List of Category 5 Pacific hurricanes
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{{Featured list}}
File:East Pacific Category 5 tracks.png until 2018. Note that parts of some tracks cross the Date Line and are omitted.]]
Category 5 hurricanes are tropical cyclones that reach Category 5 intensity on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale. They are by definition the strongest hurricanes that can form on planet Earth. Hurricanes of this intensity are infrequent in the northeastern Pacific Ocean; only 21 have formed since 1959, and they generally develop in clusters during the same year. Landfalls by such storms are rare due to the generally westward path of tropical cyclones in the Northern Hemisphere. The term "hurricane" is used for tropical cyclones in the Pacific Ocean, north of the equator and east of the International Date Line. A Category 5 Pacific hurricane is therefore a tropical cyclone in the north Pacific Ocean that reached Category 5 intensity east of the International Date Line. Identical phenomena in the north Pacific Ocean west of the dateline are called "typhoons" or "super typhoons". Category 5 super typhoons generally happen several times per season, so cyclones of that intensity are not exceptional for that region. This difference in terminology therefore excludes storms such as Typhoon Paka and Typhoon Oliwa of 1997, and Typhoon Genevieve of 2014, which formed east of the dateline but did not reach Category 5 intensity until after crossing the dateline.
Climatology and statistics
The majority of tropical cyclones form and organize in areas of warm sea surface temperatures, usually of at least {{convert|26.5|C|F|abbr=on|lk=on}} and low vertical wind shear; however, there are outliers to this general rule, such as storms that manage to intensify despite high amounts of vertical wind shear. When a pre-existing tropical disturbance – usually a tropical wave or a disturbance originating in the Intertropical Convergence Zone – enters an area where the aforementioned conditions are present, the disturbance can develop into a tropical cyclone, provided it is far enough from the equator to experience a sufficiently strong Coriolis force, which causes the counterclockwise rotation of hurricanes in the Northern Hemisphere.{{cite web|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/A15.html|title=TCFAQ A15) How do tropical cyclones form?|first=Christopher W|last=Landsea|year=2014|publisher=Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory|access-date=August 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090827030639/http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/A15.html|archive-date=August 27, 2009|url-status=live}}
Between the months of December and April, sea surface temperatures in the tropics, where most Northeast Pacific tropical cyclones develop, are usually too low to support significant development. Also, the presence of a semi-permanent high-pressure area known as the North Pacific High in the eastern Pacific greatly reduces tropical cyclone development in the winter months, as the North Pacific High results in vertical wind shear that causes environmental conditions to be unconducive to tropical cyclone formation. Another factor preventing tropical cyclones from forming during the winter is the presence of a semi-permanent low-pressure area called the Aleutian Low between January and April. Its effects in the central Pacific near the 160th meridian west cause tropical waves that form in the area to move northward into the Gulf of Alaska. As the disturbances travel northward, they dissipate or transition into an extratropical cyclone. The Aleutian Low's retreat in late-April allows the warmth of the Pacific High to meander in, bringing its powerful clockwise wind circulation with it. During the month of May, the Intertropical Convergence Zone migrates southward while vertical shear over the tropics decreases. As a result, the earliest tropical waves begin to form, coinciding with the start of the eastern Pacific hurricane season on May 15.{{cite web|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/G1.html|title=TCFAQ G1) When is hurricane season?|first=Neal|last=Dorst|date=June 2, 2016|publisher=Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory|access-date=July 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090506152735/http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/G1.html|archive-date=May 6, 2009|url-status=live}} During summer and early autumn, sea surface temperatures rise further, reaching {{convert|29|C|F|abbr=on}} in July and August, well above the {{convert|26.5|C|F|abbr=on}} threshold for the formation and intensification of tropical cyclones. This allows for tropical cyclones developing during that time to strengthen significantly, perhaps even rapidly.
The El Niño–Southern Oscillation also influences the frequency and intensity of hurricanes in the Northeast Pacific basin. During El Niño events, sea surface temperatures increase in the Northeast Pacific and vertical wind shear decreases. Because of this, an increase in tropical cyclone activity occurs; the opposite happens in the Atlantic basin during El Niño, where increased wind shear creates an unfavorable environment for tropical cyclone formation.{{cite web|url=http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/Hurricanes/hurricanes_3.php|title=Hurricanes: The Greatest Storms on Earth: Feature Articles|first1=Steve|last1=Graham|first2=Holli|last2=Riebeek|date=November 1, 2006|work=Earth Observatory|publisher=National Aeronautics and Space Administration|access-date=July 24, 2018|location=United States|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170506091751/https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/Hurricanes/hurricanes_3.php|archive-date=May 6, 2017|url-status=live}} Contrary to El Niño, La Niña events increase wind shear and decrease sea surface temperatures over the eastern Pacific, while reducing wind shear and increasing sea surface temperatures over the Atlantic.
A Category 5 hurricane is defined as having sustained windspeeds of at least {{convert|157|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} over a one-minute period {{convert|10|m|ftin|abbr=on}} above the ground.{{cite report|url=https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/sshws.pdf|publisher=United States National Hurricane Center|author1=Schott, Timothy|author2=Landsea, Christopher|author3=Hafele, Gene|author4=Lorens, Jeffrey|author5=Taylor, Arthur|author6=Thrum, Harvey|author7=Ward, Bill|author8=Willis, Mark|author9=Zaleski, Walt|date=January 2, 2019|access-date=June 4, 2019|title=The Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale|archive-date=May 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190525011517/https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/sshws.pdf|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/D4.html|publisher=Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory Hurricane Research Division|work=FAQ: Hurricane, Typhoons, and Tropical Cyclones|author=Chris Landsea|author-link=Chris Landsea|access-date=2006-01-04|title=Subject: D4) What does "maximum sustained wind" mean ? How does it relate to gusts in tropical cyclones?|archive-date=2014-10-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141009070826/http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/D4.html|url-status=live}} As a tropical cyclone is moving, its wind field is asymmetric. In the northern hemisphere, the strongest winds are on the right side of the storm (relative to the direction of motion). The highest winds given in advisories are those from the right side.{{cite web|title=Subject: D4) What does "maximum sustained wind" mean ? How does it relate to gusts in tropical cyclones?|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/D6.html|publisher=Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory Hurricane Research Division|work=FAQ: Hurricane, Typhoons, and Tropical Cyclones|author=Chris Landsea|author-link=Chris Landsea|access-date=2006-01-04|archive-date=2014-10-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141011112605/http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/D6.html|url-status=live}}
Since the 1959 season, only 21 hurricanes are known to have reached Category 5 intensity. There are no known Category 5 storms occurring before 1959. It is possible that some earlier storms reached Category 5 over open waters, but they were never recognized because they never affected land and remained at sea.{{EPAC hurricane best track}}
List
File:Category 5 Pacific hurricanes 1994-present.jpg
File:Patricia 2015-10-23 1730Z (Worldview).jpg shortly after its record peak intensity on October 23, 2015.]]
This lists all of the Category 5 hurricanes in the order in which they formed according to the central and eastern Pacific HURDAT database, which dates back to 1949. Before the advent of reliable geostationary satellite coverage in 1966, the number of eastern Pacific tropical cyclones was significantly underestimated.{{cite web|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/E10.html|publisher=Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory Hurricane Research Division|work=FAQ: Hurricane, Typhoons, and Tropical Cyclones|author=Chris Landsea|author-link=Chris Landsea|access-date=2006-01-04|date=2002-06-11|title=Subject: E10) What are the average, most, and least tropical cyclones occurring in each basin?|archive-date=2012-07-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120731201905/http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/E10.html|url-status=live}} It is therefore very possible that there are additional Category 5 hurricanes other than those listed, but they were not reported and therefore not recognized. However, the lack of Pacific Category 5 hurricanes during the late 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s is considered certain.
The minimum central pressure of these storms is, for the most part, estimated from satellite imagery, typically by using the Dvorak technique to estimate maximum sustained winds and then applying a pressure wind relationship. The reason for estimating the pressure (in lieu of direct measurements) is that most of these storms did not threaten land.{{cite web|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/H2.html|publisher=Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory Hurricane Research Division|work=FAQ: Hurricane, Typhoons, and Tropical Cyclones|author=Neal Dorst|access-date=2006-01-04|title=Subject: H2) Who are the "hurricane hunters" and what are they looking for?|archive-date=2014-10-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141011171621/http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/H2.html|url-status=live}} In the case of Kenna,{{cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2002kenna.shtml |title=Tropical Cyclone Report Hurricane Kenna |date=2002-12-26 |access-date=2008-09-14 |author=James Franklin |publisher=National Hurricane Center |author-link=James Franklin (meteorologist) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140716085913/http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2002kenna.shtml |archive-date=2014-07-16 }} Ava,{{cite web|url=http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/htmls/wea01151.htm|work=NOAA Photo Library|access-date=2008-09-14|author=F.J. Hoelzl|date=1973-06-06|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|title=wea01151, NOAA's National Weather Service (NWS) Collection|archive-date=2009-05-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090505062307/http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/htmls/wea01151.htm|url-status=live}} Patricia, and Lane, the central pressure was measured by hurricane hunter aircraft flying into the storm; Kenna, Patricia, and Lane were threatening land, and while Hurricane Ava never threatened land, it too was flown into by hurricane hunters to test equipment and conduct research. Because of the estimation of central pressures, it is possible that other storms more intense than those listed here have formed.{{cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/1997guillerm.html|title=Preliminary Report Hurricane Guillermo|date=1997-10-02|publisher=National Hurricane Center|access-date=2008-09-16|author=Max Mayfield|author-link=Max Mayfield|archive-date=2013-10-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022170926/http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/1997guillerm.html|url-status=live}}
Older storms have incomplete pressure records, since there were no satellite-based estimates; the only observations were taken by ships, land-based observations, or reconnaissance aircraft when available. Ava's minimum known pressure was measured when it was a Category 4 hurricane, for example. John and Gilma have incomplete pressures because the Central Pacific Hurricane Center, in general, did not publish pressure on systems in the central Pacific (140°W to the dateline) at the time.{{cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/epacific/ep1989-prelim/dalilia/prelim03.gif|title=Preliminary Report Hurricane Dalilia|publisher=National Hurricane Center|access-date=2006-01-04|date=1989-08-30|author=Jim Gross|format=GIF|page=3|archive-date=2012-10-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022073132/http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/epacific/ep1989-prelim/dalilia/prelim03.gif|url-status=live}} This list is not identical to the list of most intense Pacific hurricanes; for example, 2014's Hurricane Odile, the most intense known Category 4 Pacific hurricane that did not reach Category 5, had a lowest pressure of {{convert|918|mbar|inHg|abbr=on}}, lower than that of some Category 5 hurricanes, such as Guillermo.
Hurricanes have reached Category 5 intensity during each month from June to October. The earliest to do so was 1973's Hurricane Ava, on June 7. The latest to intensify to Category 5 was 2023's Hurricane Otis on October 25. Hurricanes Ava, Gilma, Ioke, Linda, and Patricia are the most intense storms to form in their respective months. There have been no May, November, or off-season Category 5 hurricanes.
Two Pacific hurricanes are known to have reached Category 5 intensity multiple times: Emilia and Ioke. Both did it twice, and Ioke reached Category 5 status a third time as a typhoon while in the western Pacific. Hurricanes Ioke, John, and Linda are tied for the longest-lasting Category 5 hurricane recorded, spending 42 hours at that strength, but as Ioke's time at Category 5 intensity was in two separate time intervals,{{cite web |url=http://www.prh.noaa.gov/cphc/summaries/2006.php |title=2006 Tropical Cyclones Central North Pacific |access-date=2008-09-14 |publisher=Central Pacific Hurricane Center |author1=Andy Nash |author2=Tim Craig |author3=Sam Houston |author4=Roy Matsuda |author5=Jeff Powell |author6=Ray Tanabe |author7=Jim Weyman |name-list-style=amp |archive-date=2010-12-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101230043133/http://www.prh.noaa.gov/cphc/summaries/2006.php |url-status=live }} John and Linda had the longest time spent consecutively at that intensity.
File:Hurricane hernan 2002 september 1.jpg
File:C130 tail radar in Hurricane Ava.jpg radar in the tail of a C130 during a flight into Hurricane Ava.]]
| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin:1em auto;"
|+ List of Category 5 Pacific hurricanes ! scope="col" rowspan=2 |Storm ! scope="col" rowspan=2 |Season ! scope="col" rowspan=2 |Dates while at ! scope="col" rowspan=2 |Time at ! scope="col" colspan=2 |Peak one-minute ! scope="col" colspan=2 |Pressure | ||||||
| mph
!km/h !hPa !inHg | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| {{sort|Patsy|Patsy}} | {{dts|6 Sep 1959|format=hide}} 1959 | {{sort|0906|September 6}} | {{Ntsh|6}} 6 | 175 | 280 | {{convert|930|hPa|inHg|disp=table|sortable=on|sigfig=4}} |
| {{sort|Ava|Ava}} | {{dts|7 Jun 1973|format=hide}} 1973 | {{sort|0607|June 7}} | {{Ntsh|24}} 24 | 160 | 260 | {{convert|915|hPa|inHg|disp=table|sortable=on|sigfig=4}} |
| {{sort|Emilia|Emilia}} | {{dts|19 Jul 1994|format=hide}} 1994 | {{sort|0719|July 19–21}}{{Dagger}} | {{Ntsh|18}} 18 | 160 | 260 | {{convert|926|hPa|inHg|disp=table|sortable=on|sigfig=4}} |
| {{sort|Gilma|Gilma}} | {{dts|24 Jul 1994|format=hide}} 1994 | {{sort|0724|July 24–25}} | {{Ntsh|18}} 18 | 160 | 260 | {{convert|920|hPa|inHg|disp=table|sortable=on|sigfig=4}} |
| {{sort|John|John}} | {{dts|22 Aug 1994|format=hide}} 1994 | {{sort|0822|August 22–24}} | {{Ntsh|42}} 42 | 175 | 280 | {{convert|929|hPa|inHg|disp=table|sortable=on|sigfig=4}} |
| {{sort|Guillermo|Guillermo}} | {{dts|4 Aug 1997|format=hide}} 1997 | {{sort|0804|August 4–5}} | {{Ntsh|24}} 24 | 160 | 260 | {{convert|919|hPa|inHg|disp=table|sortable=on|sigfig=4}} |
| {{sort|Linda|Linda}} | {{dts|12 Sep 1997|format=hide}} 1997 | {{sort|0912|September 12–14}} | {{Ntsh|42}} 42 | 185 | 295 | {{convert|902|hPa|inHg|disp=table|sortable=on|sigfig=4}} |
| {{sort|Elida|Elida}} | {{dts|25 Jul 2002|format=hide}} 2002 | {{sort|0725|July 25}} | {{Ntsh|6}} 6 | 160 | 260 | {{convert|921|hPa|inHg|disp=table|sortable=on|sigfig=4}} |
| {{sort|Hernan|Hernan}} | {{dts|1 Sep 2002|format=hide}} 2002 | {{sort|0901|September 1}} | {{Ntsh|12}} 12 | 160 | 260 | {{convert|921|hPa|inHg|disp=table|sortable=on|sigfig=4}} |
| {{sort|Kenna|Kenna}} | {{dts|24 Oct 2002|format=hide}} 2002 | {{sort|1024|October 24–25}} | {{Ntsh|18}} 18 | 165 | 270 | {{convert|913|hPa|inHg|disp=table|sortable=on|sigfig=4}} |
| {{sort|Ioke|Ioke}} | {{dts|24 Aug 2006|format=hide}} 2006 | {{sort|0824|August 24–26}}{{Double-dagger}} | {{Ntsh|42}} 42 | 160 | 260 | {{convert|915|hPa|inHg|disp=table|sortable=on|sigfig=4}} |
| {{sort|Rick|Rick}} | {{dts|18 Oct 2009|format=hide}} 2009 | {{sort|1018|October 18}} | {{Ntsh|24}} 24 | 180 | 285 | {{convert|906|hPa|inHg|disp=table|sortable=on|sigfig=4}} |
| {{sort|Celia|Celia}} | {{dts|25 Jun 2010|format=hide}} 2010 | {{sort|0625|June 25}} | {{Ntsh|12}} 12 | 160 | 260 | {{convert|921|hPa|inHg|disp=table|sortable=on|sigfig=4}} |
| {{sort|Marie|Marie}} | {{dts|24 Aug 2014|format=hide}} 2014 | {{sort|0824|August 24}} | {{Ntsh|6}} 6 | 160 | 260 | {{convert|918|hPa|inHg|disp=table|sortable=on|sigfig=4}} |
| {{sort|Patricia|Patricia}} | {{dts|23 Oct 2015|format=hide}} 2015 | {{sort|1023|October 22–23}} | {{Ntsh|23}} 23 | 215 | 345 | {{convert|872|hPa|inHg|disp=table|sortable=on|sigfig=4}} |
| {{sort|Lane|Lane}} | {{dts|22 Aug 2018|format=hide}} 2018 | {{sort|0822|August 22}} | {{Ntsh|12}} 12 | 160 | 260 | {{convert|926|hPa|inHg|disp=table|sortable=on|sigfig=4}} |
| {{sort|Walaka|Walaka}} | {{dts|1 Oct 2018|format=hide}} 2018 | {{sort|1001|October 1–2}} | {{Ntsh|12}} 12 | 160 | 260 | {{convert|921|hPa|inHg|disp=table|sortable=on|sigfig=4}} |
| {{sort|Willa|Willa}} | {{dts|22 Oct 2018|format=hide}} 2018 | {{sort|1022|October 22}} | {{Ntsh|6}} 6 | 160 | 260 | {{convert|925|hPa|inHg|disp=table|sortable=on|sigfig=4}} |
| {{sort|Jova|Jova}} | {{dts|7 Sep 2023|format=hide}} 2023 | {{sort|0907|September 7}} | {{Ntsh|12}} 12 | 160 | 260 | {{convert|926|hPa|inHg|disp=table|sortable=on|sigfig=4}} |
| {{sort|Otis|Otis}} | {{dts|25 Oct 2023|format=hide}} 2023 | {{sort|1025|October 25}} | {{Ntsh|09}} 9 | 165 | 270 | {{convert|922|hPa|inHg|disp=table|sortable=on|sigfig=4}} |
| {{sort|Kristy|Kristy}} | {{dts|24 Oct 2024|format=hide}} 2024 | {{sort|1024|October 24–25}} | {{Ntsh|12}} 12 | 160 | 260 | {{convert|926|hPa|inHg|disp=table|sortable=on|sigfig=4}} |
| class="sortbottom"
| colspan=10|{{Dagger}} For its first time at Category 5, Emilia was at that intensity for 6 hours; the second time was for 12 for a total of 18 hours.{{cite web|access-date=2008-09-14|title=The 1994 Central Pacific Tropical Cyclone Season|publisher=Central Pacific Hurricane Center|url=http://www.prh.noaa.gov/cphc/summaries/1994.php|archive-date=2014-12-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220161040/http://www.prh.noaa.gov/cphc/summaries/1994.php|url-status=live}} {{Double-dagger}} For its first time at Category 5, Ioke was at that intensity for 18 hours; the second time was 24 additional hours east of the dateline, giving a total of 42 hours. Ioke did not lose Category 5 status on August 26, but it moved into the Western North Pacific, and thus was no longer considered a hurricane, but rather a typhoon. |
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Landfalls
File:Otis 2023-10-25 0430Z.jpg, the only Pacific hurricane to make landfall at Category 5 intensity.]]
Of all of the Category 5 Pacific hurricanes, only five made landfall, all of which occurred during the late-season month of October, and all of which impacted Mexico. Only Hurricane Otis of 2023 was a Category 5 hurricane at landfall. Originally, a hurricane in 1959 was thought to have struck Manzanillo at Category 5 intensity, but a reanalysis in 2016 determined that the storm had peaked as a Category 4 hurricane, and made landfall with the same sustained wind speed as Kenna.{{cite report|date=2016-02-04|access-date=2016-02-04|title=Re-analysis of the 1959 Manzanillo Mexico Hurricane|publisher=National Hurricane Center|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/news/20160204_pa_1959HurricaneReanalysis.pdf|archive-date=2016-02-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205005228/http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/news/20160204_pa_1959HurricaneReanalysis.pdf|url-status=live}} Likewise, Patricia was originally determined to have made landfall as a Category 5 hurricane, but was downgraded to a Category 4 hurricane at landfall in post-season reanalysis. This list is not identical to the list of strongest landfalling Pacific hurricanes, as 1976's Hurricane Madeline and 1992's Hurricane Iniki both did not reach Category 5 strength, but made landfall as stronger Category 4 storms than Kenna.
In addition to these five systems, hurricanes John, Linda, Ioke, Lane, and Walaka all threatened land at some point during their existence. John, Ioke and Walaka had minimal impacts on Johnston Atoll, John caused heavy surf in Hawaii, and Walaka passed close to East Island in the French Frigate Shoals. Linda was briefly forecast to approach southern California, and it passed close to Socorro Island near peak intensity.{{cite web|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/1997linda.html|title=Preliminary Report Hurricane Linda|date=1997-10-25|author=Max Mayfield|author-link=Max Mayfield|access-date=2006-01-04|publisher=National Hurricane Center|archive-date=2013-10-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022170931/http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/1997linda.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|author=Chris D’Angelo|newspaper=Huffington Post|date=October 23, 2018|access-date=October 23, 2018|title=Remote Hawaiian Island Wiped Off The Map|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/hawaii-east-island-lost-to-hurricane-walaka-french-frigate-shoals-climate-change_us_5bcf2a8ee4b055bc9484e803|archive-date=October 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181023235044/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/hawaii-east-island-lost-to-hurricane-walaka-french-frigate-shoals-climate-change_us_5bcf2a8ee4b055bc9484e803|url-status=live}} Out of the five aforementioned hurricanes, Lane had the most significant impact on land, threatening Hawaii as a major hurricane, and dropping more than {{convert|40|in|mm|abbr=on}} of rain across many areas.{{cite report|url=https://www.newsweek.com/hawaii-hurricane-lane-rainfall-totals-update-extreme-flooding-impacts-1090577|title=Hurricane Lane Hawaii rainfall totals update: 'Extreme flooding impacts' continue from tropical storm|author=Newsweek|publisher=Newsweek|access-date=August 25, 2018|archive-date=August 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180825143451/https://www.newsweek.com/hawaii-hurricane-lane-rainfall-totals-update-extreme-flooding-impacts-1090577|url-status=live}}
The reason for the lack of landfalls is that tropical cyclones in the northern hemisphere usually travel to the west{{cite web|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/G8.html|author=Chris Landsea|author-link=Chris Landsea|access-date=2008-09-14|work=FAQ: Hurricane, Typhoons, and Tropical Cyclones|publisher=Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory Hurricane Research Division|title=Subject: G8) Why do hurricanes hit the East coast of the U.S., but never the West coast?|archive-date=2014-10-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141009131206/http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/tcfaq/G8.html|url-status=live}} due to easterly trade winds. This means Pacific hurricanes generally move westward out into the open Pacific Ocean. Only rarely do tropical cyclones forming during the peak months of the season make landfall. Closer to the end of the season, the subtropical ridge steers some storms northwards or northeastwards. Storms influenced by this ridge may bring impacts to the western coasts of Mexico and occasionally even Central America. In the central Pacific basin, the North Pacific High keeps tropical cyclones away from the Hawaiian Islands by forcing them southwards.{{Cite book|title=Encyclopedia of hurricanes, typhoons, and cyclones|last=Longshore|first=David|publisher=Facts on File, Inc|year=1998|isbn=978-0-8160-3398-0|edition=1st|pages=333, 334|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8kXwskQHBLoC&pg=PA334|access-date=August 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818214458/https://books.google.com/books?id=8kXwskQHBLoC&pg=PA334&lpg=PA334&source=bl&ots=qFGf1P76-U&sig=RvDUOXniAjo9XgEkcKZRVx0qtEI&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjNh9Ta0_bcAhXNXn0KHfmWBesQ6AEwDXoECAMQAQ|archive-date=August 18, 2018|url-status=live}} Combined with cooler waters around the Hawaiian Islands that tend to weaken tropical cyclones that approach them, this makes direct impacts on the Hawaiian Islands by tropical cyclones rare.{{cite news|url=https://weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/2018-08-03-hawaii-hurricane-tropical-typical-track-history|title=Hawaii Hurricanes: How Unusual Are They?|last=Belles|first=Jonathan|date=August 3, 2018|work=The Weather Channel|access-date=August 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820203427/https://weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/2018-08-03-hawaii-hurricane-tropical-typical-track-history|archive-date=August 20, 2018|url-status=live}}
The following table lists the landfalling Category 5 Pacific hurricanes by landfall intensity.
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See also
{{Portal|Tropical cyclones|Oceans|Weather}}
- List of the most intense tropical cyclones
- List of Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes
- List of Eastern Pacific tropical storms
- List of Category 1 Pacific hurricanes
- List of Category 2 Pacific hurricanes
- List of Category 3 Pacific hurricanes
- List of Category 4 Pacific hurricanes
- List of F5 and EF5 tornadoes
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Eastern Pacific tropical cyclones}}
{{Category 5 Pacific hurricanes}}