1992 Central Pacific hurricane season
Jun 1, 1992 – Nov 30, 1992 · Season ended
The 1992 Central Pacific hurricane season produced 6 named storms, 5 hurricanes and 4 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 1.6, 0.8 and 0.5. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 167, 703% of the average.
1992 season at a glance
- Named storms: 6 (1991–2020 average 1.6).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 5 (average 0.8).
- Major, 96 kt+: 4, including 1 at Category 5 strength (average 0.5).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 167.4, 703% of the 24 average.
- Named-storm days: 55.5, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Ekeka, January 28.
- First hurricane: Ekeka, January 30.
- First major storm: Ekeka, February 2.
- Last storm to dissipate: Gay, December 4.
- All systems tracked: 7, 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 1992 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ekeka | – | C3 | 990 mb | — |
| Hali | – | TS | — | — |
| Kent | – | C4 | 930 mb | Kadogawa, Japan |
| Ward | – | C2 | 945 mb | — |
| Dan | – | C3 | 935 mb | — |
| Gay | – | C5 | 900 mb | — |
| TD 3C | – | TD | — | — |
- Ekeka: Ekeka formed in the Central Pacific in January 1992 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 990 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 13 days.
- Hali: Hali formed in the Central Pacific in March 1992 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Kent: Kent formed in the Central Pacific in August 1992 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph (240 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 930 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Kadogawa, Japan and last near Nagato, Japan. The system was tracked for 17 days.
- Ward: Ward formed in the Central Pacific in September 1992 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 945 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 14 days.
- Dan: Dan formed in the Central Pacific in October 1992 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (205 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 935 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 13 days.
- Gay: Gay formed in the Central Pacific in November 1992 and peaked as a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 185 mph (295 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 900 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 21 days.
- TD 3C: This system formed in the Central Pacific in November 1992 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 1992
Hurricane Gay was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 185 mph (295 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 900 mb, on November 21. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
No Central Pacific storm since 1980 has peaked higher; 1 other matched it. It produced 36% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 1992
1 of the season’s 7 systems made landfall, none of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
How 1992 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 2nd of 47 Central Pacific seasons since 1980 for named storms, 1st for hurricanes and 1st for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 7 named storms, in 2015, and the highest ACE is 167, in 1992.
1992 storm names
The 1992 season used 6 names: Ekeka, Hali, Kent, Ward, Dan, Gay.
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.
1992 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 1992?
The 1992 Central Pacific hurricane season had 6 named storms, 5 hurricanes and 4 major hurricanes, from 7 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 Ekeka and the last was Gay.
What was the strongest storm of 1992?
Hurricane Gay. It peaked at 185 mph (295 km/h, 160 kt) with a lowest pressure of 900 mb on November 21. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. No Central Pacific storm since 1980 has peaked higher. It produced 36% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 1992 season end?
The official season ended on November 30, 1992, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Gay, dissipated on December 4. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 2 Central Pacific storms since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.