1989 Pacific hurricane season
| 1989 Pacific hurricane season | |
|---|---|
Season summary map
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| Seasonal boundaries | |
| First system formed | January 9, 1989 |
| Last system dissipated | October 19, 1989 |
| Strongest storm | |
| Name | Raymond |
| • Maximum winds | 145 mph (230 km/h) (1-minute sustained) |
| • Lowest pressure | 935 mbar (hPa; 27.61 inHg) |
| Seasonal statistics | |
| Total depressions | 25 |
| Total storms | 18 |
| Hurricanes | 9 |
| Major hurricanes (Cat. 3+) |
4 |
| Total fatalities | At least 14 |
| Total damage | $1.75 million (1989 USD) |
| Related articles | |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | January 9 – January 15 (Exited basin) |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 45 mph (75 km/h) (1-min) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | May 31 – June 5 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 65 mph (100 km/h) (1-min) 994 mbar (hPa) |
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | June 15 – June 21 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 80 mph (130 km/h) (1-min) 984 mbar (hPa) |
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | June 19 – June 23 |
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| Peak intensity | 85 mph (140 km/h) (1-min) 979 mbar (hPa) |
| Tropical depression (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | July 9 – July 14 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 35 mph (55 km/h) (1-min) |
| Tropical depression (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | July 10 – July 16 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 35 mph (55 km/h) (1-min) |
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | July 11 – July 21 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 90 mph (150 km/h) (1-min) 977 mbar (hPa) |
| Tropical depression (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | July 16 – July 18 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 35 mph (55 km/h) (1-min) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | July 19 – July 21 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 40 mph (65 km/h) (1-min) 1005 mbar (hPa) |
The 1989 Pacific hurricane season officially started on May 15, 1989, in the eastern Pacific, and June 1, 1989, in the central Pacific, and lasted until November 30, 1989. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northeastern Pacific Ocean. A total of 17 storms and 9 hurricanes formed, which was near long-term averages. Four hurricanes reached major hurricane status (Category 3 or higher) on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale.
Notable storms include Hurricanes Cosme, Kiko, and Raymond. Cosme crossed over Mexico and killed 30 people. Hurricane Kiko made landfall on the Gulf of California side of the Baja California Peninsula. Hurricane Raymond was the strongest storm of the season, but weakened significantly before landfall.
Overall, the season continued the general trend in the 1980s of near to above-average seasons in the East Pacific. Seventeen cyclones formed. Eight peaked at tropical storm strength. Nine systems became hurricanes, of which four were major hurricanes at Category 3 intensity or higher on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. On August 28, three systems were active, one of a few times when there has been three tropical cyclones active simultaneously (Kiko, Lorena, and Manuel) in the east Pacific (west of 140°W). Despite the activity this season, no named storms formed in October. This was the second consecutive season this happened.
During the second week of January, an upper-level trough located east of Hawaii created an area of divergence to its southeast, allowing an area of low pressure to develop alongside deep convection. Initially, the system was hampered by wind shear as it moved west-northwestward to the south of Hawaii; however, by January 11, the system was able to maintain convection over its center and was classified as a tropical depression. On January 13, it was estimated in post-storm analysis to have become a tropical storm at an unprecedented 20°42′N 170°30′W / 20.7°N 170.5°W. Meteorologists at the time struggled to forecast the storm as climatological forecast guidance (modeling based off previous cyclones), was not available due to the uniqueness of Winona. On January 15, the system crossed the International Dateline and entered the Western Pacific basin.
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