1997 Central Pacific hurricane season
Jun 1, 1997 – Nov 30, 1997 · Season ended
The 1997 Central Pacific hurricane season produced 4 named storms, 2 hurricanes and 2 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 1.6, 0.8 and 0.5. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 115, 482% of the average.
1997 season at a glance
- Named storms: 4 (1991–2020 average 1.6).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 2 (average 0.8).
- Major, 96 kt+: 2, including 2 at Category 5 strength (average 0.5).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 114.8, 482% of the 24 average.
- Named-storm days: 36.5, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Oliwa, September 3.
- First hurricane: Oliwa, September 8.
- First major storm: Oliwa, September 9.
- Last storm to dissipate: Paka, December 23.
- All systems tracked: 7, 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 1997 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TD 1C | – | TD | — | — |
| TD 16W | – | TD | — | — |
| Oliwa | – | C5 | 915 mb | Kaseda-shirakame, Japan |
| Ella | – | TS | — | — |
| TD 3C | – | TD | — | — |
| TD 4C | – | TS | — | — |
| Paka | – | C5 | 920 mb | — |
- TD 1C: This system formed in the Central Pacific in July 1997 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 30 mph (45 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- TD 16W: This system formed in the Central Pacific in August 1997 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 6 days.
- Oliwa: Oliwa formed in the Central Pacific in August 1997 and peaked as a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (260 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 915 mb. It made 4 landfalls, first near Kaseda-shirakame, Japan and last near Matsutō, Japan. The system was tracked for 22 days.
- Ella: Ella formed in the Central Pacific in September 1997 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- TD 3C: This system formed in the Central Pacific in October 1997 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 30 mph (45 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- TD 4C: This system formed in the Central Pacific in October 1997 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Paka: Paka formed in the Central Pacific in November 1997 and peaked as a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 185 mph (295 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 920 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 24 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 1997
Hurricane Paka was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 185 mph (295 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 920 mb, on December 18. 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 61% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 1997
1 of the season’s 7 systems made landfall, 1 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
How 1997 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 3rd of 47 Central Pacific seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 1 other season), 3rd for hurricanes (tied with 4 other seasons) and 2nd for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 7 named storms, in 2015, and the highest ACE is 167, in 1992.
1997 storm names
The 1997 season used 3 names: Oliwa, Ella, Paka.
4 systems were tracked without a name and are 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.
The WMO later retired the name Paka, so it will not be used again.
1997 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 1997?
The 1997 Central Pacific hurricane season had 4 named storms, 2 hurricanes and 2 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 Oliwa and the last was Paka.
What was the strongest storm of 1997?
Hurricane Paka. It peaked at 185 mph (295 km/h, 160 kt) with a lowest pressure of 920 mb on December 18. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. No Central Pacific storm since 1980 has peaked higher. It produced 61% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 1997 season end?
The official season ended on November 30, 1997, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Paka, dissipated on December 23. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 2 Central Pacific storms since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.