Hurricane Estelle (2022)

The 2022 Pacific hurricane season was a fairly active Pacific hurricane season, with nineteen named storms (including two that crossed over from the Atlantic), ten hurricanes, and four major hurricanes forming. The season officially began on May 15 in the Eastern Pacific, and on June 1 in the Central Pacific; both ended on November 30. These dates historically describe the period each year when most tropical cyclogenesis occurs in these regions of the Pacific and are adopted by convention.

The first named storm of the season, Hurricane Agatha, formed on May 28, and made landfall two days later at Category 2 strength on the Saffir–Simpson scale, making it the strongest hurricane on record to make landfall during the month of May in the Eastern Pacific basin. In June, Hurricane Blas and Tropical Storm Celia caused heavy rainfall over southwestern Mexico despite remaining offshore. The season's first major hurricane, Hurricane Bonnie, entered into the basin from the Atlantic on July 2, after crossing Nicaragua as a tropical storm, becoming the first storm to survive the crossover from the Atlantic to the Pacific since Hurricane Otto in 2016. In September, tropical storms Javier, Lester, and Madeline all caused flooding across the Pacific coast of Mexico, though none left severe damage. Hurricane Kay also formed that month, and struck the Baja California Peninsula before bringing gale-force winds to the west coast of the continental United States, becoming the first Pacific hurricane to do so since Hurricane Nora 25 years earlier. In early October, Hurricane Orlene became the most intense storm of the season before weakening and making landfall in Sinaloa as a Category 1 hurricane, resulting in heavy rainfall and flooding. Also, Hurricane Julia became the second storm of the season to cross over from the Atlantic basin intact, and made landfall in El Salvador soon thereafter. In late October, Hurricane Roslyn became the fourth major hurricane of the season and was the strongest landfalling Pacific hurricane since Hurricane Patricia in 2015. Altogether, six named storms made landfall during the season.
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Seasonal forecasts

Forecasts include weekly and monthly changes in important factors that help determine the number of tropical storms, hurricanes, and major hurricanes within a particular year. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the average hurricane season in the Eastern and Central Pacific between 1991 and 2020 contained approximately 15 tropical storms, 8 hurricanes, and 4 major hurricanes. The NOAA generally classifies a season as above average, average, or below average based on the cumulative ACE index, but occasionally the number of tropical storms, hurricanes, and major hurricanes within a hurricane season is also considered. Factors they expected to reduce activity were near- or below-average sea surface temperatures across the eastern Pacific and the El Niño–Southern Oscillation remaining in the neutral phase, with the possibility of a La Niña developing, corresponding to a low chance of an El Niño.

On May 17, 2022, the Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (SMN) issued its forecast for the season, predicting a total of 14–19 named storms, 6–9 hurricanes, and 2–4 major hurricanes to develop. On May 24, 2022, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued their outlook, calling for a below-normal season with 10–17 named storms, 4–8 hurricanes, 0–3 major hurricanes, and an accumulated cyclone energy index of 45% to 100% of the median.

Seasonal summary

The season began with the formation and development of Hurricane Agatha on May 28, which rapidly intensified to a high-end Category 2 hurricane before making landfall along the coast of southwestern Mexico two days later. This marked the strongest Pacific hurricane to make landfall during the month of May since records began in 1949. Activity continued into June with the formation of Hurricane Blas, which caused four deaths while offshore of southwestern Mexico, and Tropical Storm Celia, which meandered across the basin for twelve days in late June. Four days after Celia dissipated, Tropical Storm Bonnie became the first to survive the crossover from the Atlantic to the Pacific since Hurricane Otto in 2016. It also became the season's first major hurricane. The same day Bonnie dissipated, the depression that would become Hurricane Darby formed. The storm rapidly intensified into the strongest storm of the season late on July 11, attaining sustained winds of while moving out to sea. Several days later, Hurricane Estelle formed and paralleled the coast of Mexico. After a brief period without any active tropical cyclones, Hurricane Frank and Tropical Storm Georgette formed later in the month. They were followed by two systems during the first half of August, Hurricane Howard and Tropical Storm Ivette.

Six systems developed during September, the peak of the season. Tropical Storm Javier and then Hurricane Kay both formed off the coast of southwestern Mexico during the first week of the month and paralleled the coast offshore. Kay, the longer-lived and stronger of the two, became the first tropical cyclone to extend its effects northward into Southern California since Nora in 1997. This pace of storm development continued with the mid-month formations of tropical storms Lester and Madeline, which caused flooding and a combined 4 fatalities in Mexico, after Lester made landfall there and Madeline passed closely offshore. Madeline's dissipation was closely followed by the formation of Tropical Storm Newton and then Hurricane Orlene to close out the month. A Category 4 hurricane, Orlene became the most intense storm of the season, attaining a minimum pressure of , before ultimately making landfall in southern Sinaloa at Category 1 strength.

October began with Tropical Storm Paine, a weak and short-lived system that remained away from land. Shortly thereafter, Hurricane Julia became the second storm of the season to cross over into the Pacific basin intact from the Atlantic. Not since 1996 has more than one storm crossed between the Atlantic and Pacific basins intact during a single season. Later in the month, Hurricane Roslyn paralleled the coast of Western Mexico before making landfall in Nayarit with winds. It was the strongest hurricane to make landfall in the eastern Pacific since Hurricane Patricia in 2015, which struck about south of where Roslyn did. No named storms formed in the month of November for the first time since 2017.

The accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) index for the 2022 Pacific hurricane season, as calculated by Colorado State University using data from the NHC, was 122.4 units. This level of activity was near the long-term (1991–2020) average. Broadly speaking, ACE is a measure of the power of a tropical or subtropical storm multiplied by the length of time it existed. An ACE number represents sum of the squares of the maximum sustained wind speed (knots) for all named storms while they are at least tropical storm intensity, divided by 10,000. Therefore, tropical depressions are not included.

Systems

Hurricane Agatha

During May 22, The National Hurricane Center (NHC) noted the possible development of a low-pressure area located several miles offshore the southwestern coast of Mexico. Taking a westward track, a broad area of low pressure developed with producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms at around 06:00 UTC on May 24. By May 28, the system had become sufficiently organized to be classified as a tropical depression, becoming the first system of this season. At 09:00 UTC on the same day, the storm strengthened into a tropical storm and was given the name ''Agatha'', as its convection had organized significantly along with it having developed a small central dense overcast. Agatha continued to organize based on satellite imagery, with curved bands forming. Later, a burst of convection formed near the center, and microwave imagery revealed that Agatha had improved its convective structure and better aligned its low-level circulation. The NHC assessed the system to have strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson scale by 12:00 UTC on May 29. Agatha soon began to rapidly intensify due to stalling over an area of warm water near with little vertical wind shear; nine hours later, the system was assessed to have become a high end Category 2 hurricane, with winds of and a minimum central pressure of . As the system approached the coast of Mexico, the satellite indicated that the storm displayed eye convection and remained quite symmetrical around the center of the hurricane. At 21:00 UTC on May 30, the cyclone made landfall near Puerto Ángel, Oaxaca. Agatha's sustained winds fell to Category 1 strength about three hours later, when it was located about 15 mi (25 km) north-northeast of Puerto Ángel. As the system moved over the mountainous terrain of Oaxaca on May 31, it deteriorated quickly, weakening into a tropical storm by 03:00 UTC, and into a tropical depression by 12:00 UTC. Agatha's low-level center dissipated later that same day.

Heavy rain brought by the storm triggered landslides and flash flooding in many parts of Oaxaca. Agatha killed nine people, all in the Sierra Madre del Sur, with six others missing.

Hurricane Blas

On June 7, The NHC first forecast the formation of an area of low pressure just to the south of Gulf of Tehuantepec and noted its potential for possible tropical development. Four days later, a low-pressure area formed, and its shower activity showed signs of increased organization. Early on June 14, the low quickly became organized
around a well-defined circulation, thereupon becoming Tropical Storm Blas while its center was located about southwest of Acapulco, Guerrero. That afternoon, satellite imagery revealed that a convective core had developed. Blas retained a well-defined structure with banding features, as a circular central dense overcast became embedded on the system. Blas continued to rapidly strengthen as it developed an inner core, and the storm became a Category 1 system at 15:00 UTC on June 15. Blas then continued to improve its structure, developing a mid-level eye on the western portions of the cyclone. An upper-level outflow and cold cloud tops caused the cyclone to maintain its intensity; however, central deep convection only occurred in Blas' southern semicircle. Blas strengthened further on June 17, reaching its peak intensity with maximum 1-min sustained winds increasing to near 85 mph (150 km/h). Later in the day however, conditions turned unfavorable and the system began to deteriorate. Its mid-level center became sheared off to the southwest, with no deep convection near the surface center, and by 03:00 UTC on June 18, Blas had weakened to a tropical storm. Blas transitioned into a post-tropical cyclone at 18:00 UTC on June 19, while about south-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.

The high winds and heavy rains caused landslides, loosening of hills, overflowing of streams and floods in several Mexican states, especially Michoacán and Guerrero. Blas caused four deaths, two in Guerrero and two in Puebla. Overall damage was relatively minimal.

Tropical Storm Celia

On June 11, The NHC began to forecast that an area of low pressure would form during the next few days south or southwest off the coast of Central America. A trough of low pressure formed a couple of hundred miles southwest of the coast of Nicaragua two days later. The structure of the low became better organized on organized on June 16, which resulted in the formation of a tropical depression at 18:00 UTC that day, about south of Los Cobanos, El Salvador. The system strengthened into Tropical Storm Celia six hours later. Afterward, the storm's overall satellite presentation began to degrade, with its deepest convection becoming displaced far to the northwest of the exposed low-level circulation, and by 00:00 UTC on June 18, the storm weakened to a tropical depression. The depression was adversely affected by strong upper-level winds, which resulted moderate wind shear as it moved west-southwestward over the following few days due to the steering flow of a mid-level ridge to its north. Deep convection increased on June 21, and Celia re-strengthened into a tropical storm. The storm intensified slightly the following day as it moved west-northwestward at , while being steered by a strong mid-level ridge centered over the south-central United States. The deep-layer shear that had for days impeded Celia's development into a stronger storm diminished considerably on June 24, and the storm intensified, attaining sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) with a minimum barometric pressure of later that day. On June 25, Celia passed to the south of Socorro Island and moved into cooler waters. Although it began to weaken, the system rebounded unexpectedly late on June 26, as a mid-level eye developed and winds rose to . This re-intensification was brief however, and by early the next day, Celia was only producing small bursts of convection on the western and southern portions of its circulation. At 09:00 UTC on June 28, Celia weakened into a tropical depression, and degenerated into a remnant low 12 hours later.

While stalled off the coast of Central America, Celia interacted with a nearby low-pressure system which brought heavy rainfall to western Guatemala, affecting over 28,000 people. One death has been attributed to Celia. It occurred in Oaxaca, where a man drowned.

Hurricane Bonnie

At around 15:00 UTC on July 2, Tropical Storm Bonnie emerged into the Eastern Pacific from the Atlantic basin after crossing Nicaragua. Bonnie steadily reorganized as it moved westward away from the coast. Satellite images from later on July 2, revealed the storm to have a deep convective curved band with cloud tops enveloping its west side. This strengthening trend continued, and by the end of the next day, the primary band had become wrapped completely around the center and an inner core was developing. At 03:00 UTC on July 4, Bonnie became a hurricane while located about south of Salina Cruz, Oaxaca, and attained Category 2 strength later that same day. By early on July 5, Bonnie's inner core structure had become well-developed with a eye. As a result, the hurricane was able to reach Category 3 strength by 15:00 UTC that day. Beginning several hours afterward and continuing into July 6, Bonnie's cloud pattern deteriorated and the central convection became less organized due to moderate north-northeasterly shear, causing it to weaken to Category 2 strength. The system maintained wind speeds of around for much of that day as it moved west-northwestward away from the Mexican coast, before weakening to Category 1 strength with winds of on July 7. Bonnie's intensity continued to decrease the following day as it moved into cooler waters with sea surface temperatures of , where it weakened to a tropical storm about west-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula. Then, on July 9, Bonnie degenerated into a post-tropical low as all deep convection within ceased.

Hurricane Darby

On July 5, the NHC began forecasting that an area of low pressure would develop well south of the southern coast of Mexico within a few days. Late that same day, a disturbance formed south of the coast of Central America, associated with a  tropical wave. Thunderstorm activity associated with the tropical wave and a broad area of low pressure became better organized on July 8 and into July 9, with a well-defined curved band to the north and west visible on satellite imagery, along with a burgeoning central dense overcast forming near the center, and indications that the disturbance had likely developed a closed circulation. Therefore, at 21:00 UTC, advisories were initiated on Tropical Storm Darby. The next day, the storm became better organized, with increased banding over the eastern part of its circulation along with a better developed low-level inner core structure. Darby strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane at 03:00 UTC on July 11, while located about southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula. This strengthening trend continued, and Darby rapidly intensified, reaching Category 2 strength by 10:00 UTC, and becoming a Category 3 major hurricane by 13:15 UTC that same day, as a clear eye surrounded by a thick ring of cloud top temperatures developed and sustained winds increased to . Then, eight hours later, it reached Category 4 strength. While maintaining winds of on July 11, the system gained annular characteristics. The following day however, there was some erosion in the inner-core convective structure with the eye in particular becoming less distinct. As a result, Darby weakened to Category 3 strength by 15:00 UTC. Further weakening occurred later that day, and Darby dropped to Category 2 strength by 03:00 UTC on July 13. The Hurricane's eye unexpectedly reappeared later that morning, and it again reached Category 3 strength at 03:00 UTC on July 14. This re-strengthening was short lived however, as Darby weakened back to Category 2 strength six hours later as it approached and entered the Central Pacific Hurricane Center's area of responsibility. Darby's strength continued to wane into July 15, as the system weakened to Category 1 strength and then to tropical storm status due to moderate west-southwesterly wind shear and cooler sea surface temperatures. Further weakening took place on July 16, while Darby was passing south of the Big Island of Hawaii, as its convection became poorly organized and sporadic near the center. At 03:00 UTC on July 17, Darby lost its tropical characteristics when it opened up into a trough.

At the time of Darby's passage south of Hawaii, a series of large waves from a strong south swell, some higher than , hit the islands and were initially attributed to Darby. Even so, Darby had no major impact on the surf as it passed, according to Chris Brenchley of the National Weather Service office in Honolulu.

Hurricane Estelle

On July 7, the NHC began monitoring the southeastern Pacific south of the coast of Central America, where a low pressure area was expected to form within a few days. The anticipated disturbance formed on July 11, far south of the coasts of Guatemala and El Salvador, producing some disorganized showers. By July 15, the disturbance had become sufficiently organized to be classified as a tropical depression by the NHC. By 03:00 UTC on July 16, the depression had strengthened, with a well defined low-level structure and a tight band of persistent deep convection near the center, and was upgraded to Tropical Storm Estelle. Then, after being hindered by northeasterly shear later that same day, intense convection was able to wrapped completely around the center and Estelle rapidly intensified into a hurricane by 03:00 UTC on July 17. Twelve hours later, the sustained winds near the system's center were at . It became weaker, however, as the day went on, apparently due to the inflow of dry air into its core and the effects of wind shear, and its winds fell to by day's end. The gradual weakening continued, and at 09:00 UTC on July 19, Estelle was downgraded to a tropical storm when its center was located just north of Clarion Island. Estelle's upper-level cloud shield became more symmetric later that day, due to reduced wind shear and increased convection that had wrapped around the storm's northern region. By 15:00 UTC on July 21, however, the storm had weakened to a tropical depression as it moved west-northwestward over the open ocean. Later that day the system became a remnant low.

Though Estelle remained well off shore, heavy rains were reported in coastal areas of Baja California Sur, Jalisco, Nayarit and Sinaloa, causing localized flooding and landslides. This was later determined by the National Hurricane Center to have not been from Estelle saying, “there were no reports of damage or casualties associated with Estelle.”

Hurricane Frank

On July 21, the NHC began forecasting that an area of low pressure would develop off the southern coasts of El Salvador and Guatemala within a few days. An area of low pressure, associated with a tropical wave, developed two days later, producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms. At 09:00 UTC on July 26, after deep convection developed at the center of the disturbance and become better organized, it was designated as a tropical depression. Six hours later, the system strengthened into Tropical Storm Frank while located about south-southeast of Manzanillo, Colima. Convection near the storm's center struggled to organize due to northeasterly wind shear as the storm moved westward. The shear persisted through early on July 28. Once the shear diminished sufficiently, the storm was able to strengthen, with deep convection becoming more symmetric around the center and banding features becoming well established by late the next day. Frank consequently intensified into a hurricane by 03:00 UTC on July 30. The system moved to the northwest during the day and maintained sustained winds of for several hours, before encountering decreasing sea surface temperatures by day's end. It then began to weaken as a result, and fell to tropical storm strength early on August 1. Later, it ceased producing organized deep convection and degenerated into a post-tropical cyclone during the following day.

Tropical Storm Georgette

On July 25, the NHC began monitoring an area of low pressure located southwest of the coast of southwestern Mexico for possible tropical development. The disturbance continued to become better organized and was designated as a tropical depression at 09:00 UTC on July 27. Six hours later, the depression strengthened into a compact Tropical Storm Georgette. The system remained relatively unchanged in strength during the next couple of days, though by early on July 29, its cloud pattern had become more symmetric with a well-developed rain band in the north part of the storm, and its sustained winds reached . Then, moving slowly westward, the storm waned over the next couple days, due in part to strong easterly shear generated by the outflow from the circulation of Hurricane Frank, and weakened to a tropical depression on the afternoon of July 31. Further weakening occurred on as the depression made a northeastward turn, steered by Frank. Then, during the afternoon of August 3, Georgette degenerated into a remnant low over the open ocean.

Hurricane Howard

On August 2, the NHC began monitoring a tropical wave producing widespread showers and thunderstorms over Central America and the adjacent waters in anticipation that an area of low pressure would form once it moved over the eastern Pacific. The anticipated low developed two days later off the coasts of Guatemala and southern Mexico. By August 6, the disturbance had become sufficiently organized to be classified as a tropical depression by the NHC. Beset by dry air imported to the depression's center by moderate wind shear, the depression was unable to quickly intensify. On the afternoon of August 7, the depression was upgraded to Tropical Storm Howard as convection began to build over the northern semicircle of the system, though the low-level circulation remained partially exposed to the south due to continuing wind shear. The storm continued to organize into the following day, and became a Category 1 hurricane at 21:00 UTC on August 8, as an eye surrounded by deepening convective banding formed. On August 9, Howard's sustained winds reached as it moved west-northwestward, before weakening to a tropical storm at 03:00 UTC on August 10. The remaining deep convection near Howard's center ceased by the middle of that same day, and the storm later degenerated into a post-tropical low.

As Howard passed off the coast of Mexico, the port of Mazatlán was closed due to large waves.

Tropical Storm Ivette

On August 7, the NHC began forecasting that an area of low pressure with a potential for tropical cyclogenesis would develop within a few days off the southwestern coast of Mexico. The low developed late the next day, producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms. It gradually become better defined, and on the afternoon of August 13, was classified as a tropical depression. It tracked over warm ocean waters, but there was little improvement in its structure due to moderate to strong east-northeasterly shear, until an unexpected burst of convection during the afternoon of August 15 resulted in the intensification of the depression into Tropical Storm Ivette. But within a few hours however, that burst was shearing away to the west and Ivette soon weakened back to a tropical depression. The system then degenerated into a remnant low on August 16.

Tropical Storm Javier

On August 29, the NHC noted that an area of disturbed weather had formed a few hundred miles south of Acapulco, Mexico. The low gradually organized, developing a low-level circulation on August 31. By 21:00 UTC on September 1, it had gained enough organization to be classified as a tropical depression, while situated off the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula. Then, fueled by increasing deep convection over the depression's western region and near its center, the system strengthened into Tropical Storm Javier early the next day, though its circulation remained somewhat elongated. Despite that, Javier intensified some, attaining sustained winds of on September 3. Later that same day however, the storm crossed over cooler waters and began to weaken. Javier became a post-tropical cyclone on September 4, while moving out to sea.

Rainbands of Javier brought heavy rain and wind gusts to the southern Baja California peninsula as it passed offshore.

Hurricane Kay

On August 30, the NHC noted that an area of disturbed weather had formed a few hundred miles south of Acapulco, Guerrero. This disturbance became organized as a tropical depression on September 4, and strengthened into Tropical Storm Kay later that same day. The storm continued to intensify, and on the morning of September 5, became a Category 1 hurricane. On the following day, the eye of the hurricane passed over Socorro Island with sustained winds of . Then, while moving north-northwestward early on September 7, Kay intensified into a Category 2 hurricane. This intensification proved short-lived however, as the cloud tops surrounding Kay's eye warmed and its overall cloud pattern became less organized and somewhat elongated later that same day, resulting in the hurricane weakening to Category 1 strength. Kay made landfall along the central Baja California peninsula coast with winds on September 8, then weakened to a tropical storm, before moving back over the ocean. The storm became a post-tropical cyclone about southwest of San Diego, California, overnight while slowly curving further offshore.

As Kay paralleled the coast of southwestern Mexico its rainbands drenched coastal states from Oaxaca north to Nayarit with up to of rain. In addition to flooding, the hurricane was also responsible for three deaths in Guerrero. Before the storm hit, over 1,600 people evacuated to shelters according to Baja California Sur state officials. Road and agricultural damage in Baja California Sur exceeded 72 million pesos (US$3.6 million). Kay's outer bands also hit Southern California and southwest Arizona, bringing wind gusts of near to some areas, primarily in San Diego County, California. Rainfall totals varied across the region, with Mt. Laguna, in San Diego County, recording the highest amount at . Flash flooding closed numerous roads in both states; in Imperial County, California, falling boulders impeded traffic along a stretch of I-8. The rainfall was beneficial to crews in Riverside County, California, battling the Fairview Fire, as it mitigated some of the threat posed by the high winds and dry conditions.

Tropical Storm Lester

A trough of low pressure producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms extending from the Gulf of Tehuantepec westward to near the southern coast of Mexico formed on September 11. The low remained disorganized near the southern coast of Mexico for the next few days before showing initial signs of organization early on September 15. By 21:00 UTC that same day, the circulation around the center of the low had become better defined and a curved band of convection had formed over the western and southwestern areas of the circulation. In light of these developments the system was designated Tropical Depression Thirteen-E. Surface wind speeds in portions of the circulation increased overnight, and therefore the depression was upgraded to Tropical Storm Lester at 09:00 UTC on September 16, even though it still had a sheared appearance. The storm became somewhat better organized late that day, but this improvement proved fleeting, due in part to its close proximity to the coast. Lester weakened to a tropical depression as it made landfall east of Acapulco on the afternoon of September 17, and then rapidly dissipated inland.

As the storm approached, ports in Guerrero were closed due to high waves of 13 ft.(4 m) in some areas. Also, nearly 600 emergency shelters were opened in preparation for evacuations due to imminent threat of rivers and streams overflowing. Lester caused damage throughout much of Guerrero as its heavy rains caused flooding and mudslides. One person in Marquelia Municipality died when swept away by water currents. The most severe damage occurred in Coyuca de Benítez, where over 700 houses were flooded. Additionally, towns in Acatepec, in the state's mountain region, were left isolated due a washed-out roadway.

Tropical Storm Madeline

On September 12, the NHC began monitoring for potential development an small area of low pressure located off the coast of southwestern Mexico producing limited showers and thunderstorms. After several days, the disturbance became sufficiently organized on September 17, to be classified as Tropical Storm Madeline. After this, however, the storm strengthened very little though much of the next day due to deep-layer easterly shear. When it diminished on September 18, Madeline's low-level center became embedded underneath the northeastern portion of an area of deep convection with cloud tops as cold as . As a result, the storm was able to attain maximum sustained winds of on September 19, when located about south-southeast of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula. Later that same day, Madeline began to weaken, becoming first a tropical depression and then a remnant low on September 20.

Two deaths were attributed to Madeline as it moved along the coast of southwest Mexico, with one person remaining missing. Several coastal states were hit by heavy rains, strong winds and rough surf from the storm.

Tropical Storm Newton

A small area of low pressure formed near the coast of southwestern Mexico on September 20. Rain and thunderstorm activity within the disturbance quickly became better organized, resulting in the formation of Tropical Depression Fifteen-E at 21:00 UTC on September 21, and then of Tropical Storm Newton less than four hours later. As the storm moved west-northwestward on September 22, a tiny eye-like feature and new deep convection formed in the core, enabling it to generate sustained winds of . Later that day however, the convection at the storm's center collapsed suddenly, and although it briefly recovered, Newton began to weaken again the next morning as it passed near Socorro Island. It became a tropical depression on September 24, then degenerated into a remnant low one day later. For several days afterward, through September 29, the NHC continued monitoring Newton's remnants for possible regeneration, and its associated shower activity briefly become slightly better organized on September 28, before being stymied by increasingly unfavorable conditions.

Hurricane Orlene

On September 26, the NHC noted that a low pressure area had formed south of the southwestern Mexico coast within an environment conducive for gradual tropical development. Shower and thunderstorm activity associated with this low increased the following day, and it steadily gained organization on September 28; the system developed a well-defined center late that day, becoming a tropical depression. Further development occurred overnight and the system intensified into Tropical Storm Orlene at 09:00 UTC on September 29, while located about south of Manzanillo, Colima. The next day, as the storm moved northward along the edge of a ridge over central Mexico, it generated a few bursts of deep convection and developed a small inner core with a curved band to the south. Orlene intensified into a Category 1 hurricane at 15:00 UTC on October 1, and to Category 2 strength about eight hours later. Orlene continued to rapidly intensify until it peaked with Category 4 strength at 09:00 UTC on October 2, its maximum sustained winds having increased from to in 24 hours. Wind shear from the southwest began to adversely affect the system soon thereafter, weakening it to a Category 3 hurricane six hours later, and then to Category 2 that night as it passed over the Islas Marías. Later, at 14:45 UTC on October 3, Orlene made landfall in Escuinapa Municipality, Sinaloa, as a Category 1 hurricane with winds of . The system rapidly weakened inland, becoming a tropical depression by 21:00 UTC that same day, and then dissipating over the Sierra Madre mountains several hours after that.

Orlene brought heavy rain to several states in Western Mexico, which resulted in widespread flooding and several mudslides in Sinaloa and Nayarit, but there were no casualties reported as the storm moved through. Damage in San Blas, Nayarit was over 12 million pesos (US$600,000).

Tropical Storm Paine

On September 30, the NHC began monitoring a newly formed area of disturbed weather some south-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula. Shower and thunderstorm activity within the disturbance increased and began showing signs of becoming organized on October 1, and satellite imagery the following day indicated that its surface circulation had become better defined. These trends continued, resulting in the formation of Tropical Storm Paine on October 3. There was an increase in banding around the western and southern portions of the storm's circulation into the following day, and it strengthened to an intensity of . This was fleeting however, and by the time the storm passed near Clarion Island early on October 5, it was devoid of deep convection. Later that same day, Paine degenerated into a remnant low.

Tropical Storm Julia

At 21:00 UTC on October 9, Tropical Storm Julia left the Atlantic basin and was designated as an East Pacific system about west-northwest of Managua, Nicaragua, and its center emerged off shore a few hours later. The system moved to the west and then to the west-northwest parallel to and very near the coasts of Nicaragua and El Salvador with maximum sustained winds of . It maintained a band of deep convection over the southern and eastern portions of its circulation, the areas not still interacting with the mountainous terrain inland. At about 12:00 UTC on October 10, the center of the storm crossed the coast of El Salvador, about west of San Salvador, and then weakened to a tropical depression, with the whole of its circulation becoming stretched. Later that same day, Julia degenerated into an open trough overland.

While an Atlantic hurricane and then tropical storm, Julia's heavy rains caused widespread life-threatening flash floods and deadly mudslides throughout Central America; several storm related fatalities were reported across the region. Torrential rain continued to fall in northwestern Central America as Julia moved inland from the Pacific.

Hurricane Roslyn

On October 16, the NHC began monitoring an area of disturbed weather south of the southern coast of Mexico. Thunderstorm activity increased and became better organized within the disturbance over the next few days, and the low's circulation become increasingly better defined as well. This trend continued, and early on October 20, it developed into Tropical Depression Nineteen-E. Soon thereafter, the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Roslyn. Roslyn became a hurricane at 03:00 UTC, on October 22, and, within 12 hours rapidly intensified to a Category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of . Roslyn quickly lost intensity after hitting Mexico.

The rains and winds associated with Roslyn left at least four people dead in the state of Nayarit.

Storm names

The following names were used for named storms that formed in the northeastern Pacific Ocean during 2022. Retired names, if any, will be announced by the World Meteorological Organization during the joint 45th Sessions of the RA IV Hurricane Committee in the spring of 2023. The names not retired from this list will be used again in the 2028 season. This is the same list used in the 2016 season.

For storms that form in the Central Pacific Hurricane Center's area of responsibility, encompassing the area between 140 degrees west and the International Date Line, four rotating lists of Hawaiian names are used one after the other without regard to year. The next four names that were scheduled for use in 2022 are shown below. However, none of them were used.

Season effects

This is a table of all the storms in the 2022 Pacific hurricane season. It includes their duration (within the basin), names, areas affected, damages, and death totals. Deaths in parentheses are additional and indirect (an example of an indirect death would be a traffic accident), but were still related to that storm. Damage and deaths include totals while the storm was extratropical, a tropical wave, or a low, and all the damage figures are in 2022 USD.

See also

* Weather of 2022
* Tropical cyclones in 2022
* Pacific hurricane
* List of Pacific hurricane records
* 2022 Atlantic hurricane season
* 2022 Pacific typhoon season
* 2022 North Indian Ocean cyclone season
* South-West Indian Ocean cyclone seasons: 2021–22, 2022–23
* Australian region cyclone seasons: 2021–22, 2022–23
* South Pacific cyclone seasons: 2021–22, 2022–23

Notes

References

External links

National Hurricane Center and Central Pacific Hurricane Center
(website)
Servicio Meteorológico Nacional
(website, in Spanish)

(website)

{{Tropical cyclone season, 2022

*
2022
2022 Epac