1997 East Pacific hurricane season
May 15, 1997 – Nov 30, 1997 · Season ended
The 1997 East Pacific hurricane season produced 17 named storms, 9 hurricanes and 7 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 15.6, 8.4 and 4.4. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 163, 128% of the average.
1997 season at a glance
- Named storms: 17 (1991–2020 average 15.6).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 9 (average 8.4).
- Major, 96 kt+: 7, including 2 at Category 5 strength (average 4.4).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 163.1, 128% of the 127 average.
- Named-storm days: 72.5, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Andres, June 2.
- First hurricane: Dolores, July 7.
- First major storm: Enrique, July 14.
- Last storm to dissipate: Rick, November 10.
- All systems tracked: 19, 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 1997 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andres | – | TS | 998 mb | Jiquilisco, El Salvador |
| Blanca | – | TS | 1002 mb | — |
| TD 3E | – | TD | — | — |
| Carlos | – | TS | 996 mb | — |
| TD 5E | – | TD | — | — |
| Dolores | – | C1 | 975 mb | — |
| Enrique | – | C3 | 960 mb | — |
| Felicia | – | C4 | 948 mb | — |
| Guillermo | – | C5 | 919 mb | — |
| Hilda | – | TS | 1000 mb | — |
| Ignacio | – | TS | 1005 mb | — |
| Jimena | – | C4 | 942 mb | — |
| Kevin | – | TS | 994 mb | — |
| Linda | – | C5 | 902 mb | — |
| Marty | – | TS | 1002 mb | — |
| Nora | – | C4 | 950 mb | Guerrero Negro, Mexico |
| Olaf | – | TS | 989 mb | San Mateo del Mar, Mexico |
| Pauline | – | C4 | 948 mb | Río Grande, Mexico |
| Rick | – | C2 | 973 mb | Bajos de Chila, Mexico |
- Andres: Andres formed in the East Pacific in June 1997 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 998 mb. It made landfall near Jiquilisco, El Salvador. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Blanca: Blanca formed in the East Pacific in June 1997 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1002 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- TD 3E: This system formed in the East Pacific in June 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 2 days.
- Carlos: Carlos formed in the East Pacific in June 1997 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 996 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- TD 5E: This system formed in the East Pacific in June 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 5 days.
- Dolores: Dolores formed in the East Pacific in July 1997 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 975 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Enrique: Enrique formed in the East Pacific in July 1997 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 960 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Felicia: Felicia formed in the East Pacific in July 1997 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 948 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Guillermo: Guillermo formed in the East Pacific in July 1997 and peaked as a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (260 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 919 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 25 days.
- Hilda: Hilda formed in the East Pacific in August 1997 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 5 days.
- Ignacio: Ignacio formed in the East Pacific in August 1997 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1005 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Jimena: Jimena formed in the East Pacific in August 1997 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 942 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Kevin: Kevin formed in the East Pacific in September 1997 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 994 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Linda: Linda formed in the East Pacific in September 1997 and peaked as a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 185 mph (295 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 902 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Marty: Marty formed in the East Pacific in September 1997 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1002 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Nora: Nora formed in the East Pacific in September 1997 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 950 mb. It made landfall near Guerrero Negro, Mexico. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- Olaf: Olaf formed in the East Pacific in September 1997 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 989 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near San Mateo del Mar, Mexico and last near El Colomo, Mexico. The system was tracked for 16 days.
- Pauline: Pauline formed in the East Pacific in October 1997 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 948 mb. It made landfall near Río Grande, Mexico. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Rick: Rick formed in the East Pacific in November 1997 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph (155 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 973 mb. It made landfall near Bajos de Chila, Mexico. The system was tracked for 4 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 1997
Hurricane Linda was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 185 mph (295 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 902 mb, on September 12. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
1 East Pacific storm since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 18% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 1997
5 of the season’s 19 systems made landfall, 3 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
- June 7: Andres near Jiquilisco, El Salvador, 30 mph (tropical depression)
- September 25: Nora near Guerrero Negro, Mexico, 85 mph (Category 1)
- September 25: Nora, 80 mph (Category 1)
- September 29: Olaf near San Mateo del Mar, Mexico, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- October 9: Pauline near Río Grande, Mexico, 110 mph (Category 2)
- October 12: Olaf near El Colomo, Mexico, 30 mph (tropical depression)
- November 10: Rick near Bajos de Chila, Mexico, 85 mph (Category 1)
How 1997 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 21st of 47 East Pacific seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 6 other seasons), 20th for hurricanes (tied with 7 other seasons) and 15th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 25 named storms, in 1992, and the highest ACE is 294, in 2018.
1997 storm names
The 1997 season used 17 names: Andres, Blanca, Carlos, Dolores, Enrique, Felicia, Guillermo, Hilda, Ignacio, Jimena, Kevin, Linda, Marty, Nora, Olaf, Pauline, Rick.
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 Pauline, so it will not be used again.
1997 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 1997?
The 1997 East Pacific hurricane season had 17 named storms, 9 hurricanes and 7 major hurricanes, from 19 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 Rick.
What was the strongest storm of 1997?
Hurricane Linda. It peaked at 185 mph (295 km/h, 160 kt) with a lowest pressure of 902 mb on September 12. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 1 East Pacific storm since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 18% 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, Rick, dissipated on November 10. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 1 East Pacific storm since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.