Tropical Storm Andres Toward the end of May 1997, a low-level circulation formed off the southern coast of Central America, possibly from a
tropical wave that previously traversed the Atlantic Ocean. An area of
convection, or thuderstorms, formed on May 31. It organized into Tropical Depression One-E early on June 1, about south of the
Gulf of Tehuantepec. After its formation, another circulation developed and became the dominant center. On June 2, the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Andres. On the next day, a
trough bypassed the storm to the north, which turned Andres to the southeast. The NHC described the track as "unprecedented". Andres passed about off the coast of Guatemala, before it began weakening due to interaction with the
Intertropical Convergence Zone. The convection became amorphous and later shifted to the southeast of the circulation. On June 6 Andres weakened to tropical depression status. It turned northward and moved ashore near
San Salvador,
El Salvador on June 7, which was the first recorded landfall in the country. The low-level circulation quickly dissipated over land, although the mid-level circulation persisted across Central America. After the featured reached the western
Caribbean Sea, a new surface circulation developed, bringing rainfall to
Cuba,
Florida, and the
Bahamas before it was absorbed by a weak trough in the Gulf of Mexico. The storm prompted
tropical storm warnings issued from
Punta Galera, Mexico to
Champerico, Guatemala, and a tropical storm watch for Guatemala and
El Salvador. Andres produced rainfall along the coast of Mexico, in
Guerrero,
Oaxaca, and
Chiapas, as well as through the
Yucatán Peninsula. The highest total in the country was in
Mazatán, Chiapas. Heavy rainfall and high seas spread across western Central America. In El Salvador and Nicaragua, the storm led to power outages, traffic accidents, and overflown rivers, Two fishermen were left missing in Nicaragua, There were 4 deaths in El Salvador in
Usulután, due to flooding.
Tropical Storm Blanca Tropical Depression Two-E formed from a broad area of low pressure on June 9. Six hours later the depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Blanca. This system developed a good outflow, and reached its peak intensity with winds of 45 mph (75 km/h). However, its circulation was not well-defined and a weakening trend began, and Blanca was downgraded to a depression on June 12. It lost its closed circulation shortly thereafter and was thus declared dissipated. As Blanca moved just south of the Mexican coast, it dropped a total of of rainfall at Fincha Chayabe/Maragaritas.
Tropical Storm Carlos On June 22, showers increased associated with a
tropical wave several hundred miles away from land. Three days later, deep convection became more concentrated, and the system became a tropical depression. It intensified into Tropical Storm Carlos as banding features increased and the outflow became better defined. As it moved west, convection diminished as Carlos moved into cooler water. Shortly thereafter, increased wind shear took its toll on Carlos as the low-level center became exposed from the deep convection. Carlos weakened into a depression early on June 27, and dissipated June 28. However, a swirl of clouds remained for a couple of days. Except for
Socorro Island, which the system passed close to, Carlos never threatened land.
Hurricane Dolores In early July, shower activity increased in association with an area of disturbed weather. With surface pressures lower than normal for a tropical disturbance, deep convection increased further and Tropical Depression Six-E formed late on July 5 and reaching tropical storm status the following day and was named Dolores. Despite moderate wind shear, very cold cloud tops formed as the winds increased to , a moderate tropical storm. Moving westward, Dolores strengthened into the first hurricane of the season on July 7 as a ragged
eye formed. Dolores continued to intensify and it reached a peak windspeed of , a strong Category 1 hurricane, two days later. Meanwhile, Dolores became the first hurricane in over two years to cross
longitude 125°W. Shortly thereafter, the hurricane started losing strength as it moved over cooler waters. The eye dissipated from satellite imagery while the associated thunderstorm activity became sheared. Dolores weakened back into a tropical storm on July 10 and a tropical depression the next day. The cyclone then crossed into the Central Pacific Hurricane Center's area of responsibility (west of
longitude 140°W) while producing minimal shower activity. It dissipated on July 12.
Hurricane Felicia A large area of disturbed weather formed on July 13. It then organized into a depression south of
Manzanillo, Colima, on July 14. Intensification was delayed by
wind shear due to its proximity to Enrique for about two days. However, it became a tropical storm late July 15 as it moved west-northwestward. Continuing to intensify, an eye formed. Based on this, Felicia was upgraded into a hurricane on July 17. Its development was again halted by increased wind shear, and as such it leveled off in intensity. After the shear decreased, Felicia began to intensify and the hurricane's winds reached and its pressure fell to 948 mbar (hPa), making it a moderate low-end Category 4 hurricane. Shear increased for the third time, and then moved into cooler waters. It began to weaken as it moved west-northwest. On July 20, it lost major hurricane intensity. Shortly before being downgraded to a tropical storm, it crossed
140°W. A strong wind shear took toll on Felicia and it was downgraded into a tropical depression July 22.
Hurricane Guillermo A tropical wave emerged into the Pacific Ocean on July 27. It organized into a depression July 30 and was named Tropical Storm Guillermo the next day. It quickly intensified, reaching hurricane status on August 1. Guillermo became a major hurricane on August 2. It reached Category 4 intensity on August 3. Continuing to rapidly intensify, Guillermo attained Category 5 strength August 4. The tropical cyclone peak intensity was 919 mbar (hPa) and . Guillermo then weakened slowly, becoming a tropical storm August 8. It crossed
140°W and entered the Central Pacific. It weakened to a depression late August 10, but restrengthened back into a storm 24 hours later when it encountered a small area of warmer water. It weakened to a depression for the second and final time August 15 and became an
extratropical cyclone early the next day. The storm's remnants recurved over the far northern Pacific. They were tracked to a point west of
Vancouver Island. The remnants persisted for a few more days and drifted south before being absorbed by a mid-latitude cyclone August 24 off the coast of
California.
Tropical Storm Ignacio A broad region of active weather persisted west of Mexico during the middle of August 1997, which began organizing on August 16 as it developed rainbands. The thunderstorms organized around a circulation, evolving into a tropical depression early on August 17 while located approximately southwest of
Cabo San Lucas. It formed outside of the area in which tropical cyclones usually form in the Eastern Pacific Ocean basin, and moved northwestward at under the steering currents of mid- to upper-level
trough off the coast of California. After the depression developed a burst of deep convection over its center, the NHC upgraded it to Tropical Storm Ignacio at 12:00 UTC on August 17, with peak sustained winds of and a minimum pressure of . However, due to increasingly colder waters and the presence of inhibiting southwesterly
wind shear, Ignacio weakened back into a tropical depression on August 18. A day later, the depression transitioned into an extratropical cyclone, which continued northward until dissipating a day later near the coast of California. Moisture from the system persisted as it passed through the state and the
Pacific Northwest, ultimately merging with a larger extratropical cyclone involving the remnants of
Hurricane Guillermo. The remnants of Ignacio produced record rainfall across coastal California, including recorded in
San Francisco on August 19; this was the wettest August day in the city's history. The rains caused a rare cancelation for the
Oakland Athletics. The atypical rainfall triggered isolated flash flooding in some locations and a
debris flow about deep. Wine grape were adversely impacted by the heavy rainfall from Ignacio, which ruined about 10% of the year's
Chardonnay and
Sauvignon grapes. The unfavorable growing conditions were compounded by further rains from
Hurricane Linda in September, creating what was described as a "tumultuous" year for the crops. The storm contributed to at least 20 weather-related traffic accidents across the San Francisco area, with at least one of them classified as major. while
California State Route 9 was blocked in
Saratoga by a large tree which fell due to saturated soil. Thunderstorms associated with the storm system left about 78,000 electric customers in
Sonoma County without power after lightning struck a power substation. Lightning also knocked three workers unconscious in a vineyard near
Lodi. Rainfall extended as far north as the northwestern United States, ending an unusually long, 35-day dry spell at
Astoria, Oregon. It remains the most significant rainfall from a tropical cyclone in the state of
Washington.
Hurricane Jimena During the third week of August, a tropical disturbance formed far from land. Although the system was located over warmer than average
sea surface temperatures, the upper-level environment was initially unfavorable. However the environment gradually became more conducive for tropical cyclone formation and Tropical Depression Twelve-E formed August 25 from an area of disturbed weather in a rather easterly location. It became a tropical storm the next day and a hurricane on August 27. Intensification was rapid, with winds increasing from to in just 6 hours. Continuing to rapidly intensify, it reached its peak intensity as a low-end category 4 hurricane. After maintaining peak intensity for 30 hours, it moved north-northwest and encountered increasing wind shear which reduced its winds from to in just 24 hours. Jimena completely dissipated on August 30, not long after entering the Central Pacific Basin. Hurricane Jimena was of no threat to land. Oliwa passed south of
Wake Island on September 6, where it caused heavy rains but no damage. On September 7, Oliwa started a period of rapid strengthening, becoming a typhoon on September 8 and a Super Typhoon eight hours later. Oliwa stayed at that intensity for over two days. While still a strong typhoon, Oliwa passed near the
Northern Marianas Islands. It then started weakening as it curved towards Japan. It made landfall as a minimal typhoon September 16. It quickly dissipated later that same day. Typhoon Oliwa caused 12 fatalities and left 30,000 people homeless. Damage totaled to 4.36 billion yen ($50.1 million USD).
Tropical Storm Kevin Tropical Storm Kevin, first displayed hints of development while located near
Panama, and developed a well-defined circulation after emerging into the Pacific. It was classified as a tropical depression in the Pacific on September 3 while located south-south west of
Baja California. Convection increased and the outflow of the storm became better defined. As such, it became a tropical storm on the morning of September 4. Gradually intensifying, it reached it peak intensity as a mid-level tropical storm on September 5. As it moved westbound, it maintained its intensity for 12 hours. The environment was unfavorable, and two days later, Kevin weakened to a depression when deep convection ceased. It dissipated early on September 7, having never posed a threat to land.
Hurricane Linda A tropical disturbance formed on September 9 and became Tropical Depression Fourteen-E later that day. The cyclone moved northwest and strengthened into a tropical storm on September 10. Linda then rapidly intensified, reaching hurricane intensity the next day as an eye formed. On September 12, Linda reached its peak intensity, with maximum sustained winds of —making it a Category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale—and a minimum pressure of 902 mbar (902 hPa), making it the most intense
Pacific hurricane ever recorded until
Hurricane Patricia surpassed it in 2015. However, Linda soon moved over cooler waters, and began to weaken, falling below hurricane intensity on September 16. It then slowly weakened and dissipated on September 17. Linda passed very near
Socorro Island.
Tropical Storm Marty An area of disturbed weather formed early on September 10. It became better organized two days later as convection increased, and then organized into Tropical Depression Fifteen-E late on September 12. Moving slowly in a westward direction, it strengthened into a tropical storm in the morning of September 14. Later that day, the system reached its peak intensity of . Meanwhile, the storm's forward speed slowed down even more, and it turned to the south. It then encountered an area of strong wind shear, and it weakened into a depression on September 15 as the center of circulation became displaced from the deep convection. The shear continued to weaken, and the tropical cyclone dissipated late on September 16. There were no deaths or damage.
Hurricane Nora A large area of disturbed weather moved into the Pacific on September 12. It then organized into Tropical Depression Sixteen-E on September 16 and quickly strengthened into a tropical storm. Early on September 18, a poorly defined and ragged eye appeared on infrared imagery. Shortly thereafter, its winds reached . Nora eventually peaked at Category 4. It then encountered water temperature anomalies, and fluctuated in strength. Then, a
trough pulled Nora northward and accelerated the storm. After weakening to a Category 1, Nora made landfall in northern
Baja California and stayed a tropical storm as it entered the
United States. At that time, however, most of the deep rest convection was displaced to the northeast. Nora dissipated over
Arizona, but its remnants kept going north.
Hurricane Nora was the first Pacific hurricane to bring
gale-force winds to the
Continental United States since
Kathleen in 1976. In Mexico, Nora produced high waves, flooding, and heavy damage. Many homes were destroyed. In the United States, rains were heavy, and damage amounted to several hundred million dollars. Several hundred people were rendered homeless, and there was wind and flood damage in
Arizona. Nora killed two people in Mexico, and several indirect deaths were reported in
California. Olaf, as a tropical depression, moved westward, far out to sea. Operationally, Olaf was believed to have dissipated for six days. however, in the
Tropical Cyclone Report, a report issued several months after the hurricane's duration, it was believed to have remained a tropical cyclone the entire time. After restrengthening slightly, Olaf moved southeast on October 5 due to the influence of
Hurricane Pauline. Olaf then turned north, and on October 12 made a second landfall near
Manzanillo, Colima, as a tropical depression. Olaf's surface circulation weakened, and its remnants moved back out to sea, but did not redevelop. Several people were reported missing. Most of its damage was from its first landfall.
Hurricane Pauline On October 3, a distinct area of disturbed weather formed. It drifted eastbound, and a well-defined low pressure soon formed. It became Tropical Depression Eighteen-E on October 5. Early the next day it intensified into tropical Storm Pauline. An eye feature developed on October 7 and as such Pauline was upgraded into a hurricane. In a favorable environment, the cyclone rapidly intensified, reaching Category 4 intensity. After fluctuating in intensity, interaction with land weakened Pauline to a Category 2 by the time it made landfall on October 9. It accelerated to the northwest, and passed over a mountainous region. The mountains disrupted Pauline's circulation, and squeezed the moisture from the hurricane. Pauline dissipated on October 10 while over
Jalisco. Hurricane Pauline was the deadliest storm of the season. Landslides and flooding caused by heavy rain caused tragic loss of life and left thousands homeless. There were at least 230 casualties. The
Red Cross reported that 400 people died, but this was disputed by Mexican officials. Pauline was Mexico's deadliest hurricane since
1976's Liza.
Hurricane Rick The first hurricane in November since
1991 The storm downed trees, washed out recently repaired roads, and disrupted communications in some small population centers. A total of of rain was reported at Astata/San Pedro Huameluca near the point of landfall in
Mexico.
Tropical Storm Paka Tropical Depression Five-C formed on December 2, two days after the season ended. It was the second December tropical depression east of the dateline;
1983's Hurricane Winnie was the only other one at the time. As Paka moved westward, dry air and wind shear disrupted its development until it crossed the dateline on December 6. and passed near
Kwajalein with winds of . It strengthened further, twice reaching Category 5 intensity. While a super typhoon, Paka passed close to
Guam on December 17, causing major damage. Afterwards, Paka encountered a hostile environment and had completely dissipated by the evening of December 22.
Other systems Tropical Depression Three-E formed June 21. Moving rapidly westward, it never strengthened and the winds of the depression soon decreased. It dissipated early on June 24. On the afternoon of June 29, Tropical Depression Five-E formed. It erratically moved westward. During July 1, an upper-level low to the south of
Baja California cut off the north-easterly vertical windshear that the depression had been encountering, which caused deep convection to redevelop near the systems center and the NHC to resume issuing advisories. The depression dissipated on July 4 Tropical Depression One-C formed on July 26 from a disturbance that had been showing signs of organization for the past three days. It moved west to southwest through an unfavorable environment. On the morning of July 27, it dissipated due to strong wind shear caused by an upper-level
trough. During October 31, after atmospheric convection had increased, the CPHC initiated advisories and designated the system as Tropical Depression Four-C. Although the waters were very warm, some dry air was located north of the system. It slowly moved westward without intensifying, and dissipated the next day as the circulation became exposed. == Storm names ==