1989 Central Pacific hurricane season
Jun 1, 1989 – Nov 30, 1989 · Season ended
The 1989 Central Pacific hurricane season produced 1 named storm, 0 hurricanes and 0 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 1.6, 0.8 and 0.5. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 5, 20% of the average.
1989 season at a glance
- Named storms: 1 (1991–2020 average 1.6).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 0 (average 0.8).
- Major, 96 kt+: 0 (average 0.5).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 4.8, 20% of the 24 average.
- Named-storm days: 6.5, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Winona, January 13.
- First hurricane: none.
- Last storm to dissipate: Tropical Depression Unnamed, July 14.
- All systems tracked: 3, including 2 that stayed below 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 1989 season
- Winona: Winona formed in the Central Pacific in January 1989 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1000 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 13 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the Central Pacific in July 1989 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Unnamed: This system formed in the Central Pacific in July 1989 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 1 day.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 1989
Tropical Storm Winona was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 65 mph (100 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 1000 mb, on January 19. It stayed below hurricane strength (64 kt, 74 mph).
38 Central Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 4 matched it. It produced 100% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 1989
No storm in the 1989 Central Pacific hurricane season made landfall, according to the best track.
How 1989 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 21st of 47 Central Pacific seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 15 other seasons), 27th for hurricanes (tied with 20 other seasons) and 27th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 7 named storms, in 2015, and the highest ACE is 167, in 1992.
1989 storm names
The 1989 season used 1 name: Winona.
2 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.
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.
1989 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 1989?
The 1989 Central Pacific hurricane season had 1 named storm, 0 hurricanes and 0 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 Winona and the last was Winona.
What was the strongest storm of 1989?
Tropical Storm Winona. It peaked at 65 mph (100 km/h, 55 kt) with a lowest pressure of 1000 mb on January 19. It stayed below hurricane strength (64 kt, 74 mph). 38 Central Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 100% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 1989 season end?
The official season ended on November 30, 1989, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Tropical Depression Unnamed, dissipated on July 14. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 2 Central Pacific storms since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.