2010 Eastern Pacific hurricane season
Hurricane Celia 2010
Celia reached Category 5 strength over the eastern Pacific in June, after several interruptions to its intensification. Its center stayed offshore while early rainbands and surf affected parts of Mexico.
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161 mph
Jun 25, 2010 during the tropical stage
Full archive record, including non-tropical stages if present
Along the recorded center positions
STORM HISTORY
An uneven start south of Mexico
Celia developed from a tropical wave that crossed Central America into the Pacific. A depression formed southeast of Acapulco on June 18, became a named storm the next day and reached hurricane strength on June 20. The system moved generally westward to west-southwestward under a ridge to its north.
Wind shear repeatedly disrupted the core, displacing the circulation and causing the eye to disappear. As shear eased on June 24, the eye reformed and became more symmetrical. Celia then strengthened to an archived peak of 140 knots and 921 millibars at the start of June 25.
Coastal effects from an offshore storm
Early in its development, Celia brought rain to Oaxaca and Guerrero. Beaches increased lifeguard staffing because of dangerous rip currents, and authorities raised alerts along other parts of Mexico's Pacific coast. Outer rainbands also reached Clipperton Island. No archived position places the hurricane's center over land.
Further reading
NOAA IBTrACS v04r01 historical track archive
Wikipedia, 2010 Pacific hurricane season, Celia section
Official report (PDF) — National Hurricane Center, Tropical Cyclone Report.
QUICK ANSWERS
Celia in brief
What was Hurricane Celia's highest wind speed?
161 mph, the highest one-minute sustained wind in its tropical stage, recorded on Jun 25, 2010, 12:00 AM UTC.
What category was Hurricane Celia?
Category 5 at its peak on the Saffir–Simpson one-minute wind scale, first reaching Category 5 on Jun 25, 2010, 12:00 AM UTC. Other agencies classify storms differently.
What was Hurricane Celia's lowest pressure?
921 mb, the minimum central pressure recorded during its tropical stage, on Jun 25, 2010, 12:00 AM UTC.
When did Hurricane Celia occur?
The archived track runs from Jun 18, 2010, 06:00 AM UTC to Jun 30, 2010, 12:00 PM UTC, with the tropical stage from Jun 18, 2010, 06:00 PM UTC to Jun 28, 2010, 03:00 PM UTC.
Where did Hurricane Celia form?
In the Eastern Pacific basin, in the 2010 season. Its first archived position is 13°N, 94.4°W on Jun 18, 2010, 06:00 AM UTC.
Did Hurricane Celia make landfall?
No archived position places Hurricane Celia's center over land, but positions are six-hourly and a brief landfall can fall between them.
METHODOLOGY
Data sources and limitations
The map and summary are generated from NOAA's IBTrACS v04r01 archive. Wind and category use US-agency records; minimum pressure is calculated during the tropical stage, with the archive's pressure source retained. Category 5 refers to the Saffir–Simpson one-minute wind scale; local agencies may use different classifications. Coastlines use Natural Earth's 1:10m land data.
Track distance adds great-circle distances between consecutive observations, excluding gaps over 12 hours. This track has no gaps over 12 hours. The line shows the storm's center, not its size, rainfall or flood extent. Converted wind speeds are rounded to the nearest whole unit.
Archive retrieved
NOAA IBTrACS archive and Field documentation
Sources & methodology