An Atlantic-Pacific crossover hurricane is a tropical cyclone that develops in the Atlantic Ocean and moves into the Pacific Ocean, or vice versa. Since reliable records began in 1851, a total of eighteen tropical cyclones have done this. It is more common for the remnants of a North Atlantic hurricane to redevelop into a different storm in the Pacific; in such a scenario, they are not considered the same system.
There were several other tropical cyclones that formed in one basin, dissipated, and re-developed, however, they were not recognized as an Atlantic-Pacific crossover hurricane. In chronological order from most recent to earliest, they are:
In 1969, Hurricane Francelia hit southern Belize, then known as British Honduras, weakening quickly over land and dissipating over Guatemala. The system continued slowly across Central America, crossing into the eastern Pacific Ocean three days after it moved ashore. Its remnants eventually redeveloped into Tropical Storm Glenda off the coast of Mexico.
Tropical Storm Chloe in 1971 made landfall in the Yucatán Peninsula and dissipated soon after. Its remnants continued into the Eastern Pacific and developed into Hurricane Lily, which made landfall in southwest Mexico.
Hurricane Cosme in 1989 crossed from the Pacific and dissipated over northern Mexico. Its remnants contributed to the development of Tropical Storm Allison in the Atlantic.
Operationally it was considered that Tropical Storm Bret, from 1993, retained its circulation and was designated Tropical Depression Eight-E upon reaching the Pacific, later becoming Hurricane Greg, but post-storm analysis determined that Bret actually dissipated over western Nicaragua.
Tropical Depression Nine in 2001 made landfall in Nicaragua and degenerated into a tropical wave. The wave later regenerated into a tropical depression that became Hurricane Juliette.
Hurricane Iris's remnants, of 2001, in the Atlantic Ocean triggered the formation of Tropical Storm Manuel in the Pacific.
Tropical Storm Earl in 2004 dissipated in the southeast Caribbean Sea, but its remnants regenerated into Hurricane Frank in the East Pacific.
Tropical Storm Alma of 2008 formed off of the West Coast of Costa Rica, made landfall in Nicaragua with speeds up to. The storm soon dissipated. A day later the storm's remnants after encountering a pair of two tropical waves regenerated on Nicaragua's east coast into Tropical Storm Arthur with sustained winds of and again made landfall in Nicaragua. It is not considered as crossover over as the initial storm had dissipated.
Hurricane Ernesto of 2012 developed near the Lesser Antilles. The system weakened to a low-pressure area in Mexico and its remnants moved into the eastern Pacific and developed into Tropical Storm Hector.
Hurricane Barbara of 2013 made landfall in southwest Mexico and dissipated before reaching the Gulf of Mexico. The remnants of Barbara and a cyclonic gyre led to the formation of a broad area of low pressure, which later became Tropical Storm Andrea over the central Gulf of Mexico.
Tropical Storm Trudy of 2014 made landfall in southern Mexico, its remnants emerged into the Bay of Campeche and subsequently developed into Tropical Storm Hanna in the Atlantic.
The remnants of Tropical Storm Bret of 2017 traversed over Central America and emerged into the eastern Pacific, which led to the formation of Hurricane Dora.
Later that year, Hurricane Katia made landfall in Mexico and was then downgraded to a remnant low; its remnants crossed into the Pacific Ocean, where it regenerated into Hurricane Otis.
Tropical Storm Amanda of 2020 made landfall in southeastern Guatemala, rapidly weakened, and dissipated. Its remnants however continued northward and eventually regenerated into Tropical Storm Cristobal in the Bay of Campeche.
Naming conventions
Prior to 2000, storms were renamed after crossing from the Gulf of Mexico into the Eastern Pacific. At the 22nd hurricane committee in 2000 it was decided that tropical cyclones that moved from the Atlantic to the Eastern Pacific basin and vice versa would no longer be renamed. Hurricane Otto in 2016 was the first storm to cross from one basin to another to apply under this rule.
