1988 Central Pacific hurricane season
Jun 1, 1988 – Nov 30, 1988 · Season ended
The 1988 Central Pacific hurricane season produced 2 named storms, 1 hurricane and 1 major hurricane, against a 1991–2020 average of 1.6, 0.8 and 0.5. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 40, 168% of the average.
1988 season at a glance
- Named storms: 2 (1991–2020 average 1.6).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 1 (average 0.8).
- Major, 96 kt+: 1 (average 0.5).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 39.9, 168% of the 24 average.
- Named-storm days: 15.8, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Uleki, August 29.
- First hurricane: Uleki, August 31.
- First major storm: Uleki, August 31.
- Last storm to dissipate: Wila, September 25.
- All systems tracked: 2, 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 1988 season
- Uleki: Uleki formed in the Central Pacific in August 1988 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (205 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 945 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 19 days.
- Wila: Wila formed in the Central Pacific in September 1988 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 5 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 1988
Hurricane Uleki was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 125 mph (205 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 945 mb, on September 2. That is Category 3 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
17 Central Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 2 matched it. It produced 99% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 1988
No storm in the 1988 Central Pacific hurricane season made landfall, according to the best track.
How 1988 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 8th of 47 Central Pacific seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 12 other seasons), 8th for hurricanes (tied with 18 other seasons) and 10th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 7 named storms, in 2015, and the highest ACE is 167, in 1992.
1988 storm names
The 1988 season used 2 names: Uleki, Wila.
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.
1988 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 1988?
The 1988 Central Pacific hurricane season had 2 named storms, 1 hurricane and 1 major hurricane, from 2 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 Uleki and the last was Wila.
What was the strongest storm of 1988?
Hurricane Uleki. It peaked at 125 mph (205 km/h, 110 kt) with a lowest pressure of 945 mb on September 2. That is Category 3 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 17 Central Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 99% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 1988 season end?
The official season ended on November 30, 1988, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Wila, dissipated on September 25. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 2 Central Pacific storms since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.