1982 Pacific hurricane season

1982 Pacific hurricane season
Season summary map
Seasonal boundaries
First system formed	May 20, 1982
Last system dissipated	November 25, 1982
Strongest storm
Name	Olivia
• Maximum winds	145 mph (230 km/h) (1-minute sustained)
Seasonal statistics
Total depressions	30
Total storms	23
Hurricanes	12
Major hurricanes (Cat. 3+)	5
Total fatalities	At least 1000
Total damage	$2.4 billion (1982 USD)

The 1982 Pacific hurricane season officially started May 15, 1982 in the eastern Pacific, and June 1, 1982 in the central Pacific, and lasted until November 30, 1982. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northeastern Pacific Ocean.

The 1982 season was an eventful one. Hurricane Paul killed over 1,000 people before it was named. Hurricanes Daniel and Gilma both briefly threatened Hawaii, while Hurricane Iwa caused heavy damage to Kauai and Niihau. The remnants of Hurricane Olivia brought heavy rain to a wide swath of the western United States.

Seasonal summary

This season had nineteen tropical storms, eleven hurricanes, and five major hurricanes. Three tropical storms and one hurricane— a record number of named storms— formed in the central Pacific. This was largely due to a strong El Niño present during the season.

This is the first year that named storms forming between the dateline and 140°W were given names from the Hawaiian language. Previous to this year, names and numbers from the western Pacific's typhoon list were used.

After this year that it was decided to use six-year lists in the eastern Pacific, instead of four-year ones. This is the reason that this season's list is the same as the 1978 season's list.

Storms

Tropical Storm Aletta

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	May 20 – May 29
Peak intensity	65 mph (100 km/h) (1-min);

Main article: Tropical Storm Aletta (1982)

An area of disturbed weather developed into a tropical depression on May 20, and a tropical storm around noon on May 21. The cyclone turned northeast, reaching its as a strong tropical storm on May 23. Aletta meandered and gradually weakened. Tropical Depression Aletta dissipated on May 29 a modest distance southwest of Acapulco. Moisture from the tropical system spread over Honduras and Nicaragua, causing flooding. Throughout the two countries, 308 people were killed and total damage was at $457 million (1982 USD). In the aftermath of the storm, many programs provided relief to the victims of Aletta.

Tropical Depression Two-E

Tropical depression (SSHWS)
Duration	May 31 – June 4
Peak intensity	35 mph (55 km/h) (1-min);

This system originated as a low in the western Caribbean Sea on the morning of May 27. The next day it moved southwest into Guatemala with significant thunderstorm activity, emerging into the Gulf of Tehuantepec around noon on May 29. By May 31, it was organized enough to be considered a tropical depression. Slowly weakening on June 1 as it remained quasi-stationary, the system dissipated in the Gulf of Tehuantepec on June 4.

Tropical Depression Three-E

Tropical depression (SSHWS)
Duration	June 13 – June 15
Peak intensity	30 mph (45 km/h) (1-min);

This cyclone formed well to the west-southwest of Mexico on June 12. The depression slowly recurved due to an upper level low located well to its north-northwest. By June 15, vertical wind shear had taken its toll and the system dissipated about 300 mi (500 km) north of where it formed.

Tropical Storm Bud

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	June 15 – June 17
Peak intensity	50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min);

On June 15, this cyclone formed about 460 mi (740 km) southwest of Acapulco. Drifting west-northwest, it quickly strengthened into a tropical storm. Maximum sustained winds peaked near 50 mph (80 km/h) late on June 15. Turning south of due west, vertical wind shear weakened Bud, with the cyclone dissipating by the morning of June 17 about 23 mi (370 km) north-northwest of Clipperton Island.

Tropical Depression Five-E

Tropical depression (SSHWS)
Duration	June 17 – June 19
Peak intensity	35 mph (55 km/h) (1-min);

Late on June 16, deep convection organized in the Gulf of Tehuantepec into a tropical depression. Transcribing a small clockwise loop, the system moved west-northwest. Interaction with Mexico likely played a role in its weakening as water temperatures under the system were never below 82°F (28°C). The system dissipated about 90 mi (150 km) south of Puerto Ángel by the morning of June 19.

Tropical Storm Carlotta

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	July 1 – July 6
Peak intensity	60 mph (95 km/h) (1-min);

A tropical wave crossed Central America on June 26, creating an area of thunderstorms just inside the tropical eastern Pacific that morning. Cyclonic turning was evident by the night of June 30 while located roughly 350 mi (550 km) south of Manzanillo as the system continued westward. Slowly turning northwest, the system was upgraded to a tropical depression early on July 1 and a tropical storm by nightfall. Maximum sustained winds increased to 60 mph (97 km/h) by noon July 3. Increasingly southwest flow aloft turned Carlotta more northward into cooler waters, causing the cyclone to regain tropical depression status on the evening of July 4, ultimately dissipating southwest of Cabo San Lucas the next evening.

Tropical Depression Seven-E

Tropical depression (SSHWS)
Duration	July 3 – July 3
Peak intensity	35 mph (55 km/h) (1-min);

The system formed between Tropical Storm Carlotta and the Hawaiian Islands on the evening of July 2. Slowly recurving north and northeast, the system moved into cooler waters and dissipated about 100 mi (160 km) north of where it formed by the afternoon of July 3.

Hurricane Daniel

Category 3 hurricane (SSHWS)
File:Daniel1982noaa7.GIF
Duration	July 7 – July 22
Peak intensity	115 mph (185 km/h) (1-min);

Tropical Depression Eight-E formed south of Mexico on July 7. Moving west-northwest, the cyclone slowly strengthened into a tropical storm around noon on July 8 before becoming a hurricane late in the afternoon of July 9. Daniel reached its maximum intensity of 115 mph (185 km/h) early in the morning of July 11 a few hundred miles southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico. As the storm moved westward, it slowly weakened. Daniel regained tropical storm status during the night of July 14, entering the Central Pacific Basin as a weakening tropical storm on the morning of July 16. Daniel retained tropical storm intensity for the next few days before weakening into a tropical depression about 280 mi (450 km) south southwest of the Big Island of Hawaii, being sheared by the same upper trough that caused Emilia's dissipation a few days earlier. Daniel turned northward, and on July 22, dissipated in the Alenuihaha Channel between Maui and the Big Island of Hawaii.

Tropical Storm Emilia

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	July 12 – July 15
Peak intensity	65 mph (100 km/h) (1-min);

Tropical Depression Nine-E developed near 10.0° N 136.5° W on the morning of July 12. Intensifying, the cyclone became a tropical storm later that day. Emilia moved westward around 13 mph (21 km/h) and entered the Central Pacific Basin on the night of July 12. Over the next day, the storm moved west-northwest, reaching maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (105 km/h). An upper trough to the west weakened Emilia rapidly due to vertical wind shear, and the cyclone weakened to tropical depression status early on the morning of July 15. Dissipation of the tropical depression was noted by afternoon.

Tropical Depression Ten-E

Tropical depression (SSHWS)
Duration	July 14 – July 14
Peak intensity	35 mph (55 km/h) (1-min);

To the east of Daniel, a tropical depression formed on the evening of July 13 a few hundred miles west-southwest of Manzanillo. The system moved westward and weakened thereafter, dissipating about 200 mi (320 km) west of where it had formed by the afternoon of July 14.

Tropical Depression Eleven-E

Tropical depression (SSHWS)
Duration	July 16 – July 17
Peak intensity	35 mph (55 km/h) (1-min);

A tropical disturbance was spotted about 650 mi (930 km) southwest of Acapulco on July 12. By the evening of July 15, cyclonic turning was evident and the system was upgraded to a tropical depression. Moving unsteadily to the west-northwest, the system weakened, dissipating a few hundred miles west-northwest of where it had formed.

Hurricane Fabio

Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS)
Duration	July 17 – July 25
Peak intensity	80 mph (130 km/h) (1-min);

The cyclone developed as a tropical depression southeast of Manzanillo on July 17. Over the next couple of days, it strengthened rapidly into a hurricane as it moved northwest, peaking in intensity with 75 mph (121 km/h) winds. Gradual weakening occurred as Fabio turned westward along the 19th parallel north into cooler waters, eventually dissipating late on July 24.

Hurricane Gilma

Category 3 hurricane (SSHWS)
Duration	July 26 – August 2
Peak intensity	125 mph (205 km/h) (1-min);

Tropical Depression Thirteen-E formed near 9.5°N 117°30'W and moved slightly north of west. Tropical storm status was attained near noon on July 26, and the cyclone crossed the threshold of hurricane strength late on the night of July 27. By noon on July 29, Gilma reached it maximum intensity of 125 mph (200 km/h) well to the east-southeast of Hawaii. The cyclone weakened and sped up its motion to the west-northwest, crossing into the Central Pacific Basin as a category one hurricane very early on July 30. Gilma was downgraded to a tropical storm late in the morning of July 30, and a tropical depression early on the morning of August 1 as the circulation passed 50 mi (80 km) south of South Point. The cyclone dissipated late on August 1 as it passed 200 mi (300 km) south of Kauai.

Hurricane Hector

Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS)
Duration	July 29 – August 3
Peak intensity	75 mph (120 km/h) (1-min);

On July 23, a tropical wave moved off the Colombian coast. The related convection moved westward at over 20 mph (32 km/h). By the evening of July 27, the system slowed its forward motion. The next evening, a tropical depression organized within the thunderstorm activity well to the south of Baja California. Strengthening continued, as Hector became a tropical storm on the morning of July 29 and a hurricane by noon on July 30. A combination of vertical wind shear and cooler waters ahead of the cyclone led to its weakening trend, which hastened on August 1. It weakened to a tropical storm on the morning of August 2 and to a depression soon thereafter while located midway between the Hawaiian Islands and southern Baja California.

Tropical Storm Iva

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	August 1 – August 8
Peak intensity	40 mph (65 km/h) (1-min);

A tropical disturbance was discovered 300 mi (460 km) south of Acapulco on July 31. Moving west-northwest, it achieved tropical depression status that night and tropical storm status on August 2 while 800 mi (1,340 km) west-southwest of Acapulco. Northeasterly upper level shear appears to have been Iva's nemesis, as the system weakened back into a tropical depression by the afternoon of August 3 as it turned west-southwest. The depression maintained strength for another several days before dissipating well east-southwest of Hilo, Hawaii on the morning of August 8.

Hurricane John

Category 3 hurricane (SSHWS)
Duration	August 2 – August 11
Peak intensity	115 mph (185 km/h) (1-min);

Tropical Depression Sixteen-E formed on August 3 in the East Pacific between Hawaii and Mexico. The system intensified into a tropical storm by noon August 4, and a hurricane on the morning of August 5. John reached its peak intensity of 115 mph (185 km/h) as it moved into the Central Pacific Basin on August 6. Weakening commenced on August 7 due to westerly vertical wind shear caused by the semi-permanent mid-oceanic upper trough, and John weakened to a tropical storm on the night of August 8. It passed by as a tropical depression about 180 mi (290 km) south of the Island of Hawaii, and dissipated late on August 10 to the southwest of Hawaii.

Hurricane Kristy

Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS)
Duration	August 8 – August 17
Peak intensity	90 mph (150 km/h) (1-min);

Tropical Depression Seventeen-E formed by noon on August 8 in the East Pacific. The low moved west, intensified, and became Tropical Storm Kristy by midnight, and a hurricane by midnight on the night of August 9. Weakening as it entered the Central Pacific, Kristy regained tropical storm status late on August 10 while moving south of due west at a rapid 30 mph (48 km/h). As it slowed down and turned northwest, Kristy began to restrengthen. Hurricane intensity was reached again on the evening of August 13. By noon on August 14, the cyclone passed 250 mi (400 km) south of South Point, Hawaii. Westerly winds aloft slowed Kristy's forward motion down additionally, and Kristy weakened back into a tropical storm on August 15. Turning more to the west with the low level wind flow, the cyclone was downgraded to a tropical depression by noon on August 16 and dissipated that night southwest of Hawaii.

Tropical Storm Lane

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	August 8 – August 15
Peak intensity	65 mph (100 km/h) (1-min);

The originating disturbance of this system emerged off San José, Costa Rica on August 4 and slowly consolidated. By the afternoon of August 8, Tropical Depression Eighteen-E developed well south of Cabo San Lucas. The next morning it had continued strengthening into a tropical storm. Maximum sustained winds reached 60 mph (97 km/h) as it continued moving west-northwest. Vertical wind shear reached Lane on August 10, which led to weakening. It weakened to a tropical depression late on August 11, but sporadic thunderstorm blowups near the center kept the system alive for another few days. Dissipation occurred on the evening of August 14 as it crossed the 140th meridian west.

Hurricane Miriam

Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS)
Duration	August 30 – September 6
Peak intensity	85 mph (140 km/h) (1-min);

Tropical Depression Nineteen-E formed on August 29 a couple hundred miles southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico. The depression moved west-northwestward, intensifying into a tropical storm by noon on August 30 and a hurricane by noon on August 31. Peak intensity of 90 mph (145 km/h) was attained during the early morning of September 1. For the next couple of days, Miriam remained unchanged in strength. By late on September 3, a weakening trend was realized as it passed into the Central Pacific by the afternoon of September 4. Shearing apart soon afterwards, the low moved northwest and weakened into a tropical depression well to the east of Hawaii on the morning of September 5. It drifted north, and became a nontropical low by September 6. The cyclone was last noted near 30°N 149°W, continuing its northward trek.

Tropical Storm Akoni

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
File:Akoni1982noaa7aug311351z.GIF
Duration	August 30 – September 2
Peak intensity	50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min);

Tropical Depression One-C formed along the eastern end of the West Pacific monsoon trough on August 30 about 700 mi (1120 km) east of the International Dateline, well to the west-southwest of Hawaii. Moving slowly westward, the system intensified rapidly into a tropical storm by noon and was named Akoni. The name "Akoni" is short for Anakoni, which is Hawaiian for "Anthony". Maximum sustained winds increased to 60 mph (97 km/h) late on August 31 as Akoni moved near the ship Nana Lolo a few hundred miles east of the International Dateline. An upper trough to the northwest set Akoni on a weakening curve, and the cyclone diminished to a tropical depression on the evening of September 1 as it moved with the low level flow. The weakening depression passed the International Dateline into the western Pacific on the morning of September 2.

Hurricane Norman

Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS)
Duration	September 9 – September 18
Peak intensity	105 mph (165 km/h) (1-min);

Northeasterly shear slowed the development of the initial tropical depression which formed into Norman. Strengthening began in earnest on September 11, and the cyclone became a tropical storm, and then a hurricane by early on September 13. Maximum sustained winds reached nearly 95 mph (153 km/h) by September 15. A mid-latitude trough dug in from the north, weakening the ridge north of Norman and leading to a northward motion. Increased vertical wind shear and cooler waters weakened the hurricane, with dissipation occurring just west of Baja California on September 18. On September 17 and 18, moisture from Norman brought scattered rain to California and Arizona.

Tropical Depression Twenty-One-E

Tropical depression (SSHWS)
Duration	September 11 – September 12
Peak intensity	35 mph (55 km/h) (1-min);

A tropical depression formed well east-southeast of Hawaii late on September 10. Moving over cooler waters soon after formation, the depression dissipated by the next evening near 14°N 134°W.

Tropical Storm Ema

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	September 15 – September 19
Peak intensity	45 mph (75 km/h) (1-min);

An area of convection formed near 15°N 140°W and by 15 September, a tropical depression had formed within the thunderstorm activity. Strengthening as it moved slowly north-northeast, the cyclone became a tropical storm late that day. Ema became stationary between the morning of September 16 and September 17 before resuming its north-northeast heading. Its peak intensity was 45 mph (72 km/h). Upper level shear weakened the system into a tropical depression by noon on September 18. As it crossed the 140th meridian west back into the eastern Pacific near the 20th parallel north, the depression dissipated.

Tropical Storm Hana

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	September 15 – September 19
Peak intensity	45 mph (75 km/h) (1-min);

An area of thunderstorms stewed south of the Hawaiian Islands for several days. By September 15, it had organized into Tropical Depression Three-C, and quickly became a tropical storm that afternoon. The cyclone moved north-northwest for a day before slowing to a crawl for the next day. The cyclone turned southwest and weakened into a tropical depression due to vertical wind shear. It dissipated southwest of Hawaii near 13°N 162°W late on September 18.

Hurricane Olivia

Category 4 hurricane (SSHWS)
Duration	September 18 – September 25
Peak intensity	145 mph (230 km/h) (1-min);

Ship reports indicated that a tropical depression had formed about 400 mi (640 km) south-southwest of Acapulco around noon on September 18. The system drifted north-northwest, developing into a tropical storm that night. About 24 hours later, Olivia became a hurricane. Rapid intensification continued, and Olivia reached its peak intensity of 130 mph (210 km/h) winds around noon September 21, becoming the strongest storm of the season. The next day, waters under the tropical cyclone began to cool as the hurricane gained increasing latitude offshore Mexico. By noon on September 23, the cyclone had weakened into a tropical storm west of Baja California. Strong southwest flow to its north spread precipitation through the western United States into southwest Canada. The cyclone weakened to a tropical depression about 500 mi (800 km) southwest of San Diego and the surface low was last seen dissipating on September 25 about 250 mi (400 km) west-southwest of San Diego.

The heavy rain in California wiped out half of the raisin crop, a quarter of the wine crop, and a tenth of the tomato crop. Olivia's remnants brought rain totals of over seven in (177 mm) to California and northern Utah as they interacted with a strong upper level system and the local topography. The precipitation from this storm largely contributed to the record monthly precipitation in Salt Lake City, Utah of 7.04 in (179 mm). These rains resulted in widespread losses, mainly from agriculture, amounting to $325 million (1982 USD).

Hurricane Paul

Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS)
Duration	September 18 – September 30
Peak intensity	110 mph (175 km/h) (1-min);

Main article: Hurricane Paul (1982)

Paul was the deadliest storm of the season. Only as a tropical depression, it killed over 1,000 people in Guatemala and El Salvador. It moved westward, reached 110 mph (180 km/h) Category 2 hurricane strength, and made landfall on northwest Mexico in late September. Despite the fact that it was only numbered when it killed over 1,000 people, Paul is still the second-deadliest East Pacific tropical cyclone. Only the unnamed 1959 Mexico Hurricane killed more people. It also caused $1.156 billion (1982USD) in damage, and it remains the costliest East Pacific hurricane on record.

Tropical Storm Rosa

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	September 30 – October 6
Peak intensity	50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min);

A well-organized tropical depression formed in the Gulf of Tehuantepec on September 30. Moving slowly northwest, the system became a tropical storm, reaching maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (80 km/h) on the afternoon of October 2. The system slowly weakened as it moved northwest, and Rosa brushed the Pacific coast of Mexico as a dissipating depression.

Hurricane Sergio

Category 3 hurricane (SSHWS)
Duration	October 14 – October 23
Peak intensity	125 mph (205 km/h) (1-min);

A tropical disturbance was noted southwest of Costa Rica on October 12. Moving west-northwest, the system organized into a tropical depression as it crossed the 91st meridian west late on October 13 and became a tropical storm by October 14 as it entered the Gulf of Tehuantepec. It strengthened into a hurricane late that day as it passed 95°W. By the afternoon of October 17, Sergio was packing sustained winds of 120 mph (190 km/h). Cooler water was reached soon afterwards, and weakening commenced. While slowly moving west, Sergio weakened to a tropical storm by the afternoon of October 21 and to a tropical depression late on October 22. The system dissipated near 19°N 133°W on the afternoon of October 23.

Tropical Storm Tara

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration	October 19 – October 26
Peak intensity	50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min);

A tropical disturbance emerged off the coast of Central America. Cyclonic turning was noted on the afternoon of October 19, and a tropical depression formed 350 mi (560 km) south of Acapulco. Staggering west-northwestward, the cyclone became a tropical storm by the morning of the October 22. Maximum sustained winds increased to 50 mph (80 km/h) late on October 24. As it moved over cooler waters on October 25, the system weakened to a tropical depression that afternoon, dissipating that night near 21°N 130°W.

Hurricane Iwa

Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS)
Duration	November 19 – November 25
Peak intensity	90 mph (150 km/h) (1-min);

Main article: Hurricane Iwa

Late in the season, a nearly stationary disturbance with a cyclonic circulation organized into a tropical storm and was named Iwa. Iwa is Hawaiian for "thief", and refers to a kind of frigatebird that steals fish from other birds. The storm accelerated northeast after reaching hurricane intensity November 23.

Iwa's eye passed with 25 mi (40 km) of Kauai and even closer to Niihau. Both islands were caught in the storm's dangerous semicircle. Iwa continued northeast and became extratropical November 25.

Damage was extensive and amounted to a quarter billion dollars, which was the costliest tropical cyclone for Hawaii until Hurricane Iniki struck in 1992. Most of the damage was from the winds. Despite the damage, there was only one death on the islands.

1982 storm names

The following names were used for named storms that formed in the eastern Pacific in 1982. No Eastern Pacific names were retired, so it was used again in the 1988 season. This is the same list used in the 1978 season, except for Fabio, which replaced Fico. A storm was named Fabio for the first time in 1982. Names that were not assigned are marked in gray.

Aletta Bud Carlotta Daniel Emilia Fabio Gilma

Hector Iva John Kristy Lane Miriam Norman

Olivia Paul Rosa Sergio Tara Vicente (unused) Willa (unused)

Four names from the Central Pacific list were used - Akoni, Ema, Hana, and Iwa. This was the first usage for all of these names. With four names being used, this season holds the record for most named storms forming in the central Pacific.

Retirement

One name was retired from the Central Pacific list after the 1982 season, Iwa. It was replaced with Io. Iwa is one of only three Central Pacific names to have been retired.

See also

• List of Pacific hurricanes
• List of Pacific hurricane seasons
• 1982 Atlantic hurricane season
• 1982 Pacific typhoon season
• 1982 North Indian Ocean cyclone season
• Southern Hemisphere tropical cyclone seasons: 1981–82, 1982–83

External links

• Eastern North Pacific Tropical Cyclones of 1982
• Unisys Weather archive for the Eastern Pacific, 1982
• CPHC Season Summary
• CLASS polar orbiter satellite archive