1984 East Pacific hurricane season
May 15, 1984 – Nov 30, 1984 · Season ended
The 1984 East Pacific hurricane season produced 19 named storms, 12 hurricanes and 6 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 15.6, 8.4 and 4.4. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 183, 144% of the average.
1984 season at a glance
- Named storms: 19 (1991–2020 average 15.6).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 12 (average 8.4).
- Major, 96 kt+: 6 (average 4.4).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 183.2, 144% of the 127 average.
- Named-storm days: 97.8, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Alma, May 18.
- First hurricane: Boris, May 30.
- First major storm: Douglas, June 28.
- Last storm to dissipate: Simon, November 8.
- All systems tracked: 19, 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 1984 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alma | – | TS | — | — |
| Boris | – | C1 | — | — |
| Cristina | – | C2 | — | — |
| Douglas | – | C4 | — | — |
| Elida | – | C4 | — | — |
| Fausto | – | C2 | — | — |
| Genevieve | – | C3 | — | — |
| Hernan | – | TS | — | — |
| Iselle | – | C4 | — | — |
| Julio | – | TS | — | — |
| Kenna | – | TS | — | — |
| Lala | – | TS | — | — |
| Lowell | – | C1 | — | — |
| Marie | – | C1 | — | — |
| Norbert | – | C4 | — | Villa Alberto Andrés Alvarado Arámburo, Mexico |
| Odile | – | C2 | — | Ciudad Lázaro Cárdenas, Mexico |
| Polo | – | C3 | — | La Paz, Mexico |
| Rachel | – | TS | — | — |
| Simon | – | TS | — | — |
- Alma: Alma formed in the East Pacific in May 1984 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 4 days.
- Boris: Boris formed in the East Pacific in May 1984 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 20 days.
- Cristina: Cristina formed in the East Pacific in June 1984 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.
- Douglas: Douglas formed in the East Pacific in June 1984 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 12 days.
- Elida: Elida formed in the East Pacific in June 1984 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 11 days.
- Fausto: Fausto formed in the East Pacific in July 1984 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Genevieve: Genevieve formed in the East Pacific in July 1984 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.
- Hernan: Hernan formed in the East Pacific in July 1984 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.
- Iselle: Iselle formed in the East Pacific in August 1984 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.
- Julio: Julio formed in the East Pacific in August 1984 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.
- Kenna: Kenna formed in the East Pacific in August 1984 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.
- Lala: Lala formed in the East Pacific in August 1984 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 10 days.
- Lowell: Lowell formed in the East Pacific in August 1984 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 4 days.
- Marie: Marie formed in the East Pacific in September 1984 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 6 days.
- Norbert: Norbert formed in the East Pacific in September 1984 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h). It made landfall near Villa Alberto Andrés Alvarado Arámburo, Mexico. The system was tracked for 12 days.
- Odile: Odile formed in the East Pacific in September 1984 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h). It made landfall near Ciudad Lázaro Cárdenas, Mexico. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Polo: Polo formed in the East Pacific in September 1984 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h). It made landfall near La Paz, Mexico. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Rachel: Rachel formed in the East Pacific in October 1984 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 9 days.
- Simon: Simon formed in the East Pacific in October 1984 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 8 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 1984
Hurricane Douglas was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 145 mph (230 km/h), on June 29. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
47 East Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 29 matched it. It produced 12% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 1984
3 of the season’s 19 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 1984 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 8th of 47 East Pacific seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 3 other seasons), 5th for hurricanes (tied with 4 other seasons) and 8th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 25 named storms, in 1992, and the highest ACE is 294, in 2018.
1984 storm names
The 1984 season used 19 names: Alma, Boris, Cristina, Douglas, Elida, Fausto, Genevieve, Hernan, Iselle, Julio, Kenna, Lala, Lowell, Marie, Norbert, Odile, Polo, Rachel, Simon.
Atlantic and East Pacific lists repeat every six years. See how storms are named.
1984 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 1984?
The 1984 East Pacific hurricane season had 19 named storms, 12 hurricanes and 6 major hurricanes, from 19 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 Alma and the last was Simon.
What was the strongest storm of 1984?
Hurricane Douglas. It peaked at 145 mph (230 km/h, 125 kt) on June 29. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 47 East Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 12% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 1984 season end?
The official season ended on November 30, 1984, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Simon, dissipated on November 8. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 1 East Pacific storm since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.