Ураган Фико: Рекордсмен по продолжительности в Тихом океане (1978)

Category 4 Pacific hurricane in 1978

Hurricane Fico was the longest lived hurricane of the 1978 Pacific hurricane season and became the longest lasting Pacific hurricane on record, a record broken by Hurricane Tina fourteen years later. The sixth tropical storm, fourth hurricane, and third major hurricane, Fico developed from a tropical disturbance off the Pacific coast of Mexico on July 9. It moved northwestward and then westward, quickly reaching peak winds of on July 12. Moving nearly due westward, the intensity of Fico fluctuated from Category 1 to Category 4 status on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale for the following days, and it passed about 170 mile (274 km) south of Hawaii on July 20 with winds of Fico slowly weakened as it turned to the northwest over cooler waters, and became an extratropical cyclone on July 28 to the northeast of Midway Island. Swells from Fico, combined with swells from a storm in the Southern Hemisphere, produced rough surf throughout the Hawaiian islands. The surf destroyed one house and resulted in considerable damage along the southern coast of the island of Hawaii. No deaths were reported, and damage totaled $200,000 (1978 USD, $619,000 2006 USD).

A tropical disturbance persisted 520 mile (837 km) south of Acapulco on July 3. It moved steadily westward and organized over warm water temperatures of A circulation developed within the system, and on July 9 it organized into Tropical Depression Seven while located about 580 mile (933 km) southwest of Acapulco. The depression turned to the west northwest, and after briefly weakening it organized more to attain tropical storm status on July 10 while located about 745 mile (1199 km) south of the southern tip of Baja California Peninsula. Tropical Storm Fico turned to the northwest after reaching tropical storm status, and entered an area of increasingly warm water temperatures. It quickly strengthened, and 18 hours after becoming a tropical storm Fico strengthened into a hurricane. As the hurricane turned to the west northwest, a well defined eye developed in the center of the hurricane, and Fico continued to quickly intensify. Fico attained Category 4 strength about 24 hours after it first became a hurricane, and on July 12 it reached peak winds of while located 640 mile (1030 km) southwest of Cabo San Lucas. While moving nearly due westward, Fico maintained peak winds for about 12 hours before weakening over cooler water temperatures. On July 14, passing over an area of waters, the hurricane became disorganized while its winds dropped to Shortly thereafter, it again moved into an area of waters, and again reached winds of on July 15. For 48 hours, Fico's winds fluctuated slightly, briefly dropping to before strengthening again to On July 17 the hurricane again began to weaken, and its winds dropped to as Fico entered the Central Pacific Hurricane Center area of responsibility. Fico slowly restrengthened and reached Category 3 status late on July 20 while passing about 170 mile (274 km) south of the island of Hawaii. The hurricane turned to the northwest toward an upper level trough of low pressure, and after maintaining winds for about 36 hours it slowly weakened. On July 27 after entering an area of progressively cooler waters, Fico weakened to a tropical storm while located about 35 mile (56 km) east northeast of Midway Island. It weakened to a tropical depression the next day,

Hurricane Fico never made landfall, though a strong east northeasterly swell from the hurricane along with a strong southerly swell from a southern hemisphere storm produced high surf along the coastline of Hawaii. Civil Defense officials reported 30 feet (9 m) waves well offshore. The island of Hawaii received breaking waves of 20 feet (6 m) in height, and eastern Maui reported up to 12 feet (4 m) waves. Southern Oahu and Kauai also reported slightly above normal waves. Several ships in and around the periphery of the hurricane received moderate winds and rough surf, one of which reported swell waves of 41 feet (12 m). The high seas washed a 65 feet (20 m) tugboat ashore on a reef at Kukuiula. Six people aboard a sloop off Hanalei were rescued by a Navy torpedo boat after it lost its auxiliary power and was unable to progress in the strong winds of Fico. A strong trade wind gradient, increased due to the presence of the hurricane, produced winds of over throughout the island chain. The mayors of three Hawaiian cities issued a disaster declaration for their cities following the damage from Fico. In Maui, moderate waves led to road flooding near the water, though no damage occurred on the island. winds throughout Hawaii downed trees, resulting in some power outages. The World Meteorological Organization retired the name Fico from future use following the 1978 season. It was replaced with Fabio for the 1982 season. The name Fico was new to the storm naming lists in 1978, as that was the first Pacific hurricane season to feature both male and female names.