The 1997 Pacific hurricane season was the most active season since the 1994 season, producing 24 tropical depressions, 19 of which became tropical storms or hurricanes. The season officially started on May 15, 1997, in the Eastern PacificâÂÂdesignated as the area east of 140ðWâÂÂand on June 1, 1997, in the Central Pacific, which is between the International Date Line and 140ðW. The season officially ended in both basins on November 30, 1997. These dates typically limit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the eastern Pacific basin. This timeline documents all the storm formations, strengthening, weakening, landfalls, extratropical transitions, as well as dissipation. The timeline also includes information which was not operationally released, meaning that information from post-storm reviews by the National Hurricane Center, such as information on a storm that was not operationally warned on, has been included.
The first storm formed on June 1 and the final storm crossed into the western Pacific on December 6, thus ending the season. There were 24 cyclones in both the eastern and central Pacific, including 5 unnamed tropical depressions. Of these, 19 were in the east Pacific; 8 peaked at tropical storm intensity, while 10 reached hurricane status. Seven of these reached Category 3 intensity or higher on the SaffirâÂÂSimpson Hurricane Scale, including central Pacific cyclones Super Typhoons Oliwa and Paka, which became typhoons after crossing into the Western Pacific.
Activity in the Central Pacific was above average; two tropical storms formed in addition to several tropical depressions. Some of the storms entered the region from the east. The 1997 season was the fourth-most active in the Central Pacific since satellite observations began. Nine tropical cyclones entered or formed in the region during that period.
Timeline of events
May
May 15
- The 1997 Eastern Pacific hurricane season officially begins.
June
June 1
- The 1997 Central Pacific hurricane season officially begins.
- 00:00 UTC (5:00 p.m. PDT, May 31) at Tropical Depression forms from an area of unsettled weather about 345 mi (555 km) south of the Gulf of Tehuantepec.
June 2
- 12:00 UTC (5:00 a.m. PDT) at Tropical Depression strengthens into Tropical Storm Andres about 330 mi (530 km) south of the Gulf of Tehuantepec.
June 4
- 18:00 UTC (11:00 a.m. PDT) at Tropical Storm Andres reaches its peak intensity, with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of , about 130 mi (215 km) southeast of the Gulf of Tehuantepec.
June 6
- 06:00 UTC (11:00 p.m. PDT, June 5) at Tropical Storm Andres weakens into a tropical depression about 120 mi (195 km) south-southwest of San Salvador.
June 7
- 01:00 UTC (6:00 p.m. PDT, June 6) at Tropical Depression Andres makes landfall about 45 mi (75 km) southeast of San Salvador with sustained winds of 30 mph (45 km/h) and a barometric pressure of .
- 06:00 UTC (11:00 p.m. PDT, June 6) at Tropical Depression Andres dissipates inland about 35 mi (55 km) east of San Salvador, over the mountainous terrain of Central America.
June 9
- 18:00 UTC (11:00 a.m. PDT) at Tropical Depression forms from an area of unsettled weather over the Gulf of Tehuantepec.
June 10
- 00:00 UTC (5:00 p.m. PDT, June 9) at Tropical Depression strengthens into Tropical Storm Blanca about 90 mi (150 km) southeast of Puerto ÃÂngel, Oaxaca.
June 11
- 00:00 UTC (5:00 p.m. PDT, June 10) at Tropical Storm Blanca reaches its peak intensity, with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of , about 165 mi (270 km) southwest of Acapulco, Guerrero.
June 12
- 00:00 UTC (5:00 p.m. PDT, June 11) at Tropical Storm Blanca weakens into a tropical depression about 490 mi (790 km) west of Acapulco.
- 06:00 UTC (11:00 p.m. PDT, June 11) at Tropical Depression Blanca is last noted as a tropical cyclone about 580 mi (935 km) west of Acapulco; it dissipates six hours later.
June 21
- 18:00 UTC (11:00 a.m. PDT) at Tropical Depression forms over the central portion of the Eastern Pacific basin. It simultaneously reaches its peak intensity, with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of .
June 24
- 00:00 UTC (5:00 p.m. PDT, June 23) at Tropical Depression is last noted as a tropical cyclone about west of where it formed; it dissipates shortly thereafter.
June 25
- 06:00 UTC (11:00 p.m. PDT, June 24) at A tropical depression forms from an area of unsettled weather about south-southeast of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.
- 18:00 UTC (11:00 a.m. PDT) at The recently formed tropical depression strengthens into Tropical Storm Carlos about 410 mi (660 km) south of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.
June 26
- 06:00 UTC (11:00 p.m. PDT, June 25) at Tropical Storm Carlos reaches its peak intensity, with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of , about 335 mi (535 km) south-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.
June 27
- 06:00 UTC (11:00 p.m. PDT, June 26) at Tropical Storm Carlos weakens into a tropical depression about 420 mi (675 km) southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.
June 28
- 00:00 UTC (5:00 p.m. PDT, June 27) at Tropical Depression Carlos is last noted as a tropical cyclone about 570 mi (915 km) west-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula; it dissipates within the next six hours.
June 29
- 12:00 UTC (5:00 a.m. PDT) at Tropical Depression forms well off the coast of Mexico.
July
July 2
- 06:00 UTC (11:00 p.m. PDT, July 1) at Tropical Depression reaches its peak intensity, with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of , about west of where it formed.
July 4
- 00:00 UTC (5:00 p.m. PDT, July 3) at Tropical Depression is last noted as a tropical cyclone about west of where it formed; it dissipates within the next six hours.
July 5
- 12:00 UTC (5:00 a.m. PDT) at A tropical depression forms from an area of unsettled weather about south of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.
July 6
- 00:00 UTC (5:00 p.m. PDT, July 5) at The recently formed tropical depression strengthens into Tropical Storm Dolores about south of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.
July 7
- 12:00 UTC (5:00 a.m. PDT) at Tropical Storm Dolores strengthens into a Category 1 hurricane about southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.
July 9
- 06:00 UTC (11:00 p.m. PDT, July 8) at Hurricane Dolores reaches its peak intensity, with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of , about west-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.
July 10
- 06:00 UTC (11:00 p.m. PDT, July 9) at Hurricane Dolores weakens into a tropical storm about west of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.
July 11
- 06:00 UTC (11:00 p.m. PDT, July 10) at Tropical Storm Dolores weakens into a tropical depression about west of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.
- 18:00 UTC (8:00 a.m. HST) at Tropical Depression Dolores crosses 140ðW, leaving the National Hurricane Center's (NHC) area of responsibility and entering the region monitored by the Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC).
July 12
- 06:00 UTC (11:00 p.m. PDT, July 11) at A tropical depression forms from a tropical wave about south of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.
- 18:00 UTC (8:00 a.m. HST) at Tropical Depression Dolores dissipates about west of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.
- 18:00 UTC (11:00 a.m. PDT) at The recently formed tropical depression strengthens into Tropical Storm Enrique about south-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.
July 13
- 12:00 UTC (5:00 a.m. PDT) at Tropical Storm Enrique strengthens into a Category 1 hurricane about southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.
July 14
- 00:00 UTC (5:00 p.m. PDT, July 13) at Hurricane Enrique strengthens to Category 2 intensity about southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.
- 12:00 UTC (5:00 a.m. PDT) at Tropical Depression forms from an area of unsettled weather about south-southwest of Manzanillo, Colima.
- 18:00 UTC (11:00 a.m. PDT) at Hurricane Enrique strengthens to Category 3 intensity about west-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula, making it the first major hurricane of the season. It simultaneously reaches its peak intensity, with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of .
July 15
- 00:00 UTC (5:00 p.m. PDT, July 14) at Hurricane Enrique weakens to Category 2 intensity about west-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.
- 06:00 UTC (11:00 p.m. PDT, July 14) at Hurricane Enrique weakens to Category 1 intensity about west-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.
- 18:00 UTC (11:00 a.m. PDT) at Hurricane Enrique weakens into a tropical storm about west-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.
- 18:00 UTC (11:00 a.m. PDT) at Tropical Depression strengthens into Tropical Storm Felicia about southwest of Manzanillo.
July 16
- 12:00 UTC (5:00 a.m. PDT) at Tropical Storm Enrique weakens into a tropical depression about west of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.
- 18:00 UTC (11:00 a.m. PDT) at Tropical Depression Enrique dissipates about west of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.
July 17
- 06:00 UTC (11:00 p.m. PDT, July 16) at Tropical Storm Felicia strengthens into a Category 1 hurricane about west-southwest of Manzanillo.
July 18
- 12:00 UTC (5:00 a.m. PDT) at Hurricane Felicia strengthens to Category 2 intensity about west-southwest of Manzanillo.
- 18:00 UTC (11:00 a.m. PDT) at Hurricane Felicia strengthens to Category 3 intensity about west of Manzanillo, making it the second major hurricane of the season.
July 19
- 06:00 UTC (11:00 p.m. PDT, July 18) at Hurricane Felicia strengthens to Category 4 intensity about west of Manzanillo.
- 12:00 UTC (5:00 a.m. PDT) at Hurricane Felicia reaches its peak intensity, with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of , about west of Manzanillo.
July 20
- 00:00 UTC (5:00 p.m. PDT, July 19) at Hurricane Felicia weakens to Category 3 intensity about west of Manzanillo.
- 18:00 UTC (11:00 a.m. PDT) at Hurricane Felicia weakens to Category 2 intensity about west of Manzanillo.
July 21
- 06:00 UTC (11:00 p.m. PDT, July 20) at Hurricane Felicia weakens to Category 1 intensity about west of Manzanillo.
- 12:00 UTC (2:00 a.m. HST) at Hurricane Felicia weakens into a tropical storm as it crosses 140ðW, leaving the NHC's jurisdiction and entering the CPHC's area of responsibility.
July 22
- 06:00 UTC (8:00 p.m. HST, July 21) at Tropical Storm Felicia weakens into a tropical depression about east-southeast of Hilo, Hawaii.
- 12:00 UTC (2:00 a.m. HST) at Tropical Depression Felicia is last noted as a tropical cyclone about east-southeast of Hilo; it dissipates shortly thereafter.
July 26
- 12:00 UTC (2:00 a.m. HST) at Tropical Depression forms from an area of unsettled weather far to the southwest of Hawaii; it simultaneously reaches maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h).
July 27
- 18:00 UTC (8:00 a.m. HST) at Tropical Depression is last noted as a tropical cyclone about west-southwest of where it formed; it dissipates shortly thereafter.
July 30
- 12:00 UTC (5:00 a.m. PDT) at A tropical depression forms from a tropical wave about south of Salina Cruz, Oaxaca.
July 31
- 06:00 UTC (11:00 p.m. PDT, July 30) at The recently formed tropical depression strengthens into Tropical Storm Guillermo about south-southeast of Acapulco, Guerrero.
August
August 1
- 18:00 UTC (11:00 a.m. PDT) at Tropical Storm Guillermo strengthens into a Category 1 hurricane about southwest of Acapulco.
August 2
- 12:00 UTC (5:00 a.m. PDT) at Hurricane Guillermo strengthens to Category 2 intensity about west-southwest of Acapulco.
- 18:00 UTC (11:00 a.m. PDT) at Hurricane Guillermo strengthens to Category 3 intensity about west-southwest of Acapulco, making it the third major hurricane of the season.
August 3
- 00:00 UTC (5:00 p.m. PDT, August 2) at Hurricane Guillermo strengthens to Category 4 intensity about west-southwest of Acapulco.
August 4
- 18:00 UTC (11:00 a.m. PDT) at Hurricane Guillermo strengthens to Category 5 intensity, the first of two such storms during the season, about southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.
August 5
- 00:00 UTC (5:00 p.m. PDT, August 4) at Hurricane Guillermo reaches its peak intensity, with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (260 km/h) and a minimum barometric pressure of , about southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.
- 18:00 UTC (11:00 a.m. PDT) at Hurricane Guillermo weakens to Category 4 intensity about southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.
August 6
- 18:00 UTC (11:00 a.m. PDT) at Hurricane Guillermo weakens to Category 3 intensity about west-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.
August 7
- 06:00 UTC (11:00 p.m. PDT, August 6) at Hurricane Guillermo weakens to Category 2 intensity about west-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.
- 12:00 UTC (5:00 a.m. PDT) at Hurricane Guillermo weakens to Category 1 intensity about west-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.
August 8
- 06:00 UTC (11:00 p.m. PDT, August 7) at Hurricane Guillermo weakens into a tropical storm about east of Hawaii.
August 10
- 00:00 UTC (2:00 p.m. HST, August 9) at Tropical Storm Guillermo crosses 140ðW, leaving the NHC's jurisdiction and entering the CPHC's area of responsibility.
- 0000 UTC â Tropical Depression Ten-E forms 920 miles (1700 km) south-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula.
- 18:00 UTC (8:00 a.m. HST) at Tropical Storm Guillermo weakens into a tropical depression about east-northeast of Hilo, Hawaii.
August 11
- 18:00 UTC (8:00 a.m. HST) at Tropical Depression Guillermo restrengthens into a tropical storm about northeast of Hilo.
- 1800 UTC â Tropical Depression Ten-E strengthens into Tropical Storm Hilda.
August 14
- 00:00 UTC (2:00 p.m. HST, August 13) at Tropical Storm Guillermo reaches its secondary peak intensity, with sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a barometric pressure of , about north-northeast of Honolulu, Hawaii.
- 0600 UTC â Tropical Storm Hilda weakens into a tropical depression.
August 15
- 0600 UTC â Tropical Depression Hilda dissipates.
- 12:00 UTC (2:00 a.m. HST) at Tropical Storm Guillermo weakens into a tropical depression about north of Honolulu.
August 16
- 00:00 UTC (2:00 p.m. HST, August 15) at Tropical Depression Guillermo transitions into an extratropical cyclone about north of Honolulu, and later dissipates off the coast of the Pacific Northwest.
August 17
- 0000 UTC â Tropical Depression Eleven-E forms 450 miles (830 km) southwest of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
- 1200 UTC â Tropical Depression Eleven-E strengthens into Tropical Storm Ignacio.
August 18
- 0600 UTC â Tropical Storm Ignacio weakens into Tropical Depression Ignacio.
August 19
- 1200 UTC â Tropical Depression Ignacio becomes extratropical.
August 25
- 1200 UTC â Tropical Depression Twelve-E forms.
August 26
- 0000 UTC â Tropical Depression Twelve-E strengthens into Tropical Storm Jimena.
August 27
- 0000 UTC â Tropical Storm Jimena strengthens into the fifth hurricane of the season.
- 0600 UTC â Hurricane Jimena explosively strengthens into the fourth major hurricane of the season.
- 1200 UTC â Hurricane Jimena strengthens into a Category 4 hurricane.
August 29
- 0000 UTC â Hurricane Jimena weakens into a Category 3 hurricane.
- 0600 UTC â Hurricane Jimena rapidly falls apart as it weakens from a Category 3 hurricane to a tropical storm.
- 1800 UTC â Tropical Storm Jimena weakens into a tropical depression.
August 30
- 0000 UTC â Tropical Depression Jimena dissipates.
September
September 2
September 3
- 0000 UTC â Tropical Depression Two-C strengthens into Tropical Storm OliwaâÂÂthe Hawaiian name for Oliver.
- 1800 UTC â Tropical Depression Thirteen-E forms 325 miles (600 km) south-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula.
September 4
- 0000 UTC â Tropical Storm Oliwa moves past 180ðW into the West Pacific and the last advisory is issued by the Central Pacific Hurricane Center.
- 0600 UTC â Tropical Depression Thirteen-E strengthens into Tropical Storm Kevin.
September 6
- 0600 UTC â Tropical Storm Kevin weakens into a tropical depression.
September 7
- 0600 UTC â Tropical Depression Kevin dissipates.
September 9
- 1200 UTC â Tropical Depression Fourteen-E forms 400 miles (740 km) south of Manzanillo, Mexico.
September 10
- 0000 UTC â Tropical Depression Fourteen-E strengthens into Tropical Storm Linda.
September 11
- 0000 UTC â Tropical Storm Linda strengthens into the fifth hurricane of the season.
- 1200 UTC â Hurricane Linda strengthens into the fourth major hurricane of the season, skipping Category 2 hurricane status.
- 1800 UTC â Hurricane Linda strengthens into a Category 4 hurricane.
September 12
- 0000 UTC â Hurricane Linda strengthens into the second, and final Category 5 hurricane of the season.
- 0600 UTC â Hurricane Linda's pressure drops to 902 mbar (hPa) or 26.64 in and 185 mph (300 km/h) making it the strongest storm in the Northeast Pacific Ocean on record.
- 1800 UTC â Tropical Depression Fifteen-E forms 1300 miles (2400 km) east-southeast of the Hawaiian Islands.
September 13
- 1800 UTC â Hurricane Linda weakens into a Category 4 hurricane.
September 14
- 0000 UTC â Tropical Depression Fifteen-E strengthens into Tropical Storm Marty.
- 0600 UTC â Hurricane Linda weakens into a Category 3 hurricane.
- 1200 UTC â Hurricane Linda weakens into a Category 2 hurricane.
- 1800 UTC â Hurricane Linda weakens into a Category 1 hurricane.
September 15
- 1200 UTC â Hurricane Linda weakens into a tropical storm.
- 1200 UTC â Tropical Storm Marty weakens into a tropical depression.
September 16
- 0600 UTC â Tropical Depression Sixteen-E forms.
- 1800 UTC â Tropical Depression Sixteen-E strengthens into Tropical Storm Nora.
- 1800 UTC â Tropical Depression Marty dissipates.
September 17
*0600 UTC â Tropical Storm Linda weakens into a tropical depression.
September 18
- 0000 UTC â Tropical Depression Linda dissipates.
- 1200 UTC â Tropical Storm Nora strengthens into the seventh hurricane of the season.
- 1800 UTC â Hurricane Nora strengthens into a Category 2 hurricane.
September 19
- 1200 UTC â Hurricane Nora weakens into a Category 1 hurricane.
September 21
- 0600 UTC â Hurricane Nora re-strengthens into a Category 2 hurricane.
- 1200 UTC â Hurricane Nora rapidly strengthens into a Category 4 hurricane and the sixth major hurricane of the season.
- 1800 UTC â Hurricane Nora weakens into a Category 3 hurricane.
September 23
- 0000 UTC â Hurricane Nora weakens into a Category 2 hurricane.
- 1200 UTC â Hurricane Nora weakens into a Category 1 hurricane.
September 25
- 0630 UTC â Hurricane Nora makes landfall near Punta Eugenia, Mexico on the Baja Peninsula with winds of 85 mph (135 km/h).
- 1100 UTC â Hurricane Nora makes its final landfall near San Fernando, Mexico with winds of 80 mph (130 km/h).
- 1800 UTC â Hurricane Nora weakens into a tropical storm.
September 26
- 0000 UTC â Tropical Storm Nora rapidly dissipates into a tropical depression.
- 0600 UTC â The final advisory for dissipating Tropical Depression Nora is issued.
- 1200 UTC â Tropical Depression Seventeen-E forms 300 miles (555 km) south of the Gulf of Tehuantepec.
- 1800 UTC â Tropical Depression Seventeen-E strengthens into Tropical Storm Olaf.
September 29
- 0000 UTC â Tropical Storm Olaf weakens into a tropical depression and makes landfall near Salina Cruz, Mexico with winds of 35 mph (55 km/h).
October
October 5
- 1200 UTC â Tropical Depression Eighteen-E forms 200 miles (370 km) south of Puerto Angel, Mexico.
October 6
- 0600 UTC â Tropical Depression Eighteen-E strengthens into Tropical Storm Pauline.
- 1200 UTC â Tropical Depression Three-C forms southeast of the Hawaiian Islands.
October 7
- 0000 UTC â Tropical Storm Pauline strengthens into the eighth hurricane of the season.
- 0600 UTC â Hurricane Pauline strengthens into the seventh and final major hurricane of the season.
- 1200 UTC â Hurricane Pauline strengthens into a Category 4 hurricane.
- 1200 UTC â Tropical Depression Three-C dissipates.
- 1800 UTC â Hurricane Pauline weakens into a Category 3 hurricane.
October 8
- 1800 UTC â Hurricane Pauline regains Category 4 hurricane status.
October 9
- 0000 UTC- Hurricane Pauline abruptly weakens and makes landfall in Mexico with winds of 110 mph (175 km/h).
- 0600 UTC â Hurricane Pauline weakens into a Category 1 hurricane.
- 1200 UTC â Hurricane Pauline weakens into a tropical storm.
October 10
- 0600 UTC â Tropical Storm Pauline weakens into a tropical depression.
- 1200 UTC â Tropical Depression Pauline dissipates.
October 12
- 1800 UTC â Tropical Depression Olaf makes landfall near Manzanillo, Mexico with winds of 30 mph (50 km/h) and dissipates.
October 31
- 0600 UTC â Tropical Depression Four-C forms southeast of the Hawaiian Islands.
November
November 1
- 0600 UTC â Tropical Depression Four-C dissipates.
November 7
- 0000 UTC â Tropical Depression Nineteen-E forms 500 miles (925 km) south-southwest of Acapulco, Mexico.
November 8
- 1200 UTC â Tropical Depression Nineteen-E strengthens into Tropical Storm Rick.
November 9
- 0600 UTC â Tropical Storm Rick strengthens into the ninth and final hurricane of the season.
- 1200 UTC â Hurricane Rick strengthens into a Category 2 hurricane.
- 1800 UTC â Hurricane Rick weakens into a Category 1 hurricane.
November 10
- 0100 UTC â Hurricane Rick makes landfall near Puerto Escondido, Mexico with winds of 85 mph (135 km/h).
- 1200 UTC â Hurricane Rick weakens into a tropical storm.
- 1800 UTC â Tropical Storm Rick weakens into a tropical depression.
November 11
- 0000 UTC â Tropical Depression Rick dissipates.
November 30
- The 1997 central and eastern Pacific hurricane seasons officially end.
December
December 2
- 1200 UTC â Tropical Depression Five-C forms out of season near the Line Islands.
- 1800 UTC â Tropical Depression Five-C strengthens into Tropical Storm Paka.
December 7
- 0000 UTC â Tropical Storm Paka crosses the International Date Line into the Western Pacific and the final advisory is issued, therefore ending the 1997 Pacific hurricane season.
See also
Notes
References