1980 Pacific hurricane season
The 1980 Pacific hurricane season officially started May 15, 1980, in the eastern Pacific and June 1, 1980, in the central Pacific, lasting until November 30, 1980. These dates conventionally delimit each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northeastern and central Pacific Ocean. This season was relatively uneventful; since no tropical cyclones made landfall, there were no reports of casualties or damage.
| 1980 Pacific hurricane season | |
|---|---|
Season summary map | |
| Seasonal boundaries | |
| First system formed | April 4, 1980 |
| Last system dissipated | October 29, 1980 |
| Strongest storm | |
| Name | Kay |
| • Maximum winds | 140 mph (220 km/h) (1-minute sustained) |
| Seasonal statistics | |
| Total depressions | 16 |
| Total storms | 15 |
| Hurricanes | 7 |
| Major hurricanes (Cat. 3+) | 3 |
| Total fatalities | 0 |
| Total damage | Unknown |
| Related articles | |
Overall, the 1980 season was slightly below the long-term average, with 16 tropical cyclones forming. Of those, 15 were named, 7 reached hurricane intensity, and only 3 became major hurricanes by attaining category 3 status or higher on the Saffir–Simpson scale. All eastern Pacific systems this year formed in the eastern Pacific proper and two storms crossed into the central Pacific: Carmen from the west and Kay from the east. The season had an early start when Carmen crossed over the International Date Line in April. The strongest storm of this season is Hurricane Kay, peaking at 140 mph (225 km/h). Kay lasted for fourteen and a half days, which was the fifth-longest-lasting Pacific hurricane at the time.