1986 East Pacific hurricane season
May 15, 1986 – Nov 30, 1986 · Season ended
The 1986 East Pacific hurricane season produced 17 named storms, 10 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 15.6, 8.4 and 4.4. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 114, 90% of the average.
1986 season at a glance
- Named storms: 17 (1991–2020 average 15.6).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 10 (average 8.4).
- Major, 96 kt+: 3 (average 4.4).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 114.2, 90% of the 127 average.
- Named-storm days: 68.8, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Agatha, May 24.
- First hurricane: Agatha, May 26.
- First major storm: Estelle, July 20.
- Last storm to dissipate: Roslyn, October 22.
- All systems tracked: 17, 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 1986 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agatha | – | C1 | — | — |
| Blas | – | TS | — | — |
| Celia | – | C1 | — | — |
| Darby | – | TS | — | — |
| Estelle | – | C4 | — | — |
| Frank | – | C1 | — | — |
| Georgette | – | C1 | 970 mb | — |
| Howard | – | TS | — | — |
| Isis | – | TS | — | — |
| Javier | – | C4 | — | — |
| Kay | – | TS | — | — |
| Lester | – | TS | — | — |
| Madeline | – | TS | — | — |
| Newton | – | C1 | — | Bacobampo, Mexico |
| Orlene | – | C1 | — | — |
| Paine | – | C2 | — | Sinaloa de Leyva, Mexico |
| Roslyn | – | C4 | — | — |
- Agatha: Agatha formed in the East Pacific in May 1986 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 8 days.
- Blas: Blas formed in the East Pacific in June 1986 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.
- Celia: Celia formed in the East Pacific in June 1986 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 6 days.
- Darby: Darby formed in the East Pacific in July 1986 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.
- Estelle: Estelle formed in the East Pacific in July 1986 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.
- Frank: Frank formed in the East Pacific in July 1986 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 9 days.
- Georgette: Georgette formed in the East Pacific in August 1986 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 970 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 15 days.
- Howard: Howard formed in the East Pacific in August 1986 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.
- Isis: Isis formed in the East Pacific in August 1986 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.
- Javier: Javier formed in the East Pacific in August 1986 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.
- Kay: Kay formed in the East Pacific in August 1986 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 6 days.
- Lester: Lester formed in the East Pacific in September 1986 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.
- Madeline: Madeline formed in the East Pacific in September 1986 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 7 days.
- Newton: Newton formed in the East Pacific in September 1986 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h). It made landfall near Bacobampo, Mexico. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Orlene: Orlene formed in the East Pacific in September 1986 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 4 days.
- Paine: Paine formed in the East Pacific in September 1986 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph (155 km/h). It made landfall near Sinaloa de Leyva, Mexico. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Roslyn: Roslyn formed in the East Pacific in October 1986 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.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 1986
Hurricane Roslyn was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 145 mph (230 km/h), on October 19. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
47 East Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 29 matched it. It produced 17% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 1986
2 of the season’s 17 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 1986 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 21st of 47 East Pacific seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 6 other seasons), 11th for hurricanes (tied with 8 other seasons) and 22nd for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 25 named storms, in 1992, and the highest ACE is 294, in 2018.
1986 storm names
The 1986 season used 17 names: Agatha, Blas, Celia, Darby, Estelle, Frank, Georgette, Howard, Isis, Javier, Kay, Lester, Madeline, Newton, Orlene, Paine, Roslyn.
Atlantic and East Pacific lists repeat every six years. See how storms are named.
1986 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 1986?
The 1986 East Pacific hurricane season had 17 named storms, 10 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes, from 17 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 Roslyn.
What was the strongest storm of 1986?
Hurricane Roslyn. It peaked at 145 mph (230 km/h, 125 kt) on October 19. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 47 East Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 17% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 1986 season end?
The official season ended on November 30, 1986, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Roslyn, dissipated on October 22. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 1 East Pacific storm since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.