Fernanda — 2023

A tropical wave that moved off Africa at the end of July crossed Central America into the eastern Pacific and developed into Tropical Depression Seven on 12 August 2023 about 14.2°N, 111.8°W. Over the next several days the cyclone moved generally west-northwest across the central eastern Pacific. Fernanda intensified quickly from 12–14 August, reached its peak on 14 August, then weakened steadily afterward and became a remnant or dissipated by about 24 August as it moved well away from land. Fernanda did not make landfall. There were no coastal watches or warnings issued because the storm remained over open water for its entire life and no land or ship reports of tropical-storm-force winds were recorded. The storm’s maximum sustained winds peaked at 115 knots (about 132 mph) from 1200 to 1800 UTC on 14 August, with an estimated minimum central pressure of 949 millibars. At peak intensity Fernanda was a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson scale. Because Fernanda remained over the open ocean, there were no measured storm surge impacts along coasts and no rainfall reports tied to the hurricane in coastal cities or counties in the NHC record. The report notes no ship or land observations of tropical-storm-force winds or surge and does not list any rainfall totals from named locations associated with the cyclone. There were no reports of damage or casualties related to Fernanda. The NHC issued an abbreviated report noting no coastal impacts and no direct fatalities. Noteworthy items: Fernanda underwent a rapid intensification from a 30‑kt depression to a 115‑kt Category 4 hurricane in about 42 hours. Forecast track errors were smaller than recent 5‑year averages, but intensity forecasts underpredicted the rapid strengthening and did not fully anticipate the fast weakening after 14–15 August.