1998 East Pacific hurricane season
May 15, 1998 – Nov 30, 1998 · Season ended
The 1998 East Pacific hurricane season produced 13 named storms, 9 hurricanes and 6 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 15.6, 8.4 and 4.4. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 135, 106% of the average.
1998 season at a glance
- Named storms: 13 (1991–2020 average 15.6).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 9 (average 8.4).
- Major, 96 kt+: 6 (average 4.4).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 135.3, 106% of the 127 average.
- Named-storm days: 65.5, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Agatha, June 13.
- First hurricane: Blas, June 23.
- First major storm: Blas, June 24.
- Last storm to dissipate: Lester, October 26.
- All systems tracked: 15, 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 1998 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agatha | – | TS | 993 mb | — |
| TD 2E | – | TD | — | — |
| Blas | – | C4 | 943 mb | — |
| Celia | – | TS | 997 mb | — |
| Darby | – | C3 | 958 mb | — |
| Estelle | – | C4 | 948 mb | — |
| Frank | – | TS | 1001 mb | — |
| Georgette | – | C3 | 960 mb | — |
| Howard | – | C4 | 932 mb | — |
| Isis | – | C1 | 988 mb | Topolobampo, Mexico |
| Javier | – | TS | 995 mb | Tomatlán, Mexico |
| TD 12E | – | TD | — | — |
| Madeline | – | C1 | 979 mb | — |
| Kay | – | C1 | 987 mb | — |
| Lester | – | C3 | 965 mb | — |
- Agatha: Agatha formed in the East Pacific in June 1998 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 993 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- TD 2E: This system formed in the East Pacific in June 1998 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.
- Blas: Blas formed in the East Pacific in June 1998 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 943 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Celia: Celia formed in the East Pacific in July 1998 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 997 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Darby: Darby formed in the East Pacific in July 1998 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 958 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- Estelle: Estelle formed in the East Pacific in July 1998 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 11 days.
- Frank: Frank formed in the East Pacific in August 1998 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1001 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Georgette: Georgette formed in the East Pacific in August 1998 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 8 days.
- Howard: Howard formed in the East Pacific in August 1998 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph (240 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 932 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 12 days.
- Isis: Isis formed in the East Pacific in August 1998 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 988 mb. It made landfall near Topolobampo, Mexico. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Javier: Javier formed in the East Pacific in September 1998 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 995 mb. It made landfall near Tomatlán, Mexico. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- TD 12E: This system formed in the East Pacific in September 1998 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 3 days.
- Madeline: Madeline formed in the East Pacific in October 1998 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 11 days.
- Kay: Kay formed in the East Pacific in October 1998 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 6 days.
- Lester: Lester formed in the East Pacific in October 1998 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 965 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 12 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 1998
Hurricane Howard was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 150 mph (240 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 932 mb, on August 23. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
32 East Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 14 matched it. It produced 22% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 1998
2 of the season’s 15 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 1998 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 37th of 47 East Pacific seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 1 other season), 20th for hurricanes (tied with 7 other seasons) and 17th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 25 named storms, in 1992, and the highest ACE is 294, in 2018.
1998 storm names
The 1998 season used 13 names: Agatha, Blas, Celia, Darby, Estelle, Frank, Georgette, Howard, Isis, Javier, Madeline, Kay, Lester.
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.
1998 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 1998?
The 1998 East Pacific hurricane season had 13 named storms, 9 hurricanes and 6 major hurricanes, from 15 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 Agatha and the last was Lester.
What was the strongest storm of 1998?
Hurricane Howard. It peaked at 150 mph (240 km/h, 130 kt) with a lowest pressure of 932 mb on August 23. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 32 East Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 22% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 1998 season end?
The official season ended on November 30, 1998, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Lester, dissipated on October 26. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 1 East Pacific storm since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.