Pacific hurricane
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2008-07-15T06:58:56Z
Thegreatdr
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/* See also */ Fixing wikilink to avoid redirect for Atlantic TC
[[image:east pacific tc climatology.gif|thumb|right|350px|Cumulative average number of tropical cyclones in the eastern north Pacific]]
A '''Pacific hurricane''' is a [[tropical cyclone]] that develops in the northeastern part of the [[Pacific Ocean]]. For organizational purposes, the Pacific Ocean is divided into three regions: the eastern, (North America to 140°W), central (140°W to the [[International Date Line]]), and western (west of the Date Line). A Pacific hurricane, then, is a tropical cyclone in the northern Pacific Ocean [[boxing the compass|east]] of the Date Line. Identical phenomena in the western north Pacific are called [[Tropical cyclone | typhoons]]. This separation between the two basins is convenient, however, as tropical cyclones rarely form in the central north Pacific and few ever cross the dateline.
==Eastern North Pacific==
[[Hurricane season]] runs between [[May 15]] and [[November 30]] each year.<ref name="CPHC climatology">{{cite web|url=http://www.prh.noaa.gov/cphc/pages/FAQ/Climatology.php|title=Tropical Cyclone Climatology|publisher=[[Central Pacific Hurricane Center]]|work=FAQ|accessdate=2007-12-31}}</ref> These date encompass the vast majority of tropical cyclone activity in this region.
The [[Regional Specialized Meteorological Center]] for this basin is the [[United States]]' [[National Hurricane Center]]. Previous forecasters are the [[Eastern Pacific Hurricane Center]] and the [[Joint Hurricane Warning Center]]. The RSMC monitors the eastern Pacific and issues reports, watches and warnings about tropical weather systems and cyclones as defined by the [[World Meteorological Organization]].
This area is, on average, the second-most active basin in the world. There are an average of 16 to 17 tropical cyclones annually, with 9 becoming hurricanes, and 4 becoming major hurricanes.<ref>[[National Hurricane Center]]. [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pastprofile.shtml? Tropical Cyclone Climatology.] Retrieved on [[2008-04-19]].</ref> Tropical cyclones in this region frequently affect mainland [[Mexico]] and the [[Revillagigedo Islands]]. Less often, a system will affect the [[Continental United States]] or [[Central America]]. Northbound hurricanes typically reduce to tropical storms or dissipate before reaching the United States: there's only one recorded case of a Pacific system reaching [[California]] as a hurricane in almost 200 years of observations—the [[1858 San Diego Hurricane]].<ref name="aoml">Michael Chenoweth and [[Chris Landsea]]. [http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/Landsea/chenowethlandsea.pdf The San Diego Hurricane of 2 October 1858.] Retrieved on [[2008-04-19]].</ref>
==Central Pacific==
Hurricane season runs from [[June 1]] to [[November 30]], with a strong peak in August and September. However, tropical cyclones have formed outside those dates.<ref name="CPHC climatology"/> Should a tropical cyclone enter the central north Pacific from the western north Pacific, where they occur year-round, or from the eastern north Pacific, where the season starts in May, outside of those dates, it is not known if such a system will be considered out of season or not.
The [[Central Pacific Hurricane Center]] is the RSMC for this basin and monitors the storms that develop or move into the defined area of responsibility. A previous forecaster was the [[Joint Hurricane Warning Center]].
Central Pacific hurricanes are rare and on average 3 or 4 storms form or move in this area. Most often, storms here are weak and are often declining upon entry. The only land tropical cyclones can impact here is [[Hawaii]] or [[Johnston Atoll]]. Due to small size, direct hits and landfalls are rare.
<!-- However, do to the cycle that affects hurricane activity in the Atlantic basin, the Atlantic usually is the basin with more storms each year (except in El Ninos). The cycle changes every 20 to 25 years or so. So, for 25 years the Atlantic could have more storms but then it goes vice versa. -->
==Steering factors==
{{See also|Tropical cyclone track forecasting|Subtropical ridge}}
Hurricanes in the Eastern Pacific tend to move westward out to sea, harming no land. However, hurricanes can recurve to the north or northeast, hitting Central America or Mexico early and late in the hurricane season.
==See also==
*[[Tropical cyclone]]
*[[Atlantic tropical cyclone]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Pacific hurricanes| ]]
[[Category:Tropical cyclone meteorology| ]]
[[pt:Furacão do Pacífico]]
[[simple:Pacific hurricane]]