1996 East Pacific hurricane season
May 15, 1996 – Nov 30, 1996 · Season ended
The 1996 East Pacific hurricane season produced 9 named storms, 5 hurricanes and 2 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 15.6, 8.4 and 4.4. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 54, 42% of the average.
1996 season at a glance
- Named storms: 9 (1991–2020 average 15.6).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 5 (average 8.4).
- Major, 96 kt+: 2 (average 4.4).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 53.5, 42% of the 127 average.
- Named-storm days: 32.0, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Tropical Storm 1E, May 14.
- First hurricane: Alma, June 22.
- First major storm: Douglas, July 31.
- Last storm to dissipate: Tropical Depression 12E, November 11.
- All systems tracked: 12, including 3 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 1996 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TD 1E | – | TS | 1000 mb | — |
| TD 2E | – | TD | — | — |
| Alma | – | C2 | 969 mb | La Mira, Mexico |
| Boris | – | C1 | 979 mb | Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Mexico |
| Cristina | – | TS | 991 mb | Crucecita, Mexico |
| TD 6E | – | TD | — | — |
| Douglas | – | C4 | 946 mb | — |
| Elida | – | TS | 994 mb | — |
| Fausto | – | C3 | 955 mb | Todos Santos, Mexico |
| Genevieve | – | TS | 999 mb | — |
| Hernan | – | C1 | 980 mb | San Patricio, Mexico |
| TD 12E | – | TD | — | — |
- TD 1E: This system formed in the East Pacific in May 1996 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 4 days.
- TD 2E: This system formed in the East Pacific in May 1996 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.
- Alma: Alma formed in the East Pacific in June 1996 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 969 mb. It made landfall near La Mira, Mexico. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Boris: Boris formed in the East Pacific in June 1996 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 979 mb. It made landfall near Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Mexico. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Cristina: Cristina formed in the East Pacific in July 1996 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 991 mb. It made landfall near Crucecita, Mexico. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- TD 6E: This system formed in the East Pacific in July 1996 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.
- Douglas: Douglas formed in the East Pacific in July 1996 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 946 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Elida: Elida formed in the East Pacific in August 1996 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.
- Fausto: Fausto formed in the East Pacific in September 1996 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 2 landfalls, first near Todos Santos, Mexico and last near Higuera de Zaragoza, Mexico. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Genevieve: Genevieve formed in the East Pacific in September 1996 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 999 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 11 days.
- Hernan: Hernan formed in the East Pacific in September 1996 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 980 mb. It made landfall near San Patricio, Mexico. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- TD 12E: This system formed in the East Pacific in November 1996 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.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 1996
Hurricane Douglas was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 130 mph (215 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 946 mb, on August 1. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
102 East Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 41 matched it. It produced 37% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 1996
5 of the season’s 12 systems made landfall, 4 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
- June 24: Alma near La Mira, Mexico, 105 mph (Category 2)
- June 29: Boris near Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, Mexico, 90 mph (Category 1)
- July 3: Cristina near Crucecita, Mexico, 70 mph (tropical storm)
- September 13: Fausto near Todos Santos, Mexico, 85 mph (Category 1)
- September 14: Fausto near Higuera de Zaragoza, Mexico, 75 mph (Category 1)
- October 3: Hernan near San Patricio, Mexico, 75 mph (Category 1)
How 1996 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 45th of 47 East Pacific seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 1 other season), 43rd for hurricanes and 45th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 25 named storms, in 1992, and the highest ACE is 294, in 2018.
1996 storm names
The 1996 season used 8 names: Alma, Boris, Cristina, Douglas, Elida, Fausto, Genevieve, Hernan.
4 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.
1996 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 1996?
The 1996 East Pacific hurricane season had 9 named storms, 5 hurricanes and 2 major hurricanes, from 12 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 Tropical Storm 1E and the last was Hernan.
What was the strongest storm of 1996?
Hurricane Douglas. It peaked at 130 mph (215 km/h, 115 kt) with a lowest pressure of 946 mb on August 1. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 102 East Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 37% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 1996 season end?
The official season ended on November 30, 1996, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Tropical Depression 12E, dissipated on November 11. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 1 East Pacific storm since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.