2008 East Pacific hurricane season
May 15, 2008 – Nov 30, 2008 · Season ended
The 2008 East Pacific hurricane season produced 16 named storms, 7 hurricanes and 2 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 15.6, 8.4 and 4.4. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 82, 65% of the average.
2008 season at a glance
- Named storms: 16 (1991–2020 average 15.6).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 7 (average 8.4).
- Major, 96 kt+: 2 (average 4.4).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 82.2, 65% of the 127 average.
- Named-storm days: 61.3, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Alma, May 29.
- First hurricane: Boris, July 1.
- First major storm: Hernan, August 9.
- Last storm to dissipate: Polo, November 5.
- All systems tracked: 18, 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 2008 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alma | – | TS | 994 mb | León, Nicaragua |
| Boris | – | C1 | 985 mb | — |
| Cristina | – | TS | 999 mb | — |
| Douglas | – | TS | 1003 mb | — |
| TD 5E | – | TD | 1005 mb | Arteaga, Mexico |
| Elida | – | C2 | 970 mb | — |
| Fausto | – | C1 | 977 mb | — |
| Genevieve | – | C1 | 987 mb | — |
| Hernan | – | C3 | 956 mb | — |
| Iselle | – | TS | 999 mb | — |
| Julio | – | TS | 998 mb | La Paz, Mexico |
| Karina | – | TS | 1000 mb | — |
| Lowell | – | TS | 998 mb | Las Palmas, Mexico |
| Marie | – | C1 | 984 mb | — |
| Norbert | – | C4 | 945 mb | Puerto San Carlos, Mexico |
| Odile | – | TS | 997 mb | — |
| TD 17E | – | TD | 1008 mb | — |
| Polo | – | TS | 1003 mb | — |
- Alma: Alma formed in the East Pacific in May 2008 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 994 mb. It made landfall near León, Nicaragua. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Boris: Boris formed in the East Pacific in June 2008 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 985 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Cristina: Cristina formed in the East Pacific in June 2008 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 5 days.
- Douglas: Douglas formed in the East Pacific in July 2008 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1003 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- TD 5E: This system formed in the East Pacific in July 2008 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1005 mb. It made landfall near Arteaga, Mexico. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Elida: Elida formed in the East Pacific in July 2008 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 970 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- Fausto: Fausto formed in the East Pacific in July 2008 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 977 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Genevieve: Genevieve formed in the East Pacific in July 2008 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 10 days.
- Hernan: Hernan formed in the East Pacific in August 2008 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 956 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- Iselle: Iselle formed in the East Pacific in August 2008 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 10 days.
- Julio: Julio formed in the East Pacific in August 2008 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 La Paz, Mexico. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Karina: Karina formed in the East Pacific in September 2008 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1000 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Lowell: Lowell formed in the East Pacific in September 2008 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 Las Palmas, Mexico. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Marie: Marie formed in the East Pacific in October 2008 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 984 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 18 days.
- Norbert: Norbert formed in the East Pacific in October 2008 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 945 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near Puerto San Carlos, Mexico and last near Huatabampo, Mexico. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Odile: Odile formed in the East Pacific in October 2008 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.
- TD 17E: This system formed in the East Pacific in October 2008 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1008 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Polo: Polo formed in the East Pacific in November 2008 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1003 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 2008
Hurricane Norbert was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 130 mph (215 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 945 mb, on October 8. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
102 East Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 41 matched it. It produced 22% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 2008
5 of the season’s 18 systems made landfall, 1 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
- May 29: Alma near León, Nicaragua, 65 mph (tropical storm)
- July 7: TD 5E near Arteaga, Mexico, 30 mph (tropical depression)
- August 25: Julio near La Paz, Mexico, 45 mph (tropical storm)
- September 11: Lowell near Las Palmas, Mexico, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- October 11: Norbert near Puerto San Carlos, Mexico, 105 mph (Category 2)
- October 12: Norbert near Huatabampo, Mexico, 85 mph (Category 1)
How 2008 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 28th of 47 East Pacific seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 2 other seasons), 31st for hurricanes (tied with 6 other seasons) and 37th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 25 named storms, in 1992, and the highest ACE is 294, in 2018.
2008 storm names
The 2008 season used 16 names: Alma, Boris, Cristina, Douglas, Elida, Fausto, Genevieve, Hernan, Iselle, Julio, Karina, Lowell, Marie, Norbert, Odile, Polo.
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 Alma, so it will not be used again.
2008 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 2008?
The 2008 East Pacific hurricane season had 16 named storms, 7 hurricanes and 2 major hurricanes, from 18 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 Alma and the last was Polo.
What was the strongest storm of 2008?
Hurricane Norbert. It peaked at 130 mph (215 km/h, 115 kt) with a lowest pressure of 945 mb on October 8. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 102 East Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 22% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 2008 season end?
The official season ended on November 30, 2008, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Polo, dissipated on November 5. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 1 East Pacific storm since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.