Eastern Pacific Hurricane Season Sees Record Start to July After Slow Start to the Season

Chris Dolce
Published: July 18,2016

After a record slow start, the eastern Pacific has set a new July record by spawning five tropical storms, the most on record for the first half of the month.
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Agatha's formation July 2 was the latest first tropical storm in the eastern Pacific, since reliable records began in 1971. Since that occurred, the basin has gone into overdrive with the development of Blas, Celia, Darby, and Estelle in a span of about two weeks.
When Tropical Storm Estelle was named July 15, it set a new record for the most eastern Pacific tropical storms to form in the first half of July, according to Eric Blake, a hurricane specialist at the National Hurricane Center.
On average, the eastern Pacific sees its fifth named storm by July 22, so the basin has been playing "catch-up" as of late.

The tracks of Agatha, Blas, Celia, Darby, and Estelle July 1-18, 2016.

As the map illustrates, the storms this month have all traveled along generally the same path geographically, moving west-northwest away from Mexico.
This means that none of the July storms have impacted land significantly so far. However, there is a chance that a much weakened Darby could bring increased moisture and high surf to Hawaii late this week into the weekend.
(MORE: Forecast For Darby)

Satellite image of Hurricane Blas on July 6 when it was a Category 3. (Credit: NASA)

The strongest hurricane so far in the eastern Pacific this month was Blas. On July 5, Blas reached Category 4 strength with winds estimated to be 140 mph.

Additional Records Could Be Set This Month

At least two additional eastern Pacific records could be tied or broken before the month of July comes to a close.
If two more named storms form, the record for the most tropical storms in July would be tied; 1985 currently holds that record with seven total, according to Blake.
Additionally, a record could be set for the most hurricanes in the eastern Pacific in July. So far we've had three: Blas, Celia and Darby. The standing July record is four hurricanes.

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