Timeline of the 2016 Pacific hurricane season

Track map of all East and Central Pacific tropical cyclones in 2016

The 2016 Pacific hurricane season is an ongoing event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation, in which tropical cyclones form in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The season will officially start on May 15 in the eastern Pacific—east of 140°W—and on June 1 in the central Pacific—between the International Date Line and 140°W—and will last until November 30. These dates typically cover the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the eastern Pacific basin.^[1] However the first storm, Pali, formed 5 months before the official start of the season on January 7, which broke the record for having the earliest forming storm within the basin.

So far, only 1 tropical depression developed, 1 of which became a tropical storm, and 1 of them reached hurricane strength.

Four time zones are utilized in the basin: Central for storms east of 106°W, Mountain between 114.9°W and 106°W, Pacific between 140°W and 115°W,^[2] and Hawaii–Aleutian for storms between the International Date Line and 140°W. However, for convenience, all information is listed by Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) first with the respective local time included in parentheses. This timeline includes information that was not operationally released, meaning that data from post-storm reviews by the National Hurricane Center is included. This timeline documents tropical cyclone formations, strengthening, weakening, landfalls, extratropical transitions, and dissipations during the season.

Timeline of events

January

January 1

• 03:00 UTC (5:00 p.m. HST, December 31, 2015) — 2016 opens with Tropical Depression Nine-C weakening and remaining disorganized near the International Dateline and the equator.^[3]
• 09:00 UTC (11:00 p.m. HST, December 31) at 2°12′N 176°42′W / 2.2°N 176.7°W — The CPHC (Central Pacific hurricane Center) issues its final advisory on Nine-C, which makes it an end for the previous season.^[4]

January 7

• 15:00 UTC (5:00 a.m. HST) at 4°00′N 171°24′W / 4.0°N 171.4°W — Tropical Depression One-C develops from an area of thunderstorms and moisture from the previous storm 885 mi (1,425 km)^{[nb 1]} south of Johnston Island.^[5]
• 21:00 UTC (11:00 a.m. HST) at 4°00′N 171°24′W / 4.0°N 171.4°W — With an increase of organisation, One-C strengthens into Tropical Storm Pali, located about 835 mi (1,345 km) south of Johnston Island.^[6]

January 12

• 03:00 UTC (5:00 p.m. HST, January 11) at 8°06′N 171°54′W / 8.1°N 171.9°W — Tropical Storm Pali strengthens into a Category 1 hurricane, which also became the earliest recorded hurricane within the basin located about 615 mi (990 km) south-southwest of Johnston Island.^[7]
• 21:00 UTC (11:00 a.m. HST) at 6°12′N 171°18′W / 6.2°N 171.3°W — Hurricane Pali further strengthens into a Category 2 hurricane about 735 mi (1,185 km) south of Johnston Island. It simultaneously attains its peak intensity with 100 mph (155 km/h) winds and a minimum pressure of 977 mbar (hPa; 28.85 inHg).^[8]

January 13

• 09:00 UTC (11:00 p.m. HST, January 12) at 4°54′N 171°30′W / 4.9°N 171.5°W — Hurricane Pali weakens to a Category 1 hurricane.^[9]

January 14

• 03:00 UTC (5:00 p.m. HST, January 13) at 2°42′N 172°12′W / 2.7°N 172.2°W — Hurricane Pali rapidly weakens to a tropical storm.^[10]
• 15:00 UTC (5:00 a.m. HST) at 2°30′N 173°00′W / 2.5°N 173.0°W — Tropical Storm Pali rapidly weakens to a tropical depression.^[11]
• 21:00 UTC (11:00 a.m. HST) at 2°00′N 172°54′W / 2.0°N 172.9°W — The CPHC issues its final advisory on Tropical Depression Pali.^[12]

May

May 15

• The 2016 Pacific hurricane season officially begins.^[1]

November

November 30

• The 2016 Pacific hurricane season officially ends.^[1]

See also

• Timeline of the 2016 Atlantic hurricane season
• Timeline of the 2016 Pacific typhoon season

Notes

1. The figures for maximum sustained winds and position estimates are rounded to the nearest 5 units (knots, miles, or kilometers), following the convention used in the National Hurricane Center's operational products for each storm. All other units are rounded to the nearest digit.

References

1. Christopher W. Landsea; Neal Dorst; Erica Rule (June 2, 2011). "G: Tropical Cyclone Climatology". Hurricane Research Division: Frequently Asked Questions. Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). G1) When is hurricane season ?. Retrieved December 6, 2015.
2. Robbie Berg (May 28, 2015). Tropical Depression One-E Discussion Number 1. National Hurricane Center (Report) (Miami, Florida: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Retrieved June 27, 2015.
3. "TROPICAL DEPRESSION NINE-C DISCUSSION NUMBER 5". Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
4. "TROPICAL DEPRESSION NINE-C DISCUSSION NUMBER 6". Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
5. "TROPICAL DEPRESSION ONE-C ADVISORY NUMBER 1". Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Retrieved January 7, 2016.
6. "TROPICAL STORM PALI ADVISORY NUMBER 2". Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Retrieved January 7, 2016.
7. "HURRICANE PALI ADVISORY NUMBER 19". Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
8. "HURRICANE PALI ADVISORY NUMBER 22". Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
9. "HURRICANE PALI DISCUSSION NUMBER 24". Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
10. "TROPICAL STORM PALI ADVISORY NUMBER 27". Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
11. "TROPICAL DEPRESSION PALI ADVISORY NUMBER 29". Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
12. "TROPICAL DEPRESSION PALI DISCUSSION NUMBER 30". Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Retrieved March 3, 2016.

External links

• The National Hurricane Center's 2016 Tropical Cyclone Advisory Archive
• The National Hurricane Center's Tropical Cyclone Reports for the 2016 Eastern Pacific hurricane season
• The Central Pacific Hurricane Center's Tropical Cyclone Advisory Archive