1979 Pacific hurricane season

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1979 Pacific hurricane season
1979 Pacific hurricane season summary map.png
Season summary map
Seasonal boundaries
First system formedMay 29, 1979
Last system dissipatedNovember 18, 1979
Strongest storm
NameIgnacio
 • Maximum winds145 mph (230 km/h)
(1-minute sustained)
 • Lowest pressure938 mbar (hPa; 27.7 inHg)
Seasonal statistics
Total depressions13
Total storms10
Hurricanes6
Major hurricanes
(Cat. 3+)		4
Total fatalitiesUnknown
Total damageUnknown
Related articles
Pacific hurricane seasons
1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981

The 1979 Pacific hurricane season was an inactive Pacific hurricane season. It officially started on 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 2020 Pacific hurricane season, 1979 remains the most recent year without any tropical cyclones active in the Central Pacific.[1]

Systems[]

Hurricane Andres (1979)Saffir–Simpson scale

Hurricane Andres[]

Main article: Hurricane Andres (1979)
Category 2 hurricane (SSHWS)
Andres 1979-06-03 1845Z.png Andres 1979 track.png
DurationMay 31 – June 4
Peak intensity100 mph (155 km/h) (1-min) ≤ 992 mbar (hPa)

A tropical disturbance developed south of the Gulf of Tehuantepec early on May 31, quickly becoming a tropical depression by 18:00 UTC that day. The system further coalesced into Tropical Storm Andres by 06:00 UTC on June 2 as it curved from west to north-northwest. It then became the season's first hurricane around 18:00 UTC on June 3. Later on June 3, forecasters observed a small eye on visible satellite imagery. One of many ships encountered the storm after this time, measuring an inner core about 21 miles (34 km) in radius. The cyclone attained its peak as a Category 2 hurricane with winds of 100 mph (155 km/h) around 00:00 UTC on June 4. Andres veered northwest and began to weaken, striking the coastline as a minimal hurricane about 105 miles (165 km) east of Manzanillo at 13:00 UTC. The system transitioned into an extratropical cyclone five hours later.[2]

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.[3] High winds also downed power lines, leaving many residents without electricity.[4] Offshore, two fishermen were killed by the storm after their boat capsized amidst rough seas.[3]

Tropical Storm Blanca[]

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Blanca Jun 21 1979 2128Z.png Blanca 1979 track.png
DurationJune 21 – June 25
Peak intensity50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min) 

A westward-moving tropical disturbance crossed Costa Rica and Panama into the East Pacific on June 17. The system was slow to organize initially, but it developed into a tropical depression by 06:00 UTC on June 21. It further intensified and became Tropical Storm Blanca around 00:00 UTC on June 22. Blanca moved over warm waters and eventually attained peak winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) on June 22–23. The cyclone curved west-northwest and began to weaken, particularly after it encountered colder waters. It dissipated far away from land after 12:00 UTC on June 25.[2]

Tropical Storm Carlos[]

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Carlos Jul 14 1979 2230Z.png Carlos 1979 track.png
DurationJuly 14 – July 16
Peak intensity50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min) 

A tropical disturbance formed in the Gulf of Tehuantepec on July 11 and developed into a tropical depression around 18:00 UTC on July 14. The cyclone moved swiftly westward, becoming Tropical Storm Carlos within six hours and reaching peak winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) on July 15. Carlos passed about 20 miles (30 km) south of Socorro Island, soon crossing into cooler waters and drier air. The cyclone dissipated southwest of Baja California Sur after 06:00 UTC on July 16.[2]

Hurricane Dolores[]

Category 3 hurricane (SSHWS)
Dolores 1979-07-20 2215Z.png Dolores 1979 track.png
DurationJuly 17 – July 23
Peak intensity120 mph (195 km/h) (1-min) 

An area of disturbed weather was observed south of Guatemala on July 14.[2] It developed into a tropical depression around 06:00 UTC on July 17 and became Tropical Storm Dolores twelve hours later.[5] Steered on the south side of an upper-level area of high pressure, the cyclone passed over warm waters which facilitated its continued development.[2] It became a hurricane by 18:00 UTC on July 18 and then entered a period of rapid intensification, which coincided with the formation of a well-defined eye on satellite imagery.[2] Dolores strengthened into the season's first major hurricane around 06:00 UTC on July 20 and, after a brief fluctuation in intensity, attained peak winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) early on July 21.[5] High pressure shifted northeast into northern Mexico, causing Dolores to curve northwest into cooler waters and drier air. The system dissipated well to the west of Baja California after 18:00 UTC on July 23.[2]

Hurricane Enrique[]

Category 4 hurricane (SSHWS)
Enrique 1979-08-22 1745Z.png Enrique 1979 track.png
DurationAugust 17 – August 24
Peak intensity145 mph (230 km/h) (1-min) 

After a nearly month long dearth in tropical cyclone activity,[2] a new tropical depression formed over the open East Pacific around 18:00 UTC on August 17.[5] It moved west over very warm waters,[2] intensifying into Tropical Storm Enrique six hours after formation and further into a hurricane by 00:00 UTC on August 19. After maintaining that strength for a few days,[5] the cyclone encountered dry air and slightly cooler waters, which caused it to weaken to a tropical storm. However, Enrique soon moved into a more conducive environment again, and it began rapid intensification.[2] Over a 24 hour period ending at 18:00 UTC on August 22, the storm's maximum winds increased from 70 mph (110 km/h) to a peak of 145 mph (230 km/h), coincident with a Category 4 hurricane.[5] Enrique had been moving toward the northwest, and that trajectory brought the storm over cold waters once again, resulting in rapid weakening.[2] The system dissipated after 18:00 UTC on August 24.[5]

Hurricane Fefa[]

Category 3 hurricane (SSHWS)
Fefa Aug 22 1979 2219Z.png Fefa 1979 track.png
DurationAugust 21 – August 25
Peak intensity115 mph (185 km/h) (1-min) 

A tropical disturbance developed south-southeast of Acapulco on August 19. Positioned on the south side of upper-level ridging, the system moved swiftly west-northwest and organized into a tropical depression around 00:00 UTC on August 21.[2][5] Continued development over very warm waters allowed the depression to become Tropical Storm Fefa within six hours later, which then intensified into a hurricane by 06:00 UTC on August 22. Later that day, Fefa developed a well-defined eye, indicative of further intensification.[2] It attained its peak as a Category 3 major hurricane with winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) at 12:00 UTC on August 23.[5] A persistent, rapid west-northwest track brought Fefa over increasingly cool waters,[2] which then caused weakening. The system dissipated over the open East Pacific after 00:00 UTC on August 25.[5]

Hurricane Guillermo[]

Category 1 hurricane (SSHWS)
Guillermo Sept 11 1979 2210Z.jpg Guillermo 1979 track.png
DurationSeptember 8 – September 13
Peak intensity75 mph (120 km/h) (1-min)  994 mbar (hPa)

An area of disturbed weather formed south of the Gulf of Tehuantepec on September 7.[2] It organized into the season's next tropical depression around 18:00 UTC on September 8 and intensified into Tropical Storm Guillermo twelve hours later.[5] Flow around the southwest side of upper-level ridging directed the storm to curve northwestward, while the system's track over warm waters allowed it to intensify. It became a hurricane with peak winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) around 18:00 UTC on September 11. Guillermo decelerated over cooler waters south of Baja California,[2] ultimately dissipating after 12:00 UTC on September 13.[5]

Tropical Storm Hilda[]

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Hilda at peak intensity on October 5th.png Hilda 1979 track.png
DurationOctober 4 – October 6
Peak intensity45 mph (75 km/h) (1-min)  994 mbar (hPa)

On October 1, an area of disturbed weather developed south of Guatemala.[2] It moved west, coalescing into a tropical depression by 00:00 UTC on October 4. After a short pause in intensification, the depression became Tropical Storm Hilda around 06:00 UTC on October 5, at which time it reached peak winds of 45 mph (75 km/h).[5] A westward track brought the cyclone over cooler waters,[2] and the brief system dissipated over the open East Pacific after 18:00 UTC on October 6.[5]

Hurricane Ignacio[]

Category 4 hurricane (SSHWS)
Ignacio 1979-10-27 2230Z.jpg Ignacio 1979 track.png
DurationOctober 23 – October 30
Peak intensity145 mph (230 km/h) (1-min)  938 mbar (hPa)

Over two weeks after the dissipation of Hilda, a new tropical disturbance formed southwest of Guatemala on October 22. It tracked steadily westward, becoming a tropical depression around 18:00 UTC on October 23 and Tropical Storm Ignacio by 12:00 UTC the next day. A curve toward the northwest brought the cyclone over progressively warmer waters,[2] and it reached hurricane intensity around 18:00 UTC on October 26. Soon after, Ignacio began a period of rapid intensification as it vaulted from Category 2 to Category 4 intensity within six hours.[5] An Air Force reconnaissance plane investigated the powerful storm at 18:00 UTC on October 27, finding peak winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) – tied with Enrique as the strongest of the season – as well as a 25 mile (35 km) diameter eye only covered by broken low-level clouds. Ignacio turned north and then veered sharply east, entering colder waters. Subsequent reconnaissance of the storm found various changes to its internal structure, including a pinhole eye down to 6 miles (10 km) in diameter before it ultimately became ill-defined. Ignacio accelerated toward the Mexico coastline, striking about 160 miles (260 km) east-southeast of Manzanillo with much-weakened winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) around 12:00 UTC on October 30.[2] It transitioned into an extratropical cyclone six hours later before dissipating over the Yucatán Peninsula the next day.[5][2]

Tropical Storm Jimena[]

Tropical storm (SSHWS)
Tropical Storm Jimena Nov 16 1979 1600Z.jpg Jimena 1979 track.png
DurationNovember 15 – November 18
Peak intensity65 mph (100 km/h) (1-min) 

The final storm of the 1979 season began as a tropical disturbance south of Panama on November 13.[2] The system moved generally westward and organized into a tropical depression around 06:00 UTC on November 15.[5] Warm waters aided in the depression's development,[2] and it became Tropical Storm Jimena by 00:00 UTC on November 16. The cyclone's winds peaked at 65 mph (100 km/h) around 18:00 UTC that day.[5] Beyond this time, cold and dry northerly winds flowing across the Gulf of Tehuantepec began to affect Jimena, causing it to weaken.[2] The system's center dissipated after 06:00 UTC on November 18,[5] though its remnants were evident on satellite imagery for another three days.[2]

Other systems[]

Several unofficial tropical depressions accompanied the documented cyclones in 1979. Shortly before the formation of Andres, a tropical depression developed south of Manzanillo on May 31. It curved northwest into cooler waters and dissipated on June 1. Another tropical depression was identified north of Carlos on July 16. However, it weakened over cold waters almost immediately, dissipating around 12:00 UTC that day just offshore Baja California Sur. The last documented tropical depression formed on September 4 south of the Gulf of the Tehuantepec. The system moved onshore about 165 miles (265 km) east-southeast of Acapulco at 18:00 UTC that day. It dissipated rapidly once inland.[2]

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. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z Gunther, Emil (1980). "Eastern North Pacific Tropical Cyclones of 1979". Monthly Weather Review. Eastern Pacific Hurricane Center. 108 (5): 631–641. Bibcode:1980MWRv..108..631G. doi:10.1175/1520-0493(1980)108<0631:ENPTCO>2.0.CO;2.
  3. ^ a b United Press International (June 5, 1979). "Hurricane Andrew Hits". The Bryan Times. p. 2. Retrieved July 3, 2010.
  4. ^ Staff Writer (June 5, 1979). "Hurricane Rips Mexico". Reading Eagle. p. 21. Retrieved July 3, 2010.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r National Hurricane Center; Hurricane Research Division; Central Pacific Hurricane Center. "The Northeast and North Central Pacific hurricane database 1949–2019". United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service. Retrieved 1 October 2020. A guide on how to read the database is available here.

External links[]

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