1983 Pacific hurricane season
Encyclopedia
The 1983 Pacific hurricane season officially started May 15, 1983 in the eastern Pacific, and June 1, 1983 in the central Pacific, and lasted until November 30, 1983. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northeastern Pacific Ocean
.
This season, there were a record-setting 21 named storms this year. Of those storms, twelve became hurricanes. Eight hurricanes reached Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
. No named storms formed in the central Pacific; however, there were two tropical depressions. A strong El Niño contributed to this level of activity. That same El Niño influenced a relatively quiet season
in the Atlantic
.
The most notable storms were Hurricane Tico, Tropical Storm Octave, and Hurricane Winnie. Hurricane Tico left thousands homeless in Mazatlán; Tropical Storm Octave killed several people in one of Arizona's worst disasters; and Hurricane Winnie was a rare December cyclone.
, Nicaragua
. As the depression headed gradually west-northwestward over sea surface temperatures (SST's) of 86–88 °F (30–31.1 C), it steadily intensified. Later that day, the depression intensified into a tropical storm, which was named Adolph. Further intensification occurred as Adolph headed west-northwestward. By May 24, Adolph had strengthened enough to be considered a hurricane. Shortly thereafter, the storm turned northwestward and intensified into a Category 2 hurricane. Around that time, Adolph attained its peak intensity with winds of 110 mph (175 km/h), but an unknown minimum barometric pressure. Following peak intensity, Adolph gradually weakened to a low-end Category 2 hurricane. By May 25, Adolph curved sharply north-northeastward, as a result of being steered by anticyclonic deep-layer mean. Although SST's remained near 82 °F (27.8 °C), wind shear increased, causing Adolph to significantly weaken. The storm weakened back to Category 1 intensity upon curving north-northeastward, and was downgraded to a tropical storm twelve hours later. Adolph brushed the coast and dissipated close to Mazatlán
. No damage or deaths were reported. At the time, Adolph was the strongest May storm and the earliest hurricane. Both records have since been broken.
, and headed westward. The tropical disturbance intensified, and became the second tropical depression on the season on June 9. After being classified as Tropical Depression Two for twenty-four hours, it had intensified, and was upgraded to Tropical Storm Barbara. With sea surface temperatures above 86°F (30°C), Barbara continued to intensify, although rapid deepening did not occur until it attained hurricane status on June 12. As rapid deepening commenced, Barbara skipped category 2 hurricane status, and went from a high-end category 1 hurricane to a low-end category 4 hurricane in only twelve hours. Hurricane Barbara peaked as a 135 mph (215 km/h) category 4 hurricane, as no further intensification occurred. Barbara slowly weakened after peak intensity, while it was heading slowly northward around the western edge of an area of high pressure over west-central Mexico. By late on June 16, Barbara had deteriorated enough to be downgraded to a tropical storm, and weaken continued. Moving over sea surface temperatures near 72°F (22°C), Barbara rapidly weakened, and was downgraded to a tropical depression early the following day. Further weakening persisted, and Barbara dissipated on June 18, situated several hundred miles southwest of Baja California
. Hurricane Barbara did not affect land.
, ironically named Hurricane, went missing after leaving Long Beach
. Gil may have sunk it. As the vessel had no radio equipment, it is impossible to be sure as no one knew where the vessel was.
.
coast.
on August 26 to August 27. Heading westward, the system had began to be classified as Tropical Depression Thirteen-E on August 31. Later on that day, the depression intensified, and was upgraded to Tropical Storm Kiko. Kiko explosively intensified after becoming a tropical storm, likely because of low wind shear values and sea surface temperatures between 82 and 88°F (28-31°C). Explosively intensifying, Kiko immediately became a category three hurricane on September 1, skipping category one and two hurricane status. Rapid intensification continued briefly, and Kiko became a category 4 hurricane early on September 2. Becoming a category four hurricane, intensification slowed, and Kiko attained its peak intensity on September 3 with winds of 145 mph (230 km/h), and was the strongest storm of the season.
A subtropical jet stream produced cooler sea surface temperatures and higher wind shear, although a few fluctuations in intensity occurred on September 4. After being a major hurricane since September 1, Kiko weakened and was downgraded to a category 2 hurricane. Further weakening occurred, and Kiko eventually deteriorated to a tropical storm. Kiko weakened to a tropical depression on September 8, and convection had ceased to exist on September 9, causing the storm to be declared dissipated several hundred miles west of Baja California. It had no effects on land.
on September 20 and 21.
on September 23. Steered by a deep layer high over Mexico
, the disturbance moved west for four days before becoming a tropical depression. The system was situated over warm sea surface temperature
s of 28–29°C, although wind shear
prevented significant development. Late on September 28, the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Octave, and early the next day reached its peak intensity of 50 mph (80.5 km/h). While strengthening, Octave turned to the north and northeast. On September 30, Octave began accelerating over an area of cooler waters and increasing vertical wind shear. Consequently, Octave weakened back to tropical depression status during the afternoon. On October 2, the Eastern Pacific Hurricane Center
issued their last advisory on the storm, as the surface circulation had dissipated.
While a tropical cyclone, Octave never threatened land. However, the interaction between its remnants and an upper-level low off of California produced a week-long rainfall event in Arizona. Damage was extreme, and several cities were entire flooded. Thirteen people were killed and hundreds were injured. The flooding left 10,000 Arizonans homeless. Damage in the state totaled $500 million (1983 USD, $ USD).
enough for a hurricane watch to be issued. Instead, it turned north. It then veered south and passed near Molokai
as a depression. Raymond brought beneficial rains. There was one casualty when a sailor was lost overboard off the craft "Hazana"; the boat was traveling from San Diego to Hawaii. Only minor damage was reported as a result of the hurricane. However, a fishing vessel did also issue a Mayday for help because of the storm.
and Oklahoma
, where they caused torrential rains.
Flooding left 25,000 people homeless, and at least nine people were killed, with 105 missing. Several boats were also destroyed. The total cost of damage was $329 million (2009 USD).
It is not known why this storm was named Winnie. While that name is given to this storm in the "best track" file, the official name list for this year has "Wallis" instead of "Winnie".
. This is the first time these names had been used since the modern naming system began. No central Pacific names were used; the first name used would have been Keli.
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
.
This season, there were a record-setting 21 named storms this year. Of those storms, twelve became hurricanes. Eight hurricanes reached Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale
The Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale , or the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale , classifies hurricanes — Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms — into five categories distinguished by the intensities of their sustained winds...
. No named storms formed in the central Pacific; however, there were two tropical depressions. A strong El Niño contributed to this level of activity. That same El Niño influenced a relatively quiet season
1983 Atlantic hurricane season
The 1983 Atlantic hurricane season was the least active Atlantic hurricane season in 53 years, with only four tropical storms forming. The season officially began on June 1, 1983, and lasted until November 30, 1983. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most storms...
in the Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
.
The most notable storms were Hurricane Tico, Tropical Storm Octave, and Hurricane Winnie. Hurricane Tico left thousands homeless in Mazatlán; Tropical Storm Octave killed several people in one of Arizona's worst disasters; and Hurricane Winnie was a rare December cyclone.
Hurricane Adolph
On May 21, Tropical Depression One-E formed 500 mi (804.7 km) southwest of ManaguaManagua
Managua is the capital city of Nicaragua as well as the department and municipality by the same name. It is the largest city in Nicaragua in terms of population and geographic size. Located on the southwestern shore of Lake Xolotlán or Lake Managua, the city was declared the national capital in...
, Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
. As the depression headed gradually west-northwestward over sea surface temperatures (SST's) of 86–88 °F (30–31.1 C), it steadily intensified. Later that day, the depression intensified into a tropical storm, which was named Adolph. Further intensification occurred as Adolph headed west-northwestward. By May 24, Adolph had strengthened enough to be considered a hurricane. Shortly thereafter, the storm turned northwestward and intensified into a Category 2 hurricane. Around that time, Adolph attained its peak intensity with winds of 110 mph (175 km/h), but an unknown minimum barometric pressure. Following peak intensity, Adolph gradually weakened to a low-end Category 2 hurricane. By May 25, Adolph curved sharply north-northeastward, as a result of being steered by anticyclonic deep-layer mean. Although SST's remained near 82 °F (27.8 °C), wind shear increased, causing Adolph to significantly weaken. The storm weakened back to Category 1 intensity upon curving north-northeastward, and was downgraded to a tropical storm twelve hours later. Adolph brushed the coast and dissipated close to Mazatlán
Mazatlán
Mazatlán is a city in the Mexican state of Sinaloa; the surrounding municipio for which the city serves as the municipal seat is Mazatlán Municipality. It is located at on the Pacific coast, across from the southernmost tip of the Baja California peninsula.Mazatlán is a Nahuatl word meaning...
. No damage or deaths were reported. At the time, Adolph was the strongest May storm and the earliest hurricane. Both records have since been broken.
Hurricane Barbara
A tropical disturbance was first observed about 208 mi (334 km) south of the coast of GuatemalaGuatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
, and headed westward. The tropical disturbance intensified, and became the second tropical depression on the season on June 9. After being classified as Tropical Depression Two for twenty-four hours, it had intensified, and was upgraded to Tropical Storm Barbara. With sea surface temperatures above 86°F (30°C), Barbara continued to intensify, although rapid deepening did not occur until it attained hurricane status on June 12. As rapid deepening commenced, Barbara skipped category 2 hurricane status, and went from a high-end category 1 hurricane to a low-end category 4 hurricane in only twelve hours. Hurricane Barbara peaked as a 135 mph (215 km/h) category 4 hurricane, as no further intensification occurred. Barbara slowly weakened after peak intensity, while it was heading slowly northward around the western edge of an area of high pressure over west-central Mexico. By late on June 16, Barbara had deteriorated enough to be downgraded to a tropical storm, and weaken continued. Moving over sea surface temperatures near 72°F (22°C), Barbara rapidly weakened, and was downgraded to a tropical depression early the following day. Further weakening persisted, and Barbara dissipated on June 18, situated several hundred miles southwest of Baja California
Baja California
Baja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North...
. Hurricane Barbara did not affect land.
Tropical Storm Cosme
Cosme was a short-lived and weak storm that did not have any impacts on land.Hurricane Gil
Gil threatened the Hawaiian Islands as a tropical storm. It caused heavy rains and pounding surf but little damage and only "minor difficulties". It may have killed one person. A catamaranCatamaran
A catamaran is a type of multihulled boat or ship consisting of two hulls, or vakas, joined by some structure, the most basic being a frame, formed of akas...
, ironically named Hurricane, went missing after leaving Long Beach
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
. Gil may have sunk it. As the vessel had no radio equipment, it is impossible to be sure as no one knew where the vessel was.
Hurricane Henriette
Henriette was a powerful category 4 hurricane. It moved a long distance, but did not affect land.Tropical Depression Nine-E
This depression formed on August 3 and dissipated August 7 over cool water.Hurricane Ismael
Isamel was a category 2 storm that did not affect land. However, it's remnants brought rain to CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Tropical Depression Eleven-E
This depression dissipated off the southern Baja CaliforniaBaja California
Baja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North...
coast.
Tropical Depression Two-C
This depression drifted across the International Dateline on September 1.Hurricane Kiko
A tropical disturbance headed westward into the Pacific, after crossing Central AmericaCentral America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
on August 26 to August 27. Heading westward, the system had began to be classified as Tropical Depression Thirteen-E on August 31. Later on that day, the depression intensified, and was upgraded to Tropical Storm Kiko. Kiko explosively intensified after becoming a tropical storm, likely because of low wind shear values and sea surface temperatures between 82 and 88°F (28-31°C). Explosively intensifying, Kiko immediately became a category three hurricane on September 1, skipping category one and two hurricane status. Rapid intensification continued briefly, and Kiko became a category 4 hurricane early on September 2. Becoming a category four hurricane, intensification slowed, and Kiko attained its peak intensity on September 3 with winds of 145 mph (230 km/h), and was the strongest storm of the season.
A subtropical jet stream produced cooler sea surface temperatures and higher wind shear, although a few fluctuations in intensity occurred on September 4. After being a major hurricane since September 1, Kiko weakened and was downgraded to a category 2 hurricane. Further weakening occurred, and Kiko eventually deteriorated to a tropical storm. Kiko weakened to a tropical depression on September 8, and convection had ceased to exist on September 9, causing the storm to be declared dissipated several hundred miles west of Baja California. It had no effects on land.
Hurricane Manuel
The remnants of hurricane Manuel brought rain to CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
on September 20 and 21.
Tropical Storm Narda
Narda threatened Hawaii but veered south when far from the islands. There are no known casualties.Tropical Storm Octave
A tropical disturbance formed south of the Gulf of TehuantepecGulf of Tehuantepec
Gulf of Tehuantepec is a large body of water on the Pacific coast of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, southeastern Mexico, at . Most of the hurricanes that form in the Eastern Pacific organize in or near this body of water...
on September 23. Steered by a deep layer high over Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, the disturbance moved west for four days before becoming a tropical depression. The system was situated over warm sea surface temperature
Sea surface temperature
Sea surface temperature is the water temperature close to the oceans surface. The exact meaning of surface varies according to the measurement method used, but it is between and below the sea surface. Air masses in the Earth's atmosphere are highly modified by sea surface temperatures within a...
s of 28–29°C, although wind shear
Wind shear
Wind shear, sometimes referred to as windshear or wind gradient, is a difference in wind speed and direction over a relatively short distance in the atmosphere...
prevented significant development. Late on September 28, the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Octave, and early the next day reached its peak intensity of 50 mph (80.5 km/h). While strengthening, Octave turned to the north and northeast. On September 30, Octave began accelerating over an area of cooler waters and increasing vertical wind shear. Consequently, Octave weakened back to tropical depression status during the afternoon. On October 2, the Eastern Pacific Hurricane Center
Eastern Pacific Hurricane Center
The Eastern Pacific Hurricane Center was formerly the Regional Specialized Meteorological Center responsible for forecasting Pacific hurricanes in the eastern north Pacific east of 140°W...
issued their last advisory on the storm, as the surface circulation had dissipated.
While a tropical cyclone, Octave never threatened land. However, the interaction between its remnants and an upper-level low off of California produced a week-long rainfall event in Arizona. Damage was extreme, and several cities were entire flooded. Thirteen people were killed and hundreds were injured. The flooding left 10,000 Arizonans homeless. Damage in the state totaled $500 million (1983 USD, $ USD).
Hurricane Priscilla
Priscilla's remnants moved northward across California, bringing light rain October 7.Hurricane Raymond
Raymond threatened the Hawaiian IslandsHawaiian Islands
The Hawaiian Islands are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, numerous smaller islets, and undersea seamounts in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some 1,500 miles from the island of Hawaii in the south to northernmost Kure Atoll...
enough for a hurricane watch to be issued. Instead, it turned north. It then veered south and passed near Molokai
Molokai
Molokai or Molokai is an island in the Hawaiian archipelago. It is 38 by 10 miles in size with a land area of , making it the fifth largest of the main Hawaiian Islands and the 27th largest island in the United States. It lies east of Oahu across the 25-mile wide Kaiwi Channel and north of...
as a depression. Raymond brought beneficial rains. There was one casualty when a sailor was lost overboard off the craft "Hazana"; the boat was traveling from San Diego to Hawaii. Only minor damage was reported as a result of the hurricane. However, a fishing vessel did also issue a Mayday for help because of the storm.
Tropical Storm Sonia
Tropical Storm Sonia was a weak storm that did not affect any land. Sonia formed as a depression near the CPHC's area of responsibility on October 9, and entered it soon after. The storm never exceeded winds of 45 mph (75 km/h), fairly weak storm strength. After entering the CPHC's area, Sonia reached a point over 1000 miles (1,609.3 km) south-southeast of the Big Island before dissipating on October 14.Hurricane Tico
Hurricane Tico was a powerful major hurricane, a Category 4, that came ashore close to Mazatlán on October 19 at Category 3 strength. Winds gusted to 135 mph (215 km/h), and rain was heavy. Tico's remnants kept moving northeast and passed into TexasTexas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
and Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, where they caused torrential rains.
Flooding left 25,000 people homeless, and at least nine people were killed, with 105 missing. Several boats were also destroyed. The total cost of damage was $329 million (2009 USD).
Tropical Depression Twenty-Two-E
Lasting only 19 hours, Twenty-Two-E was the shortest-lived storm of the season.Tropical Storm Velma
A tropical disturbance developed within the ITCZ during October, and headed over sea surface temperatures of at least 84°F (29°C). Although situated in a location considered unfavorable for development, the system began to organize, and became Tropical Depression Twenty-Three-E on November 1. Tropical Depression Twenty-Three-E quickly intensified, and was upgraded to Tropical Storm Velma six hours later. No further intensification occurred, and Velma peak as a minimal 40 mph (65 km/h) tropical storm. Velma began to weaken after 18 hours, and was downgraded to a tropical depression on November 2. By the following day, the Eastern Pacific Hurricane Center issued the final advisory on Tropical Depression Velma, indication that dissipation had occurred. Velma did not affect land.Hurricane Winnie
Hurricane Winnie was an out of season storm that formed December 4, the latest hurricane in this basin. Winnie was a hurricane only briefly as it remained stationary. Winnie dissipated before making landfall.It is not known why this storm was named Winnie. While that name is given to this storm in the "best track" file, the official name list for this year has "Wallis" instead of "Winnie".
1983 storm names
The following names were used for named storms that formed in the eastern Pacific in 1983. All the names on the list were used this year. No names were retired, so it was used again in the 1989 season1989 Pacific hurricane season
-Tropical Storm Adolph:The first storm of the season developed out of a weak area of low pressure situated about 570 mi south-southwest of Acapulco, Mexico. Tracking towards the west, the circluation briefly dissipated on May 30, before redeveloping the following day into Tropical...
. This is the first time these names had been used since the modern naming system began. No central Pacific names were used; the first name used would have been Keli.
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Hurricane Tico (1983) Hurricane Tico was among the deadliest and costliest Pacific hurricanes on record. Forming on October 11, the cyclone steadily intensified off the Pacific coast of Mexico. Three days after forming, Tico reached hurricane intensity. Early on October 19, Tico peaked as a Category 4 hurricane on... |
See also
- List of Pacific hurricanes
- List of Pacific hurricane seasons
- 1983 Atlantic hurricane season1983 Atlantic hurricane seasonThe 1983 Atlantic hurricane season was the least active Atlantic hurricane season in 53 years, with only four tropical storms forming. The season officially began on June 1, 1983, and lasted until November 30, 1983. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most storms...
- 1983 Pacific typhoon season1983 Pacific typhoon seasonWhen Tropical Storm Sarah formed in the South China Sea on June 24, it became the latest start of a western Pacific season since 1973. The initial tropical disturbance formed south of Guam on June 16. By June 19, a low level circulation formed as the system moved westward. As a tropical...
- 1983 North Indian Ocean cyclone season
- Southern Hemisphere tropical cyclone seasons: 1982–83, 1983–84
External links
- Eastern North Pacific Tropical Cyclones of 1983
- CPHC Season Summary
- Unisys Weather archive for the Eastern Pacific, 1983
- ATCR for Tropical Depression One-C
- Arizona's tropical cyclones accessed November 15, 2005
- USA Today California's tropical storms accessed November 15, 2005
- Unisys Weather archive accessed November 15, 2005
- CPHC archive accessed November 15, 2005