The 1992 Pacific hurricane season was the most active Pacific hurricane season on record, featuring 27 named storms. The season also produced the third-highest ACE value on record in the basin, only surpassed by the 2018 and 2026 seasons. The 1992 season officially started on May 15 in the eastern Pacific, and on June 1 in the central Pacific, and lasted until November 30. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northeastern Pacific Ocean. However, tropical cyclogenesis is possible at any time of the year, as demonstrated by the development of Hurricane Ekeka on January 28, and Tropical Storm Hali two months later.
The most notable storm was Hurricane Iniki, which caused billions of dollars of damage to the Hawaiian Islands, primarily in Kauai, along with six fatalities. Hurricanes Lester, Virgil, Winifred, and Orlene also made landfall, but were significantly less destructive. Hurricane Darby and Tropical Storm Agatha brought rains and more destruction to Mexico, without making landfall. Hurricane Tina was, in addition to being the strongest storm of the year, the longest-lasting Pacific hurricane at the time.
Season summary
The Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) index for the 1992 Pacific hurricane season (Eastern Pacific and Central Pacific combined) as calculated by Colorado State University using data from the National Hurricane Center was 294.3 units, the third highest value on record for a Northeastern Pacific season. The total represents the sum of the squares of the maximum sustained wind speed (knots) for every (sub)tropical storm's intensity of over 33 knots (38 mph; 61 km/h), divided by 10,000 while they are above that threshold, so storms that last a long time, as well as particularly strong hurricanes, have high ACEs; calculations are not made for tropical depressions.
Warmer than usual sea surface temperatures due to an El Niño fostered the high level of tropical activity during the year. The season officially started on May 15, 1992, in the eastern Pacific, and on June 1, 1992, in the central Pacific. It ended in both basins on November 30, 1992.
During the season, twenty-seven tropical cyclones formed in the Eastern Pacific (east of longitude 140°W), and twenty-four developed further and became tropical storms. Both of these figures constitute records in the basin, as the 1992 season surpassed the season with the most tropical cyclones (1982, 26) and the season with the most named storms (1985, 22). Of these, fourteen reached hurricane strength and eight became major hurricanes—storms that reach Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale.
This season had five storms reach tropical storm intensity or higher in the month of October, the first time on record that this had happened in this basin. In addition, Hurricanes or Tropical Storms Winifred through Zeke are the earliest twenty-first through twenty-fourth named storms in a season in the eastern north Pacific.
The Central Pacific (between 140°W and the International Date Line) saw similarly high levels of activity. Eleven tropical cyclones were tracked by the Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC) throughout the hurricane season. Of those, eight developed in the Eastern Pacific and crossed into the Central Pacific, and three formed within the basin. Two of the storms strengthened to major hurricane status within the Central Pacific's boundaries.
The first storm of the season, Ekeka, formed on January 26, and was the first recorded January central Pacific hurricane. Later in the season, Iniki, crossed into the basin as a tropical depression, strengthened to a Category 4 hurricane, and made landfall in Hawaii, becoming the most destructive hurricane in the state's history.
Systems
Hurricane Ekeka
Toward the end of January, the monsoon trough extended across the equator into the central north Pacific, producing an area of convection, or thunderstorms, over warm waters and low wind shear. By January 23, several ships reported squalls and strong southwesterly winds in the region. The disturbance organized further as it tracked westward, and on January 28 it developed into Tropical Depression One-C, located a short distance north of Kiritimati and east of Tabuaeran. Its formation was unusual, since the system was located well to the south of the area of normal tropical cyclone formation, further south than any other Pacific hurricane at the time, and the formation occurred well outside the climatological bounds of the hurricane season. Soon after its formation, the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Ekeka. With favorable conditions, the storm continued strengthening as it moved generally westward. Ekeka attained hurricane status on January 30, about 100 miles (160 km) northwest of Palmyra Atoll. It became one of only three tropical cyclones on record to be located within the Palmyra Atoll Exclusive Economic Zone, and the only hurricane. On February 2, Ekeka attained peak winds of 115 mph (185 km/h), making it a major hurricane, or Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson scale. Shortly thereafter, wind shear increased due to a large trough in the Westerlies. This caused Ekeka to weaken gradually. Its forward motion increased as the subtropical ridge strengthened to the north of the hurricane. Ekeka to a tropical storm early on February 3, and later that day, it crossed the International Date Line into the western Pacific Ocean. Shortly thereafter, Ekeka weakened to tropical depression status. Ekeka later passed through the Marshall Islands before dissipating on February 9 to the north of Papua New Guinea.
Tropical Storm Hali
In late March, meteorological conditions similar to what allowed Ekeka to develop persisted in the central Pacific. An area of convection organized into Tropical Depression Two-C, just north of 5˚N, atypically close to the equator, and far to the southwest of Hawaii. Moving west-northwestward, it slowly intensified, intensifying into a tropical storm on March 29. Upon doing so, the CPHC gave it the name Hali. Later that day, the storm attained peak winds of 50 mph (80 km/h), before increased southwesterly wind shear imparted weakening. Hali was downgraded to a tropical depression on March 30, and it dissipated shortly thereafter.
Tropical Storm Agatha
On May 26, a tropical wave moved off the Central America, which began to show signs of organization on May 29. Early on June 1, the NHC classified it as a tropical depression while located 460 mi (740 km) southwest of Acapulco. Based on a combination of ship data and Dvorak intensity estimates, the system was upgraded into Tropical Storm Agatha on June 2. Agatha steered toward the north while steadily intensifying. Around 1800 UTC June 2, the storm peaked in intensity with winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 990 mbar (990 hPa; 29 inHg). Maintaining its peak intensity for 30 hours, Agatha gradually decelerated as it passed within 100 mi (160 km) southwest of the Mexican coast. The center of the storm promptly became less defined on June 3, simultaneously recurving to the west. By 06:00 UTC June 5, the storm was downgraded back into tropical depression status prior to dissipating the next day.
On June 2, forecasters at the National Hurricane Center anticipated Agatha to make landfall in Mexico near hurricane strength. In light of this, a tropical storm warning and hurricane watch were issued for the Pacific coast of Mexico between Tenexpa to Cabo Corrites around 2100 UTC that day. Additionally, heavy rains from the system prompted concerns over mudslides and flash floods. Following Agatha's turn towards the west early on June 3, the watches and warnings were discontinued. Roughly 1,500 people evacuated from coastal areas of Michoacán due to the threat of damaging winds and flooding. Although the center of Agatha remained offshore, heavy rains within the system's outer rainbands impacted southwestern and central Mexico. Widespread flooding and mudslides killed ten people and left thousands homeless. Along the coast, waves reportedly reached heights of 16 ft (4.9 m).
Tropical Storm Blas
A tropical wave crossed Central America from June 14–16. The system entered the Eastern Pacific. On June 22, The tropical wave organized into the fourth depression of the season, 460 mi (740 km) south of the Baja California Peninsula. Early on June 23, the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Blas. However, later that day, Blas weakened back to a depression, and dissipated at 00:00 UTC June 24.
Hurricane Celia
Celia formed from tropical wave that crossed over into the East Pacific basin around June 19. The system was classified as a tropical depression while located 170 mi (270 km) west of Guatemala. The storm intensified into Tropical Storm Celia on June 23. The next day, Celia was upgraded into a hurricane. Celia's rate of intensification accelerated. By June 26, Celia intensified into a Category 2 hurricane. The storm was then upgraded to a Category 3 hurricane later that day. Early on June 27, Celia became a Category 4 major hurricane with winds of 145 mph (233 km/h) and a minimal pressure of 935 mbar (27.6 inHg). Celia maintained this intensity for about 24 hours and then started to gradually weaken. Late on June 28, the storm fluctuated in intensity over the next several days. On June 29, Celia weakened to a Category 1 hurricane. The system briefly re-intensified into a Category 2 hurricane, but later continued weakening. Celia fell below hurricane status on July 2. Turing northwest, the tropical cyclone weakened back to tropical depression status the next day. Thereafter, Celia dissipated July 4.
Hurricane Darby
A tropical wave exited Africa on June 19 and crossed into the eastern Pacific ten days later. Slowly organizing, it developed into Tropical Depression 5-E on July 2 to the south of the Gulf of Tehuantepec. Moving to the west-southwest, it strengthened into Tropical Storm Darby on July 4. The storm paralleled the coast of Mexico, and Darby strengthened into a hurricane on July 5 while also substantially increasing in size. Darby peaked as a strong Category 3 on July 6, with peak winds of 120 mph (195 km/h), and a minimum pressure of 968 mbar. Around that time, it was passing southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula. As Darby moved over cooler waters, deep convection decreased, and it was downgraded to a tropical storm on July 7. Darby was downgraded to a tropical depression on July 9, and a day later it no longer had tropical characteristics. The low continued to the northwest, passing southwest of southern California on July 14.
During Darby's formation, flooding from the cyclone's rainbands killed three people in Acapulco, where 180 shops were damaged. Four fishermen were reported missing, their fate unknown. Manzanillo, Colima, reported sustained winds just above tropical-storm force. The hurricane's remnants brought mainly light rain to the U.S. state of California, setting daily rainfall records. Cloud cover also delayed the landing of the Space Shuttle Columbia for one day. South-facing beaches of that state were pounded with waves up to 7 feet (2.1 m) in height. Darby also caused a few shipping accidents. A pleasure craft, the Oasis, had an engine failure and was abandoned. The seven people aboard were rescued, but the boat was sunk. A smaller sailboat, the Hosanna, had difficulties but was towed to a safe location by a cutter from the United States Coast Guard. A fishing boat at an unspecified location also experienced difficulties.
Hurricane Estelle
The origins of Hurricane Estelle were from a tropical wave that began on June 23 off the African coast. After passing over northern South America, the wave was classified as a tropical depression. Eighteen hours later, the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Estelle. Early on July 10, Estelle was upgraded into a hurricane. Around that time, Estelle turned to the northwest. Later that day, Estelle was upgraded to a Category 2 hurricane. On July 11, Estelle intensified into a major hurricane. A few hours later, Estelle was upgraded into a Category 4 system.
Moving northwestward, Estelle began a weakening trend. By the afternoon, Estelle was downgraded into a Category 3 system. Winds soon fell below major hurricane force, only to re-intensify back to a major hurricane hours later. Hurricane Estelle quickly re-intensified and attained its peak intensity of 140 mph (230 km/h). The storm gradually weakened over the next few days. By early on July 14, Hurricane Estelle was downgraded to a Category 3 hurricane, and shortly after, winds fell below major hurricane strength. Turning west, Estelle weakened into a tropical storm on July 15. It weakened into a tropical depression the next day. On 08:00 UTC July 17, Tropical Depression Estelle had dissipated over 1,000 mi (1,610 km) west of Baja California Sur.