The 2000 Pacific hurricane season was an above-average Pacific hurricane season, although most of the storms were weak and short-lived. There were a total of 19 named storms, including 17 named by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) and two by the Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC). There were six hurricanes, which was slightly below-average. Two of the hurricanes became a major hurricane, which is a Category 3 or greater on the Saffir–Simpson scale.
Seasonal activity began on May 22, when Hurricane Aletta formed off the southwest coast of Mexico. Aletta's formation was earlier than average, and it began a nine-year period of consecutive seasons with May storms. Aletta was also the first May Pacific hurricane since 1990. Two storms formed in June, including the season's strongest, Carlotta, which peaked as a strong Category 4 hurricane. The hurricane killed 18 people when it sank the Lithuanian freighter Linkuva. In July, three named storms developed, including Hurricane Daniel, which was the second-strongest storm of the season. Daniel briefly threatened the U.S. state of Hawaii while weakening. Also in the month, Tropical Storm Upana developed in the central Pacific, the first storm to do so since 1997.
August was the most active month of the year, with six storms forming. These included hurricanes Gilma and Hector, which remained off the southwest coast of Mexico, as well as Tropical Storm Wene, which crossed from the west Pacific into the central Pacific. In September, Hurricane Lane executed a rare loop off the southwest coast of Mexico, before its remnants produced thunderstorms across California. Also in the month, tropical storms Miriam and Norman made landfall in western Mexico. Miriam hit Baja California Sur, producing damaging rains. Norman hit the Mexican states of Michoacán and Jalisco, producing floods that killed nine people. In October, the remnants of Tropical Storm Olivia brought rainfall to the southwest United States. In November, the remnants of Tropical Storm Paul interacted with an upper-level trough to produce heavy rainfall over the Hawaiian islands, leading to flash floods and landslides. Damage on the island of Hawaiʻi totaled $88.2 million. Also in the month, Tropical Storm Rosa struck southeastern Mexico and dissipated on November 8, ending the season.
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Seasonal summary
For the north Pacific Ocean, east of 140° W, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) named 17 tropical storms; this was above the then 34–year average of 15.4 named storms. Six of the storms attained hurricane status, slightly below the average of 8.6 hurricanes. There were also two tropical depressions that did not reach storm strength. There were also four storms within the warning area of the Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC) between 140° W and the International date line, which was near average. This included two storms that formed within the central Pacific and were given Hawaiian names by the CPHC. The season was affected by a weak La Niña conditions, in which equatorial water temperatures were slightly cooler than usual. The season began earlier than average with the formation of Hurricane Aletta in late May. The average Pacific hurricane season has its first tropical storm formation on June 10, with the first hurricane 16 days later. May storms typically occur every other year, with May hurricanes every three to four years. However, the 2000 season began a nine-year consecutive period of storm formation during the month. By September, activity was below average, with three named storms and the season's final hurricane, Lane. The accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) index for the 2000 Pacific hurricane season as calculated by Colorado State University using data from the NHC was 96 units.
Systems
Hurricane Aletta
A tropical wave crossed Central America and entered the Gulf of Tehuantepec on May 20. Deep convection developed near the center of the disturbance, and the system became the first tropical depression of the season on May 22 while located south of Acapulco, Mexico. A mid-level ridge forced a west-northwest track away from the Mexican coast. It intensified into Tropical Storm Aletta early on May 23 while located south of Zihuatanejo, Mexico, becoming the first May tropical storm in four years. As it turned westward, it continued a slow intensification trend, before strengthening more quickly due to decreased wind shear. On May 24, Aletta attained hurricane status, and shortly thereafter reached peak winds of 105 mph (165 km/h); this made it a Category 2 on the Saffir–Simpson scale. Aletta was the first May Pacific hurricane since Alma in 1990. After maintaining peak winds for about 18 hours, Aletta began a weakening trend due to increasing wind shear. At around the same time, a trough eroded the ridge that was steering the movement of Aletta, causing the hurricane to remain almost stationary for the next two days. The lack of motion resulted in upwelling which imparted additional weakening, and Aletta dropped to tropical storm status on May 27. It quickly deteriorated that day, and on May 28 the system dissipated well south of Cabo San Lucas after it began a slow north drift. The remnants lingered in the same area for the next several days.
Tropical Storm Bud
A tropical wave moved off the coast of Africa on May 22, crossing the Atlantic without development. It entered the eastern Pacific Ocean on June 6 and remained disorganized until June 11, when a broad low-pressure area developed southwest of Acapulco, Mexico. The wave was only intensifying slowly, and on June 13, it became strong enough to be designated as a tropical depression. It quickly strengthened to Tropical Storm Bud six hours later, and moved to the northwest. The storm reached a peak intensity of 50 mph (85 km/h) early on June 14. Bud turned to the north-northwest, and slowly weakened from June 15 onwards, due to increasing vertical wind shear and cooler ocean water temperatures. The storm's forward speed decreased and began to meander, as the ridge to the north of Bud weakened and a trough developed over the western United States. It drifted erratically while located just north of Socorro Island, and was downgraded to a tropical depression on June 16. By the next day, the depression degenerated into an area of low pressure, which persisted until June 19.
Bud passed near Socorro Island on June 15, with estimated one-minute winds of . The storm also caused large waves along the western coast of Mexico.
Hurricane Carlotta
A tropical wave exited Africa on June 3 and crossed into the eastern Pacific 12 days later. Continuing westward, it developed thunderstorms and a low pressure area. On June 18, Tropical Depression Three-E formed about southeast of Puerto Angel, Oaxaca. Moving parallel to the southern Mexican coast, the depression quickly strengthened into Tropical Storm Carlotta. It approached within of the coast on June 19. An eye developed in the center of the deep convection, with strong outflow to the south. Carlotta attained hurricane status on June 20, and subsequently a period of rapid deepening as it moved farther offshore. With warm waters and a very favorable upper-level environment, Carlotta quickly strengthened into a major hurricane. In a twelve-hour period ending at 06:00 UTC on June 21, the pressure dropped 49 mbar to 932 mbar; at the same time, Carlotta attained peak winds of 155 mph (250 km/h) while located about 285 mi (460 km) southwest of Acapulco. This made it a strong Category 4 hurricane. At the time of its peak intensity, Carlotta maintained a well-defined central dense overcast around an eye of in diameter. It maintained peak winds for about 12 hours before weakening due to stronger wind shear and cooler waters. Early on June 24, Carlotta weakened to a tropical storm about west-southwest of Cabo San Lucas. On the next day, the winds dropped to tropical depression status, as deep convection diminished. Carlotta degenerated into a remnant low, which persisted for several days while continuing to the northwest.
Offshore Mexico, waves reached in height. The Lithuanian freighter Linkuva suffered an engine failure about southwest of Acapulco, while encountering Carlotta's waves and strong winds. The freighter was lost, killing the crew of 18 people. A naval vessel from both the United States Navy and the Mexican Navy searched for the freighter for three days. Outer rainbands and rough surf affected the southwestern coast of Mexico for an extended duration; officials evacuated about 100 families in potentially flooded areas of Acapulco as a precaution. Precipitation and clouds were reported in every Mexican state along the Pacific Ocean, resulting in flooding in some areas. Bahías de Huatulco International Airport in Oaxaca reported a wind gust of . Heavy rainfall and rough seas were also reported on Socorro Island.
Tropical Depression Four-E
The same tropical wave that spawned Tropical Depression Two in the Atlantic later entered the eastern Pacific by July 1. Several days later, the thunderstorms increased and became more concentrated. On July 6, it developed into Tropical Depression Four-E about 1.380 mi (2,220 km) southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula. The depression was soon affected by dry air and wind shear, causing the thunderstorms to diminish. The depression began dissipating on July 7.
Tropical Storm Upana
A tropical wave organized into Tropical Depression One-C on July 20 while located southeast of the Hawaiian Islands. It moved nearly due west, strengthening into Tropical Storm Upana later on July 20. It was the first tropical storm to develop in the Central Pacific region since 1997 season. Despite a favorable environment, Upana strengthened little, reaching a peak intensity on July 21 with winds of . The storm had no deep convection in its circulation on July 22, and was downgraded to a tropical depression in the afternoon. Late on July 23, deep convection flared up, briefly strengthening the system again, but failed to re-gain tropical storm status, as it remained poorly organized. It dissipated on July 24, despite a low-shear environment favorable for development. On July 26, a westward moving disturbance in the central Pacific basin containing remnants of Tropical Storm Upana began showing signs of organization as it neared the International Date Line. The next day, a tropical depression, designated 12W by the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), formed about east of Kwajalein Atoll. The system moved generally northwestward over the next day, and gradually became better organized. At 18:00 UTC on July 28, JTWC upgraded the depression to a tropical storm and named it Chanchu. Chanchu then tracked north, before dissipating on July 30.
The name Upana is Hawaiian for “Urban.”
Tropical Depression Five-E
The origins of Tropical Depression Five-E were first identified on July 8 when a tropical wave moved off the west African coast. It entered the eastern Pacific Ocean on July 16 after tracking over the Caribbean Sea. The wave developed to Tropical Depression Five-E on July 22 off the southwest coast of Mexico. Lacking significant deep convection and moving over cold waters, the depression failed to intensify. The NHC discontinued advisories on July 23, just a day after the depression formed.
Hurricane Daniel