1988 Pacific hurricane season

The least active season since 1981

The current best track counts 23 tropical depressions, 15 tropical storms, 7 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes, the least active season since 1981. The site's archive counts 14 tropical storms because it leaves out Miriam, the remnant of Atlantic Hurricane Joan, which crossed Central America in late October and was renamed under the policy of the time. That is also why the archive's season ends on 12 October, while the best track runs it to 2 November. The best-track accumulated cyclone energy of 127.45 sits close to the site's 124.7, with about 40 units from the central Pacific.

Atlantic tropical waves seeded much of the season. Aletta, Carlotta, Daniel, Emilia, Gilma, Iva, John, Kristy and Lane all grew from waves that had crossed from Africa. The remnants of Atlantic Hurricane Debby became a depression in early September, and with Joan becoming Miriam, 1988 was the first season on record in which more than one tropical cyclone crossed between the Atlantic and Pacific intact.

Fabio, Hector and a landfall in Hawaii

Tropical Storm Aletta formed southeast of Acapulco on 16 June and approached the coast without making landfall; unofficial reports put its toll at one death. Carlotta became a minimal hurricane on 11 July only after post-season reanalysis.

At the end of July, three storms formed far to the west. Hurricane Fabio formed about 1,000 miles southwest of Baja California on 28 July and peaked at 120 kt with a pressure of 943 hPa on 3 August. The Central Pacific Hurricane Center posted a tropical storm watch for the Big Island on 4 August, then dropped it when Fabio turned west. Its moisture still dropped 18.75 inches near Pāpaʻikou. Hurricane Hector formed about 400 miles south of Acapulco on 30 July and reached 125 kt and 935 hPa on 3 August, the highest wind and lowest pressure of the season, before dissipating 650 miles east of Hilo.

Tropical Storm Gilma peaked at 45 kt, weakened to a depression and skirted the Hawaiian Islands before dissipating near Oahu on 3 August. Its crossing of the islands was the season's only landfall, with some rain and no direct damage or deaths.

Uleki's slow loop and Kristy's rain

Hurricane Uleki formed about 800 miles southeast of the Big Island on 28 August and peaked at 110 kt on 2 September as its steering currents collapsed. It edged toward the islands and prompted tropical storm watches for Oahu, Kauai and Niihau before turning west and passing between Johnston Island and French Frigate Shoals. Its surf flooded a runway on Midway, two people drowned on Oahu, and 19 more had to be rescued. Uleki crossed the Date Line on 8 September.

Hurricane Kristy grew from the remnant of an Atlantic depression that crossed Central America. It formed south-southeast of Acapulco on 29 August and peaked at 80 kt on 1 September, staying offshore. Its rains flooded rivers in Oaxaca and Chiapas, more than 20,000 people evacuated in Oaxaca, and the storm caused at least 21 deaths, 16 in Oaxaca and 5 in Chiapas. The Mexican government reported no official damage figure.

Hurricane Iva peaked at 90 kt on 8 August and passed within 50 miles of Socorro Island. The WMO retired its name after the season, replacing it with Ileana. Hurricane Lane reached 90 kt in late September over open water, and Tropical Storm Wila's remnant low brought heavy rain to Hawaii on 26 and 27 September.