Hurricane Ignacio (1985)

Hurricane Ignacio

Category 4 major hurricane (SSHWS/NWS)
Hurricane Ignacio on July 24
Formed	July 21, 1985
Dissipated	July 27, 1985
Highest winds	1-minute sustained: 130 mph (215 km/h)
Lowest pressure	960 mbar (hPa); 28.35 inHg
Fatalities	None
Damage	Minimal
Areas affected	Hawaii
Part of the 1985 Pacific hurricane season

Hurricane Ignacio threatened Hawaii during July 1985. A tropical depression formed on July 21 far from land. It became Tropical Storm Ignacio later that day. Ignacio then rapidly intensified and peaked with 130 mph (215 km/h) winds on July 24. Ignacio weakened quickly, though it briefly leveled off in intensity as a Category 2 hurricane. Ignacio was downgraded into a tropical storm on July 26 while passing south of Hawaii. Continuing to weaken, Ignacio dissipated on July 27. A hurricane watch was briefly issued for the Hawaiian Islands even though the watch was dropped when Ignacio weakened. However, Ignacio still brought high waves and light rainfall to the islands. A few roads were closed, but otherwise, damage was minimal.

Based on data from the ships UJGN and Okean and satellite imagery, the next tropical cyclone of 1985 was spotted early on July 21 while located 1,623 mi (2,612 km) southwest of San Diego. Situated over 81 °F (27 °C) sea surface temperatures, the depression attained tropical storm intensity a few hours later. Intensifying further west than normal, the storm reached winds of 70 mph (140 km/h) roughly 24 hours after formation. Nine hours later, the Eastern Pacific Hurricane Center dropped advisories on Ignacio as it had left their area of responsibility and into the Central Pacific Hurricane Center's (CPHC) warning zone.

A Hurricane Hunter aircraft investigated Ignacio at daybreak on July 22, and found that Ignacio had developed a well-defined eye and winds of 85 mph (165 km/h). Based on this, the CPHC upgraded Ignacio to hurricane status. Continuing to rapidly intensify, Hurricane Ignacio moved west-northwest at 10 mph (16 km/h) and was soon upgraded into Category 2 status on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale (SSHS). Several hours later, the hurricane attained major hurricane status, Category 3 or higher on the SSHS. Later that day, a Hurricane Hunter aircraft discovered that Hurricane Ignacio had reached its peak wind speed of 130 mph (210 km/h) and a central pressure of 960 mbar (28 inHg), making Ignacio one of the most intense hurricane to traverse the Central Pacific.