2008 Pacific hurricane season
| 2008 Pacific hurricane season | |
|---|---|
Season summary map
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| Seasonal boundaries | |
| First system formed | May 29, 2008 |
| Last system dissipated | November 5, 2008 |
| Strongest storm | |
| Name | Norbert |
| • Maximum winds | 130 mph (215 km/h) (1-minute sustained) |
| • Lowest pressure | 945 mbar (hPa; 27.91 inHg) |
| Seasonal statistics | |
| Total depressions | 19 |
| Total storms | 17 |
| Hurricanes | 7 |
| Major hurricanes (Cat. 3+) |
2 |
| Total fatalities | 37 direct, 8 indirect |
| Total damage | $152.5 million (2008 USD) |
| Related articles | |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | May 29 – May 30 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 65 mph (100 km/h) (1-min) 994 mbar (hPa) |
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | June 27 – July 4 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 80 mph (130 km/h) (1-min) 985 mbar (hPa) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | June 27 – June 30 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min) 999 mbar (hPa) |
| Tropical storm (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | July 1 – July 4 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 40 mph (65 km/h) (1-min) 1003 mbar (hPa) |
| Tropical depression (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | July 5 – July 7 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 35 mph (55 km/h) (1-min) 1005 mbar (hPa) |
| Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | July 11 – July 19 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 105 mph (165 km/h) (1-min) 970 mbar (hPa) |
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | July 16 – July 22 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 90 mph (150 km/h) (1-min) 977 mbar (hPa) |
| Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | July 21 – July 27 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 75 mph (120 km/h) (1-min) 987 mbar (hPa) |
| Category 3 hurricane (SSHWS) | |
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| Duration | August 6 – August 12 |
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| Peak intensity | 120 mph (195 km/h) (1-min) 956 mbar (hPa) |
The 2008 Pacific hurricane season was a near average hurricane season. It officially started May 15, 2008 in the eastern Pacific, started on June 1, 2008 in the central Pacific, and lasted until November 30, 2008. This season is the first since 1996 to have no cyclones cross into the central Pacific. Activity this year was near average, with 16 storms forming in the Eastern Pacific proper and an additional 1 in the Central Pacific. There were 7 hurricanes, a low number compared to the typical 9, and only 2 major hurricanes, unlike the typical 5. There were only a few notable storms this year. Tropical Storm Alma made landfall along the Pacific coast of Nicaragua, becoming the first known storm to do so. It killed 9 and did $35 million in damage (2008 USD). It also became the first tropical storm to be retired in the Eastern Pacific basin. Hurricane Norbert became the strongest hurricane to hit the western side of the Baja Peninsula on record, killing 25.
On May 22, 2008, NOAA released their forecast for the 2008 Eastern Pacific and Central Pacific hurricane seasons. They predicted a below-normal level of activity in the Eastern Pacific, with 11 to 16 named storms, of which 5 to 8 were expected to become hurricanes, and 1 to 3 expected to become major hurricanes.
The Central Pacific basin was also expected to be slightly below average, with three to four tropical cyclones expected to form or cross into the area.
An area of low pressure formed early on May 27 about 220 nmi southwest of Nicaragua. it then intensified and became the first tropical depression of the 2008 season late the next day. It then strengthened into a tropical storm early on May 29, and was named Alma. Alma then rapidly strengthened reaching her peak winds of 70 mph just before it made landfall on the Northwestern coast of Nicaragua near León at peak strength.
León lost electricity and telephone services as the storm impacted the area, trees were toppled and some houses lost roofs. In total nine people were killed with seven of them being indirect; the two direct deaths were in Nicaragua in León. On May 30 the remnant low of Alma emerged into the Gulf of Honduras and merged with a tropical wave over the northwestern Caribbean Sea which then became Tropical Storm Arthur later that day.
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Wikipedia