Kika — 2008

Tropical Depression One-C formed well southeast of the main Hawaiian Islands near 10.3°N, 146.9°W and was first classified at 0300 UTC on 7 August 2008. It became Tropical Storm Kika later that day and generally moved westward across low-latitude Pacific waters. The storm’s center reformed about 90–100 miles to the south on 8 August, briefly weakening it to a depression; Kika re-strengthened to a tropical storm on 9 August, remained weak and fluctuating, and was downgraded again to a depression on 11 August. Its remnants crossed the International Date Line around 0000 UTC 14 August and dissipated shortly thereafter. Kika stayed well south of the main Hawaiian Islands and made no landfalls on any populated islands or continental coastlines while classified. After weakening below tropical-storm strength it became a remnant low and then a disturbance as it moved westward across the central Pacific; no direct landfall events were reported in the Central Pacific Hurricane Center (CPHC) area of responsibility. The maximum recorded intensity for Kika was 40 mph (35 kt) sustained winds with a best-track minimum central pressure near 1007–1008 mb during its strongest period on 7–10 August. This kept Kika at the low end of tropical-storm strength; it never reached hurricane strength. Because Kika remained a small system well south of Hawaii, there were no reported storm surge measurements or notable rainfall totals associated with the storm in populated areas. The NHC/CPHC report notes no impacts to the main Hawaiian Islands. There were no reported deaths, direct or indirect, and no known damage tied to Kika. The storm’s small size and position well offshore prevented impacts to populated areas. Noteworthy aspects include the storm’s low-latitude westward track, an unusual center reformation on 8 August that caused temporary weakening, and its inability to sustain convection despite generally favorable sea surface temperatures and relatively light wind shear. Forecast track errors listed in the report show typical forecast uncertainty at longer ranges, but no specific forecast failures or records of major significance were cited.