1979 Pacific hurricane season

1979 Pacific hurricane season
Season summary map
First system formed May 29, 1979
Last system dissipated November 18, 1979
Strongest storm1 Ignacio – 938 mbar (hPa) (27.7 inHg), 145 mph (230 km/h) (1-minute sustained)
Total depressions 13
Total storms 10
Hurricanes 6
Major hurricanes (Cat. 3+) 4
Total fatalities Unknown
Total damage Unknown
1Strongest storm is determined by lowest pressure
Pacific hurricane seasons
1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981

The 1979 Pacific hurricane season officially started May 15, 1979 in the eastern Pacific, and June 1, 1979 in the central Pacific, and lasted until November 30, 1979. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northeast Pacific Ocean.

With ten storms, less than two-thirds of the average of seventeen, this season was very inactive. There were six hurricanes, also below average. Of those hurricanes, four were major by reaching Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. As of the 2015 Pacific hurricane season, 1979 remains the most recent year without any tropical cyclones active in the Central Pacific.[1]

Storms

Hurricane Andres (1979) Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale

Tropical Depression One-E

Tropical depression (SSHWS)
Duration May 29 – May 31
Peak intensity 35 mph (55 km/h) (1-min) 

A tropical disturbance formed on May 29 south of Manzanillo, Mexico and moved slowly southwestward. On May 31, the storm was upgraded to tropical depression status based on satellite data. Shortly after becoming a depression, the storm turned northward over cooler waters where it rapidly weakened and dissipated 370 mi (600 km) southwest of Manzanillo. The only effects from the tropical depression was from a ship which reported heavy rainfall.[2]

Hurricane Andres

Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS)
Duration May 31 – June 4
Peak intensity 100 mph (155 km/h) (1-min) ≤ 992 mbar (hPa)

A depression formed on May 31, In early June, it became a hurricane, subsequently named Andres, and approached the Mexican coast as a large hurricane. The hurricane disintegrated rapidly as it approached the coast, and eventually made landfall as a weak depression on June 4.[2] Initial reports indicated that the storm made landfall with winds of 60 mph (95 km/h);[3] however, according to the Eastern Pacific Hurricane Database, the storm crossed the shore with winds of 75 mph (120 km/h).

Around Acapulco, airlines canceled flights in and out of the region on June 3 and resumed the following day after the passage of Andres. Torrential rainfall triggered widespread flooding which inundated homes and floated cars left on streets.[4] High winds also downed power lines, leaving many residents without electricity.[5] Offshore, two fishermen were killed by the storm after their boat capsized amidst rough seas.[4]

Tropical Storm Blanca

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration June 21 – June 25
Peak intensity 50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min) 

A westward moving tropical disturbance from the Atlantic emerged into the Pacific Ocean over Costa Rica and Panama on June 17. Continuing westward, the disturbance developed into the third tropical depression of the season on June 21. It further intensified and became Tropical Storm Blanca, eventually peaking as a relatively weak 50 mph (85 km/h) tropical storm. As Blanca was heading west-northwestward, it began to slowly weaken after peak intensity, and later dissipated on June 25. Blanca remained out at sea for the entire duration, and no fatalities or damage was reported as a result.[2]

Tropical Storm Carlos

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration July 14 – July 16
Peak intensity 50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min) 

A tropical disturbance formed in the Gulf of Tehuantepec on July 11. The system moved across the Gulf of Tehuantepec 9 mph (14 km/h) and gradually intensified. By late on July 14, satellites indicated a cyclonic circulation; the disturbance was promptly classified as Tropical Depression Four while 253 mi (407 km) west of Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico. As the depression moved over sea surface temperatures (SST's) of 86 °F (30 °C), it rapidly intensified into Tropical Storm Carlos early on July 15. As Carlos headed westward at 23 mph (37 km/h), it continued to strengthen. By midday on July 15, Carlos attained its peak intensity with winds of 50 mph (85 km/h). Shortly thereafter, Carlos moved over slightly colder SST's, and a weakened trend began as a result. Early on July 16, Carlos was downgraded to a tropical depression and dissipated later that day.[2]

Tropical Depression Five-E

Tropical depression (SSHWS)
Duration July 16 – July 16
Peak intensity 35 mph (55 km/h) (1-min) 

On July 16, Tropical Depression Five formed approximately 190 mi (310 km) west-southwest of Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico. The depression tracked northwestward and did not intensify into a tropical storm. Instead, the depression dissipated later that day.[2]

Hurricane Dolores

Category 3 hurricane (SSHWS)
Duration July 17 – July 23
Peak intensity 120 mph (195 km/h) (1-min) 

Dolores was a major hurricane that did not affect land.

Hurricane Enrique

Category 4 hurricane (SSHWS)
Duration August 17 – August 24
Peak intensity 145 mph (230 km/h) (1-min) 

Enrique was tied for the strongest storm of this season with Hurricane Ignacio, but did not affect land.

Hurricane Fefa

Category 3 hurricane (SSHWS)
Duration August 21 – August 25
Peak intensity 115 mph (185 km/h) (1-min) 

Fefa was a short-lived major hurricane which did not affect land.

Tropical Depression Nine-E

Tropical depression (SSHWS)
Duration September 4 – September 4
Peak intensity 35 mph (55 km/h) (1-min) 

This depression existed on September 4.[2]

Hurricane Guillermo

Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS)
Duration September 8 – September 13
Peak intensity 75 mph (120 km/h) (1-min)  994 mbar (hPa)

Guillermo originated from a tropical disturbance formed in the Gulf of Tehuantepec on September 7. The system moved northwestward at 17 mph (27 km/h), and was upgraded to Tropical Depression Ten on September 8. The depression quickly intensified, and became a tropical storm on September 9. Guillermo was a short-lived hurricane which did not have direct impacts on land.

Tropical Storm Hilda

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration October 4 – October 6
Peak intensity 45 mph (75 km/h) (1-min)  994 mbar (hPa)

A tropical disturbance developed south of Guatemala on October 1. The system intensified as it moved west over SST's of at least 82 °F (28 °C). By early on October 4, the system was classified as Tropical Depression Eleven. After forming, the depression continued west 15 mph (24 km/h) over SST's of 84 °F (29 °C). The depression eventually turned west-northwest, where it intensified into Tropical Storm Hilda on October 5. Hilda was a short-lived storm which did not affect land.

Hurricane Ignacio

Category 4 hurricane (SSHWS)
Duration October 23 – October 30
Peak intensity 145 mph (230 km/h) (1-min)  938 mbar (hPa)

On October 22, a well-organized area of low pressure formed a few hundred miles of the coast of Guatemala. The next day, the Eastern Pacific Hurricane Center upgraded the low into a depression. The system would strengthen into a tropical storm hours prior to formation. The system strengthen into a tropical storm, which was named Ignacio. On October 25, Tropical Storm Ignacio strengthened into a minimal hurricane on October 26. It quickly intensified, becoming a major hurricane a few hours later. On October 27, Ignacio reached its peak intensity with winds of up to 145 mph (130 km/h). On October 28, however, the storm began to weaken, and was downgraded into a Category 1 hurricane. On October 29, it weakened into a tropical storm. The system weakened to a depression on October 30. Ignacio made landfall on the coast of western Mexico as a tropical depression. The storm dissipated hours later after landfall, without causing any impact.[2]

Tropical Storm Jimena

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Duration November 15 – November 18
Peak intensity 65 mph (100 km/h) (1-min) 

The final tropical cyclone of the season developed from a tropical disturbance which formed 92 mi (148 km) south of Panama on November 13. The system headed west-northwest at 8 mph (13 km/h) until curving westward and speeding up to 11 mph (18 km/h) on the following day. As the disturbance intensified over SST's of 84 °F (29 °C), satellite imagery indicated that a cyclonic circulation existed. As a result, the disturbance was upgraded to Tropical Depression Thirteen while 210 mi (340 km) west-southwest of the Cabo Blanco Absolute Natural Reserve on November 15. The depression steadily intensified as it headed westward, and was upgraded to Tropical Storm Jimena later that day. On the following day, Jimena turned west-northwestward and continued to intensify. Later that day, Jimena peaked with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h). Also on November 16, Jimena curved briefly northwestward. After resuming its westward direction, Jimena began to weaken from SST's of 82 °F (28 °C) and cold, dry, and northerly winds from the Gulf of Tehuantepec. By early on November 18, Jimena weakened enough to be downgraded to a tropical depression. Shortly thereafter, Jimena was declared dissipated while centered 426 mi (686 km) south of Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico.[2]

1979 storm names

The following names were used for named storms that formed in the eastern Pacific in 1979. This was the first time most of these names were used, except for Blanca and Dolores, which were previously used in the old four-year lists. Names that were not assigned are marked in gray.

  • Andres
  • Blanca
  • Carlos
  • Dolores
  • Enrique
  • Fefa
  • Guillermo
  • Hilda
  • Ignacio
  • Jimena
  • Kevin (unused)
  • Linda (unused)
  • Marty (unused)
  • Nora (unused)
  • Olaf (unused)
  • Pauline (unused)
  • Rick (unused)
  • Sandra (unused)
  • Terry (unused)
  • Vivian (unused)
  • Waldo (unused)

The central Pacific used names and numbers from the west Pacific's typhoon list. No names were used.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Previous Tropical Systems in the Central Pacific". Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2013-01-02.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Gunther, Emil (1980). "Eastern North Pacific Tropical Cyclones of 1979". Eastern Pacific Hurricane Center. Retrieved 2010-11-13.
  3. ↑ Associated Press (June 5, 1979). "Season's first 'cane hits land". The Miami News. p. 41. Retrieved July 3, 2010.
  4. 1 2 United Press International (June 5, 1979). "Hurricane Andrew Hits". The Bryan Times. p. 2. Retrieved July 3, 2010.
  5. ↑ Staff Writer (June 5, 1979). "Hurricane Rips Mexico". Reading Eagle. p. 21. Retrieved July 3, 2010.

External links

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