1999 East Pacific hurricane season
May 15, 1999 – Nov 30, 1999 · Season ended
The 1999 East Pacific hurricane season produced 9 named storms, 6 hurricanes and 2 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 15.6, 8.4 and 4.4. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 92, 72% of the average.
1999 season at a glance
- Named storms: 9 (1991–2020 average 15.6).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 6 (average 8.4).
- Major, 96 kt+: 2 (average 4.4).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 92.0, 72% of the 127 average.
- Named-storm days: 46.5, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Adrian, June 18.
- First hurricane: Adrian, June 20.
- First major storm: Beatriz, July 12.
- Last storm to dissipate: Irwin, October 11.
- All systems tracked: 14, including 5 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 1999 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adrian | – | C2 | 973 mb | — |
| Beatriz | – | C3 | 955 mb | — |
| TD 3E | – | TD | — | — |
| TD 4E | – | TD | — | — |
| Calvin | – | TS | 1005 mb | — |
| TD 6E | – | TD | — | — |
| Dora | – | C4 | 943 mb | — |
| Eugene | – | C2 | 964 mb | — |
| TD 9E | – | TD | — | — |
| Fernanda | – | TS | 994 mb | — |
| TD 11E | – | TD | — | — |
| Greg | – | C1 | 986 mb | Cabo San Lucas, Mexico |
| Hilary | – | C1 | 987 mb | — |
| Irwin | – | TS | 996 mb | — |
- Adrian: Adrian formed in the East Pacific in June 1999 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 did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Beatriz: Beatriz formed in the East Pacific in July 1999 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 did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- TD 3E: This system formed in the East Pacific in July 1999 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.
- TD 4E: This system formed in the East Pacific in July 1999 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.
- Calvin: Calvin formed in the East Pacific in July 1999 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 4 days.
- TD 6E: This system formed in the East Pacific in July 1999 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.
- Dora: Dora formed in the East Pacific in August 1999 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 21 days.
- Eugene: Eugene formed in the East Pacific in August 1999 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 964 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- TD 9E: This system formed in the East Pacific in August 1999 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.
- Fernanda: Fernanda formed in the East Pacific in August 1999 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.
- TD 11E: This system formed in the East Pacific in August 1999 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.
- Greg: Greg formed in the East Pacific in September 1999 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 986 mb. It made landfall near Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Hilary: Hilary formed in the East Pacific in September 1999 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 5 days.
- Irwin: Irwin formed in the East Pacific in October 1999 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 996 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 1999
Hurricane Dora was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 140 mph (220 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 943 mb, on August 12. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
77 East Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 24 matched it. It produced 47% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 1999
1 of the season’s 14 systems made landfall, none of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
- September 7: Greg near Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, 60 mph (tropical storm)
How 1999 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 45th of 47 East Pacific seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 1 other season), 38th for hurricanes (tied with 4 other seasons) and 34th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 25 named storms, in 1992, and the highest ACE is 294, in 2018.
1999 storm names
The 1999 season used 9 names: Adrian, Beatriz, Calvin, Dora, Eugene, Fernanda, Greg, Hilary, Irwin.
5 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.
1999 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 1999?
The 1999 East Pacific hurricane season had 9 named storms, 6 hurricanes and 2 major hurricanes, from 14 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 Adrian and the last was Irwin.
What was the strongest storm of 1999?
Hurricane Dora. It peaked at 140 mph (220 km/h, 120 kt) with a lowest pressure of 943 mb on August 12. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 77 East Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 47% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 1999 season end?
The official season ended on November 30, 1999, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Irwin, dissipated on October 11. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 1 East Pacific storm since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.