2005 Pacific hurricane season
The 2005 Pacific hurricane season officially began May 15, 2005 in the eastern Pacific and June 1 2005 in the central Pacific, and lasted until November 30, 2005. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northeastern Pacific Ocean. The season got off to a quick start, with the tropical depression that would become Hurricane Adrian forming just two days into the season on May 17. It took a very rare track skirting El Salvador as a Category 1 hurricane then striking Honduras as a tropical depression. Since then, six further hurricanes and eight other tropical storms have formed. Between June and September only Dora was of any significant threat to land as it skirted the Mexican coast, and Kenneth came close to Hawai‘i as a dissipating tropical depression. Hurricane Otis appeared to be heading for an encounter with the Baja California peninsula, but turned north-northwest, paralleling the coast.
The scope of this article is confined to those storms monitored by the U.S. National Hurricane Center, which monitors all tropical cyclones in the Pacific Ocean in the northern hemisphere east of 140 degrees west longitude (140° W), and the Central Pacific Hurricane Center in Hawaii, which monitors tropical cyclones from 180° W (the international date line) to 140W. Tropical depressions that form east of 140° W have "-E" (Eastern) appended to the number, storms that form west of 140° W have "-C" (Central) appended. Storms that form west of the dateline are called typhoons and beyond the scope of this article, unless they move east across it.
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Pre-season forecasts
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted a slow year, with only a 10% chance of above-average storm activity in the eastern North Pacific and a 70% chance of below-normal activity. The pre-season forecast predicts 11 to 15 tropical storms, 6 to 8 hurricanes, and 2 to 4 becoming major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale).[1]
The forecast for the central North Pacific was for a below-average season, with only two or three storms impacting the region, below the normal four to five. [2]
Storms
Hurricane Adrian
An early storm, Adrian formed on May 17, only two days after the season began. It strengthened from a tropical depression about 440 miles (710 km) southwest of Guatemala and El Salvador and began tracking northeast towards San Salvador, and reached hurricane strength on the morning of May 19. It turned east and made landfall in Honduras in the Gulf of Fonseca late on May 19, after weakening offshore to tropical depression strength. It weakened rapidly once onshore, dissipating over the mountains of Honduras. Three indirect deaths are linked to the storm, but according to the NHC's May Summary [3], released June 1, no direct deaths had been reported. Damage figures are not yet available.
The north-easterly track of this storm was extremely unusual. Only four tropical systems had been recorded to have made landfall in Guatemala or El Salvador since 1966. The only named system ever to do so was Tropical Storm Andres on June 7, 1997, near San Salvador as a tropical depression. The storm was also somewhat rare in how early it was; hurricanes form in May only once about every four years.
Tropical Storm Beatriz
The first tropical storm to form in the Eastern Pacific in June since Carlos in 2003, Beatriz formed 240 nautical miles (445 km or 280 statute miles) south of Zihuatanejo, Mexico on June 21, reaching tropical storm strength the next day, with windspeeds peaking at around 50 mph (80 km/h) on June 23. It slowly moved west and dissipated into a remnant low on the morning of June 24 about 290 miles (470 km) from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, having never threatened land.
Tropical Storm Calvin
Tropical Depression Three-E formed just south of Mexico early on June 26, and reached tropical storm strength and was named Calvin late that day. Tropical storm watches were issued for the southern coast of Mexico around Acapulco as Calvin slowly moved westward, with windspeeds peaking at 50 mph (80 km/h) on June 27, but all watches were cancelled on the morning of June 28 as it moved away from the coast. Calvin weakened to a tropical depression later that day, and lost tropical characteristics that night.
Tropical Storm Dora
An active early season continued with Tropical Depression Four-E forming on July 3 from a tropical wave south of Acapulco, Mexico. Watches and warnings were issued as it neared the Mexican coast. On the afternoon of July 4, the depression strengthened into a tropical storm while located about 45 miles (75 km) west-southwest of Acapulco. It came within miles of the Mexican coast, moving somewhat parallel to it on July 4, dropping heavy rainfall on the region. As it moved away from the coast, all watches were cancelled as it dropped to a tropical depression midday on July 5, finally dissipating early on July 6.
Tropical Storm Eugene
Eugene formed from a tropical disturbance off the central Mexican coast on July 18 and headed northwest, one of the few cyclones to reach tropical storm-strength without being designated as a tropical depression. Initially, as with most Eastern Pacific storms, no public advisories or warnings were issued, since it was heading out to sea. However, on July 19 it came within range of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula. Tropical storm watches were issued for the area around Cabo San Lucas for most of the day, but the storm moved away without affecting land.
Tropical Depression One-C
The first tropical system in the central Pacific formed east-southeast of Hawaii on August 3, a month later than the first (and only) central system to develop in 2004. It began a track due west, which could have put it within range of the island of Oahu, Hawaii a few days later. It was initially forecast to strengthen into a tropical storm (one has not formed in the central Pacific since Huko in the 2002 season). However, the next day's models changed to indicate no further increase in strength. Shortly after that, convection bursts ceased and the system lost its closed circulation while still 725 miles (1200 km) from Hilo.
Hurricane Fernanda
Tropical Depression Six-E formed from an area of disturbed weather some 690 miles (1100 km) south-southwest of Cabo San Lucas in Baja California Sur, Mexico on August 9. It was upgraded to Tropical Storm Fernanda late that day, and to Hurricane Fernanda on August 11, as it headed generally west-northwest into the open Pacific. On August 14 it dropped to tropical storm strength over cooler waters and on August 15 weakened to a tropical depression. It degenerated into a remnant low later in the day about 1650 miles southwest of the southern tip of Baja California.
Tropical Storm Greg
Tropical Depression Seven-E formed 670 miles (1100 km) south of Cabo San Lucas on August 11, and was upgraded to Tropical Storm Greg a few hours later. Although only 750 miles (1200 km) from Hurricane Fernanda it showed no signs of being pushed northwards by interaction, but set off westwards to follow Fernanda into the Pacific. Greg was downgraded to tropical depression status on August 14 and remained stationary throughout the day. It began drifting slowly westward early on August 15 and was destroyed by shear later in the day.
Hurricane Hilary
Tropical Depression Eight-E formed from an area of disturbed weather south of the Gulf of Tehuantepec on August 19. It strengthened to a tropical storm late that evening, and reached hurricane strength 24 hours later. Moving parallel to the Mexican coast and about 300 miles off-shore, it reached category 2 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale late on August 21. Tropical storm strength winds affected the coast and a tropical storm warning was issued for a while. Hilary dissipated not long after weakening to a tropical storm on August 25.
Tropical Storm Irwin
Tropical Depression Nine-E formed in the Eastern Pacific southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico on August 25, and strengthened to Tropical Storm Irwin early the next day, reaching wind speeds of 50 mph (85 km/h). Although Irwin headed almost due west over warm water, it encountered shearing winds, soon weakened and dissipated on August 28.
Hurricane Jova
After two weeks of calm, Tropical Depression Ten-E formed late on September 11 well south-southwest of Baja California and headed almost due west. Late on September 14, the depression strengthened and was upgraded to tropical storm status. It strengthened further to hurricane status early on September 16. On September 18 it crossed meridian 140°W, becoming the first hurricane in over two years to be in the forecast area of the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Jova soon strengthened to a major hurricane, the first one to exist in the Central Pacific since Ele in 2002. It weakened as it steered to the northeast of Hawai‘i, weakening to a tropical storm on September 22 and to a tropical depression on September 23 before finally dissipating on September 24.
Hurricane Kenneth
An area of disturbed weather developed into Tropical Depression Eleven-E on September 14. Again, the depression was well south-southwest of Baja California when it formed just 600 miles east of Depression Ten-E. It found more favorable conditions than its western neighbor, and was upgraded to Tropical Storm Kenneth just 12 hours after forming. Kenneth strengthened into a hurricane later that day and continued to strengthen very rapidly, becoming the first major hurricane of the season by reaching Category 3 on September 17. The storm became the strongest yet to form this season in the Eastern Pacific when Kenneth peaked with sustained winds of 135 mph, Category 4 on the Saffir Simpson Hurricane Scale. Kenneth began gradually weakening on September 19, and weakened to a tropical storm on September 20. However, Kenneth gained enough strength to be reclassified as a Category 1 hurricane on September 24, and very late on September 25 it crossed 140°W, making it the second hurricane of the season to enter the Central Pacific. It then dropped back again to a tropical storm, and weakened to a tropical depression on September 29 less than 400 miles east of Hawai‘i. It came within 50 miles of the Big Island of Hawaii before degenerating into an open wave. No tropical cyclone has made landfall on Hawai‘i since Tropical Depression Eugene in the 1993 season.
Tropical Storm Lidia
A tropical wave, which moved off the African coast at the end of August showed some hints of development while crossing the Atlantic but never developed a tropical circulation there. After crossing the Isthmus of Tehuantepec into the Pacific it acquired better organisation, and became Tropical Depression Twelve-E on September 17. It was the third depression in quick succession to form well SSW of Baja California, and did so less than 800 miles east of Hurricane Kenneth. It strengthened to Tropical Storm Lidia later the same day, but the next day was pushed off its course and weakened by the new and larger Tropical Depression Thirteen-E, which became Tropical Storm Max. On September 18, Lidia was completely absorbed by the circulation of Max.
Hurricane Max
Tropical Depression Thirteen-E formed 500 miles south-southeast of the tip of Baja California on September 18. It was sufficiently close to Lidia that it blew the earlier, weaker storm rapidly to the north. It strengthened to Tropical Storm Max within a few hours, and absorbed the remnants of Tropical Depression Lidia. On late September 19 the tropical storm was upgraded to Hurricane Max. The system began to weaken almost immediately thereafter, however, and Max dissipated in the early morning hours of September 22.
The merger of two tropical cyclones or the absorption of one tropical cyclone by another are uncommon events in the National Hurricane Center's area of responsibility. The last documented case of such an occurrence in the eastern North Pacific was when Hurricane Gil absorbed Tropical Storm Henriette in September 2001.
Tropical Storm Norma
Tropical Depression Fourteen-E formed 400 miles southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico on September 22, barely twenty-four hours after the Joint Typhoon Warning Center had initiated a warning noting that "formation of a tropical cyclone is possible." Four hours later Tropical Depression Fourteen-E had strengthened into Tropical Storm Norma. It was never a threat to land, and the NHC ceased advisories with the final advisory at 2 am PDT (0900 UTC) September 27.
Hurricane Otis
Tropical Depression Fifteen-E formed 130 nautical miles south-southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico on September 28. Twenty four hours later it was upgraded to Tropical Storm Otis. Early on September 30 it was upgraded to a hurricane, and it reached category two on October 1 before weakening again as it drifted very slowly northwards.
On October 2 it took a north-northwesterly turn, moving away from the Baja California peninsula, and instead paralleling the coast, before being downgraded to a depression. The NHC ceased advisories on Otis at 21:00 UTC the next day.
- The NHC's archive on Hurricane Otis
Tropical Depression Sixteen-E
Tropical Depression Sixteen-E formed about 400 nautical miles south of Acapulco, Mexico late on October 14 (early October 15 UTC). Although initial forecasts expected it to strengthen, the depression never gained enough organisation to become a tropical storm and instead appeared to dissipate. Advisories were discontinued on October 18, but resumed on October 19 when the remnant low pressure area regenerated deep convection. The system still struggled to develop, apparently due to the entrainment of relatively dry air inhibiting sustained convection. The second final advisory was issued at 2 pm PDT (2100 UTC) October 20. The remnant was absorbed into the ITCZ the next day.
Timeline of events
- The full timeline of the season can be found at Timeline of the 2005 Pacific hurricane season
2005 storm names
The following names were used for named storms that formed in the northeast Pacific in 2005. This is the same list that was used in the 1999 season. Names that were not assigned are marked in gray. No central Pacific names were used; the first name used would have been Ioke.
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Names to be retired will be announced by the WMO in the spring of 2006, although it is unlikely that there will be any retired names.
See also
- List of notable tropical cyclones
- 2005 Atlantic hurricane season
- 2005 Pacific typhoon season
- 2004-05 Southern Hemisphere tropical cyclone season
- 2005-06 Southern Hemisphere tropical cyclone season
- 2005-2009 North Indian cyclone seasons