1964 Pacific Hurricane Season - Seasonal Summary

Seasonal Summary

With only 6 named storms, the season was well below the 1949-2006 average of 13 named storms and is the second fewest number of storms in the hurricane database, only behind the 1953 Pacific hurricane season, in which just 5 storms were observed. Moreover, 1964 is the least active season since the satellite era began in the basin in 1961. Of the six storms that formed, three formed in July, two developed in August, and the final storm of the year existed in early to mid-September. Only two tropical cyclones reached hurricane status, compared to the modern-day average of seven. Furthermore, 1964 is also one of the few seasons without a major hurricane. This season was part of a decade-long absence of major hurricanes; during the 1960s, only one major hurricane was observed and none were noted from 1960-66. However, it is possible that some storms were missed due to the lack of satellite coverage in the region; at that time, satellite data was still scarce, and 1964 is still two years shy of the start of the geostationary satellite era, which began in 1966. Some efforts are underway to improve the records for this time period; however, this process will likely take years to complete. Also, the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) was in the midst of a cold phase during this time period, which tends to suppress Pacific hurricane activity. During the season, tropical cyclone advisories were issued by the Naval Fleet Warning Central (NFWC) in Alameda, which held responsibility for the basin until 1970.