1983 East Pacific hurricane season
May 15, 1983 – Nov 30, 1983 · Season ended
The 1983 East Pacific hurricane season produced 21 named storms, 12 hurricanes and 8 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 15.6, 8.4 and 4.4. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 206, 162% of the average.
1983 season at a glance
- Named storms: 21 (1991–2020 average 15.6).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 12 (average 8.4).
- Major, 96 kt+: 8 (average 4.4).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 206.2, 162% of the 127 average.
- Named-storm days: 110.0, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Adolph, May 21.
- First hurricane: Adolph, May 23.
- First major storm: Barbara, June 13.
- Last storm to dissipate: Winnie, December 7.
- All systems tracked: 21, 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 1983 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adolph | – | C2 | — | Tomatlán, Mexico |
| Barbara | – | C4 | — | — |
| Cosme | – | TS | — | — |
| Dalilia | – | TS | — | — |
| Erick | – | TS | — | — |
| Flossie | – | TS | — | — |
| Gil | – | C1 | — | — |
| Henriette | – | C4 | — | — |
| Ismael | – | C2 | — | — |
| Juliette | – | TS | — | — |
| Kiko | – | C4 | — | — |
| Lorena | – | C3 | — | — |
| Manuel | – | C3 | — | — |
| Narda | – | TS | — | — |
| Octave | – | TS | — | — |
| Priscilla | – | C3 | — | — |
| Raymond | – | C4 | — | — |
| Sonia | – | TS | — | — |
| Tico | – | C4 | — | — |
| Velma | – | TS | — | — |
| Winnie | – | C1 | — | — |
- Adolph: Adolph formed in the East Pacific in May 1983 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 km/h). It made 2 landfalls, first near Tomatlán, Mexico and last near El Rosario, Mexico. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Barbara: Barbara formed in the East Pacific in June 1983 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Cosme: Cosme formed in the East Pacific in July 1983 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 4 days.
- Dalilia: Dalilia formed in the East Pacific in July 1983 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Erick: Erick formed in the East Pacific in July 1983 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 5 days.
- Flossie: Flossie formed in the East Pacific in July 1983 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 5 days.
- Gil: Gil formed in the East Pacific in July 1983 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 13 days.
- Henriette: Henriette formed in the East Pacific in July 1983 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- Ismael: Ismael formed in the East Pacific in August 1983 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.
- Juliette: Juliette formed in the East Pacific in August 1983 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 8 days.
- Kiko: Kiko formed in the East Pacific in August 1983 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 9 days.
- Lorena: Lorena formed in the East Pacific in September 1983 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 8 days.
- Manuel: Manuel formed in the East Pacific in September 1983 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 8 days.
- Narda: Narda formed in the East Pacific in September 1983 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- Octave: Octave formed in the East Pacific in September 1983 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 5 days.
- Priscilla: Priscilla formed in the East Pacific in September 1983 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.
- Raymond: Raymond formed in the East Pacific in October 1983 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 13 days.
- Sonia: Sonia formed in the East Pacific in October 1983 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 5 days.
- Tico: Tico formed in the East Pacific in October 1983 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Velma: Velma formed in the East Pacific in November 1983 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 2 days.
- Winnie: Winnie formed in the East Pacific in December 1983 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 3 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 1983
Hurricane Kiko was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 145 mph (230 km/h), on September 3. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
47 East Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 29 matched it. It produced 13% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 1983
1 of the season’s 21 systems made landfall, none of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
How 1983 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 4th of 47 East Pacific seasons since 1980 for named storms, 5th for hurricanes (tied with 4 other seasons) and 6th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 25 named storms, in 1992, and the highest ACE is 294, in 2018.
1983 storm names
The 1983 season used 21 names: Adolph, Barbara, Cosme, Dalilia, Erick, Flossie, Gil, Henriette, Ismael, Juliette, Kiko, Lorena, Manuel, Narda, Octave, Priscilla, Raymond, Sonia, Tico, Velma, Winnie.
Atlantic and East Pacific lists repeat every six years. See how storms are named.
1983 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 1983?
The 1983 East Pacific hurricane season had 21 named storms, 12 hurricanes and 8 major hurricanes, from 21 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 Adolph and the last was Winnie.
What was the strongest storm of 1983?
Hurricane Kiko. It peaked at 145 mph (230 km/h, 125 kt) on September 3. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 47 East Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 13% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 1983 season end?
The official season ended on November 30, 1983, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Winnie, dissipated on December 7. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 1 East Pacific storm since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.