1980 East Pacific hurricane season
May 15, 1980 – Nov 30, 1980 · Season ended
The 1980 East Pacific hurricane season produced 14 named storms, 7 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 15.6, 8.4 and 4.4. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 78, 61% of the average.
1980 season at a glance
- Named storms: 14 (1991–2020 average 15.6).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 7 (average 8.4).
- Major, 96 kt+: 3 (average 4.4).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 77.8, 61% of the 127 average.
- Named-storm days: 48.3, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Agatha, June 9.
- First hurricane: Agatha, June 10.
- First major storm: Agatha, June 12.
- Last storm to dissipate: Newton, October 29.
- All systems tracked: 14, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agatha | – | C3 | — | — |
| Blas | – | TS | — | — |
| Celia | – | C1 | — | — |
| Darby | – | TS | — | — |
| Estelle | – | TS | — | — |
| Frank | – | TS | — | — |
| Georgette | – | C1 | — | — |
| Howard | – | C2 | — | — |
| Isis | – | C2 | — | — |
| Javier | – | C3 | — | — |
| Kay | – | C4 | — | — |
| Lester | – | TS | — | — |
| Madeline | – | TS | — | — |
| Newton | – | TS | — | — |
- Agatha: Agatha formed in the East Pacific in June 1980 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Blas: Blas formed in the East Pacific in June 1980 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Celia: Celia formed in the East Pacific in June 1980 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Darby: Darby formed in the East Pacific in July 1980 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Estelle: Estelle formed in the East Pacific in July 1980 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 1 day.
- Frank: Frank formed in the East Pacific in July 1980 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Georgette: Georgette formed in the East Pacific in July 1980 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Howard: Howard formed in the East Pacific in July 1980 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Isis: Isis formed in the East Pacific in August 1980 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph (155 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Javier: Javier formed in the East Pacific in August 1980 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Kay: Kay formed in the East Pacific in September 1980 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 14 days.
- Lester: Lester formed in the East Pacific in September 1980 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Madeline: Madeline formed in the East Pacific in October 1980 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 1 day.
- Newton: Newton formed in the East Pacific in October 1980 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 1 day.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 1980
Hurricane Kay was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 140 mph (220 km/h), on September 18. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
77 East Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 24 matched it. It produced 34% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 1980
No storm in the 1980 East Pacific hurricane season made landfall, according to the best track.
How 1980 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 34th of 47 East Pacific seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 2 other seasons), 31st for hurricanes (tied with 6 other seasons) and 38th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 25 named storms, in 1992, and the highest ACE is 294, in 2018.
1980 storm names
The 1980 season used 14 names: Agatha, Blas, Celia, Darby, Estelle, Frank, Georgette, Howard, Isis, Javier, Kay, Lester, Madeline, Newton.
Atlantic and East Pacific lists repeat every six years. See how storms are named.
1980 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 1980?
The 1980 East Pacific hurricane season had 14 named storms, 7 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes, from 14 systems tracked in all. The 1991–2020 average is 15.6 named storms, 8.4 at 64 kt or more and 4.4 major per season. The first to form was Agatha and the last was Newton.
What was the strongest storm of 1980?
Hurricane Kay. It peaked at 140 mph (220 km/h, 120 kt) on September 18. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 77 East Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 34% 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, Newton, dissipated on October 29. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 1 East Pacific storm since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.