1987 East Pacific hurricane season
May 15, 1987 – Nov 30, 1987 · Season ended
The 1987 East Pacific hurricane season produced 18 named storms, 9 hurricanes and 4 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 15.6, 8.4 and 4.4. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 116, 91% of the average.
1987 season at a glance
- Named storms: 18 (1991–2020 average 15.6).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 9 (average 8.4).
- Major, 96 kt+: 4 (average 4.4).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 115.8, 91% of the 127 average.
- Named-storm days: 69.3, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Adrian, June 8.
- First hurricane: Eugene, July 24.
- First major storm: Hilary, August 3.
- Last storm to dissipate: Selma, October 31.
- All systems tracked: 18, 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
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adrian | – | TS | — | — |
| Beatriz | – | TS | — | — |
| Calvin | – | TS | — | — |
| Dora | – | TS | — | — |
| Eugene | – | C2 | — | San Patricio, Mexico |
| Fernanda | – | TS | — | — |
| Greg | – | C1 | — | — |
| Hilary | – | C3 | — | — |
| Irwin | – | TS | — | — |
| Jova | – | C2 | — | — |
| Knut | – | TS | — | — |
| Lidia | – | C1 | — | — |
| Max | – | C4 | — | — |
| Norma | – | C1 | — | — |
| Otis | – | C3 | — | — |
| Pilar | – | TS | — | — |
| Ramon | – | C4 | — | — |
| Selma | – | TS | — | — |
- Adrian: Adrian formed in the East Pacific in June 1987 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 2 days.
- Beatriz: Beatriz formed in the East Pacific in July 1987 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.
- Calvin: Calvin formed in the East Pacific in July 1987 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.
- Dora: Dora formed in the East Pacific in July 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 5 days.
- Eugene: Eugene formed in the East Pacific in July 1987 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph (155 km/h). It made landfall near San Patricio, Mexico. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Fernanda: Fernanda formed in the East Pacific in July 1987 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 7 days.
- Greg: Greg formed in the East Pacific in July 1987 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 7 days.
- Hilary: Hilary formed in the East Pacific in July 1987 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Irwin: Irwin formed in the East Pacific in August 1987 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.
- Jova: Jova formed in the East Pacific in August 1987 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 8 days.
- Knut: Knut formed in the East Pacific in August 1987 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.
- Lidia: Lidia formed in the East Pacific in August 1987 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 5 days.
- Max: Max formed in the East Pacific in September 1987 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 155 mph (250 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Norma: Norma formed in the East Pacific in September 1987 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 6 days.
- Otis: Otis formed in the East Pacific in September 1987 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.
- Pilar: Pilar formed in the East Pacific in September 1987 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 1 day.
- Ramon: Ramon formed in the East Pacific in October 1987 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Selma: Selma formed in the East Pacific in October 1987 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.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 1987
Hurricane Max was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 155 mph (250 km/h), on September 13. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
21 East Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 10 matched it. It produced 18% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 1987
1 of the season’s 18 systems made landfall, 1 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
- July 25: Eugene near San Patricio, Mexico, 90 mph (Category 1)
How 1987 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 12th of 47 East Pacific seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 8 other seasons), 20th for hurricanes (tied with 7 other seasons) and 21st for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 25 named storms, in 1992, and the highest ACE is 294, in 2018.
1987 storm names
The 1987 season used 18 names: Adrian, Beatriz, Calvin, Dora, Eugene, Fernanda, Greg, Hilary, Irwin, Jova, Knut, Lidia, Max, Norma, Otis, Pilar, Ramon, Selma.
Atlantic and East Pacific lists repeat every six years. See how storms are named.
The WMO later retired the name Knut, so it will not be used again.
1987 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 1987?
The 1987 East Pacific hurricane season had 18 named storms, 9 hurricanes and 4 major hurricanes, from 18 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 Adrian and the last was Selma.
What was the strongest storm of 1987?
Hurricane Max. It peaked at 155 mph (250 km/h, 135 kt) on September 13. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 21 East Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 18% 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, Selma, dissipated on October 31. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 1 East Pacific storm since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.