Category 3 major hurricane (SSHWS/NWS) | |
![]() Fabio at peak Intensity on July 3. | |
Formed | June 30, 2018 |
---|---|
Dissipated | July 9, 2018 |
(Remnant low after July 6) | |
Highest winds | 1-minute sustained: 115 mph (185 km/h) |
Lowest pressure | 964 mbar (hPa); 28.47 inHg |
Fatalities | None Reported |
Damage | Minimal |
Areas affected | Baja California Peninsula, California |
Part of the 2018 Pacific hurricane season |
Hurricane Fabio was a major Hurricane that didn't affect land in early July 2018. It was the 7th tropical cyclone, 6th named storm, 3rd hurricane, and 3rd major hurricane of the 2018 Pacific hurricane season. Fabio formed from a tropical wave on June 30. On July 1, it strengthened to a Tropical Storm, and named Fabio. After about a day of being a Tropical Storm, it Intensified to the 3rd hurricane of the season on 12:00 UTC on July 2, and intensified to a Category 2, and then, a Category 3, as the 3rd Major hurricane of the season.(The previous two hurricanes, Aletta and Bud were category 4.) by July 3, at 18:00 UTC, it had peak winds of 115 miles per hour and a pressure of 964. After 12 hours, It started to weaken due to colder waters. It rapidly and unexpectedly weakened to a tropical storm on July 4, and remained until It degenerated into a Remnant Low on July 6, as the remnants persisted until July 9, when it dissipated.
Although not affecting land while a Tropical cyclone, both its precursor and its remnant did. The precursor brought heavy rain to Central America, most notably Nicaragua, and while Tropical produced rip currents to Mexico, and Southern California, as many people had to be rescued, and high surf was recorded. Its remnant struck California and brought a bit of rain.
Meteorological History
editTropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
Unknown
A tropical wave emerged from the western coast of Africa on June 16, and ten days later it crossed Central America into the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Convection increased markedly thereafter as the wave continued westward for the next couple of days, developing a low-pressure area on June 28. A tropical depression developed at 18:00 UTC on June 30, while approximately 575 mi (925 km) south of Manzanillo, Mexico. A mid-level ridge located over central Mexico steered the nascent depression towards the west-northwest as the storm continued to intensify. The depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Fabio around 06:00 UTC on July 1. Located within a favorable environment of warm sea surface temperatures, moist air, and low wind shear, Fabio continued to consolidate over the next couple of days. Fabio became a Category 1 hurricane around 12:00 UTC on July 2. The storm peaked at 18:00 UTC on the next day as a Category 3 hurricane with winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a pressure of 964 mbar (28.47 inHg), while located 645 mi (1,035 km) southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.
After 12 hours at peak intensity, Fabio began to decay as a result of having tracked into a region of cooler sea surface temperatures; the storm later rapidly weakened as it moved over even colder sea temperatures. The hurricane weakened into a tropical storm around 06:00 UTC on July 4, while about 920 mi (1,480 km) west-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula. Fabio's convection degraded significantly as it entered a more stable environment; it weakened into a post-tropical cyclone by 06:00 UTC on July 6. The remnants continued towards the west-northwest and nearly diminished by 12:00 UTC on July 9, located approximately 880 miles (1,420 km) west of Los Angeles.