1989 East Pacific hurricane season
May 15, 1989 – Nov 30, 1989 · Season ended
The 1989 East Pacific hurricane season produced 16 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 111, 87% of the average.
1989 season at a glance
- Named storms: 16 (1991–2020 average 15.6).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 9 (average 8.4).
- Major, 96 kt+: 4 (average 4.4).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 110.8, 87% of the 127 average.
- Named-storm days: 67.3, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Adolph, June 1.
- First hurricane: Barbara, June 18.
- First major storm: Ismael, August 19.
- Last storm to dissipate: Tropical Depression 24E, October 19.
- All systems tracked: 22, including 6 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
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adolph | – | TS | 994 mb | — |
| Barbara | – | C1 | 984 mb | — |
| Cosme | – | C1 | 979 mb | Cruz Grande, Mexico |
| TD 4E | – | TD | — | — |
| TD 5E | – | TD | — | — |
| Dalilia | – | C1 | 977 mb | — |
| TD 7E | – | TD | — | — |
| Erick | – | TS | 1005 mb | — |
| Flossie | – | TS | 1004 mb | — |
| Gil | – | C1 | 979 mb | — |
| Ismael | – | C3 | 955 mb | — |
| Juliette | – | TS | 992 mb | — |
| Kiko | – | C3 | 955 mb | Las Veredas, Mexico |
| Lorena | – | C1 | 989 mb | — |
| Manuel | – | TS | 1002 mb | — |
| Narda | – | TS | 1000 mb | — |
| Octave | – | C4 | 948 mb | — |
| Priscilla | – | TS | 993 mb | — |
| Raymond | – | C4 | 935 mb | Villa Alberto Andrés Alvarado Arámburo, Mexico |
| TD 20E | – | TD | — | — |
| TD 22E | – | TD | — | — |
| TD 24E | – | TD | — | — |
- Adolph: Adolph formed in the East Pacific in May 1989 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 994 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Barbara: Barbara formed in the East Pacific in June 1989 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 984 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Cosme: Cosme formed in the East Pacific in June 1989 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 979 mb. It made landfall near Cruz Grande, Mexico. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- TD 4E: This system formed in the East 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.
- TD 5E: This system formed in the East 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 5 days.
- Dalilia: Dalilia formed in the East Pacific in July 1989 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 977 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 13 days.
- TD 7E: This system formed in the East 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 3 days.
- Erick: Erick formed in the East Pacific in July 1989 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1005 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Flossie: Flossie formed in the East Pacific in July 1989 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1004 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Gil: Gil formed in the East Pacific in July 1989 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 979 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Ismael: Ismael formed in the East Pacific in August 1989 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 955 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 11 days.
- Juliette: Juliette formed in the East Pacific in August 1989 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 992 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Kiko: Kiko formed in the East Pacific in August 1989 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 955 mb. It made landfall near Las Veredas, Mexico. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Lorena: Lorena formed in the East Pacific in August 1989 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 989 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 11 days.
- Manuel: Manuel formed in the East Pacific in August 1989 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1002 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Narda: Narda formed in the East Pacific in September 1989 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1000 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Octave: Octave formed in the East Pacific in September 1989 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 948 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Priscilla: Priscilla formed in the East Pacific in September 1989 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 993 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Raymond: Raymond formed in the East Pacific in September 1989 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 935 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Villa Alberto Andrés Alvarado Arámburo, Mexico and last near Bahía de Kino, Mexico. The system was tracked for 11 days.
- TD 20E: This system formed in the East Pacific in September 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.
- TD 22E: This system formed in the East Pacific in October 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 5 days.
- TD 24E: This system formed in the East Pacific in October 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 4 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 1989
Hurricane Raymond was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 145 mph (230 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 935 mb, on October 1. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
47 East Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 29 matched it. It produced 22% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 1989
3 of the season’s 22 systems made landfall, 2 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
How 1989 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 28th of 47 East Pacific seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 2 other seasons), 20th for hurricanes (tied with 7 other seasons) and 24th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 25 named storms, in 1992, and the highest ACE is 294, in 2018.
1989 storm names
The 1989 season used 16 names: Adolph, Barbara, Cosme, Dalilia, Erick, Flossie, Gil, Ismael, Juliette, Kiko, Lorena, Manuel, Narda, Octave, Priscilla, Raymond.
6 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.
Atlantic and East Pacific lists repeat every six years. See how storms are named.
1989 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 1989?
The 1989 East Pacific hurricane season had 16 named storms, 9 hurricanes and 4 major hurricanes, from 22 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 Adolph and the last was Raymond.
What was the strongest storm of 1989?
Hurricane Raymond. It peaked at 145 mph (230 km/h, 125 kt) with a lowest pressure of 935 mb on October 1. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 47 East Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 22% 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 24E, dissipated on October 19. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 1 East Pacific storm since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.