All storm pages · 1997 Pacific season
Hurricane Paka 1997
Category 5 hurricane · Eastern and Central Pacific · November 28 to December 22, 1997
Paka's peak sustained wind of 185 mph is tied for the second-highest of the 1,262 storms in the eastern and central Pacific record since 1949, and one of 24 Category 5 storms in that record. It produced 70.2 units of accumulated cyclone energy (ACE), the third-most of any eastern and central Pacific storm since 1949. It held major-hurricane strength (Category 3 or higher) for 210 hours, the second-longest spell among eastern and central Pacific hurricanes. The name Paka is on the National Hurricane Center's list of retired central and eastern North Pacific names.
Strength over time
- First record (tropical depression) far out at sea, at 5.6°N, 166.3°W
- Tropical storm 1,095 miles south-southwest of Lihue, Hawaii
- Hurricane far out at sea, at 6.7°N, 170.5°E
- Major hurricane far out at sea, at 6.8°N, 168.5°E
- Peak far out at sea, at 14.3°N, 139.7°E
- Last record (tropical depression) far out at sea, at 18.4°N, 131.4°E
Against every Pacific storm since 1949
More from the record
It lasted 23.75 days as a tropical or subtropical cyclone, the third-longest lifespan of the 1,262 eastern and central Pacific storms.
It first reached hurricane strength on December 10, the latest date in the calendar year among 603 eastern and central Pacific hurricanes.
It reached hurricane strength as far south as 6.7°N, the third-lowest-latitude hurricane position of any eastern and central Pacific hurricane.
In the 1997 season
Storm 24 of 24 in 1997, hurricane 11 of 11; it formed after Rick. See the season.
Closest to land
Nearest town of 10,000 people or more: Lihue, Hawaii, 1,040 miles from the center on December 1 (depression stage).
A peak of its own
No other Pacific storm in the record peaked at exactly 185 mph.