1980 Central Pacific hurricane season
Jun 1, 1980 – Nov 30, 1980 · Season ended
The 1980 Central Pacific hurricane season produced 1 named storm, 1 hurricane and 1 major hurricane, against a 1991–2020 average of 1.6, 0.8 and 0.5. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 11, 48% of the average.
1980 season at a glance
- Named storms: 1 (1991–2020 average 1.6).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 1 (average 0.8).
- Major, 96 kt+: 1 (average 0.5).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 11.4, 48% of the 24 average.
- Named-storm days: 5.0, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Dinah, November 20.
- First hurricane: Dinah, November 21.
- First major storm: Dinah, November 22.
- Last storm to dissipate: Dinah, November 27.
- All systems tracked: 1, every one of which reached tropical-storm strength.
Counts use 1-minute best-track winds: named storms reached 34 kt (39 mph), the next column 64 kt (74 mph) and major storms 96 kt (111 mph).
Every storm of the 1980 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dinah | – | C3 | 950 mb | — |
- Dinah: Dinah formed in the Central Pacific in November 1980 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 950 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 1980
Hurricane Dinah was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 115 mph (185 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 950 mb, on November 22. That is Category 3 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
20 Central Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 3 matched it. It produced 100% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 1980
No storm in the 1980 Central Pacific hurricane season made landfall, according to the best track.
How 1980 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 21st of 47 Central Pacific seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 15 other seasons), 8th for hurricanes (tied with 18 other seasons) and 20th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 7 named storms, in 2015, and the highest ACE is 167, in 1992.
1980 storm names
The 1980 season used 1 name: Dinah.
Central Pacific names are used in order across years from four lists, so a season picks up where the last one stopped. See the Central Pacific name lists.
1980 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 1980?
The 1980 Central Pacific hurricane season had 1 named storm, 1 hurricane and 1 major hurricane, from 1 system tracked in all. The 1991–2020 average is 1.6 named storms, 0.8 at 64 kt or more and 0.5 major per season. The first to form was Dinah and the last was Dinah.
What was the strongest storm of 1980?
Hurricane Dinah. It peaked at 115 mph (185 km/h, 100 kt) with a lowest pressure of 950 mb on November 22. That is Category 3 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 20 Central Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 100% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 1980 season end?
The official season ended on November 30, 1980, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Dinah, dissipated on November 27. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 2 Central Pacific storms since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.