| 1978 Pacific hurricane season | |
|---|---|
 Season summary map | |
| Seasonal boundaries | |
| First system formed | May 30, 1978 |
| Last system dissipated | October 21, 1978 |
| Strongest storm | |
| Name | Fico, Hector, and Norman |
| • Maximum winds | 140 mph (220 km/h) (1-minute sustained) |
| • Lowest pressure | 955 mbar (hPa; 28.2 inHg) |
| Seasonal statistics | |
| Total storms | 19 |
| Hurricanes | 14 |
| Major hurricanes (Cat. 3+) | 7 |
| Total fatalities | 8 |
| Total damage | > $300 million (1978 USD) |
| Related articles | |
The 1978 Pacific hurricane season was the first Pacific hurricane season to use both masculine and feminine names for tropical cyclones. It also began the modern practice of utilizing naming lists every six years. Despite lacking an El Niño, a common driver of enhanced activity in the East and Central Pacific basins,[1] the 1978 season was active. It featured 19 named storms, 14 hurricanes, and 7 major hurricanes, the latter of which are Category 3 or stronger cyclones on the Saffir–Simpson scale. Within the confines of the Central Pacific basin, located between the International Date Line and 140°W, 13 tropical cyclones or their remnants were observed by forecasters at the Central Pacific Hurricane Center, a record number of occurrences at the time.[2] Seasonal activity began on May 30 and ended on October 21, within the limits of a traditional hurricane season which begins on May 15 in the East Pacific and June 1 in the Central Pacific. The season ends on November 30 in both basins. These dates conventionally delimit the period during each year when most tropical cyclones form.[3]
The first system of the season, Aletta, made landfall on the Mexico coastline on May 31. Hurricanes Carlotta, Daniel, and Iva tracked into the Central Pacific as dissipating cyclones, where they produced a few inches of rainfall across the Hawaiian Islands. More substantive impacts came from Hurricane Fico, the longest-lived hurricane and the longest-tracked hurricane on record in the Central Pacific at the time. Large waves and rough seas caused severe damage to beachfront homes and forced the rescuing of stranded boaters offshore. Strong winds damaged trees and caused power outages. Damage across Hawaii totaled $200,000. In early September, the remnants of Hurricane Norman produced accumulating rain and snow across California, resulting in severe damage to its crops that totaled in excess of $300 million, in addition to killing eight people. In mid-October, Susan rapidly developed into a Category 4 hurricane over the Central Pacific, one of the strongest hurricanes on record there at the time. It persisted until October 21, marking an end to seasonal activity.
- ^ Charles H. Fletcher III; Eric E. Grossman; Bruce M. Richmond; Ann E. Gibbs (January 9, 2002). Atlas of Natural Hazards in the Hawaiian Coastal Zone (PDF) (Report). United States Geological Survey. p. 23. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
- ^ Samuel L. Shaw (1979). "The Pacific Cyclone Season". Weatherwise. 32 (4). Taylor & Francis: 166–169. doi:10.1080/00431672.1979.9930091. Retrieved January 5, 2022.
- ^ "Hurricanes: Frequently Asked Questions". Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved January 5, 2022.