Hurricane Season 2003

NEWS: Atlantic 2002 hurricane LILI has been retired and replaced with LAURA for the 2008 list.

Saffir-Simpson Scale: (1)74-95mph (2)96-111mph (3)111-130mph (4)131-155mph (5)156+mph

Class	Name	Date of Activity	Max. Winds	Synopsis of Activity
Subtropical Storm #1A	ANA	4/20-4/24	50mph	A VERY rare occurrence! Began as a subtropical low SW of Bermuda, moved eastward passing S of the island, and then off to the east where it was later declassified. It is only the second such system to form in the month of April in the Atlantic since 1874, the last time it occurred was 1992, where the storm was not named. The first named storm that year was Andrew in August.
Tropical Depression #2A	(unnamed)	6/10-6/11	35mph	Another rare occurrence - for the third time (in June) since 1967, a tropical system formed in the Central Atlantic. This formed near the Cape Verde area, which normally doesn't happen until late July and August. It moved westward off of Africa as a low pressure system, but gathered itself in the Central Atlantic. It ran into an upper-level trough which blew the system apart. It lost its closed circulation and was downgraded to a tropical wave a day after it formed.
Tropical Depression #3A	BILL	6/29-7/1	60mph	Ships reported winds of near 40mph around a developing low center in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico early 6/29. It was declared a named storm, bypassing depression status. Bill formed at the end of a cold front that had passed through much of the SE US. It moved NNE and made LANDFALL near Morgan City, LA during the afternoon of 6/30. From there, it continued on a NNE track and weakened to a depression early 7/1, and then to a remnant low center. New Orleans, LA, a city below sea level, received between 6 and 6.7" of rain, and tornadoes were reported in extreme southern MS, near Pascagoula. The remnants moved northeast, bringing heavy rain (3+" in Atlanta, GA) to MS, GA, and eastern NC. Pensacola Naval Air Station, FL received 9.80" of rain during 7/1 and 7/2.
Tropical Depression #4A	CLAUDETTE	7/8-7/16	80mph Cat. 1	Claudette was named (bypassing depression status) after the third report from an Air Force Reconaissance aircraft found a poorly-organized, but closed circulation and 45mph winds in a tropical wave that had just moved W across the Windward Islands. By the first official advisory, it had 50mph winds and was located due S of Haiti. An upper-level low immediately W of the storm limited development while at 65mph. It approached the eastern part of La Península Yucatán with 70mph winds on 7/10, and hurricane warnings were posted for the coastline of Mexico's Quintana Roo. It grazed the tip of the peninsula early 7/11 (LANDFALL #1) with 50-60mph winds, before moving in to the Gulf of Mexico. During this stage, Claudette remained disorganized as an upper level low W of the storm caused shearing. After two days of remaining almost stationary, Claudette moved NW toward Port O'Connor, TX. It was upgraded to hurricane status early 7/15 while about 130mi from Corpus Christi, TX. The SW shear had decreased enough to let thunderstorms wrap around the eye, thus gaining enough strength to become the Atlantic's first hurricane. Hurricane warnings were posted for SE Texas and Tropical Storm Warnings for SW Louisiana. Claudette made LANDFALL #2 near Port O'Connor, TX around midday 7/15 with 80mph winds, a Saffir-Simpson category 1. The low center continued to move W through S TX and briefly into N Coahuila, MEX. Flash flood watches were posted for many counties in S TX due to the potential of 3" to 5" rainfall amounts. The remnant low continued moving W and was just SE of Tucson, AZ on 7/17, and eventually brought showers to Los Angeles and San Diego, CA before moving into the Pacific and dissipating on 7/18. By then, the National Hurricane Center began investigating the intensity of Claudette at the Port O'Connor landfall.
Tropical Depression #5A	DANNY	7/16-7/20	75mph Cat. 1	The fifth depression of the season formed 600mi E of Bermuda, and was headed NW away from the island. Within 12 hours, it was upgraded to the fourth named storm of the season. While moving N to NNE (due to an approaching cold front) away from Bermuda, it's only threat was to shipping interests. It started to develop an eye, which indicated strengthening to the Atlantic's second hurricane, but was headed into cooler ocean water. Danny weakened to a tropical storm while moving E over a "Bermuda High". NW winds at the upper levels blew the thunderstorms away, exposing the low center. The system did not recover, thus the National Hurricane Center stopped providing advisories on 7/20. The remnant low center continued to move S for the next three days.
Tropical Depression #6A	(unnamed)	7/19-7/21	35mph	Depression number six had been watched closely for three days as it exited the west coast of Africa. It briefly lost any evidence of low pressure circulation and was almost disregarded. Satellite pictures and calculations on 7/19 showed the circulation returned and the designation was made. It moved W at nearly 25mph, a fast pace for such a system, while encountering SW shear causing disruption in the thunderstorm development. It approached the Lesser Antilles early on 7/21 and tropical storm advisories were posted for the immediate strike area. Later in the day, shear had torn the system apart, including any circulation. It was declassified to a tropical wave (semi-circular wind profile) and moved WNW.
Tropical Depression #7A	(unnamed)	7/25-7/26	35mph	The seventh depression formed just off the NE FL coast and developed from the remnants of T.D. #6A. After the sixth depression fell apart, it was split in two in the Central Caribbean. The southern half moved through Mexico and into the E. Pacific; the northern half crossed over S. Florida and developed a weak low pressure center in the Atlantic's Gulf Stream. The circulation was mainly around 5000ft, meaning winds were light at the surfacse (10-20mph). The depression made LANDFALL between Brunswick and Savannah, GA early 7/26, and began to weaken quickly in E GA.
Tropical Storm (Depr. #8A)	ERIKA	8/14-8/17	70mph	Began as an mid-level low to the NE of the Bahamas around 8/11. The low center moved due W and brought squalls of rain and wind to S Florida. In the process of moving across the peninsula, the air pressure at the surface underneath the mid-level low began to fall as well. Reconnaissance aircraft found a surface low center due to wind circulating around it. With the winds measured at 40mph, Erika bypassed depression status and became the fifth named storm of the Atlantic season. It moved W across the Gulf of Mexico at 20-25mph, quite fast for a tropical system, which caused Erika strengthen more slowly. The swift movement prompted tropical storm warnings and hurricane watches to be posted for coastal areas 200 mi N and S from Brownsville, TX. Erika made LANDFALL early 8/16 with 70mph winds (failing to reach hurricane strength) about 40mi S of Brownsvile, TX and 35mi S of Matamoros, MEX. The Mexican state of Tamaúlipas took a direct hit from this storm, as it brought heavy rain, wind, and possible mudslides as the low center moved into mountainous terrain. Brownsville proper received some heavy rain, but only had the northern fringes of the storm. The center of Erika moved W through the Mexican states of Tamaúlipas and Nuevo León before the National Hurricane Center's sent its final advisory late on 8/17. The remnant center was in the southern half of the state of Coahuila. The mountainous terrain there ripped the center apart, but still brought a threat of heavy rain to the area by late 8/17.
Tropical Depression #9A	(unnamed)	8/21-8/22	35mph	This system had been watched for several days as it crossed the Atlantic Ocean. It was labeled a tropical low as it was thought that any circulation was not at the surface. However, ship reports from the area (S Caribbean Sea) on 8/21 noted that they found strong enough surface winds that would complete a broad cirulation, and therefore it was named the ninth depression. Tropical advisories were issued for S Haiti in case it became a tropical storm. Reconnaissance aircraft flew into the area on the afternoon of 8/22 and could no longer find the low circulation and declassified it as a tropical wave.
Tropical Depression #10A	FABIAN	8/27-9/8	145mph Cat. 4	T.D. #10A was the first of the Cape Verde systems to form in the E Atlantic. From the time it left the west coast of Africa on 8/26, it had a circulation. It was a matter of keeping thunderstorms around the center which would determine the status. Satellite estimations indicated that the low had winds strong enough to be a depression (30mph) on the afternoon of 8/27. Within 24 hours, the system became better organized and was upgraded to Tropical Storm Fabian. The strengthening and western motion continued until it reached some opposing shear early on 9/1. By this time, Fabian had already become the first major hurricane of the Atlantic season with winds of 145mph (strong category 4). Fortunately, it was far enough from any land mass then, but would eventually bring high surf and swells to the Leeward and Virgin Islands, as well as Puerto Rico. Fabian started to curve slightly WNW (instead of W) late 9/1. Part of this was due to some upper level winds causing some shear on the W side of the hurricane, but it was not enough to adversely affect the storm's infrastructure. By 9/2, Fabian began to show a curve of its movement toward the WNW and then NW, well away from Hispaniola and the Bahamas. On early 9/3, forecasts showed Bermuda as being near the path. The eye passed just to the W of the island of Bermuda on the afternoon of 9/5 with sustained winds of over 120mph. It was the strongest hurricane to directly strike Bermuda in nearly 80 years. The hurricane weakened slightly to 110mph in intensity, while moving to the NE at 22mph on 9/6. Parts of the Eastern United States had heavy surf due to the winds and storm surge from Fabian as it passed through the Bermuda area. For the next two days, Fabian moved rapidly to the NNE and finally to the NE. It was declared extratropical (or more characteristic of a mid-latitude storm) over the N Atlantic waters about 700mi off the coast of Newfoundland, CAN on the morning of 9/8.
Tropical Depression #11A	GRACE	8/30-8/31	40mph	T.D. #11A was found in the center of the Gulf of Mexico, as Fabian was gaining strength in the E Atlantic. The last advisory on Grace noted that the center of Grace was elongated. The center could have been placed at two different locations (one on the coast at Port O'Connor, TX and the other near Houston, TX). The size of the center was considered irrelevant as the low area was sending Gulf moisture (heavy rain) to SE TX. The low was declared a LANDFALL on the morning of 8/31 with 35mph winds (depression status). The low center continued moving to the north and was located in NE Texas by late 9/1. Grace, combined with the stationary front brought heavier rain to the Ohio Valley than to the Gulf Coast: Indianapolis, IN - 7.30" (a new 24hr rainfall record), Terre Haute, IN - 4.69", Jefferson City, MO - 3.86", Lafayette, IN - 3.59", Columbus, OH - 2.45", Bloomington, IN and Dayton, OH - 1.71."
Tropical Depression #12A	HENRI	9/3-9/8	50mph	Reconnaisance aircraft flew into an area of thunderstorms (convection)when satellites found a possible low center. The aircraft found a closed circulation about 210mi SW of Appalachicola, FL in the E Gulf of Mexico on the afternoon of 9/3. Tropical storm warnings were posted for parts of the Florida panhandle. The depression was upgraded to tropical storm Henri at 5AM EDT 9/5. The main threat from Henri was added flooding to W. Florida where heavy summer rainfall had already been a problem. A secondary threat was the expected onshore winds pushing overloaded river water back inland on te flooded ground. On 9/5, the thunderstorm activity remained on the east side of the storm just off of the Gulf Coast. The center of Henri made LANDFALL as a 30mph tropical depression early 9/6 about 25mi S of St. Petersburg, FL, and quickly moved to the NE due to a stationary front located in S Georgia. The low center moved into the Gulf Stream off the Carolinas and encountered shear from the SW and elongated the circulation. The circulation started to fall apart, and therefore the last advisory was written for Henri on the afternoon of 9/8. The remnants of Henri moved slowly up the Eastern seaboard and brought rain and wind to the coastal Carolinas and Virginia. New York also had some clouds entering the area as of 9/12.
Tropical Storm #13A	ISABEL	9/6-9/19	160mph Cat. 5	Began as a tropical storm through satellite estimates in the far E Atlantic. The first advisory was sent at 9AM EDT 9/6 as a special disturbance statement. Isabel followed Fabian's rate of growth and was upgraded to a hurricane early on 9/7, and then to the Atlantic's second major hurricane of the year with sustained winds of 115mph, just 24 hours later. As of 9/9, Isabel was still days away from and land and had strengthened to 135mph, a Category 4 hurricane. As of 9/9, Isabel had taken the same track as Fabian, but the central Atlantic (upper-level) high to the north was forecast to strengthen and expand westward. This fact left questions as to where Isabel would head, although forecasts showed it moving W and not making Fabian's curve as quickly. Isabel reached the same strength as Fabian as its peak, 145mph, on the evening of 9/10. At that time, three forecast models had it going in three different directions, all eventually affecting the United States coastline in some area. On 9/11, Isabel strengthened further to 150mph (the strongest hurricane since Mitch in 1998). Later that day, the National Hurricane center estimated that it had strengthened further to 160mph, a Category 5 hurricane, and the strongest hurricane in the Atlantic since 1998's Mitch. Reconnaissance aircraft flew into Isabel and confirmed the wind intensity along with a rare stadium effect to an eye that was 35 nautical miles in diameter. High-resolution satellite pictures showed the eye had clouds reflecting tiny circulations within it. Late 9/12 marked over 30 hours at category 5 intensity for Isabel and was the fourth longest-lasting hurricane at that strength. Fortunately, it was at least 300mi away from any land mass and would only bring high surf to the E Caribbean islands. The next 24 hours saw some weakening to category 4 (150mph) until reconaissance aircraft returned to the storm and found 160mph winds at the surface and 192mph at flight level. The eye had also expanded, via secondary eye formation, to nearly 50mi in diameter. Isabel eventually encountered shear coming from the W (SE US) and the eye was closed in by 9/15. The hurricane was able to maintain itself enough to remain a category 3 storm with 125mph winds. Isabel became far less symmetrical than before, and was still struggling against the shear as it slowly approached the mid-Atlantic USA. By the afternoon of 9/16, Isabel dropped below major hurricane status (to just a category 2 hurricane at 105mph). Tropical storm watches were issued from South Carolina to Virginia and Maryland to New Jersey. Hurricane watches were posted for the S Chesapeake area in Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware. Isabel was able to reintensify to 110mph, a strong category two, late 9/16 and held that intensity while approaching the North Carolina coast at 9mph. Isabel was downgraded to a tropical storm as it moved through Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania late 9/18. It was downgraded further to a depression as it moved to its position of its final National Hurricane Center advisory at 50mi NE of Cleveland, OH (infrequent occurrence!)on the morning of 9/19. A cold front passing through the Great Lakes states helped push the remnant moisture into Ontario and Québec provices of Canada.
Tropical Depression #14A	(unnamed)	9/8-9/10	35mph	The fourteenth tropical depression formed well E of Isabel, just off the coast of Africa. Its initial slow movement prompted attention to the Cape Verde Islands, due to its proximity. For two days, it showed some fluctuation in intensity, maintaining depression status. The center moved to the N and NW around the west side of the Cape Verde Islands. It fell victim to a developing upper-level trough to its N and eventually dissipated.
Tropical Depression #15A	JUAN	9/25-9/29	105mph Cat. 2	Depression fifteen formed on the end of a cold front that ironically helped to push Isabel up into Canada a week before. The cold front was attached to an upper-level low pressure center in the NE Atlantic. The depression had an exposed circulation, with thunderstorms to its N and E on its first advisory midday 9/25. Buoy reports showed a pressure drop and a wind increase during the afternoon, and the depression was upgraded to tropical storm Juan with 50mph winds. Tropical storm warnings were posted for Bermuda due to some rainbands extending out over the island. Juan became a hurricane while passing within 175mi E of the island on 9/26. As of 9/27, the hurricane developed an eye wall and strengthened to 85mph. With its expected northward movement, Environment Canada issued high wind and heavy rain warnings for the Nova Scotia area in preparation for landfall on 9/28. Juan reached category two status with 105mph winds) while still 500mi from Halifax, NS late on 9/27. Its northward progression was forecast to increase from its 9mph movement due to a approaching cold front moving through E North America. Juan made landfall near Halifax, NS, CAN late 9/28 and quickly moved to the N at near 40mph while becoming extratropical. The final advisory on the morning of 9/29 placed Juan as a 70mph tropical storm N of Prince Edward Island, CAN.
Tropical Depression #16A	KATE	9/25-10/7	115mph Cat. 3	The central Atlantic was the starting point of depression sixteen, and arrived just as newly formed T.D. 15A had become Tropical Storm Juan. As of 9/25, it was over 1200 miles away from its nearest landmass, the Lesser Antilles. This depression had difficulty getting itself organized as it encountered shear from the SSW. The winds forced the circulation northward, and exposed the low center on 9/26. At this point, the possibility of it becoming a named storm decreased unless it held together against the shear. To the surprise of just about everyone, the low center filled in and the depression was upgraded to tropical storm Kate on the afternoon of 9/27 and had 50mph winds six hours later. Kate was pulled northward by a nearby upper-level low's winds until late 9/27 when it began to move to the NNE, while at 60mph strength. This upper-level low to its W was expected to move away from Kate, allowing it to intensify to minimal hurricane status on 9/29. Within 12 hours, Kate weakened back to a tropical storm due to some lingering shear as it tried to turn back to the WSW. The shear subsided by 10/1 and Kate was re-upgraded to a 75mph hurricane. By 10/2, Kate continued the WSW movement (completing a question mark shaped track in its duration) and had winds of 85mph. The eye re-developed and thunderstorms had also grown and siwrled around the hurricane indicating intensification. By midday 10/3, Kate was a strong category 2 with winds of 110mph, nearly making it the third major hurricane of the Atlantic season. On the 5PM EDT advisory, it did just that while still moving WSW into warmer water. An approaching cold front from the E USA started to cause Kate to turn back toward the W and then to the NW by 10/5. It was still over 500mi E of Bermuda and would remain that distance away while turning to the N. For the next two days, Kate was caught up by the cold front and accelerated northward toward E Canada. It was downgraded to a tropical storm early 10/7 and started to become extratropical, but stayed well SE of NF, CAN.
Tropical Storm #17A	LARRY	10/1-10/6	60mph	On 9/30, Air Force reconnaissance aircraft began to focus on a disturbance located in the SW Gulf of Mexico. They found that the low pressure area appeared to be like a mid-latitude low pressure area (nothing tropical). Climatology suggests that this is a type of low that eventually does turn tropical, as it did when the aircraft returned to the area on 10/1. They found 50mph sustained winds and a more-defined closed low circulation, classifying the system as tropical storm Larry. For the first day, Larry remained stationary in the S Gulf of Mexico about 300mi ESE of Tampico, MEX. The low center then shifted to the W a bit, but remained stationary again. The winds increased to 60mph as the new low center formed (110mi ENE of Veracruz, MEX). Tropical storm warnings/hurricane watches were posted along the coast of La Bahía de Campeche. Larry started to make a long awaited move in the Gulf of Mexico by early 10/4. Unfortunately, the direction was due S toward the city of Villahermosa, MEX. At the speed of 7mph, the storm would still have time to strengthen, and still bring flooding rains to SE Mexico. Larry made LANDFALL on La Bahía de Campeche (50mi E of Coatzacoalcos, MEX) early 10/5 with 50mph winds. The center drifted slowly inland and began to dissipate over the Mexican mountain and jungle areas on 10/6.
Tropical Storm #18A	MINDY	10/10-10/14	45mph	Reconnaissance aircraft found barometric pressures and wind speeds around those characteristic of tropical storm strength on the afternoon of 10/10. However, they could not find a complete closed circulation, mainly due to its proximity with land (la República Dominicana). It was moving to the NW at its start, which suggested strengthening. It maintained 45mph winds for about 36 hours as it moved parallel to the SE Bahama island chain (Turks/Caicos Isl. area). Bermuda was expected to be in the path of Mindy, but even as of 10/12, it was unknown if Mindy would even still be a tropical system by the time it reached the area. As Mindy moved to the N and NW, it encountered SW shear, exposing the low center and weakening it to depression status. As of Columbus Day (10/13), the storm was still a weak depression at 30mph and was located over 500mi SSW of Bermuda. The National Hurricane Center later found that the center had stopped developing thunderstorms. In the anticipation of the system losing tropical characteristics an dissipating, the final advisory was posted late 10/14.
Tropical Depression #19A	NICHOLAS	10/14-10/23	70mph	An area of clouds in the Central Atlantic started to attract the attention of the National Hurricane Center. Through satellite readings, they found a circulation and estimated wind speeds strong enough to classify the system as the nineteenth tropical depression of the season on 10/14. The depression was located in an area S of a low trough and was in a favorable environment to strengthen. It was upgraded to tropical storm Nicholas early 10/15 and strengthened to 50mph winds by late 10/16. The west side of the center of circulation was becoming exposed due to SW shear to its west. The shear appeared to weaken slightly on 10/17, allowing Nicholas to reach 70mph, although the low center showed signs of moving faster than the storms around it. The shearing continued on 10/18 and Nicholas dropped to just 60mph winds. The movement of the storm began to turn NNE to N at a near stationary (< 3mph) pace. The shearing winds that had been affecting Nicholas went from the SW to the W, and eventually to the WNW by 10/20. The shear became strong enough to blow the thunderstorms completely off the center of circulation. The storm was not about to give up as it re-intensified from 40mph to 50mph by midday 10/21. Over the next two days, Nicholas continued to move to the NW and the shearing switched direction again, from the NW. Any thunderstorms that tried to develop around the weakening center were blown off. Nicholas was then downgraded to a depression early 10/23 as the low center was being pushed to the N ahead of a cold front. The upper level clouds of the cold front were even blowing over the low center, indicative of very strong winds aloft. The center began to weaken as the last advisory was written on the afternoon of 10/23 with 30mph winds.
Tropical Depression #20A	ODETTE	12/4-12/7	65mph	A rare December depression had formed into tropical storm Odette on 12/4. It is the first time in recorded history that a storm has developed in the Caribbean in December. Tropical storm watches and warning were posted for the island of Hispaniola (Haiti, Dom. Rep.), as well as the southernmost Bahamas. It crossed the southern coast of Hispaniola on the evening of 12/6 with 65mph winds. On the morning of 12/7, the remnants of Odette, with 45mph winds, began to lose its circulation. A reconnaissance aircraft flew into the area and found that the low center had become absorbed by an approaching cold front and became extratropical. The final advisory was written at 11AM EST 12/7.
Tropical Storm #21A	PETER	12/9-12/10	70mph	A gale center in the E Atlantic had drawn the National Hurricane Center's attention following the demise of Odette. The low pressure area suddenly gained tropical characteristics early 12/9 and was classified as the sixteenth named storm of the season, Peter. A third hurricane season oddity this year occurred when Peter formed. The last time there were two December tropical storms in the Atlantic was in 1887! Within two hours of the classification, satellite pictures indicated that Peter was trying to form an eye and was listed as having 70mph winds, nearing hurricane status. The northward movement placed Peter in cooler waters and the center began to weaken quickly on 12/10. It also was about to become caught up in an approaching cold front. Peter dissipated about 1000mi SSW of the Azores Islands late on 12/10.

Previous activity - Eastern Pacific Ocean

Class	Name	Date of Activity	Max. Winds	Synopsis of Activity
Tropical Depression #1E	ANDRÉS	5/19-5/26	45mph	Formed to the SW of Cabo San Lucas, MEX and slowly moved W, gaining strength temporarily before encountering shear from the NW, exposing the low center. Within three days of becoming a tropical storm, the low center dissipated.
Tropical Depression #2E	BLANCA	6/16-6/22	65mph	After a period of heavy rain over Acapulco, low pressure formed just off the coast and developed into a depression and on 6/16, the second tropical storm. It had initially remained stationary to a slight NNW drift. Blanca continued to bring rain to the Mexican coast near Acapulco. The next two days brought a continued westward drift and a brief period of strengthening, but was headed for cooler water, bringing Blanca to its demise early 6/22. It had only moved about 200 miles in its duration.
Tropical Depression #3E	CARLOS	6/25-6/27	50mph	T.D. #3 started as a low pressure center SW of El Golfo de Tehuántepec late 6/25. Within 24 hrs, it was upgraded and advisories posted for S and SW coastal Mexico. It turned back in toward shore and remained on the coast near Acapulco bringing some rain to the area before dissipating on the afternoon of 6/27.
Tropical Depression #4E	DOLORES	7/6-7/8	40mph	Formed as a low pressure center about 800mi SW of Baja CA. It briefly acquired tropical storm status, but only held up for about 12 hours as it moved NNW and into stable air over cooler water. Dolores lost its thunderstorms and was nothing but remnant low clouds as of its last advisory late 7/8.
Tropical Depression #5E	ENRIQUE	7/10-7/13	65mph	Developed about 500mi WSW of Acapulco, MEX and moved in a WNW direction into cooler water. It had reached 65mph sustained winds at its peak. It was no threat to any land areas in its duration.
Tropical Depression #6E	FELICIA	7/17-7/23	50mph	Developed about 550mi WSW of Acapulco, MEX (similar to Enrique) from a large area of clouds. Felicia, too, headed W into cooler, more stable air (< 80F). It had a slow decline back to depression status, and remained there for over four days. The system had spanned a distance of over 1000mi when it became a remnant low over cold water early 7/23.
Tropical Depression #7E	GUILLERMO	8/7-8/12	60mph	The seventh depression formed about 600mi SW of Cabo San Lucas from a group of clouds diverged from the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). Within 12 hours, it became the seventh named storm of the Eastern Pacific, Guillermo. It moved very slowly to the west and grew in intensity over the next day. On 8/9, with the formation of T.D. #8E to the SE, Guillermo was showing signs of weakening as the outer fringe of the T.D. (eventually named Hilda on 8/10) was causing the convection (thunderstorm development) to decrease. The continued interaction led to the downgrade of Guillermo to a depression late 8/10. It moved W into the Central Pacific region at 140°W longitude. Already near a remnant low, it was immediately given its last advisory at 5PM Hawaii time (11PM EDT) 8/12. During its lifespan, Guillermo moved about 1000 miles.
Tropical Depression #8E	HILDA	8/9-8/13	40mph	Formed to the SE of T.S. Guillermo in the the ITCZ; its larger size seemed to have taken some of the intensity of Guillermo, while strengthening itself. Initial satellite images showed more than one circulation center, but the system reestablished itself and became the eighth named storm of the season, Hilda, late on 8/9. Hilda began pulling the thunderstorm tops from Guillermo. The two storms also showed signs of making a slow movement around each other counter-clockwise (Guillermo to the WSW, Hilda to the WNW - called the "Fujiwara effect"). Hilda remained a weak tropical storm through 8/10. The low center eventually advanced NW and left it convection behind, weakening the storm to a depression on 8/11. The thunderstorms continued to form away from the center for the next two days. The last advisory was then issued for Hilda on the morning of 8/13.
Tropical Depression #9E	IGNACIO	8/22-8/27	105mph Cat. 2	Depression nine was an area of heavy rain that, over a period of two to three days, developed a circulation center. During this process, it remained just off the coast of Puerto Vallarta, MEX. It moved very slowly (almost stationery) toward Cabo San Lucas on the tip of Baja California. Tropical storm warnings were posted for that immediate area. It quickly gained strength over the coastal waters off of Mexico and became Ignacio, the ninth named storm, as it slowly approached the tip of Baja California. By then, it had 70mph winds, and the tropical storm advisories for the Cabo San Lucas area were upgraded to hurricane warnings. The center of Ignacio remained over water, and with its slow movement, gained intensity to hurricane strength (the first E. Pacific hurricane this season) by 5AM EDT 8/24. The center slowly approached the SE tip of Baja California on the afternoon of 8/24 as a Saffir-Simpson Category 2 hurricane with winds exceeding 105mph. For at least the next day, Ignacio moved very slowly to the NW. This brought a major flooding and mudslide threat to the La Península Baja as the center of the hurricane remained just offshore. Ignacio sat offshore for about 24 hours before moving inland between La Paz and Loreto, MEX. The mountainous terrain had an immediate effect on the storm, as it weakened to barely a tropical storm on the afternoon of 8/26. The storm eventually weakened as it crossed the peninsula and went into much cooler water.
Tropical Depression #10E	JIMENA	8/28-9/5	100mph Cat. 2	The tenth depression of the E. Pacific formed about halfway between the W Coast of Mexico and Hawaii. It moved W to WNW into Central Pacific early on 8/30 as a weak Category 2 hurricane (winds near 100mph), and had a 10 nautical mile diameter eye. It maintained this intensity for about 24 hours and prompted a tropical storm warning and hurricane watch for the island of Hawaii. It briefly appeared that the center would brush the island, but fortunately passed only within 150mi of the island and was borderline hurricane/tropical storm at 70-75mph. This farther distance was still enough to provide significant rainfall the mountainous areas of ths island as well as some high surf, especially on the south and southeast facing beaches. Jimena had passed well SW of the islands by late 9/1 and was on a weakening trend. It was downgraded to a depression late 9/2 and continued moving W. By late 9/3, the center passed S of Johnston Atoll area and through the Internation Date Line 24 hours later as a tropical storm. It was then downgraded when the low center became exposed, as thunderstorms had been blown off expect for the S section. Jimena finally dissipated some 715mi ESE of Wake Island. The final advisory was written by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center at 5PM EDT 9/5.
Tropical Depression #11E	KEVIN	9/3-9/5	40mph	La Isla Socorro became the focus on this system after reports there showed a wind from the N late 9/2, followed by a S wind early 9/3. Satellite estimates also showed the broad circulation strong enough to be classified as a depression (the eleventh of the season). For one advisory, effective 5AM-11AM EDT 9/5, the depression was upgraded to tropical storm Kevin, but was quickly downgraded back to a depression while encountering cooler water some 475mi+ W of Cabo San Lucas, MEX.
Tropical Depression #12E	LINDA	9/14-9/17	75mph Cat. 1	An area of clouds SE of La Isla Socorro had been watched for about two days. A closed circulation developed in the middle of the cloud area, and the system, declared a depression on the morning of 9/14. On the next advisory, just six hours later, it was upgraded to the twelfth named system of the E Pacific, Linda. It briefly made hurricane strength (12 hours) while drifting parallel to the Baja coastline, but was moving into more stable air. It caused Linda to weaken quickly. By early 9/17, Linda had hooked around and moving SW due to a distant upper level high, but it was not enough to reintensify the weakened storm. Thecenter continued to move over cooler waters and was downgraded to a remnant low on the afternoon of 9/17.
Tropical Depression #13E	MARTY	9/18-9/24	85mph Cat. 1	The thirteenth depression of the season arrived on the heels of Linda's dissipation. It was located about 500mi WNW of Acapulco, MEX. As the storm was upgraded to tropical storm Marty, also the thirteenth named storm of the season, it delivered heavy rain and flooding to adjacent areas of Mexico. Marty was moving slowly to the WNW as of the afternoon of 9/19. On 9/20, Marty was upgraded to a hurricane, and 24 hours later, showed signs of turning toward Baja California. Hurricane warnings were posted for the southern tip of the peninsula, as Marty crossed over the area on 9/21. Over the southern Gulf of California, the winds around the center increased to 85mph, and was still headed in a N to NNW direction. It continued to move straight up the Gulf of California and weakened since the body of water was thin and there was interaction with mountainous terrain. The final advisory placed the depression in the far N Gulf of California, just 200mi S of Yuma, AZ on 9/24. The remnants of Marty brought 2-4" of rain over S Arizona (from Phoenix southward), and the threat of flooding.
Tropical Depression #14E	NORA	10/1-10/9	105mph Cat. 2	Depression #14E formed about 500mi S of Cabo San Lucas, MEX, and began moving W at about 6mph. In strengthening to tropical storm Nora early 10/2, it continued the streak where every E Pacific depression this season (14) became a named storm. The slow westward movement over warm water allowed Nora to gain intensity to 60mph by midday 10/3. Nora then started to take a slow turn to the N, while still strengthening to the E Pacific's fifth hurricane of the year. The hurricane (105mph, category 2) passed within 150mi to the SW of the island of Socorro on 10/4, but continued moving to the NW. It weakened to a tropical storm by 10/6 due to Olaf to its SE and its moving into cooler water. By 10/7, the low center was almost completely devoid of clouds and was only a depression. The center, still apparent at lower altitudes began moving to the west toward the shore. With only a few storms developing around it, Nora moved due E and made landfall early on 10/9 near Manzanillo, MEX and dissipated.
Tropical Depression #15E	OLAF	10/3-10/7	75mph Cat. 1	Just as tropical storm Nora was beginning to move W away from land, another depression formed to its SE. Keeping true to the streak, the fifteenth depression became the fifteenth named storm on the afternoon of 10/3, Olaf. This storm took a more NW path than Nora, and the forecast track as of 10/4 had Olaf moving parallel to the coast, which means the possibility of heavy rain along the W side of Mexico. On the morning of 10/5, Olaf became the sixth hurricane of the E Pacific season. Hurricane advisories were posted along the Mexican coast late 10/4 due to the expected strengthening. One problem Olaf soon encountered was its proximity to Nora (which was at 100mph at the time) and the possibility of a "power" struggle between the two hurricanes. Olaf eventually won out, leaving Nora as a tropical storm on 10/6. However, a reconnaissance aircraft would later be sent to the area to learn more about what was occurring. The aircraft reported winds of only 50mph and that Olaf was moving toward land. It made landfall early on 10/7 and began to dissipate over the mountains in the state of Nayarit, MEX within 36 hours.
Tropical Depression #16E	PATRICIA	10/20-10/25	75mph Cat. 1	On the morning of 10/20, a low center had formed along the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). Within three hours after the first intermediate advisory, the depression was upgraded to Tropical storm Patricia. This continues the streak of every depression becoming a named storm in the E. Pacific region. Patricia continued to intensify rapidly and became the seventh hurricane of the season with 75mph winds by midday 10/21. As it gradually turned to the NW, the location along with growing problems with NW shear, Patricia weakened back to a tropical storm (with an exposed low center) by early 10/23. The shearing that caused the exposure decreased, allowing thunderstorms to develop around the low. This, in turn, brought temporary strengthening to near 50mph by late 10/24. The shear returned and shoved the upper-level high from over the center 24 hours later. Drier air entering the system, combined with the shearing winds, and its location over cooler water, slowly brought Patricia to its demise. The last advisory was written late 10/25.