1973 Pacific hurricane season
The 1973 Pacific hurricane season was a below average, with twelve named tropical cyclones in total. Seven storms became hurricanes, of which three were major (Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson scale). The season officially started May 15, 1973, in the eastern Pacific, and June 1, 1973, in the central Pacific, and lasted until November 30, 1973. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northeastern Pacific Ocean.
| 1973 Pacific hurricane season | |
|---|---|
Season summary map | |
| Seasonal boundaries | |
| First system formed | June 2, 1973 |
| Last system dissipated | October 9, 1973 |
| Strongest storm | |
| Name | Ava |
| • Maximum winds | 160 mph (260 km/h) (1-minute sustained) |
| • Lowest pressure | 915 mbar (hPa; 27.02 inHg) |
| Seasonal statistics | |
| Total depressions | 18 |
| Total storms | 12 |
| Hurricanes | 7 |
| Major hurricanes (Cat. 3+) | 3 |
| Total fatalities | 0 |
| Total damage | Unknown |
| Related articles | |
All tropical cyclones this season formed in the eastern north Pacific Ocean, often off the coast of Mexico. Most systems traveled generally westward or northwestward, and two reached as far as the waters south of the Hawaiian Islands. The most significant system this year was Hurricane Ava, which was the most intense Pacific hurricane on record at the time. Several other much weaker tropical cyclones came close to, or made landfall on, the Pacific coast of Mexico. Another was Hurricane Irah, which downed power and communication lines in parts of the Baja California Peninsula. Other landfalling storms caused rain and some flooding. No tropical cyclone this season caused any deaths.