why dosen't the pacific coast have hurricanes?

Answer 1

The Pacific does get hurricanes/tropical storms. Actually, the eastern North Pacific Ocean off Mexico and Central America is the second most active hurricane alley with nearly one quarter of the world's tropical storms. In a typical year, 17 tropical storms form there, compared to 9 or 10 in the Atlantic and Caribbean.

Dispite all the activity over there, California and the rest of the US pacific coast rarely sees hurricane activity for two reasons.

1. Winds tend to blow toward the west-northwest. In the Atlantic, this direction often brings storms toward the United States. In the Eastern Pacific, a west-northwest track takes hurricanes away from the California coast.

2. Water temperature. Along the Atlantic coast, the Gulf Stream provides warm deep water above 27°C (about 80°F) to fuel hurricanes. Water currents off southern California are around 22EC (about 70°-71°F), normally too cold to sustain tropical storms.

If any of these storms were to make their way toward the US pacific coast, they would fade quickly, but bring some tropical reminents, like heavy rains and high winds.

Answer 2

Hurricanes in the western Pacific are called typhoons. But like any other unique phenomenon, you need the right conditions. Hurricanes form in the eastern Atlantic or Caribbean and move west. Some make it all the way to Mexico. But when hurricanes pass over land they lose their source of energy and moisture that they tap from the water, so they weaken and fall apart. If they pass over Mexico they eventually become a shadow of their former selves and the atmospheric conditions on the western side of Mexico and the southwestern USA are too dry and cannot provide the moisture and energy to rebuild the hurricane. Also, the winds that steer the hurricanes generally run west to east, so moving west and northwest from Mexico and the Baja is not a hurricane track.

Answer 3

The pacific has hurricanes. However, they never occur north of Mexico as the cold California Current keeps them away from the west coast of North America.

However, in the western Pacific, typhoons occur which can grow larger than any Atlantic hurricane. They can bring devastation to southeast Asian countries like Vietnam, the Philippines, Mainland China, and Taiwan.

Answer 4

Another reason is that the water off the West Coast is very cold. Hurricanes need a water temperature of roughly 80 degrees or warmer to form and maintain their strength. The only place along the west coast with water temps that warm will be in Mexico, maybe very very southern California.

Answer 5

It does...but mainly they begin off the coast of Mexico and usually head westward. However sometimes they do go parallel with the coast and can hit southern California (along the Baja) and head inward. Hurricanes need the warmer water for their strength and to become a tropical entity.

Answer 6

The Pacific Coast DOES have hurricanes, but you rarely hear about them unless they threaten Hawaii or the continental US. Or if there is such loss of life and property that an international appeal for help is sent out. Most of the time, they just swirl around in the ocean until they hit colder water, then they just fizzle out.

Answer 7

The pacific coast of the US doesn't because of cold water temps. But, the West coast of Mexico like baja california does because of warmer air and water temps.

Answer 8

Tropical systems do occur but usually arent strong
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/lox/images/historical_storm_tracks.jpg

colder waters have a lot to do with this along with wind shear