List of Category 5 Pacific hurricanes

Category 5 hurricanes are tropical cyclone

Tropical cyclone

A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones strengthen when water evaporated from the ocean is released as the saturated air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor...

s that reach Category 5 intensity 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...

. They are the most catastrophic hurricanes that can form on planet Earth. They are rare in the eastern Pacific Ocean

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...

and generally form only once every several years. In general, Category 5s form in clusters in single years. Landfalls by such storms are rare due to the generally westerly path of tropical cyclone

Tropical cyclone

s in the northern hemisphere

Northern Hemisphere

The Northern Hemisphere is the half of a planet that is north of its equator—the word hemisphere literally means “half sphere”. It is also that half of the celestial sphere north of the celestial equator...

.

The term "hurricane" is used for tropical cyclones in the Pacific Ocean, north of the equator

Equator

An equator is the intersection of a sphere's surface with the plane perpendicular to the sphere's axis of rotation and containing the sphere's center of mass....

and east of the international date line

International Date Line

The International Date Line is a generally north-south imaginary line on the surface of the Earth, passing through the middle of the Pacific Ocean, that designates the place where each calendar day begins...

. A Category 5 Pacific hurricane is therefore a tropical cyclone in the north Pacific Ocean that reached Category 5 intensity east of the international dateline. Identical phenomena in the north Pacific Ocean west of the dateline are called "typhoons" or "super typhoons". Category 5 super typhoons generally happen several times per season, so cyclones of that intensity are not exceptional for that region. This difference in terminology therefore excludes storms such as Super Typhoon Paka

Typhoon Paka

Typhoon Paka was the last tropical cyclone in the 1997 Pacific Ocean hurricane and typhoon season, and was among the strongest Pacific typhoons in the month of December. Paka, which is the Hawaiian name for Pat, developed on November 28 from a trough well to the southwest of Hawaii...

and Super Typhoon Oliwa

Typhoon Oliwa (1997)

Typhoon Oliwa was one of a record eleven super typhoons in the 1997 Pacific typhoon season. It formed in the central Pacific Ocean on September 2 to the southwest of Hawaii, but it became a typhoon in the western Pacific. Oliwa explosively deepened on September 8, increasing its winds...

of 1997

1997 Pacific typhoon season

The 1997 Pacific typhoon season has no official bounds; it ran year-round in 1997, but most tropical cyclones tend to form in the northwestern Pacific Ocean between May and November. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northwestern...

, which formed east of the dateline but did not reach Category 5 intensity until after crossing the dateline.

Statistics

A Category 5 hurricane sustained winds of greater than 135 kn (164.4 mph; 264.6 km/h). Sustained winds refers to a one-minute average measured 10 metre above the ground. Short gusts can be up to 50% higher than the sustained winds. As a tropical cyclone is moving, its wind field is asymmetric. In the northern hemisphere, the strongest winds are on the right side of the storm (relative to the direction of motion). The highest winds given in advisories are those from the right side.

Between the 1959 and 2010

2010 Pacific hurricane season

The 2010 Pacific hurricane season was the least active Pacific hurricane season, in terms of the number of named storms and hurricanes, on record, due to a moderate La Niña, unlike the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season, which was one of the most active on record...

seasons inclusive, only 14 hurricanes have reached and were recorded as a Category 5. There are no known Category 5 storms occurring before 1959. It is possible that some earlier storms reached Category 5 over open waters, but they were never recognized because they never affected land and remained at sea.

Listed in chronological order

This lists all of the Category 5 hurricanes in the order in which they formed. Only 1994's Hurricane Emilia and 2006's Hurricane Ioke have reached Category 5 intensity more than once; that is, by weakening into a Category 4 or weaker storm and then re-strengthening to a cat 5 again.

Before the advent of reliable geostationary satellite

Weather satellite

The weather satellite is a type of satellite that is primarily used to monitor the weather and climate of the Earth. Satellites can be either polar orbiting, seeing the same swath of the Earth every 12 hours, or geostationary, hovering over the same spot on Earth by orbiting over the equator while...

coverage in 1966, the number of eastern Pacific tropical cyclones was significantly underestimated. It is therefore very possible that there are additional Category 5's other than those listed, but they were not reported and therefore not recognized. However, the lack of Pacific Category 5's during the late 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s, is certain.

1950s
Name	Season	Max. 1 min. average sustained wind
Name	Season	knots	km/h	mph
Patsy Hurricane Patsy (1959) Hurricane Patsy was a tropical cyclone of both the 1959 Pacific typhoon season and the 1959 Pacific hurricane season...	1959	150	280	175
"Mexico 1959 Mexico Hurricane The 1959 Mexico Hurricane was a devastating tropical cyclone that was one of the worst ever Pacific hurricanes. It impacted the Pacific coast of Mexico in October 1959. It killed at least 1,000 people, and perhaps double that, a record that still stands, and caused at least 280 million... "	1959	140	260	160
1970s
Ava Hurricane Ava (1973) Hurricane Ava was one of the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded in the northeastern Pacific Ocean. It was the first named storm of the 1973 Pacific hurricane season. Forming in early June, Hurricane Ava eventually reached Category 5 intensity on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, the...	1973 1973 Pacific hurricane season The 1973 Pacific hurricane season was an event in tropical cyclone meteorology. The most important system this year was Hurricane Ava, which was the most intense Pacific hurricane known at the time. Several other much weaker tropical cyclones came close to, or made landfall on, the Pacific coast of...	140	260	160
1990s
Emilia Hurricane Emilia (1994) Hurricane Emilia was the fifth tropical cyclone, second Pacific hurricane, and the first major hurricane of the 1994 Pacific hurricane season. It was the third most intense tropical cyclone in the central Pacific Ocean, attaining a minimum central pressure of 926 mbar on July 19—only Gilma...	1994 1994 Pacific hurricane season The 1994 Pacific hurricane season officially started on May 15, 1994 in the eastern Pacific, and on June 1, 1994 in the central Pacific, and lasted until November 30, 1994. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northeastern Pacific Ocean...	140	260	160
Gilma Hurricane Gilma (1994) Hurricane Gilma was one the most intense Pacific hurricanes on record and the second of three Category 5 hurricanes during the active 1994 Pacific hurricane season. Developing from a westward tracking tropical wave over the open waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean on July 21, the pre-Gilma...	1994 1994 Pacific hurricane season The 1994 Pacific hurricane season officially started on May 15, 1994 in the eastern Pacific, and on June 1, 1994 in the central Pacific, and lasted until November 30, 1994. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northeastern Pacific Ocean...	140	260	160
John Hurricane John (1994) Hurricane John formed during the 1994 Pacific hurricane season and became both the longest-lasting and the farthest-traveling tropical cyclone ever observed...	1994 1994 Pacific hurricane season The 1994 Pacific hurricane season officially started on May 15, 1994 in the eastern Pacific, and on June 1, 1994 in the central Pacific, and lasted until November 30, 1994. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northeastern Pacific Ocean...	150	280	175
Guillermo Hurricane Guillermo (1997) Hurricane Guillermo was the sixth strongest Pacific hurricane on record, attaining peak winds of 160 mph and a barometric pressure of 919 mbar . Forming out of a tropical wave on July 30, 1997, roughly 345 mi south of Salina Cruz, Mexico, Guillermo tracked in a steady...	1997 1997 Pacific hurricane season The 1997 Pacific hurricane season was a very active hurricane season. With hundreds of deaths and billions of dollars in damage, this season was the costliest and one of the deadliest Pacific hurricane seasons. This was due to a strong El Niño...	140	260	160

|-
| Linda

Hurricane Linda (1997)

Hurricane Linda was the strongest eastern Pacific hurricane on record. Forming from a tropical wave on September 9, 1997, Linda steadily intensified and reached hurricane status within 36 hours of developing. It rapidly intensified, reaching winds of and an estimated central pressure...

|| 1997

1997 Pacific hurricane season

The 1997 Pacific hurricane season was a very active hurricane season. With hundreds of deaths and billions of dollars in damage, this season was the costliest and one of the deadliest Pacific hurricane seasons. This was due to a strong El Niño...

|| 160 || 300 || 185
|-
! colspan="6" align="center"|2000s
|-
| Elida

Hurricane Elida (2002)

Hurricane Elida was the first hurricane of the 2002 Pacific hurricane season to reach Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. Forming on July 23 from a tropical wave, the storm rapidly intensified from a tropical depression into a Category 5 in two days and lasted...

|| 2002

2002 Pacific hurricane season

The 2002 Pacific hurricane season was an event in tropical cyclone meteorology. The most notable storm that year was Hurricane Kenna, which reached Category 5 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. It made landfall near Puerto Vallarta, in the Mexican state of Jalisco, on October 25...

|| 140 || 260 || 160
|-
| Hernan

Hurricane Hernan (2002)

Hurricane Hernan was the second of three Category 5 hurricanes during the 2002 Pacific hurricane season. The twelfth tropical cyclone, tenth named storm and sixth hurricane of the season, Hernan originated from a tropical wave that formed in the Atlantic Ocean and crossed to the Pacific Ocean...

|| 2002

2002 Pacific hurricane season

|| 140 || 260 || 160
|-
| Kenna

Hurricane Kenna

Hurricane Kenna was the second-most intense Pacific hurricane to strike the west coast of Mexico in recorded history. Kenna was the sixteenth tropical depression, thirteenth tropical storm, seventh hurricane, sixth major hurricane, and third Category 5 hurricane of the 2002 Pacific hurricane season...

|| 2002

2002 Pacific hurricane season

|| 145 || 270 || 165
|-
| Ioke

Hurricane Ioke

Hurricane Ioke was the strongest hurricane ever recorded in the Central Pacific...

|| 2006

2006 Pacific hurricane season

The 2006 Pacific hurricane season was the most active Pacific hurricane season since 2000 producing 19 tropical storms or hurricanes. Eighteen developed within the National Hurricane Center area of warning responsibility, which is east of 140ºW, and one storm formed between 140ºW and the...

|| 140 || 260 || 160
|-
| Rick

Hurricane Rick (2009)

Hurricane Rick was the second-most intense Pacific hurricane on record and the strongest ever to form during October. Developing south of Mexico on October 15, 2009, Hurricane Rick traversed an area favoring rapid intensification, allowing it to become a hurricane within 24 hours of being...

|| 2009

2009 Pacific hurricane season

The 2009 Pacific hurricane season was an active event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation, due to a moderate El Niño, unlike the 2009 Atlantic hurricane season, which was relatively quiet. The season officially started on May 15 in the eastern Pacific, and on June 1 for the central...

|| 155 || 285 || 180
|-
! colspan="6" align="center"|2010s
|-
| Celia

Hurricane Celia (2010)

Hurricane Celia was a powerful, early-season Category 5 tropical cyclone that existed over the open waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean during late June 2010...

|| 2010

2010 Pacific hurricane season

|| 140 || 260 || 160
|}

Listed by date in season

Hurricanes have reached Category 5 intensity during every month from June to October. The earliest Category 5 has formed in a season is June 7, by 1973's Hurricane Ava

Hurricane Ava (1973)

Hurricane Ava was one of the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded in the northeastern Pacific Ocean. It was the first named storm of the 1973 Pacific hurricane season. Forming in early June, Hurricane Ava eventually reached Category 5 intensity on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, the...

. The latest Category 5 to form in a season is the 1959 Mexico hurricane

1959 Mexico Hurricane

The 1959 Mexico Hurricane was a devastating tropical cyclone that was one of the worst ever Pacific hurricanes. It impacted the Pacific coast of Mexico in October 1959. It killed at least 1,000 people, and perhaps double that, a record that still stands, and caused at least 280 million...

, which reached peak intensity on October 27. Hurricanes Ava, Gilma

Hurricane Gilma (1994)

Hurricane Gilma was one the most intense Pacific hurricanes on record and the second of three Category 5 hurricanes during the active 1994 Pacific hurricane season. Developing from a westward tracking tropical wave over the open waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean on July 21, the pre-Gilma...

, Guillermo

Hurricane Guillermo (1997)

Hurricane Guillermo was the sixth strongest Pacific hurricane on record, attaining peak winds of 160 mph and a barometric pressure of 919 mbar . Forming out of a tropical wave on July 30, 1997, roughly 345 mi south of Salina Cruz, Mexico, Guillermo tracked in a steady...

, Linda

Hurricane Linda (1997)

, and Rick

Hurricane Rick (2009)

are the most intense storms to form in their respective months. There have been no May, November, or off-season Category 5's.

Two Pacific hurricanes are known to have reached Category 5 intensity multiple times: Emilia

Hurricane Emilia (1994)

Hurricane Emilia was the fifth tropical cyclone, second Pacific hurricane, and the first major hurricane of the 1994 Pacific hurricane season. It was the third most intense tropical cyclone in the central Pacific Ocean, attaining a minimum central pressure of 926 mbar on July 19—only Gilma...

and Ioke

Hurricane Ioke

Hurricane Ioke was the strongest hurricane ever recorded in the Central Pacific...

. Both did it twice, and Ioke reached Category 5 status a third time as a typhoon while in the Western Pacific. Hurricane Ioke was tied for the longest-lasting Category 5 hurricane recorded, spending 42 hours at that strength, while hurricanes John and Linda had the longest time spent consecutively at that intensity.

Name	Date attained	Date lost	Time as a Category 5
Ava Hurricane Ava (1973) Hurricane Ava was one of the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded in the northeastern Pacific Ocean. It was the first named storm of the 1973 Pacific hurricane season. Forming in early June, Hurricane Ava eventually reached Category 5 intensity on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, the...	June 7	June 8	12 hours
Celia Hurricane Celia (2010) Hurricane Celia was a powerful, early-season Category 5 tropical cyclone that existed over the open waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean during late June 2010...	June 24	June 25	12 hours
Emilia Hurricane Emilia (1994) Hurricane Emilia was the fifth tropical cyclone, second Pacific hurricane, and the first major hurricane of the 1994 Pacific hurricane season. It was the third most intense tropical cyclone in the central Pacific Ocean, attaining a minimum central pressure of 926 mbar on July 19—only Gilma...	July 19	July 20	18 hours
	July 20	July 21	18 hours
Gilma Hurricane Gilma (1994) Hurricane Gilma was one the most intense Pacific hurricanes on record and the second of three Category 5 hurricanes during the active 1994 Pacific hurricane season. Developing from a westward tracking tropical wave over the open waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean on July 21, the pre-Gilma...	July 24	July 25	18 hours
Elida Hurricane Elida (2002) Hurricane Elida was the first hurricane of the 2002 Pacific hurricane season to reach Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. Forming on July 23 from a tropical wave, the storm rapidly intensified from a tropical depression into a Category 5 in two days and lasted...	July 25	July 25	6 hours
Guillermo Hurricane Guillermo (1997) Hurricane Guillermo was the sixth strongest Pacific hurricane on record, attaining peak winds of 160 mph and a barometric pressure of 919 mbar . Forming out of a tropical wave on July 30, 1997, roughly 345 mi south of Salina Cruz, Mexico, Guillermo tracked in a steady...	August 4	August 5	12 hours
John Hurricane John (1994) Hurricane John formed during the 1994 Pacific hurricane season and became both the longest-lasting and the farthest-traveling tropical cyclone ever observed...	August 22	August 24	42 hours
Ioke	August 24	August 25	42 hours
Ioke	August 26	August 26*	42 hours
Hernan Hurricane Hernan (2002) Hurricane Hernan was the second of three Category 5 hurricanes during the 2002 Pacific hurricane season. The twelfth tropical cyclone, tenth named storm and sixth hurricane of the season, Hernan originated from a tropical wave that formed in the Atlantic Ocean and crossed to the Pacific Ocean...	September 1	September 1	12 hours
Patsy Hurricane Patsy (1959) Hurricane Patsy was a tropical cyclone of both the 1959 Pacific typhoon season and the 1959 Pacific hurricane season...	September 6	September 6	6 hours
Linda Hurricane Linda (1997) Hurricane Linda was the strongest eastern Pacific hurricane on record. Forming from a tropical wave on September 9, 1997, Linda steadily intensified and reached hurricane status within 36 hours of developing. It rapidly intensified, reaching winds of and an estimated central pressure...	September 12	September 13	42 hours
Rick Hurricane Rick (2009) Hurricane Rick was the second-most intense Pacific hurricane on record and the strongest ever to form during October. Developing south of Mexico on October 15, 2009, Hurricane Rick traversed an area favoring rapid intensification, allowing it to become a hurricane within 24 hours of being...	October 17	October 18	24 hours
Kenna Hurricane Kenna Hurricane Kenna was the second-most intense Pacific hurricane to strike the west coast of Mexico in recorded history. Kenna was the sixteenth tropical depression, thirteenth tropical storm, seventh hurricane, sixth major hurricane, and third Category 5 hurricane of the 2002 Pacific hurricane season...	October 24	October 25	18 hours
"Mexico 1959 Mexico Hurricane The 1959 Mexico Hurricane was a devastating tropical cyclone that was one of the worst ever Pacific hurricanes. It impacted the Pacific coast of Mexico in October 1959. It killed at least 1,000 people, and perhaps double that, a record that still stands, and caused at least 280 million... "	October 27	October 27	6 hours
*Ioke did not lose Category 5 status on August 26, however, it moved into the Western North Pacific, and thus was no longer considered a hurricane, but rather a typhoon.

For its first time as a Category 5, Emilia was at that intensity for 6 hours; the second time was for 12 for a total of 18 hours. For its first time as a Category 5, Ioke was at that intensity for 18 hours; the second time was 24 additional hours east of the dateline, giving a total of 42 hours.

Listed by minimum pressure

Name	Lowest Pressure
Name	Millibars	Inches of Mercury
Linda Hurricane Linda (1997) Hurricane Linda was the strongest eastern Pacific hurricane on record. Forming from a tropical wave on September 9, 1997, Linda steadily intensified and reached hurricane status within 36 hours of developing. It rapidly intensified, reaching winds of and an estimated central pressure...	902	26.6
Rick Hurricane Rick (2009) Hurricane Rick was the second-most intense Pacific hurricane on record and the strongest ever to form during October. Developing south of Mexico on October 15, 2009, Hurricane Rick traversed an area favoring rapid intensification, allowing it to become a hurricane within 24 hours of being...	906	26.7
Kenna Hurricane Kenna Hurricane Kenna was the second-most intense Pacific hurricane to strike the west coast of Mexico in recorded history. Kenna was the sixteenth tropical depression, thirteenth tropical storm, seventh hurricane, sixth major hurricane, and third Category 5 hurricane of the 2002 Pacific hurricane season...	913	27.0
Ava Hurricane Ava (1973) Hurricane Ava was one of the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded in the northeastern Pacific Ocean. It was the first named storm of the 1973 Pacific hurricane season. Forming in early June, Hurricane Ava eventually reached Category 5 intensity on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, the...	≤915	≤27.0
Guillermo Hurricane Guillermo (1997) Hurricane Guillermo was the sixth strongest Pacific hurricane on record, attaining peak winds of 160 mph and a barometric pressure of 919 mbar . Forming out of a tropical wave on July 30, 1997, roughly 345 mi south of Salina Cruz, Mexico, Guillermo tracked in a steady...	919	27.1
Gilma Hurricane Gilma (1994) Hurricane Gilma was one the most intense Pacific hurricanes on record and the second of three Category 5 hurricanes during the active 1994 Pacific hurricane season. Developing from a westward tracking tropical wave over the open waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean on July 21, the pre-Gilma...	≤920	≤27.2
Ioke Hurricane Ioke Hurricane Ioke was the strongest hurricane ever recorded in the Central Pacific...	920	27.2
Elida Hurricane Elida (2002) Hurricane Elida was the first hurricane of the 2002 Pacific hurricane season to reach Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. Forming on July 23 from a tropical wave, the storm rapidly intensified from a tropical depression into a Category 5 in two days and lasted...	921	27.2
Hernan Hurricane Hernan (2002) Hurricane Hernan was the second of three Category 5 hurricanes during the 2002 Pacific hurricane season. The twelfth tropical cyclone, tenth named storm and sixth hurricane of the season, Hernan originated from a tropical wave that formed in the Atlantic Ocean and crossed to the Pacific Ocean...	921	27.2
Emilia Hurricane Emilia (1994) Hurricane Emilia was the fifth tropical cyclone, second Pacific hurricane, and the first major hurricane of the 1994 Pacific hurricane season. It was the third most intense tropical cyclone in the central Pacific Ocean, attaining a minimum central pressure of 926 mbar on July 19—only Gilma...	926	27.3
Celia Hurricane Celia (2010) Hurricane Celia was a powerful, early-season Category 5 tropical cyclone that existed over the open waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean during late June 2010...	926	27.3
John Hurricane John (1994) Hurricane John formed during the 1994 Pacific hurricane season and became both the longest-lasting and the farthest-traveling tropical cyclone ever observed...	≤929	≤27.4
"Mexico 1959 Mexico Hurricane The 1959 Mexico Hurricane was a devastating tropical cyclone that was one of the worst ever Pacific hurricanes. It impacted the Pacific coast of Mexico in October 1959. It killed at least 1,000 people, and perhaps double that, a record that still stands, and caused at least 280 million... "	≤958	≤28.3
Patsy Hurricane Patsy (1959) Hurricane Patsy was a tropical cyclone of both the 1959 Pacific typhoon season and the 1959 Pacific hurricane season...	unknown	unknown

The minimum central pressure

Atmospheric pressure

Atmospheric pressure is the force per unit area exerted into a surface by the weight of air above that surface in the atmosphere of Earth . In most circumstances atmospheric pressure is closely approximated by the hydrostatic pressure caused by the weight of air above the measurement point...

of these storms is, for the most part, estimated from satellite imagery using the Dvorak technique

Dvorak technique

The Dvorak technique is a widely used system to subjectively estimate tropical cyclone intensity based solely on visible and infrared satellite images. Several agencies issue Dvorak intensity numbers for cyclones of sufficient intensity...

. In the case of Kenna and Ava, the central pressure was measured by hurricane hunter aircraft flying into the storm. In the case of the 1959 Mexico hurricane

1959 Mexico Hurricane

, the best central pressure reading was measured after landfall. Because of the estimation of central pressures, it is possible that other storms more intense than these have formed.

The reason for estimating the pressure is the fact that most of these storms did not threaten land. As Kenna was threatening land, its pressure was measured by a dropsonde

Dropsonde

A dropsonde is a weather reconnaissance device created by the National Center for Atmospheric Research , designed to be dropped from an aircraft at altitude to more accurately measure tropical storm conditions as the device falls to the surface...

. Hurricane Ava never threatened land. However, it was flown into to test equipment and conduct research.

Before 1997, the means for estimate pressure from satellite imagery was not available. Older storms have incomplete pressure readings taken by ships, land-based observations, or recon aircraft. Ava's minimum known pressure was measured when it was a Category 4, for example. John and Gilma have incomplete pressures because the Central Pacific Hurricane Center

Central Pacific Hurricane Center

The Central Pacific Hurricane Center of the United States National Weather Service is the official body responsible for tracking and issuing tropical cyclone warnings, watches, advisories, discussions, and statements for the Central North Pacific Basin...

, in general, did not publish pressure on systems in the central Pacific (140°W to the dateline) at the time.However, it should be noted that this list is not identical to the list of most intense Pacific hurricanes. The most intense known Category 4 storms in the eastern Pacific were 1994's Hurricane Olivia and 2001's Hurricane Juliette

Hurricane Juliette (2001)

Hurricane Juliette was a long lasting Category 4 hurricane in the 2001 Pacific hurricane season. It caused 12 deaths and $400 million in damage when it hit Baja California in late September.-Meteorological history:...

. The lowest pressure of these two storms were 923 millibars, which exceedes that of some category 5's, such as Emilia.

Climatology

In the eastern Pacific, Category 5 hurricanes usually occur only in El Niño years. During El Niño years, conditions are more favorable for tropical cyclones because of warmer sea surface temperatures and reduced 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...

. This is why Category 5's cluster in single seasons. The effects of El Niño are most significant in the central Pacific (140°W to the dateline).

The general lack of Category 5's in non warm-ENSO years is because of there being limited space for development. The prevailing ocean current

Ocean current

An ocean current is a continuous, directed movement of ocean water generated by the forces acting upon this mean flow, such as breaking waves, wind, Coriolis effect, cabbeling, temperature and salinity differences and tides caused by the gravitational pull of the Moon and the Sun...

s of the area carry warm water to the west. As there is no large piece of land to block the water and cause it to "pile up" like in the Atlantic, the area suitable for all tropical cyclones is small. Farther out to sea, while waters are still warm, wind shear limits the development of tropical cyclones in the waters south of Hawaii. This makes an otherwise ideal region unfavorable for tropical cyclones.

This does not mean that a Category 5 cannot form outside of an El Niño event. The entire year of 1959 was neither an El Niño or a La Niña, but had two Category 5's (Patsy and the Mexico Hurricane) and was the deadliest Pacific hurricane season ever recorded in history. Most of 1973 was during a La Niña, which reduces tropical cyclone activity in the eastern Pacific, yet Hurricane Ava, a category 5 hurricane, formed in June of that year.
The 2009 season and the 2010 season are the only two seasons in which a Category 5 hurricane formed in consecutive years (Rick and Celia, respectively).

Landfalls

Of all of the Category 5 Pacific hurricanes, the only ones to make landfall at any intensity were the 1959 Mexico hurricane

1959 Mexico Hurricane

, Hurricane Kenna

Hurricane Kenna

, and Hurricane Rick

Hurricane Rick (2009)

. The 1959 hurricane was the only one to make landfall as a Category 5, Kenna had weakened to a Category 4 at the time of its landfall, and Rick was a tropical storm at its landfall. The Mexico Hurricane and Kenna are the strongest and third strongest landfalls by east Pacific tropical cyclones, respectively—the second strongest was 1976's Hurricane Madeline

Hurricane Madeline (1976)

Hurricane Madeline was a Category 4 hurricane that made landfall in Mexico in October 1976. Madeline formed on September 29, not far from Central America. The next day, the circulation dissipated, and as a result weakened to a remnant low. Four days later, on October 3, the low regenerated into a...

, which didn't reach Category 5 strength, but made landfall as a stronger Category 4 storm than Kenna.

In addition to these three systems, Hurricanes John

Hurricane John (1994)

Hurricane John formed during the 1994 Pacific hurricane season and became both the longest-lasting and the farthest-traveling tropical cyclone ever observed...

, Linda

Hurricane Linda (1997)

, and Ioke

Hurricane Ioke

Hurricane Ioke was the strongest hurricane ever recorded in the Central Pacific...

all threatened land for a while. John and Ioke had minimal impact on Johnston Atoll

Johnston Atoll

Johnston Atoll is a atoll in the North Pacific Ocean about west of Hawaii. There are four islands located on the coral reef platform, two natural islands, Johnston Island and Sand Island, which have been expanded by coral dredging, as well as North Island and East Island , an additional two...

and John caused heavy surf in Hawaii

Hawaii

Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...

. Linda was briefly forecast to approach southern California

Southern California

Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...

, and it passed close to Socorro Island

Socorro Island

Socorro Island is a small volcanic island in the Revillagigedo Islands, a Mexican possession lying some 600 kilometers off the country's western coast at 18°48'N, 110°59'W. The size is 16.5 by 11.5 km, with an area of 132 km².- Geology :...

near peak intensity.

The reason for the lack of landfalls is that tropical cyclones in the northern hemisphere usually travel to the west. In the Atlantic, this sends hurricanes towards North America. In the eastern Pacific, this sends tropical cyclones out into the open ocean to dissipate over waters too cool to support them or in environments with high wind shear. Hawaii, the only heavily populated island chain in the eastern Pacific, is protected from most hurricanes by a subtropical ridge

Subtropical ridge

The subtropical ridge is a significant belt of high pressure situated around the latitudes of 30°N in the Northern Hemisphere and 30°S in the Southern Hemisphere. It is characterized by mostly calm winds, which acts to reduce air quality under its axis by causing fog overnight, and haze during...

and is small enough to avoid being hit simply due to low odds.

Statistics

Listed in chronological order

Listed by date in season

Listed by minimum pressure

Climatology

Landfalls

See also