1987 Central Pacific hurricane season
Jun 1, 1987 – Nov 30, 1987 · Season ended
The 1987 Central Pacific hurricane season produced 3 named storms, 2 hurricanes and 2 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 1.6, 0.8 and 0.5. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 63, 263% of the average.
1987 season at a glance
- Named storms: 3 (1991–2020 average 1.6).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 2 (average 0.8).
- Major, 96 kt+: 2 (average 0.5).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 62.5, 263% of the 24 average.
- Named-storm days: 27.0, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Wynne, July 21.
- First hurricane: Wynne, July 24.
- First major storm: Wynne, July 25.
- Last storm to dissipate: Peke, October 7.
- All systems tracked: 3, 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 1987 season
- Wynne: Wynne formed in the Central Pacific in July 1987 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 920 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 17 days.
- Oka: Oka formed in the Central Pacific in August 1987 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.
- Peke: Peke formed in the Central Pacific in September 1987 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 950 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 17 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 1987
Hurricane Wynne was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 145 mph (230 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 920 mb, on July 26. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
9 Central Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 1 matched it. It produced 49% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 1987
No storm in the 1987 Central Pacific hurricane season made landfall, according to the best track.
How 1987 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 5th of 47 Central Pacific seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 2 other seasons), 3rd for hurricanes (tied with 4 other seasons) and 5th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 7 named storms, in 2015, and the highest ACE is 167, in 1992.
1987 storm names
The 1987 season used 3 names: Wynne, Oka, Peke.
Central Pacific names are used in order across years from four lists, so a season picks up where the last one stopped. See the Central Pacific name lists.
1987 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 1987?
The 1987 Central Pacific hurricane season had 3 named storms, 2 hurricanes and 2 major hurricanes, from 3 systems tracked in all. The 1991–2020 average is 1.6 named storms, 0.8 at 64 kt or more and 0.5 major per season. The first to form was Wynne and the last was Peke.
What was the strongest storm of 1987?
Hurricane Wynne. It peaked at 145 mph (230 km/h, 125 kt) with a lowest pressure of 920 mb on July 26. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 9 Central Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 49% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 1987 season end?
The official season ended on November 30, 1987, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Peke, dissipated on October 7. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 2 Central Pacific storms since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.