrade, with its deepest convection becoming displaced far to the northwest of the exposed low-level circulation, and Cody was downgraded to a tropical depression on June 16. The depression was adversely affected by strong upper-level winds, which resulted moderate wind shear as it moved west-southwestward over the following few days due to the steering flow of a mid-level ridge to its north. Deep convection increased on June 18, and Cody re-strengthened into a tropical storm. The storm intensified slightly the following day as it moved west-northwestward at 10 mph (15 km/h), while being steered by a strong mid-level ridge centered over the south-central United States. The deep-layer shear that had for days impeded Cody's development into a stronger storm diminished considerably on June 20, and the storm intensified, attaining sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) with a minimum barometric pressure of 998 mbar (29.47 inHg) later that day. On June 21, Cody passed to the south of Socorro Island and moved into cooler waters. Although it began to weaken, the system rebounded unexpectedly late on June 22, as a mid-level eye developed and winds rose to 60 mph (95 km/h). This re-intensification was brief however, and by early the next day, Cody was only producing small bursts of convection on the western and southern portions of its circulation. At 09:00 UTC on June 25, Cody weakened into a tropical depression, and degenerated into a remnant low 12 hours later.

While stalled off the coast of Central America, heavy rainfall from Cody and a nearby low-pressure system affected over 28,000 people in Guatemala. One death has been attributed to Cody. It occurred in Oaxaca, where a man drowned.

Hurricane Diana edit

Category 4 hurricane (SSHWS)
DurationJune 27 – July 3
Peak intensity140 mph (220 km/h) (1-min);
947 mbar (hPa)

A disturbance of unclear origin was identified over Central America and the far eastern Pacific on June 22. The system progressed westward over the open ocean during the following days, developing into a tropical depression around 00:00 UTC on June 27 and becoming Tropical Storm Diana six hours later. Diana immediately underwent rapid intensification, becoming a hurricane by 06:00 UTC on June 28 and a major hurricane 24 hours later. Early on June 30, the system attained peak winds of 140 mph (220 km/h). At that time, Diana displayed a warm eye encapsulated by a ring of −70 °C (−94 °F) convection and little additional rainbands outside the eyewall, a signature sign of an annular tropical cyclone. It was also a very small storm, with hurricane-force winds extending only 15 miles (25 km) from the center. After a brief westward turn, Diana resumed a west-northwestward motion into much more hostile environmental conditions on July 1. The cyclone rapidly weakened and degenerated to a remnant low by 18:00 UTC on July 3 while located well east of Hawaii. Low-level wind flow steered the remnant low of Diana to the west-southwest, and it opened into a trough two days later.

Hurricane Emanuel edit

Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS)
DurationJuly 3 – July 8
Peak intensity75 mph (120 km/h) (1-min);
983 mbar (hPa)

On June 30, the NHC began monitoring a tropical wave producing widespread showers and thunderstorms over Central America and the adjacent waters in anticipation that an area of low pressure would form once it moved over the eastern Pacific. The anticipated low developed two days later off the coasts of Guatemala and southern Mexico. By July 3, the disturbance had become sufficiently organized to be classified as a tropical depression by the NHC. Beset by dry air imported to the depression's center by moderate wind shear, the depression was unable to quickly intensify. On the afternoon of July 4, the depression was upgraded to Tropical Storm Emanuel as convection began to build over the northern semicircle of the system, though the low-level circulation remained partially exposed to the south due to continuing wind shear. The storm continued to organize into the following day, and became a Category 1 hurricane at 21:00 UTC on July 5, as an eye surrounded by deepening convective banding formed. On July 6, Emanuel's sustained winds reached 75 mph (120 km/h) as it moved west-northwestward, before weakening to a tropical storm at 03:00 UTC on July 8. The remaining deep convection near Emanuel's center ceased by the middle of that same day, and the storm later degenerated into a post-tropical low.

As Emanuel passed off the coast of Mexico, the port of Mazatlán was closed due to high waves.

Tropical Storm Felicia edit

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
DurationJuly 6 – July 9
Peak intensity65 mph (100 km/h) (1-min);
992 mbar (hPa)

On July 1, the NHC began monitoring for potential development an small area of low pressure located off the coast of southwestern Mexico producing limited showers and thunderstorms. After several days, the disturbance became sufficiently organized on July 6, to be classified as Tropical Storm Felicia. After this, however, the storm strengthened very little though much of the next day due to deep-layer easterly shear. When it diminished on July 7, Felicia's low-level center became embedded underneath the northeastern portion of an area of deep convection with cloud tops as cold as −85 °C (−120 °F). As a result, the storm was able to attain maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) on July 8, when located about 175 mi (280 km) south-southeast of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula. Later that same day, Felicia began to weaken, becoming first a tropical depression and then a remnant low on July 9.

At least three deaths were attributed to Felicia as it moved along the coast of southwest Mexico. Several coastal states were hit by heavy rains, strong winds and rough surf from the storm. Felicia caused damages of roughly $100 million as it passed close to the coast of southwestern Mexico.

Hurricane Gabriel edit

Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS)
DurationJuly 8 – July 11
Peak intensity105 mph (165 km/h) (1-min);
977 mbar (hPa)

A collection of convection formed over Colombia, Panama, and adjacent waters of the Caribbean and East Pacific on July 2. The disturbance moved west without much change in organization until it developed into a tropical depression early on July 8. The system strengthened into Tropical Storm Gabriel within six hours of formation and continued to intensify amid very favorable environmental conditions as it moved generally north-northwest. Gabriel became a hurricane early on July 9, around which time the system developed a pinhole eye in microwave imagery. After reaching winds of 90 mph (150 km/h), the system abruptly weakened as its inner core structure eroded. However, the cyclone soon developed a large eye, and it reached a peak intensity of 105 mph (165 km/h) early on July 10. Gabriel maintained these winds as it made landfall in La Unión de Isidoro Montes de Oca, Guerrero, around 11:00 UTC. The storm weakened rapidly once inland and dissipated before 00:00 UTC on July 11.

Gabriel produced at least 4 in (100 mm) of rain across coastal sections of Guerrero and Michoacán, with a peak accumulation of 11.06 in (281 mm) in Petacalco and Coyuquilla in Guerrero. These rains prompted flash flooding that stranded cars and caused damage throughout the region, even well inland across the state of Morelos where one man was killed in Tepoztlán. Four rivers and streams overrun their banks across Zihuatanejo and Tecpan de Galeana, including the Petatlán River which cut off the Acapulco–Zihuatanejo federal highway. Many large trees were uprooted and some damage occurred to buildings between Ixtapa and Lázaro Cárdenas. Gabriel prompted the evacuation of 402 people and damaged 1,277 houses across 11 states and 700 municipalities. Nearly 184,000 homes lost power, especially concentrated in the states of Michoacán and Guerrero. Tens of millions worth in damage occurred.

Hurricane Henriette edit

Category 4 hurricane (SSHWS)
DurationJuly 14 – July 22
Peak intensity145 mph (230 km/h) (1-min);
939 mbar (hPa)

Henriette originated as a tropical wave that emerged off the coastline of Africa on June 30. It entered the eastern Pacific in early July, where convection blossomed in the presence of a very strong kelvin wave. Moderately wind shear slowed the formation process, but a tropical depression finally developed around 12:00 UTC on July 14 and organized into a tropical storm six hours later. Dry air and the elongation of its center likewise slowed organization shortly after development, but a center relocation placed the storm in a favorable environment. Henriette intensified into a hurricane at 18:00 UTC on July 16 and began a period of rapid intensification, intensifying by 60 mph (95 km/h) in just 24 hours as it crossed into the central Pacific basin. This bout of strengthening brought Henriette to its peak as a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 145 mph (235 km/h) around 18:00 UTC on July 17. The cyclone subsequently weakened while passing south of Hawaii as wind shear increased over the system. Bursts of convection allowed Henriette to persist as a tropical cyclone from July 21 to 22. However, the system eventually degenerated to a remnant low by 00:00 UTC on July 23. The remnants of Henriette continued moving west and reached the International Date Line on July 26.

Tropical Storm Hone edit

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
DurationJuly 26 – July 28
Peak intensity60 mph (95 km/h) (1-min);
996 mbar (hPa)

A tropical wave crossing the Eastern Pacific spawned a low-pressure area on July 19. The system gradually organized amid persistent wind shear and on July 26, the system intensified into Tropical Depression One-C. On July 27, the depression intensified into a tropical storm as it tracked to the northwest, and was named Hone by the CPHC. Hone quickly intensified to reach its peak intensity with winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a pressure of 996 mbar (hPa; 29.41 inHg), however, strong wind shear prevented Hone from intensifying further by removing thunderstorms from the circulation center, and eventually causing it to gradually weaken. Hone was downgraded to a depression on July 28, and not long after declared a remnant low well east of the Hawaiian Islands.

Hone is the first tropical cyclone to form in the Central Pacific basin, since Tropical Storm Ema in October 2019, mostly due to the strong La Niña effect that presisted for the last several years. However the La Niña effect started to weaken, allowing thunderstorm activity to start being more prominent in the basin. Hone's rainbands caused moderate damage to Hawaii, one person died due to flash flood. Damages of roughly $50 million were reported.

Hurricane Ivo edit

Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS)
DurationJuly 27 – August 3
Peak intensity90 mph (150 km/h) (1-min);
976 mbar (hPa)

On July 22, the NHC began forecasting that an area of low pressure would develop off the southern coasts of El Salvador and Guatemala within a few days. An area of low pressure, associated with a tropical wave, developed two days later, producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms. At 09:00 UTC on July 27, after deep convection developed at the center of the disturbance and become better organized, it was designated as a tropical depression.Six hours later, the system strengthened into Tropical Storm Ivo while located about 525 mi (845 km) south-southeast of Manzanillo, Colima. Convection near the storm's center struggled to organize due to northeasterly wind shear as the storm moved westward. The shear persisted through early on July 29. Once the shear diminished sufficiently, the storm was able to strengthen, with deep convection becoming more symmetric around the center and banding features becoming well established by late the next day. Ivo consequently intensified into a hurricane by 03:00 UTC on July 31. The system moved to the northwest during the day and maintained sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) for several hours, before encountering decreasing sea surface temperatures by day's end. It then began to weaken as a result, and fell to tropical storm strength early on August 2. Later, it ceased producing organized deep convection and degenerated into a post-tropical cyclone during the following day.

Hurricane Juliette edit

Category 4 hurricane (SSHWS)
DurationJuly 29 – August 5
Peak intensity130 mph (215 km/h) (1-min);
943 mbar (hPa)

On July 24, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) began monitoring the potential for tropical cyclogenesis well south of Mexico over the following days. A broad low-pressure area formed three days later, steadily organizing to become Tropical Depression Ten-E at 06:00 UTC on July 29. With an increase in spiral banding and an expanding central dense overcast, the depression was upgraded to Tropical Storm Juliette six hours later. Directed west-northwest and eventually northwest by a subtropical ridge over Mexico, the cyclone quickly organized and became a hurricane on July 30. A spurt of intensification saw Juliette strengthen into a strong Category 2 hurricane late the next day. Juliette's intensification trend leveled off thereafter due to an eyewall replacement cycle and a brief increase in vertical wind shear, but Juliette still managed to reach major hurricane status early on August 1. Although forecasts did not indicate additional strengthening, Juliette began a period of rapid deepening the following day as wind shear decreased, intensifying into a Category 4 hurricane at 00:00 UTC on August 2. Juliette reached its peak intensity six hours later with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (210 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 943 mbar (hPa; 27.84 inHg). Thereafter, the system moved west-northwestwards over cooler waters and into a more stable environment, which led to a swift weakening trend. Juliette fell below hurricane strength on the morning of August 3, and weakened into a tropical storm a day later. Further weakening ensued as convection around Juliette's center dissipated, and the NHC declared Juliette a remnant low on August 5.

Moisture extending from the remnants of Juliette brought light rain to parts of the Southwest United States, with Phoenix, Arizona having measurable precipitation on August 6 for the first time since records began in 1896. This moisture further extended into Colorado, resulting in scattered severe thunderstorms.

Hurricane Kyle edit

Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS)
DurationAugust 1 – August 9
Peak intensity85 mph (140 km/h) (1-min);
985 mbar (hPa)

On July 26, a disturbance formed near south of Gulf of Tehuantepec, which was moving parallel offshore of southern Mexico. As it moved farther from the coast of Mexico, the disturbance gradually became organized, and on July 30, a low pressure area formed, as satellite imagery showed that the associated shower activity was showing signs of organization. The low-pressure area further organized, with a pair of ASCAT passes showing that the low-pressure area had strengthened significantly and was producing tropical storm-force winds, with the circulation looking well-defined on satellite imagery. On August 1, it was designated as a tropical storm. Kyle intensified to a high-end tropical storm a day later as a central dense overcast developed. Later, Kyle further intensified to a hurricane as a short-lived eye appeared in its central dense overcast. Kyle held a similar appearance the next day, with its center located north of its central dense overcast. Kyle briefly developed a closed mid-level eye the next day, though the low-level and mid-level centers were not stacked due to wind shear. However, it became less organized later that day, with a less distinct eye and an incomplete eyewall. By the next day, Kyle was downgraded to a high-end tropical storm since the eyewall was no longer well-defined, while convection continued to pulse in the southern semicircle. Deep convection continued to wane due to shear, cooler waters, and more stable air. By August 8, Hilda weakened into a tropical depression after a rapid weakening of convection near the center. However, convection resumed pulsing later. On August 9, at 03:00 UTC, Hilda became a post-tropical cyclone, as it became devoid of deep convection due to sub-23 °C (73 °F) sea-surface temperatures.

Tropical Storm Leonette edit

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
DurationAugust 4 – August 10
Peak intensity65 mph (100 km/h) (1-min);
994 mbar (hPa)

A tropical wave entered the eastern Pacific on July 28, and the resultant disturbance organized into a tropical depression around 12:00 UTC on August 4. The newly formed cyclone swiftly intensified amid very high mid-level moisture and ocean temperatures, becoming Tropical Storm Leonette six hours later and reaching peak winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) on August 5. Wind shear abruptly increased later that day, confining the storm's convection into the western semicircle. Leonette passed near Clarion Island on August 7 as it moved west then west-northwest, producing tropical storm-force gusts there. By 12:00 UTC on August 10, all associated convection dissipated, and the system degenerated to a remnant low. The low curved northwest and dissipated west of Baja California Sur on August 13.

Storm names edit

The following names will be used for named storms that form in the northeastern Pacific Ocean during 2023. Retired names, if any, will be announced by the World Meteorological Organization during the joint 46th Sessions of the RA IV Hurricane Committee in the spring of 2024. The names not retired from this list will be used again in the 2029 season. This is the same list used in the 2017 season.

  • Adam
  • Bonnie
  • Cody
  • Diana
  • Emmanuel
  • Felicia
  • Gabriel
  • Henriette
  • Ivo
  • Juliette
  • Kyle
  • Leonette
  • Michael (unused)
  • Nina (unused)
  • Olaf (unused)
  • Pamela (unused)
  • Rene (unused)
  • Sandra (unused)
  • Terry (unused)
  • Vicky (unused)
  • Wilfred (unused)
  • Xenia (unused)
  • York (unused)
  • Zoe (unused)

For storms that form in the Central Pacific Hurricane Center's area of responsibility, encompassing the area between 140 degrees west and the International Date Line, all names are used in a series of four rotating lists. The next four names that will be slated for use in 2023 are shown below.

  • Hone
  • Iona (unused)
  • Keli (unused)
  • Lala (unused)

Season effects edit

This is a table of all the storms and that have formed in the 2023 Pacific hurricane season. It includes their duration, names, landfall(s), denoted in parentheses, damages, and death totals. Deaths in parentheses are additional and indirect (an example of an indirect death would be a traffic accident), but were still related to that storm. Damage and deaths include totals while the storm was extratropical, a tropical wave, or a low, and all the damage figures are in 2023 USD.

Saffir–Simpson scale
TD TS C1 C2 C3 C4 C5
2023 Pacific hurricane season season statistics
Storm
name
Dates active Storm category
at peak intensity
Max 1-min
wind
mph (km/h)
Min.
press.
(mbar)
Areas affected Damage
(USD)
Deaths Ref(s)
Adam May 16–20 Tropical storm 50 (85) 1006 Southwestern Mexico Unknown None
Bonnie June 2–8 Category 1 hurricane 75 (120) 984 Southwestern Mexico, Revillagigedo Islands None None
Cody June 14–25 Tropical storm 65 (100) 998 El Salvador, Guatemala, Southern Mexico, Revillagigedo Islands Unknown 1
Diana June 27–July 3 Category 4 hurricane 140 (220) 947 None None None
Emanuel July 3–8 Category 1 hurricane 75 (120) 983 Revillagigedo Islands, Baja California Peninsula Unknown None
Felicia July 6–9 Tropical storm 65 (100) 992 Southwestern Mexico $100 million 3
Gabriel July 8–11 Category 2 hurricane 105 (165) 977 Central America, Southwestern Mexico, Northwestern Mexico $10 million 1
Henriette July 14–22 Category 4 hurricane 145 (230) 939 None None None
Hone July 26–28 Tropical storm 60 (95) 996 Hawaii $50 million 1
Ivo July 27–August 3 Category 1 hurricane 90 (150) 976 None None None
Juliette July 29–August 5 Category 4 hurricane 130 (215) 943 Southwestern United States None None
Kyle August 1–9 Category 1 hurricane 85 (140) 985 None None None
Leonette August 4–10 Tropical storm 65 (100) 994 Revillagigedo Islands Unknown None
Season aggregates
13 systems May 16–Season ongoing   145 (230) 939 $160 million 6  

See also edit

External links edit