1991 East Pacific hurricane season
May 15, 1991 – Nov 30, 1991 · Season ended
The 1991 East Pacific hurricane season produced 14 named storms, 10 hurricanes and 5 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 15.6, 8.4 and 4.4. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 181, 142% of the average.
1991 season at a glance
- Named storms: 14 (1991–2020 average 15.6).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 10 (average 8.4).
- Major, 96 kt+: 5 (average 4.4).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 180.6, 142% of the 127 average.
- Named-storm days: 90.3, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Andres, May 17.
- First hurricane: Carlos, June 18.
- First major storm: Carlos, June 23.
- Last storm to dissipate: Nora, November 12.
- All systems tracked: 16, 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 1991 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andres | – | TS | 994 mb | — |
| Blanca | – | TS | 994 mb | — |
| Carlos | – | C3 | 955 mb | — |
| Delores | – | C1 | 979 mb | — |
| TD 5E | – | TD | — | Salina Cruz, Mexico |
| Enrique | – | C1 | 987 mb | — |
| Fefa | – | C3 | 959 mb | — |
| Guillermo | – | C1 | 983 mb | — |
| Hilda | – | TS | 992 mb | — |
| TD 10E | – | TD | — | — |
| Ignacio | – | TS | 994 mb | — |
| Jimena | – | C4 | 945 mb | — |
| Kevin | – | C4 | 935 mb | — |
| Linda | – | C3 | 957 mb | — |
| Marty | – | C1 | 979 mb | — |
| Nora | – | C2 | 970 mb | — |
- Andres: Andres formed in the East Pacific in May 1991 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 4 days.
- Blanca: Blanca formed in the East Pacific in June 1991 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.
- Carlos: Carlos formed in the East Pacific in June 1991 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.
- Delores: Delores formed in the East Pacific in June 1991 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 6 days.
- TD 5E: This system formed in the East Pacific in June 1991 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h). It made landfall near Salina Cruz, Mexico. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Enrique: Enrique formed in the East Pacific in July 1991 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 987 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 18 days.
- Fefa: Fefa formed in the East Pacific in July 1991 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 959 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- Guillermo: Guillermo formed in the East Pacific in August 1991 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 983 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Hilda: Hilda formed in the East Pacific in August 1991 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 6 days.
- TD 10E: This system formed in the East Pacific in September 1991 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.
- Ignacio: Ignacio formed in the East Pacific in September 1991 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 3 days.
- Jimena: Jimena formed in the East Pacific in September 1991 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 945 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 11 days.
- Kevin: Kevin formed in the East Pacific in September 1991 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 did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 17 days.
- Linda: Linda formed in the East Pacific in October 1991 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 957 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- Marty: Marty formed in the East Pacific in October 1991 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 979 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 11 days.
- Nora: Nora formed in the East Pacific in November 1991 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 970 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 1991
Hurricane Kevin 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 29% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 1991
1 of the season’s 16 systems made landfall, none of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
- June 29: TD 5E near Salina Cruz, Mexico, 35 mph (tropical depression)
How 1991 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 34th of 47 East Pacific seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 2 other seasons), 11th for hurricanes (tied with 8 other seasons) and 10th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 25 named storms, in 1992, and the highest ACE is 294, in 2018.
1991 storm names
The 1991 season used 14 names: Andres, Blanca, Carlos, Delores, Enrique, Fefa, Guillermo, Hilda, Ignacio, Jimena, Kevin, Linda, Marty, Nora.
2 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.
The WMO later retired the name Fefa, so it will not be used again.
1991 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 1991?
The 1991 East Pacific hurricane season had 14 named storms, 10 hurricanes and 5 major hurricanes, from 16 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 Andres and the last was Nora.
What was the strongest storm of 1991?
Hurricane Kevin. 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 29% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 1991 season end?
The official season ended on November 30, 1991, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Nora, dissipated on November 12. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 1 East Pacific storm since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.