Hurricane Fabio (1988)

Hurricane Fabio was a strong category 4 hurricane that formed during the near-normal 1988 Pacific hurricane season. The storm caused only minor effects on land, with some rainfall reported in Hawaii.

Meteorological history
A well-organized tropical disturbance with deep convection organized further over the northeastern Pacific Ocean on July 28. It developed into a tropical depression later that day, while 1000 mi southwest of the southern tip of Baja California. The position of Fabio's formation was much further south and west than where most tropical cyclones form during the same time period. The depression moved westward while gradually strengthening and it developed into Tropical Storm Fabio on July 29. It intensified further over the next few days and it intensified into a hurricane on July 31.

The system increased its speed as it steadily strengthened further. A trough turned the storm west-northwestward on August 3. Satellite estimates indicated that Fabio reached its maximum intensity later on August 3, with a well-defined eye with very deep convection surrounding it. Air Force reconnaissance aircraft flew into the hurricane at 040000Z and found its center near 17°N, 145°W. Fabio, at this time, was moving steadily toward the Hawaiian Islands and a tropical storm watch was subsequently issued for the Big Island of Hawaii. due to the threatening west-northwest turn towards it. However, the retreat of a trough later turned Fabio back to the west and the CPHC discontinued the tropical storm watch on August 5. Fabio's good upper-level conditions later weakened and began to lose its convection over cooler waters. Fabio quickly weakened and it weakened into a tropical storm again later on August 5, and back to a depression on August 6. The depression turned west-northwestward again on August 8, but Fabio dissipated on August 9. The remnants of Hurricane Fabio were tracked for several more days and could be seen crossing the International Dateline near 22°N at 121800Z.

Impact
A weakened Hurricane Fabio and its category 3-equivelent wind gusts moved closer to the Hawaiian Islands. Fabio's center was 450 miles east-southeast of Hilo and 660 miles east-southeast of Honolulu with a course and speed that would bring the hurricane to just south of Hawaii, the southernmost island in the chain. Hurricane Fabio kicked up some high waves before it was downgraded to tropical storm status as it pushed away from Hawaii. Very heavy rainfall fell across the islands, peaking at 18.75 inches (476 mm) near Pāpa'ikou on the island of Hawaii.

Because the impact was kept low, the World Meteorological Organization did not retire the name Fabio and will be used again in the 1994 season. The name will wasn't retired from that year, either. It was used again in 2000 and 2006. It will expected to be on the 2012 name lists.