Question:  Hurricane Fico was the longest-lived hurricane of the Pacific hurricane season that offically began on what date?
Context: The 1998 Pacific hurricane season was a below average Pacific hurricane season, It had six major hurricanes that was well above average.  The season officially started on May 15 in the eastern Pacific and on June 1 in the central Pacific, and ended on November 30; these dates conventionally delimit the period during which most tropical cyclones form in that region.  The first tropical cyclone developed on June 11, about ten days later than the normal start of the season.  The final storm of the year, Hurricane Madeline, dissipated on October 20.  Storm activity in the Central Pacific Hurricane Center's warning zone was low, with just one tropical depression observed in the region.  Two tropical cyclones from the eastern Pacific (Darby and Estelle) also entered the central Pacific; the former did so as a hurricane. Hurricane Tina was the strongest and longest-lived storm of the 1992 Pacific hurricane season and threatened land for a brief period.  The twenty-fourth tropical cyclone, twenty-second tropical storm, fourteenth hurricane, and eighth major hurricane of the record breaking 1992 season, Tina formed from a tropical wave on September 17.  The storm moved towards the west and strengthened into a hurricane.  A breakdown in a ridge and to the north and a trough then re-curved Tina to the northeast and towards land, still moving slowly and gradually slowing down.  The trough broke down and was replaced by a strong ridge.  Tina then changed direction again and headed out to sea.  It intensified into a Category 4 storm with winds of 150 mph (240 km/h) and a central pressure of 932 millibars.  Tina then slowly weakened as it turned to the north.  Tropical Depression Tina dissipated on October 11, shortly after entering the Central Pacific Hurricane Center's area of responsibility.  Although the tropical cyclone never made landfall, heavy rains were recorded across western Mexico.  While at peak intensity, the storm also displayed annular characteristics. The 1962 Pacific hurricane season was a moderately active Pacific hurricane season that included two hurricane landfalls.  The 1962 Pacific hurricane season officially started on May 15, 1962 in the eastern Pacific and June 1, 1962 in the Central Pacific Hurricane Center's area of responsibility and lasted until November 30, 1962 in both regions.  These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the northeastern Pacific Ocean. The 1978 Pacific hurricane season officially began May 15, 1978, in the eastern Pacific, June 1, 1978, in the central Pacific, and officially ended 30 November 1978.  These dates conventionally delimit the period of time when tropical cyclones form in the eastern north Pacific Ocean. The 1949 Pacific hurricane season was the first hurricane season in the Eastern Pacific hurricane database.  Six tropical cyclones were known to have existed during the season, of which the first formed on June 11 and the final dissipated on September 30.  Another tropical cyclone had formed within the basin in 1949, but was included in the Atlantic hurricane database, had it been classified operationally in the Eastern Pacific basin, would have tallied the overall season to seven tropical cyclones.  In addition, there were two tropical cyclones that attained hurricane status, but none of them reached major hurricane intensity (Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale).  Tropical Storm Three threatened the Baja California Peninsula, while an unnumbered hurricane crossed into the Atlantic, later becoming the 1949 Texas hurricane. The 1997 Pacific hurricane season was a very active hurricane season.  With hundreds of deaths and hundreds of millions of dollars in damage, this season was one of the costliest and deadliest Pacific hurricane seasons.  This was due to the exceptionally strong 1997–98 El Niño event.  The 1997 Pacific hurricane season officially started on May 15, 1997, in the eastern Pacific, and on June 1, 1997, in the central Pacific, and lasted until November 30, 1997.  These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when almost all tropical cyclones form in the northeastern Pacific Ocean. Hurricane Rosa was the only Pacific hurricane to make landfall during the above-average 1994 Pacific hurricane season.  It killed at least 4 people in Mexico.  Moisture from the hurricane was a factor in widespread flooding in the U.S. state of Texas that killed 22 people and caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage in October 1994.  The pre-Rosa tropical depression formed on October 8 before degenerating the next day.  It reformed on October 10 and steadily strengthened as it approached Mexico.  Ultimately peaking as a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale right before landfall, Rosa was the final hurricane, nineteenth tropical storm, and second-last tropical cyclone of the 1994 Pacific hurricane season. Hurricane Fico was the longest-lived hurricane of the 1978 Pacific hurricane season and became the longest-lasting Pacific hurricane on record, a record broken by Hurricane Tina fourteen years later.  The sixth tropical storm, fourth hurricane, and third major hurricane, Fico developed from a tropical disturbance off the Pacific coast of Mexico on July 9.  It moved northwestward and then westward, quickly reaching peak winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) on July 12.  Moving nearly due westward, the intensity of Fico fluctuated from Category 1 to Category 4 status on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale for the following days, and it passed about 170 miles (275 km) south of Hawaii on July 20 with winds of 115 mph (185 km/h).  Fico slowly weakened as it turned to the northwest over cooler waters, and became an extratropical cyclone on July 28 to the northeast of Midway Island. The 1992 Pacific hurricane season is the most active Pacific hurricane season on record.  The most notable storm was Hurricane Iniki, which caused billions of dollars of damage to the Hawaiian Islands.  Hurricanes Lester, Virgil, Winifred, and Orlene also made landfall and killed several people, but were significantly less destructive.  Hurricane Darby and Tropical Storm Agatha brought rains and more destruction to Mexico, without making landfall.  Hurricane Tina was the longest-lasting Pacific hurricane at the time.  Also of note are Hurricane Ekeka and Tropical Storm Hali, which formed in late January and late March, respectively. The 1990 Pacific hurricane season saw a then-record 16 hurricanes form.  Throughout the year, 21 tropical cyclones became named storms in the eastern Pacific Ocean.  Hurricane Alma formed on May 12, 1990, three days before the season's official start on May 15.  The Central Pacific hurricane season began on June 1, covering tropical cyclone formation in the region between 140°W and International Dateline.  Hurricane Trudy was the last storm to dissipate, doing so on November 1, nearly a month before the Pacific hurricane season officially ended on November 30.
Answer: May 15, 1978