The 2000 Pacific hurricane season was an above-average Pacific hurricane season, although most of the storms were weak and short-lived. There were a total of 19 named storms, including 17 named by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) and two by the Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC). There were six hurricanes, which was slightly below-average. Two of the hurricanes became a major hurricane, which is a Category 3 or greater on the SaffirâÂÂSimpson scale. The season officially started on May 15 and ended on November 30, 2000. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Pacific basin.
Seasonal activity began on May 22, when Hurricane Aletta formed off the southwest coast of Mexico. Two storms formed in June, including the season's strongest, Carlotta, which peaked as a strong Category 4 hurricane. The hurricane killed 18 people when it sank a freighter. In July, three named storms developed, including Hurricane Daniel, which was the second-strongest storm of the season. Daniel briefly threatened the U.S. state of Hawaii while weakening. August was the most active month of the year, with six named storms forming, including hurricanes Gilma and Hector. In September, the remnants of Hurricane Lane produced thunderstorms in California. Also in the month, tropical storms Miriam and Norman made landfall in Mexico with minimal impact. In November, the remnants of Tropical Storm Paul produced damaging floods in Hawaii. Also in the month, Tropical Storm Rosa struck southeastern Mexico and dissipated on November 8, ending the season.
For the north Pacific Ocean, east of 140ð W, the National Hurricane Center named 17 tropical storms; this was above the then 34–year average of 15.4 named storms. Six of the storms attained hurricane status, slightly below the average of 8.6 hurricanes. There were also two tropical depressions that did not reach storm strength. There were also four storms within the warning area of the Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC) between 140ð W and the International date line, which was near average. This included two storms that formed within the central Pacific and were given Hawaiian names by the CPHC. The season was affected by a weak La Niña conditions, in which equatorial water temperatures were slightly cooler than usual.
The accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) index for the 2000 Pacific hurricane season as calculated by Colorado State University using data from the National Hurricane Center was 96 units. Broadly speaking, ACE is a measure of the power of a tropical storm multiplied by the length of time it existed. It is only calculated for full advisories on specific tropical systems reaching or exceeding wind speeds of .
The season officially started on May 15, 2000, in the eastern Pacific, and on June 1, 2000, in the central Pacific, and lasted until November 30, 2000. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northeastern Pacific Ocean.
A tropical wave crossed Central America and entered the Gulf of Tehuantepec on May 20. Deep convection developed near the center of the disturbance, and the system became the first tropical depression of the season on May 22 while located south of Acapulco, Mexico. A mid-level ridge forced a west-northwest track away from the Mexican coast. It intensified into Tropical Storm Aletta early on May 23 while located south of Zihuatanejo, Mexico, becoming the first May tropical storm in four years. As it turned westward, it continued a slow intensification trend, before strengthening more quickly due to decreased wind shear. On May 24, Aletta attained hurricane status, and shortly thereafter reached peak winds of 105 mph (165 km/h); this made it a Category 2 on the SaffirâÂÂSimpson scale. After maintaining peak winds for about 18 hours, Aletta began a weakening trend due to increasing wind shear. At around the same time, a trough eroded the ridge that was steering the movement of Aletta, causing the hurricane to remain almost stationary for the next two days. The lack of motion resulted in upwelling which imparted additional weakening, and Aletta dropped to tropical storm status on May 27. It quickly deteriorated that day, and on May 28 the system dissipated well south of Cabo San Lucas after it began a slow north drift. The remnants lingered in the same area for the next several days.
A tropical wave moved off the coast of Africa on May 22, crossing the Atlantic without development. It entered the eastern Pacific Ocean on June 6 and remained disorganized until June 11, when a broad low-pressure area developed southwest of Acapulco, Mexico. The wave was only intensifying slowly, and on June 13, it became strong enough to be designated as a tropical depression. It quickly strengthened to Tropical Storm Bud six hours later, and moved to the northwest. The storm reached a peak intensity of 50 mph (85 km/h) early on June 14. Bud turned to the north-northwest, and slowly weakened from June 15 onwards, due to increasing vertical wind shear and cooler ocean water temperatures. The storm's forward speed decreased and began to meander, as the ridge to the north of Bud weakened and a trough developed over the western United States. It drifted erratically while located just north of Socorro Island, and was downgraded to a tropical depression on June 16. By the next day, the depression degenerated into an area of low pressure, which persisted until June 19.
Bud passed near Socorro Island on June 15, with estimated one-minute winds of , and caused large waves along the western coast of Mexico.
A tropical wave exited Africa on June 3, crossing into the eastern Pacific on June 15. The system continued westward, and late on June 16 a low pressure area developed about southwest of San José, Costa Rica. The convection was broadly distributed and disorganized at first, but concentrated into a central dense overcast on June 18. That day, Tropical Depression Three-E formed about southeast of Puerto Angel, Oaxaca. As it tracked west-northwestward parallel to the coast of Mexico, the depression developed deep convection near the center, strengthening into Tropical Storm Carlotta early on June 19. That day, it approached about from the southwest Mexican coast. Late that day, a ragged banding-eye feature developed on satellite imagery. Early on June 20, Carlotta attained hurricane status while located about south of Acapulco. With a large anticyclone centered over Mexico, Carlotta turned more to the west. Deep convection increased in coverage, with strong outflow to the south. Late on June 20, Hurricane Carlotta began a period of rapid deepening, with warm waters and a very favorable upper-level environment, and in a twelve-hour period the pressure dropped 49 mbar to an estimated minimum central pressure of 932 mbar at 0600 UTC on June 21; at the same time, Carlotta attained peak winds of while located about southwest of Acapulco. At the time of its peak intensity, Carlotta maintained a well-defined central dense overcast around an eye of in diameter. Carlotta maintained peak winds for about twelve hours before weakening. The eye became less distinct as wind shear increased and the waters over its path cooled. Early on June 24, Carlotta weakened to a tropical storm about west-southwest of Cabo San Lucas. On the next day, the winds dropped to tropical depression status, as deep convection diminished. Carlotta degenerated into a remnant low, which persisted for several days while continuing to the northwest.
Offshore Mexico, waves reached in height. The Lithuanian freighter Linkuva suffered an engine failure about southwest of Acapulco, while encountering Carlotta's waves and strong winds. The freighter was lost, killing the crew of 18 people. A naval vessel from both the United States Navy and the Mexican Navy searched for the freighter for three days. Outer rainbands and rough surf affected the southwestern coast of Mexico for an extended duration; officials evacuated about 100 families in potentially flooded areas of Acapulco as a precaution. Precipitation and clouds were reported in every Mexican state along the Pacific Ocean, resulting in flooding in some areas. BahÃÂas de Huatulco International Airport in Oaxaca reported a wind gust of . Heavy rainfall and rough seas were also reported on Socorro Island.
Tropical Depression Four-E formed from the same tropical wave that spawned Tropical Depression Two in the Atlantic Ocean. The tropical wave crossed Central America between June 30 and July 1, continuing to move westward into the Pacific Ocean. The wave became more organized on July 6 and the National Hurricane Center started issuing advisories on the newly developed tropical depression later that day. The depression lacked any deep convection, however, and it began weakening on July 7. The depression entered an area of stronger wind shear and dissipated that day.
A tropical wave organized into Tropical Depression One-C on July 20 while located southeast of the Hawaiian Islands. It moved nearly due west, strengthening into Tropical Storm Upana later on July 20. It was the first tropical storm to develop in the Central Pacific region since 1997 season. Despite a favorable environment, Upana strengthened little, reaching a peak intensity on July 21 with winds of . The storm had no deep convection in its circulation on July 22, and was downgraded to a tropical depression in the afternoon. Late on July 23, deep convection flared up, briefly strengthening the system again, but failed to re-gain tropical storm status, as it remained poorly organized. It dissipated on July 24, despite a low-shear environment favorable for development. On July 26, a westward moving disturbance in the central Pacific basin containing remnants of Tropical Storm Upana began showing signs of organization as it neared the International Date Line. The next day, a tropical depression, designated 12W by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), formed about east of Kwajalein Atoll. The system moved generally northwestward over the next day, and gradually became better organized. At 18:00 UTC on July 28, JTWC upgraded the depression to a tropical storm and named it Chanchu. Chanchu then tracked north, before dissipating on July 30.
The name Upana is Hawaiian for âÂÂUrban.âÂÂ
The origins of Tropical Depression Five-E were first identified on July 8 when a tropical wave moved off the west African coast. It entered the eastern Pacific Ocean on July 16 after tracking over the Caribbean Sea. The wave developed to Tropical Depression Five-E on July 22 off the southwest coast of Mexico. Lacking significant deep convection and moving over cold waters, the depression never intensified further to a tropical storm. It dissipated late on July 23, just one day after it formed.
A tropical wave exited western Africa on July 8, and crossed the Atlantic without any development. The wave reached the eastern Pacific by July 20, developing a low pressure area two days later. On July 23, the system organized into Tropical Depression Six-E, located about 660 mi (1,065 km) south-southeast of Manzanillo, Colima. The system continued generally to the west-northwest for much of its duration, steered by a subtropical ridge to its north. Late on July 23, the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Daniel, which attained hurricane status a day later. A small eye-like feature formed in the center of the convection, which grew to a diameter of 17 mi (28 km) as it organized. Late on July 25, Daniel attained peak winds of 125 mph (205 km/h) and a minimum pressure of ; this made it a Category 3 hurricane. After maintaining peak winds for about 12 hours, Daniel weakened and fell to Category 2 status on July 27. A day later, Daniel re-intensified to a secondary peak of 120 mph (195 km/h), only to weaken again due to increased wind shear. On July 29, Daniel entered the central Pacific as a minimal hurricane, and it dropped to tropical storm status the next day. Around that time, a trough weakened the subtropical ridge to Daniel's north, resulting in a more northwesterly track. Late on July 31, the storm passed about 145 mi (230 km) northeast of Hilo, Hawaii. Remaining north of the Hawaiian islands, Daniel weakened to a tropical depression on August 3 after the thunderstorms dwindled over the circulation. It turned more to the north, dissipating on August 5 to the northeast of Midway Island.
On July 30, the CPHC forecasted that Daniel would move across the Hawaiian island as a weakening tropical storm. As a result, the agency issued tropical storm warnings for Maui and the Big Island, with a tropical storm watch for Oahu and Kauai. Daniel produced waves along the eastern shore of the Big Island. Rainbands from Daniel produced thunderstorms over the Big Island and Maui.
On July 11, a tropical wave moved off the African coast, and moved to the Lesser Antilles one week later. It passed over Central America near Panama on July 22 without any increase in organization. On July 25, the wave began to show curved banding, showing that it had become better organized. It intensified to a tropical depression on July 26 while located south southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico, designated as Tropical Depression Seven-E. The depression was upgraded to Tropical Storm Emilia later that day while moving northwest, steered by a mid-level ridge to its north. During this time, Emilia was forecast to strengthen to a hurricane within two days, due to the system moving over warm waters. However, late on July 27, the storm began to accelerate, meaning that it will move into cooler waters sooner than firstly anticipated, therefore, only allowing the storm to intensify within a few hours before weakening. Emilia moved near Socorro Island and its intensity peaked with wind speeds of , with an eyewall beginning to form. A few hours later, the storm moved into cooler waters and drier air, and Emilia's deep convection dissipated, weakening the storm. Late on July 28 deep convection redeveloped near the storm's center, but wind shear prevented Emilia from strengthening. It turned to the west and weakened below tropical storm intensity on July 29, as the deep convection in the storm diminished again. It shortly dissipated while located several hundred miles west south-west of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
A tropical wave moved off the west coast of Africa on July 19, and entered into the Pacific on July 27. Minimal development occurred in the west-northwestward moving wave until August 1. It was then that the tropical wave began developing a low-level circulation and convective organization was seen to the south of Manzanillo, Colima, Mexico. The system continued to become better organized, and was classified as Tropical Depression Eight-E, which was centered about west-southwest of Manzanillo on August 3 at 1200 UTC. The depression initially moved west-northwestward about , and later slowed and turned westward on August 4. As the depression had curved westward, it had intensified enough to be upgraded to Tropical Storm Fabio. Despite the presence of wind shear, Fabio continued to strengthen and reach a peak intensity of later that day. Fabio turned toward west-southwest while weakening on August 5. Fabio weakened back to a tropical depression on August 6 and dissipated two days later about west-southwest of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The remnant swirl of low clouds persisted for several more days, eventually undergoing a Fujiwhara interaction with the remains of Hurricane Gilma.
Gilma's precursor was a tropical wave that moved off the African coast on July 20 or 21. The wave entered the East Pacific on August 2, and the formation of a well-defined center led to the formation of a depression on August 5, 250 nautical miles south of Manzanillo, Mexico. The system strengthened into a tropical storm at 12:00 UTC that day, at which point it became known as Gilma. Gilma gradually intensified and became a hurricane on August 8 at 6:00 UTC. Gilma reached peak intensity six hours later and moved over cooler waters. Gilma steadily weakened thereafter, and became a tropical depression again at 00:00 UTC on August 10. The cyclone lost any significant convection at 18:00 UTC on the same day, and dissipated six hours later.
In the middle of August, two tropical storms developed off the Mexican coastline. Hector, the first, became a tropical depression at 18:00 UTC on August 10, and developed banding features late the next day and strengthened into a tropical storm. Hector moved generally westward under the influence of a strong ridge, developed a central dense overcast and a ragged eye, and became a hurricane on August 14. Hector reached peak intensity 12 hours later. Hector then weakened and dissipated over colder water southwest of Baja California. The remnants of Hector passed over the Hawaiian Islands several days later, producing heavy rain over most of the island chain.
A tropical wave emerged from the African coast on the first day of August. The wave crossed Central America and southern Mexico into the Eastern Pacific, and on August 13, a 12:21 UTC QuikSCAT scan revealed a low-level circulation, and it was designated as a tropical depression. Early the next day, the depression strengthened into a 40 mph tropical storm named Ileana. Tropical Storm Ileana paralleled the Mexican coast and reached peak intensity as a high-end tropical storm early on August 15 with 70 mph winds. The storm maintained this intensity for 18 hours before passing just south of the Baja California Peninsula, turning west, and weakening to a tropical depression late on August 16. It dissipated early the next day, but the remnant low-level circulation persisted until August 20.
A tropical disturbance developed in the Western Pacific Ocean along the eastern periphery of the monsoon trough in mid-August. Located at 33ð north, it steadily organized, and became Tropical Depression Sixteen-W on August 15 while located to the northwest of Honolulu, Hawaii. It moved eastward along the westâÂÂeast-oriented surface pressure trough, and crossed the International Date Line later on August 15. Abnormally warm sea surface temperatures allowed the system to intensify despite its unusually high latitude, and it became Tropical Storm Wene on August 16. It quickly attained a peak intensity of , but weakened due to colder sea surface temperatures and wind shear. Wene continued to weaken, and dissipated when the storm merged with an extratropical cyclone.
The name Wene is Hawaiian for "Wayne".
John originated on August 28 from an area of disturbed weather that was associated with the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) near just outside the Central Pacific basin. Developing near the Central Pacific basin, John eventually entered early on August 30 and was then also monitored by the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. that was a tropical storm for several days and moved from the eastern to the central Pacific basin. Thereafter entering the central Pacific region, Tropical Storm John approached hurricane status while meandering erratically east-southeast of Hawaii. John eventually encountered strong wind shear, and dissipated on September 1.
Part of the same tropical wave that spawned Tropical Storm Chris in the Atlantic uneventfully crossed the rest of the Atlantic and passed far out to sea into the Pacific before it organized into Tropical Depression Fourteen-E on August 31. Despite significant shear, the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Kristy as it meandered far from land over the open ocean. Wind shear then dissipated the system on September 3, just 130 mi (210 km) from where it first formed.
The precursor to Lane was a tropical wave that formed in the Atlantic Ocean on August 20. The wave moved across the Atlantic basin without development and crossed Central America on August 29. By September 1, the system was beginning to organize south of Mexico. On September 4, the system became a tropical depression southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico. The next day the tropical depression became Tropical Storm Lane. After becoming a tropical storm, Lane executed a counter-clockwise loop, during that maneuver, the storm crossed its own wake and weakened slightly. After the storm finished the loop, it continued to move westward where it reached hurricane strength on September 9 while passing over Socorro Island. By September 11, Lane encountered cooler waters which weakened the hurricane back to tropical storm strength. Lane then encountered a trough that had formed off the western United States coastline. The interaction with the system caused Lane to curve northeast towards the West Coast of the United States. On September 13, Lane passed over cooler waters, causing it to weaken to a tropical depression. Lane then dissipated on the next day.
Lane passed directly over Socorro Island, where a weather station recorded a pressure of 973 mb. Although the center of Lane was well offshore, it still brought heavy surf that closed several ports in Mexico. In an Jose del Cabo, Mexico, a weather station reported winds of . Lane remnants affected the Western United States. The moisture from Lane produced thunderstorms in California.
A tropical wave moved off the coast of Africa on August 29. It remained weak as it moved westward across the Atlantic Ocean, and entered the Pacific Ocean on September 9. As it moved west-northwestward, it organized, and developed into Tropical Depression Fifteen-E on September 15 while east-southeast of Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur. Banding features became more pronounced, though convection remained intermittent. On September 16, the depression briefly became Tropical Storm Miriam, with peak winds of 40 mph (65 km/h). It quickly weakened back to a tropical depression as it continued north-northwestward. Miriam dissipated on September 17 while northeast of Cabo San Lucas.
Miriam dropped lighter than average rainfall upon Mexico, peaking at at La Cruz/Elota. Total damages from the storm amounted to $7.2 million (MXN; $558,000 in 2000 USD$). By October 24, a national disaster declaration was signed for areas affected by Tropical Storm Miriam in Baja California Sur.
A tropical wave – the same that spawned Atlantic Hurricane Gordon – also produced a tropical depression early on September 20. It was located about south-southeast of Manzanillo, Colima, and moved slowly to the north due to weak steering currents. The depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Norman, reaching peak winds of . Around 20:00 UTC on September 20, Norman made landfall west of Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán at peak intensity. The storm rapidly weakened to a tropical depression over land, but Norman maintained its circulation and some deep convection as it turned to the northwest. It emerged over water late on September 21 near Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco. At 1500 UTC on September 22, Norman made landfall near Mazatlán, Sinaloa, as a weak tropical depression. Within a few hours, the cyclone dissipated over land.
Norman led to tropical storm warnings from Zihuatanejo to Manzanillo. The storm produced heavy rainfall across western Mexico, peaking at nearly in the state of Colima. The rainfall caused severe flooding and mudslides, which killed about nine people. Four of the deaths occurred in the State of Chiapas as a result of a mudslide. Two more were swept away by raging rivers in the State of Veracruz, and another two people drowned in the State of Guerrero. In Chiapas, authorities evacuated about 300 families due to the flooding. The heavy precipitation flooded streets and homes as well as down trees. In all, Norman caused $13.3 million (2000 USD; $ USD) in damage.
A tropical wave left the African coast on September 16. Crossing into the East Pacific on September 28, the wave exhibited little thunderstorm activity until it developed a burst of deep convection late on September 30. The development of banding features and sustained winds of 20-25 knots (25-30 mph) allowed it to develop into Tropical Depression Seventeen-E at 12:00 UTC on October 2. It strengthened into Tropical Storm Olivia eighteen hours later. Moving west-northwestward away from Mexico, Olivia reached its peak intensity late on October 3 with 65 mph (100 km/h) winds, a minimum pressure of 994 millibars. It maintained this intensity for 36 hours before an increase in wind shear caused by Atlantic Hurricane Keith caused it to weaken on October 5. After Keith made landfall on Mexico and dissipated, northeasterly shear relaxed, and allowed Olivia to re-strengthen and achieve peak winds again early on October 8. Continual westward movement brought the storm over cooler waters, and it began to weaken for a second time. Olivia dropped to tropical depression intensity at 6:00 UTC on October 9, and dissipated 24 hours later. The resulting remnant low briefly re-gained moderate convection on October 11, but increasing southwesterly shear disrupted it. The low eventually crossed the Baja California Peninsula and the Gulf of California, and tracked across northwestern Mexico and entered the southwest United States.
The remnants of Olivia brought rainfall to the American Southwest, Northwestern Mexico, and the Baja California Peninsula, exceeding in many areas.
An area of disturbed weather emerged from the Intertropical Convergence Zone south of Mexico on October 22. Convection gradually organized and increased. On October 25, Tropical Depression 18-E formed to the south of the Baja California peninsula. It moved westward throughout its duration, and intensified into Tropical Storm Paul on October 26. Paul soon attained peak winds of . A trough briefly curved it to the northwest, before resuming its westward motion. As wind shear increased and convection became disorganized, Paul weakened. The thunderstorms became minimal, and Paul weakened to a tropical depression early on October 28. The circulation center deteriorated, and Paul dissipated early on October 29, as it was becoming indistinguishable in the ITCZ.
The remnants of Paul continued westward, and interacted with an upper-level low. The system affected Hawaii with heavy rainfall in early November. The flooding caused $70 million in damage, and the highest rainfall total was at Kapapala Ranch. That rainfall total made Paul the rainiest tropical cyclone in Hawaii, since Hurricane Hiki in 1950.
The origins of Tropical Storm Rosa can be traced to a tropical wave that moved off the coast of Africa on October 18. It showed signs of development in the southwestern Caribbean Sea, though moved into the East Pacific Ocean on November 1 before being able to develop further. Favorable conditions allowed the system to quickly organize, and the wave formed into Tropical Depression Nineteen-E on November 3 while south of the El SalvadorâÂÂGuatemala border. A ridge of high pressure to its north forced the depression westward, where it slowly organized into a tropical storm on November 5. A mid-level trough eroded the high-pressure system, allowing Rosa to turn more to the north. On November 6, the storm reached a peak of , though Rosa slowly weakened as it accelerated to the northeast. On November 8, the storm made landfall on the southern coast of Mexico with winds of , and quickly dissipated.
Rosa dropped moderate rainfall across Mexico, peaking at near the Mexico/Guatemala border. Damage was minimal, totaling to only $15,000 (2000 USD; $ USD). Rosa was the first November storm since Hurricane Rick in the 1997 season.
The following list of names was used for named storms that formed in the North Pacific Ocean east of 140ðW in 2000. This is the same list used in the 1994 season, as no names were retired from the list following that season. No names were retired from the list at the end of this season, so it was used again for the 2006 season.
For storms that form in the North Pacific from 140ðW to the International Date Line, the names come from a series of four rotating lists. Names are used one after the other without regard to year, and when the bottom of one list is reached, the next named storm receives the name at the top of the next list. Two named storms formed in the central North Pacific in 2000. Named storms in the table above that crossed into the area during the year are noted (*).
This is a table of all of the storms that formed in the 2000 Pacific hurricane season. It includes their name, duration, peak classification and intensities, areas affected, damage, and death totals. Deaths in parentheses are additional and indirect (an example of an indirect death would be a traffic accident), but were still related to that storm. Damage and deaths include totals while the storm was extratropical, a wave, or a low, and all of the damage figures are in 2000 USD. <div style="text-align: center;">
</div>