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Although still quiet, the Eastern Pacific Hurricane Season officially kicks off May 15th.
The Eastern Pacific basin includes Central America`s and Mexico`s Pacific Coast. Here, an average of 15 to 16 tropical storms with winds of at least 39 mph form in any given year. Eight to nine tropical storms typically become hurricanes with winds in excess of 74 mph while four become major hurricanes with winds greater than 111 mph.
The first tropical storm typically doesn’t form until around June 10, with usually two named storms by the end of June. However, last year, Tropical Storm Adrian formed on May 9, 2017. It lasted for 48 hours across open waters south of El Salvador. Tropical Storm Adrian is the earliest known formation of a named storm in the eastern Pacific proper since the advent of the satellite era. Four named storms on average form in July, three in August, four in September and one each in October and November.
More tropical storms tend to form in the Eastern Pacific as compared to the Atlantic Basin. Even so, east to west winds in the eastern Pacific Ocean generally steer most storms away from the U.S., Mexico and Central America coastlines. The Eastern Pacific Hurricane season ends November 30.
Eighteen named storms, 9 hurricanes and 4 major hurricanes made the 2017 season an above-average one in the Eastern Pacific. Five of the storms ended up making landfall which included Tropical Storm Selma in El Salvador, with 4 in Mexico (Tropical Storm Beatriz, Tropical Storm Calvin, Tropical Storm Lidia, and Hurricane Max). Tropical Storm Selma was the first named storm on record to hit El Salvador where 7 fatalities were recorded.
The highlights of the 2017 season included Hurricane Eugene forming south of the southern tip of Baja, Calif., which sent dangerous rip currents into Los Angeles County and resulted in lifeguards responding to 700 medical emergencies. 2017 was the first year since 2012 where no tropical systems threatened Hawaii.
Hurricane Fernanda was the strongest hurricane during the 2017 season. It became a category 4 hurricane after rapidly intensifying on July 14. The peak winds from Fernanda reached 145 mph and became the second strongest hurricane to occur at a very low latitude, just behind Hurricane Olaf from the 2015 season.
The 2015 and 2016 seasons also buzzed with plenty of activity. 2016 held the record-earliest overall with Hurricane Pali forming and reaching category 2 status between January 7 and January 15. In total, 18 named storms, 13 hurricanes and nine major hurricanes formed in the 2015 season.
Now is the time to make a detailed disaster plan for you and your family should a tropical system head for your area. This includes knowing storm impacts to your home such as flooding, storm surge and wind. Have a disaster supply kit readily available. Also, it`s good to have an escape route in case evacuation orders are issued as well as a list of emergency, including out-of-sate, contact numbers.
The tropical Atlantic Hurricane Season starts June 1.
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Story Image: Three cyclones spinning over in the East Pacific on July 19, 2017: (from left to right), Hurricane Fernanda (06E), Tropical Depression 08E and Tropical Storm Greg (07E). Source - NASA, MODIS / LANCE