User:Yellow Evan/Kiko

Hurricane Kiko was one of several extremely intense storms during the 1983 Pacific hurricane season. A tropical depression formed on August 31 from a tropical disturbance that originated over Central America. The system intensified, and was upgraded to Tropical Storm Kiko later that day, and was upgraded into a hurricane on September 1. Explosively intensifying, Kiko attained its peak intensity on September 3 with winds of 145 mph (230 km/h), only to weaken days later over cooler water. Initially, the storm paralleled the coast, but later in its life, the hurricane turned west before resuming a northerly course. After briefly re-intensifying, Kiko was downgraded to a tropical storm on September 7. Further weakening occurred, and Kiko eventually was declared dissipated on September 9 after pulling away from the Mexican coast. Hurricane Kiko brought considerable damage to homes and hotels in Colima. In addition, it brought high waves and moisture to California, resulting in over 100 lifeguard rescues at one beach. Outside of Colima, damage from the hurricane was minor.

Meteorological history
Hurricane Kiko originated from a tropical disturbance that moved across Central America and moved into the eastern Pacific on August 27. By 0600 UTC on August 31, the Redwood City weather forecasting office's Eastern Pacific Hurricane Center (EPHC) had classified the system as a tropical depression. At that time, a well-developed deep-layer ridge was centered over New Mexico and was moving southward, causing light wind shear over the system. Transversing over 84 - 89 F waters, the cyclone began to rapidly deepen. At 1800 UTC on August 31, the EPHC reported that the depression had intensified into Tropical Storm Kiko. Initially expected to turn west and head out to sea, the storm moved northwest while paralleling the Mexican coast.

By early the next day, Kiko was approaching hurricane status. Subsequently, Kiko began to explosively deepen, and by 1800 UTC September 1, Kiko had intensified into a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale (SSHWS), bypassing both the Category 1 and 2 status. Six hours later, the EPHC reported that Kiko had intensified into a Category 4 hurricane. After remaning a low-end Category 4 hurricane for 30 hours, Kiko resumed intensification, attaining its peak intensity of 145 mph late on September 3. Simultaneously, Kiko became the strongest hurricane of the season in terms of wind seed; however, this intensity was later matched by Hurricane Raymond.

Shorty after its peak, a combination of cooler sea surface temperatures and increased wind shear associated with the jetstream resulted in rapid weakening. Kiko was briefly downgraded to Category 3 status on the SSHWS, before briefly re-intensifying back to a Category 4 on September 4. That day, Kiko resumed weakening and was downgraded to a Category 2 as the storm turned west-northwest, away from the Mexican coast. The next day, the storm was downgraded into a Category 1 system; by this time, the EPHC had revised their forecast and were now expecting the storm to accelerated and approach Baja California. On September 7, Kiko weakened into a tropical storm. Subsequently, Kiko turned north and was downgraded to a tropical depression the next day. Now devoid of convection, Tropical Depression Kiko dissipated early on September 9 while situated about 450 mi west-southwest of Baja California.

Preparations and Impact
The outer rainband's of Hurricane Kiko caused considerable damage to homes and hotels situated near the coast of Southwestern Mexico, forcing the evacuation of hundreds. The resorts of Tecoman and Manzanillo were the worst hit by the storm. Outside of Colima, however, little damage was reported. In addition, Kiko brought high clouds to the extreme southwestern portion of the Baja California Peninsula for four days. While at sea, Hurricane Kiko was responsible for 12 ft waves along Newport Beach, resulting in more than 100 lifeguard rescues and as rough seas. Even though no damage was reported, Hurricane Kiko was one of many tropical cyclones to bring high waves to California during the season. While weakening, Kiko brought subtropical moisture and high clouds to the U.S. state of California.