1974 Pacific hurricane season

How the counts line up

The current best track describes 25 tropical cyclones, 18 named storms, 11 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes, counting Tropical Storm Olive in the central Pacific. The site finds 17 tropical storms and 10 hurricanes because Hurricane Orlene, which grew in part from the remains of Atlantic Hurricane Fifi, sits outside this season's archive list. Both sources agree on three major hurricanes: Connie, Ione and Maggie. Accumulated cyclone energy came to 87.4.

The season started early. Tropical Storm Aletta formed south of the Gulf of Tehuantepec on 28 May over waters near 88°F and came ashore in western Mexico two days later with minimal effects. The name Aletta had replaced Adele on the list.

Connie's loops and Dolores at Acapulco

Hurricane Connie, the first major hurricane, peaked at 110 kt and 942 mb on 14 June and never approached land. It took a twisting path with two sharp turns and possibly a loop, and at 360 recorded hours it was the longest-tracked storm of the year.

Hurricane Dolores developed quickly south of Mexico on 14 June and showed an eye-like feature on satellite as it became a hurricane. It struck near Acapulco with peak winds of 80 mph and fell apart once inland. Rain from Dolores set off floods and mudslides across southwestern Mexico, cutting roads and isolating communities. At least 18 people died, 32 were injured and about 173,000 were affected.

July brought Eileen, whose intensity came entirely from satellite estimates, and Hurricanes Francesca and Gretchen, both of which approached southern Baja California and turned away.

Five storms at once in late August

From 19 August to 1 September, six storms developed, and forecasters issued 139 of the season's 447 bulletins in those two weeks. A satellite image from 23 August shows Olive, Ione, Kirsten, Lorraine and Joyce side by side. On 26 August Ione, Kirsten, Lorraine, Joyce and Maggie all held tropical storm strength or more while Olive lingered as a depression.

Hurricane Ione formed east-southeast of Hawaii, weakened in cold air, then deepened fast on 23 August as an eye appeared and crossed into the central Pacific. It peaked at 100 kt, traced a U-shaped curve and dissipated south of Hawaii on 31 August. Hurricane Kirsten backtracked almost to its starting point before a Fujiwhara interaction with Ione, and Tropical Storm Lorraine traced a Z-shaped path.

Hurricane Maggie formed in the middle of the crowd on 26 August and peaked at 120 kt and 934 mb on 28 August, the strongest wind and lowest pressure of the year. It never threatened land.

Norma, Orlene and the autumn

Hurricane Norma formed southwest of Mexico on 9 September, turned north and briefly became a hurricane on 10 September before coming ashore west of Acapulco. Its peak of 75 mph came before landfall. Mudslides around Acapulco killed three people.

Atlantic Hurricane Fifi crossed Central America as a depression and, interacting with another disturbance, helped spawn Tropical Storm Orlene on 22 September. Orlene hugged the western Mexican coast, became a hurricane and made landfall in northwestern Mexico at its Category 2 peak. Mexico reported no casualties or major damage, though Acapulco recorded 11 inches of rain in six hours on 22 September.

Hurricane Patricia peaked at 80 kt and 964 mb on 8 October in the archive and turned southwest away from land. Tropical Storm Rosalie, an oval of thunderstorms without banding, closed the season southeast of Hawaii on 24 October.