1982 East Pacific hurricane season
May 15, 1982 – Nov 30, 1982 · Season ended
The 1982 East Pacific hurricane season produced 19 named storms, 11 hurricanes and 5 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 15.6, 8.4 and 4.4. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 149, 117% of the average.
1982 season at a glance
- Named storms: 19 (1991–2020 average 15.6).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 11 (average 8.4).
- Major, 96 kt+: 5 (average 4.4).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 149.3, 117% of the 127 average.
- Named-storm days: 94.0, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Aletta, May 21.
- First hurricane: Daniel, July 9.
- First major storm: Daniel, July 11.
- Last storm to dissipate: Tara, October 26.
- All systems tracked: 20, including 1 that stayed below 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 1982 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aletta | – | TS | — | — |
| TD 2E | – | TS | — | — |
| TD 3E | – | TS | — | — |
| TD 5E | – | TS | — | — |
| TD 7E | – | C3 | — | — |
| Daniel | – | C3 | — | — |
| TD 9E | – | TS | — | — |
| TD 10E | – | C3 | — | — |
| Fabio | – | C1 | — | — |
| Hector | – | C1 | — | — |
| Kristy | – | C1 | — | — |
| Lane | – | TS | — | — |
| Miriam | – | C1 | — | — |
| Norman | – | C2 | — | — |
| TD 20E | – | TD | — | — |
| Olivia | – | C4 | — | — |
| Paul | – | C2 | — | Moyuta, Guatemala |
| Rosa | – | TS | — | — |
| Sergio | – | C3 | — | — |
| Tara | – | TS | — | — |
- Aletta: Aletta formed in the East Pacific in May 1982 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- TD 2E: This system formed in the East Pacific in May 1982 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 17 days.
- TD 3E: This system formed in the East Pacific in June 1982 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 23 days.
- TD 5E: This system formed in the East Pacific in June 1982 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 29 days.
- TD 7E: This system formed in the East Pacific in July 1982 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (205 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 30 days.
- Daniel: Daniel formed in the East Pacific in July 1982 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 16 days.
- TD 9E: This system formed in the East Pacific in July 1982 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 26 days.
- TD 10E: This system formed in the East Pacific in July 1982 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 26 days.
- Fabio: Fabio formed in the East Pacific in July 1982 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Hector: Hector formed in the East Pacific in July 1982 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.
- Kristy: Kristy formed in the East Pacific in August 1982 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Lane: Lane formed in the East Pacific in August 1982 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Miriam: Miriam formed in the East Pacific in August 1982 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Norman: Norman formed in the East Pacific in September 1982 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 9 days.
- TD 20E: This system formed in the East Pacific in September 1982 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 1 day.
- Olivia: Olivia formed in the East Pacific in September 1982 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Paul: Paul formed in the East Pacific in September 1982 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 km/h). It made 3 landfalls, first near Moyuta, Guatemala and last near Los Mochis, Mexico. The system was tracked for 12 days.
- Rosa: Rosa formed in the East Pacific in September 1982 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 6 days.
- Sergio: Sergio formed in the East Pacific in October 1982 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (205 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- Tara: Tara formed in the East Pacific in October 1982 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 7 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 1982
Hurricane Olivia was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 145 mph (230 km/h), on September 21. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
47 East Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 29 matched it. It produced 11% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 1982
1 of the season’s 20 systems made landfall, 1 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
How 1982 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 8th of 47 East Pacific seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 3 other seasons), 10th for hurricanes and 16th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 25 named storms, in 1992, and the highest ACE is 294, in 2018.
1982 storm names
The 1982 season used 13 names: Aletta, Daniel, Fabio, Hector, Kristy, Lane, Miriam, Norman, Olivia, Paul, Rosa, Sergio, Tara.
7 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.
Atlantic and East Pacific lists repeat every six years. See how storms are named.
1982 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 1982?
The 1982 East Pacific hurricane season had 19 named storms, 11 hurricanes and 5 major hurricanes, from 20 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 Aletta and the last was Tara.
What was the strongest storm of 1982?
Hurricane Olivia. It peaked at 145 mph (230 km/h, 125 kt) on September 21. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 47 East Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 11% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 1982 season end?
The official season ended on November 30, 1982, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Tara, dissipated on October 26. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 1 East Pacific storm since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.