1986 Pacific hurricane season

A crowded year for depressions

The current best track counts 17 named storms, 9 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes, slightly above averages of 15 storms and 8 hurricanes. The site's archive agrees on storms and majors but counts 10 hurricanes, because it includes Georgette at 65 kt. Georgette weakened to a disturbance within days of forming west of Mexico, raced across the Date Line and reorganized in the western Pacific, where it reached its peak. The archive's one-minute winds for that later stage reach hurricane force, and its 970 hPa pressure is the lowest the site records for the season.

The Eastern Pacific Hurricane Center tracked 25 tropical depressions, one short of the 1982 record, and eight never reached storm strength. A moderate El Niño warmed the equatorial central Pacific by 1.3°C, and the Pacific decadal oscillation stood in its warm phase. Four named storms formed in May and June, activity peaked in August and September, and only Roslyn formed in October. Reconnaissance aircraft flew into Estelle, Newton and Roslyn, and NOAA used its Newton flights for environmental research.

Hurricane Agatha opened the year on 22 May, reached 65 kt near the Mexican coast on 26 May, and weakened offshore; rain from the system reached 10.75 inches in Puebla. Hurricane Celia peaked at 75 kt near Socorro Island in late June, and Hurricane Javier reached 115 kt on 25 August between Socorro and Clarion Islands, sending 15-foot waves to southern California.

Hurricane Estelle passes south of Hawaii

Estelle formed far west of Mexico on 16 July and became the first major hurricane on 20 July, peaking at 115 kt as it neared the central Pacific. It turned west and passed south of Hawaii, weakening to a tropical storm on 23 July. A hurricane watch and high surf advisory covered the Big Island, and more than 200 people evacuated.

Waves struck the Big Island on 22 July, washing away five beachfront homes at Vacation Land and damaging dozens more. Damage came to about $2 million in 1986 dollars, and two people drowned off Oahu.

Three hurricanes reach northwestern Mexico

Hurricane Newton formed on 18 September and made landfall northeast of Cabo San Lucas on 22 September as a minimal hurricane. It peaked at 75 kt over the Gulf of California and came ashore again near Punta Rosa on 23 September. About 700 people evacuated to shelters in Huatabampo and Yavaros, winds tore roofs off 40 homes in Huatabampo, though damage stayed minor.

Hurricane Paine became a hurricane southwest of Acapulco and peaked at 85 kt, Category 2, in the archive. Its outer eyewall crossed Cabo San Lucas, and it moved ashore near San José, Sonora, with winds of 100 mph before crossing into the United States and dissipating over Lake Michigan on 4 October. The resulting flooding ranks among the worst in Oklahoma's history, affecting 52 counties with damage of $350 million in 1986 dollars. Rain reached 11.35 inches at Fort Scott, Kansas, and the Mississippi at St. Louis hit its fifth highest stage on record.

Hurricane Roslyn formed off Guatemala on 15 October and peaked at 125 kt on 19 October, the strongest of the season. A trough turned it northeast, and it weakened steadily before landfall near Mazatlán on 22 October with winds of 75 mph. About 2,000 people evacuated, and rain reached 13.11 inches southeast of Mazatlán. Its remnant moisture dropped 13.8 inches at Matagorda, Texas, on ground still wet from Paine.