1990 Central Pacific hurricane season
Jun 1, 1990 – Nov 30, 1990 · Season ended
The 1990 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 49, 205% of the average.
1990 season at a glance
- Named storms: 2 (1991–2020 average 1.6).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 1 (average 0.8).
- Major, 96 kt+: 1, including 1 at Category 5 strength (average 0.5).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 48.9, 205% of the 24 average.
- Named-storm days: 18.3, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Aka, August 8.
- First hurricane: Owen, November 21.
- First major storm: Owen, November 22.
- Last storm to dissipate: Owen, December 5.
- All systems tracked: 3, including 1 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 1990 season
- Aka: Aka formed in the Central Pacific in August 1990 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 9 days.
- TD 2C: This system formed in the Central Pacific in August 1990 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.
- Owen: Owen formed in the Central Pacific in November 1990 and peaked as a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (260 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 925 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 21 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 1990
Hurricane Owen was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 160 mph (260 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 925 mb, on November 27. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
2 Central Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 3 matched it. It produced 90% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 1990
No storm in the 1990 Central Pacific hurricane season made landfall, according to the best track.
How 1990 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 7th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 7 named storms, in 2015, and the highest ACE is 167, in 1992.
1990 storm names
The 1990 season used 2 names: Aka, Owen.
1 system was tracked without a name and is 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.
1990 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 1990?
The 1990 Central Pacific hurricane season had 2 named storms, 1 hurricane and 1 major hurricane, 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 Aka and the last was Owen.
What was the strongest storm of 1990?
Hurricane Owen. It peaked at 160 mph (260 km/h, 140 kt) with a lowest pressure of 925 mb on November 27. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 2 Central Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 90% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 1990 season end?
The official season ended on November 30, 1990, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Owen, dissipated on December 5. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 2 Central Pacific storms since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.