 Climate Monitoring / Climate of 2006 / East Pacific Hurricanes / Help
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MAY | JUNE | JULY | AUGUST | SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER | NOVEMBER | SEASONAL SUMMARY | links [ Aletta (5/27-30) | Two-E (6/3-5) | Bud (7/11-14) | Carlotta (7/12-16) | Daniel (7/17-25) | Emilia (7/22-27) | Fabio (7/31-8/3) | Gilma (8/1-3) | Hector (8/15-23) | Ioke (8/19-26) | Ileana (8/21-27) | John (8/28-9/4) | Kristy (8/30-9/6) | Lane (9/14-17) | Miriam (9/16-18) | Norman (10/8-15) | Olivia (10/9-12) | Paul (10/21-26) | Rosa (11/8-10) | Sergio (11/14-20)]
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Averages: Click here for information on the 2005 eastern North Pacific Hurricane season. |
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2006 season summary: Nineteen named storms formed in the East Pacific Hurricane basin during the 2006 season, which is above average. Eleven of these storms were classified as hurricanes and 6 storms were major hurricanes (category 3-5 on the Saffir-Simpson Scale). Perhaps the most notable hurricane of the season was Ioke, which became a category 5 hurricane on August 26th. Ioke crossed the International Date Line into the western Pacific, the first category 5 storm to do this since 1994. Super Typhoon Ioke continued on a westerly track before weakening. For more information on Ioke, see the August summary below. Three tropical storms made landfall in Mexico during the 2006 season. John was a category 2 storm when it came ashore near the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula in August. Hurricane Lane was the strongest storm to make landfall in the East Pacific during the 2006 season. This storm was a category 3 when it hit land in the Sinaloa State of Mexico in mid-September. Hurricane John came ashore as a tropical depression in October also in Sinaloa. In November, Tropical Storm Rosa and Hurricane Sergio formed: the first time since the 1961 season two named storms formed in November in the East North Pacific basin. Sergio strengthened into a strong category 2 storm and became the strongest hurricane to form or exist in this basin during the month of November. For additional information on these and all the 2006 season storms, see the summaries below. More statistical information may be found on NCDC's 2006 Northeast Pacific Tropical Cyclone statistics page. |
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Summaries of each 2006 East Pacific storm, organized by month, are available below.
Please note, convention reports tropical storm winds in knots (kt) and pressures in millibars (mb). |
November
One tropical storm and one hurricane formed in the East Pacific during November. Hurricane Sergio was a strong category 2 storm and the strongest hurricane to form or exist in November in the East North Pacific. Each of these storms is summarized below.
 Tropical Storm Rosa Satellite Image |
 Tropical Storm Rosa Track map  Saffir-Simpson Scale Color Legend |
| On the 6th, a tropical low formed off the Central American coast. Rosa became the first tropical cyclone to develop in November since the 2002 season. By the 9th, the storm strengthened and became a weak tropical storm, yet weakened back into a depression later that same day. At the peak of the storm, winds were approximately 35 kt (50 mph) and minimum central pressure was 1003 millibars (29.62 inches of mercury). The ACE value for Rosa was 0.2450 x 104 kt2. More information on Rosa is available from the NOAA National Hurricane Center. |
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 Hurricane Sergio Satellite Image |
 Hurricane Sergio Track map Saffir-Simpson Scale Color Legend |
| A tropical depression formed off the coast of Mexico on the 13th and quickly strengthened into a tropical storm that same day. For the first time since the 1961 season, two named storms had formed in November in the East North Pacific basin. Tropical Storm Sergio continued to organize and was upgraded to a hurricane by the 15th. Later that same day, the storm deepened and the minimum central pressure dropped to 965 millibars (28.50 inches of mercury), the strongest hurricane to form or exist in this basin in November. Maximum sustained winds were 95 kt (110 mph). Sergio's strength fluctuated over the next several days before dissipating on the 20th and becoming the longest-lasting tropical cyclone on record in the East North Pacific during November. The ACE value for Sergio was 7.7325 x 104 kt2. More information on Sergio is available from the NOAA National Hurricane Center. |
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October
Two tropical storms and one hurricane formed in the East Pacific during October. Hurricane Paul was a strong category 2 storm before it weakened at the end of the month. Each of these storms is summarized below.
 Tropical Storm Norman Satellite Image |
 Tropical Storm Norman Track map Saffir-Simpson Scale Color Legend |
| On the 8th, a tropical depression formed in the northeast Pacific and strengthened into Tropical Storm Norman the next day. Strong wind shear and cool sea surface temperatures hindered further development. The storm strength fluctuated over the next several days before dissipating on the 15th. At the peak of the storm, winds were approximately 45 kt (50 mph) and minimum central pressure was 1000 millibars (29.53 inches of mercury). The ACE value for Norman was 0.8850 x 104 kt2. More information on Norman is available from the NOAA National Hurricane Center. |
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 Tropical Storm Olivia Satellite Image |
 Tropical Storm Olivia Track map  Saffir-Simpson Scale Color Legend |
| Tropical Storm Olivia formed to the southwest of Tropical Storm Norman on the 9th. Assisted by deep convection, the storm reached peak intensity of 40 kt (45 mph) and had a minimum central pressure of 1000 millibars (29.53 inches of mercury) on the 10th. Wind shear and cooler ocean temperatures quickly weakened the storm and the remnant low pressure merged with the weakening Tropical Storm Norman on the 12th. The ACE value for Olivia was 0.4800 x 104 kt2. More information on Olivia is available from the NOAA National Hurricane Center. | |
 Hurricane Paul Satellite Image |
 Hurricane Paul Track map Saffir-Simpson Scale Color Legend |
| On the 21st, an area of disturbed weather moved into an environment of warmer water and decreasing wind shear about 265 miles south-southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico. Within two days, this disturbance became Hurricane Paul and reached peak intensity of 110 mph (95 kt), a strong category 2 storm, later in the same day. The storm weakened as it moved into a region of stronger wind shear. Paul passed just south of the tip of Baja California as a tropical storm and continued to weaken as it approached the Mexican coast. By landfall near La Reforma in northwestern Sinaloa, the storm was merely a tropical depression. Minimal central pressure at the peak of the storm was 965 mb (28.95 inches of mercury). The ACE value for Paul was 6.4825 x 104 kt2. More information on Paul is available from the NOAA National Hurricane Center. |
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September
September was a quite month when compared with August. One tropical storm and one hurricane formed. Hurricane Lane made landfall along the Mexican coast as a category 3 storm on the 16th. For additional information, see the summaries below.
 Tropical Storm Miriam Satellite Image |
 Tropical Storm Miriam Track map Saffir-Simpson Scale Color Legend |
| Miriam formed as a tropical disturbance on the 16th approximately 500 miles southeast of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The storm moved northeast, under the influence of Hurricane Lane, and gained strength becoming a tropical storm later that day. Lane reached a peak intensity of 40 kt (45 mph) before weakening due to the effects of cooler waters and vertical wind shear. Minimum central pressure was 999 millibars (29.50 inches of mercury). The ACE value for Miriam was 0.8475 x 104 kt2. More information on Miriam is available from the NOAA National Hurricane Center. | |
 Hurricane Lane Satellite Image |
 Hurricane Lane Track map Saffir-Simpson Scale Color Legend |
| Lane began as a tropical disturbance located about 125 miles west-southwest of Acapulco, Mexico. The storm moved parallel to the Mexican coast and continued to strengthen, eventually becoming a major hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 110 kt. Minimum central pressure was 952 millibars (28.11 inches of mercury). Lane made landfall as a Category 3 storm in the Sinaloa State of Mexico on the 16th. The ACE value for Lane was 6.8225 x 104 kt2. More information on Lane is available from the NOAA National Hurricane Center. |
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August
August was an active month in the East Pacific. Seven storms, of which 4 reached hurricane intensity were active during the month, and are summarized below.
 TS Gilma Satellite Image |
 TS Gilma Track map Saffir-Simpson Scale Color Legend |
| Gilma was the first tropical storm to form in the East North Pacific basin in August. The storm developed to the southwest of Acapulco, Mexico on August 1st, and moved to the northwest. The depression became a tropical storm the same day but weakened from tropical storm intensity early on the 2nd. Gilma dissipated at sea on August 3rd. The storm's maximum sustained winds and minimum central pressure were 35 knots (40 mph or 65 kph) and 1005 millibars (29.68 inches of mercury), respectively, and its ACE value was 0.3675 x 104 kt2. More information on Gilma is available from the NOAA National Hurricane Center. |
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 H Hector Satellite Image |
 H Hector Track map Saffir-Simpson Scale Color Legend |
| Hector was classified as tropical depression Nine-E on August 15th, southwest of Acapulco, Mexico. The depression intensified into a tropical storm on the 16th as it moved to the northwest, and into a hurricane in the morning of the 17th. At its strongest, Hector was a category 2 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds and minimum central pressure of 90 knots (104 mph or 167 kph) and 970 millibars (28.64 inches of mercury), respectively, and its ACE value was 11.06 x 104 kt2. Hector dissipated at sea on August 23rd. More information on Hector is available from the NOAA National Hurricane Center.
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 H Ioke Satellite Image |
 H Ioke Track map Saffir-Simpson Scale Color Legend |
| On August 19, tropical depression ONE-C became the first named storm to form in the central Pacific since 2002, when it developed approximately 775 miles to the south of Honolulu, Hawaii. TD ONE-C quickly intensified into tropical storm Ioke later the same day as the system moved to the west-northwest. Within 24 hours of its development Ioke had strengthened into a hurricane, and became a major hurricane (category 3 or higher) on the 21st, gaining category 4 status just 6 hours later. As Ioke continued to move west-northwest, it weakened to a category 2 before reintensifying into a major hurricane late on August 23rd. Strengthening continued until Ioke reached category 5 intensity on the morning of the 26th, as it approached the Date Line. The storm, now classified as Super Typhoon Ioke, continued toward Japan, crossing over Wake Island (forcing the evacuation of Wake's residents). Ioke weakened to a category-1 strength storm and recurved toward the Kamchatka Peninsula on September 5th. As of 1200 UTC on September 5th, Ioke (T0612) is forecast to become an extratropical low within 24 hours as it enters the Bering Sea. At its height, the storm's maximum sustained winds and minimum central pressure were 140 knots (161 mph or 259 kph) and 920 millibars (27.17 inches of mercury), respectively. Ioke's ACE index value (calculated through August 26th) was 31.6331 x 104 kt2. More information on Ioke is available from the NOAA Central Pacific Hurricane Center and from the Japan Meteorological Agency.
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 H Ileana Satellite Image |
 H Ileana Track map Saffir-Simpson Scale Color Legend |
| Forming a few hundred miles south-southwest of Acapulco, Mexico, tropical depression TEN-E became tropical storm Ileana late on August 21st and had intensified into a category 1 hurricane just 24 hours later. Ileana moved northwest, paralleling the Mexican coast and passed west of the Baja Peninsula. The storm attained category 3 intensity on the 23rd before gradually weakening to a tropical storm on August 26th. Ileana dissipated at sea around mid-day on the 27th. Ileana's maximum sustained winds were 105 kts (121 mph or 194 kph) and the minimum central pressure was 955 millibars (28.20 inches of mercury). The storm's ACE value was 11.98 x 104 kt2. More information on Ileana is available from the NOAA National Hurricane Center.
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 H John Satellite Image |
 H John Track map Saffir-Simpson Scale Color Legend |
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Thus far in 2006, the most intense hurricane to make landfall in either the East North Pacific or the Atlantic basins has been Hurricane John. The system developed about 270 miles southeast of Acapulco, Mexico on August 28th and was classified as a tropical storm within a few hours. John tracked closely along the Mexican coast, intensifying to hurricane strength around mid-day on the 29th. By the next morning, John had become a category 4 storm, centered approximately 160 miles west of Acapulco, while it continued to move northwest toward the Baja Peninsula. On September 1st, John made landfall as a category 2 hurricane, with winds of 110 mph, near Cabo del Este at the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula. A second landfall occurred the next day further up the peninsula as a category 1 hurricane. Thereafter, John quickly weakened as it moved inland, dissipating on September 4th. John claimed three lives in Mexico, and produced flooding rains across the northwest of the country. The storm's maximum sustained 6-hour wind speed was 115 kts (135 mph or 215 kph) and the minimum central pressure was 948 millibars (27.99 inches of mercury). The storm's overall ACE value was 18.32 x 104 kt2. More information on John is available from the NOAA National Hurricane Center.
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 H Kristy Satellite Image |
 H Kristy Track map Saffir-Simpson Scale Color Legend |
| Tropical Depression Twelve-E formed off the southern tip of Baja California in the early hours of August 30th, but was kept in check by its proximity to Hurricane John. Initially it appeared Twelve-E would dissipate without strengthening into a tropical storm, but later that same day, as it moved northwestward away from John, Kristy did intensify into a tropical storm and became a category 1 hurricane on the morning of the 31st. The storm remained a minimal category 1 hurricane until it weakened to a tropical storm on September 1st. With erratic movement, Kristy vacillated between tropical storm and tropical depression. As the storm moved west toward Hawaii, it gradually weakened, finally dissipating on September 7th. Kristy's maximum sustained winds were 65 kts (75 mph or 120 kph) and the minimum central pressure was 987 millibars (29.14 inches of mercury). The storm's final ACE value was 4.9375 x 104 kt2. More information on Kristy is available from the NOAA National Hurricane Center. | |
July
| July was an active month for tropical cyclones in the East North Pacific basin. Five named storms formed, including three that reached hurricane strength, and one, Fabio, which remained active into August. | |
 Click for larger image of Bud |
The first storm of July was Bud. Bud formed approximately 750 miles south of the Baja Peninsula as Tropical Depression-03E on 11 July at 0300 UTC (2000 PDT). Bud intensified to Tropical Storm strength six hours later and was reclassified as a hurricane at 2230 UTC (1530 PDT) on 11 July. The storm strengthened to a major hurricane on the 12th and reached maximum intensity as a category 3 hurricane on the 13th, with maximum sustained winds of 110 kts (125 mph or 200 kph), a minimum central pressure of 953 mb. Bud tracked northwest and weakened rapidly as it moved over colder water, becoming a Tropical Storm on the 14th and a dissipating on the 15th. The ACE Index for Bud was 14.2181 x 104 kt 2. More information on Bud is available from the NOAA National Hurricane Center. |
 Click for larger track map Saffir-Simpson Scale Color Legend |
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 Click for larger image of Carlotta |
Carlotta developed into a tropical storm at 0900 UTC (0200 PDT) on 12 July, 250 miles southwest of the state of Guerrero, Mexico. Carlotta was upgraded to hurricane just 24 hours later. The storm vacillated between Hurricane and Tropical Storm strength as it moved to the west northwest. Carlotta dissipated in the afternoon of 16 July, but at its strongest was a Category 1 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 75 kts, a minimum central pressure of 981 mb. The storm's ACE Index value was 9.2371 x 104 kt2. More information on Carlotta is available from the NOAA National Hurricane Center. Saffir-Simpson Scale Color Legend |
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 Click for larger image of Daniel |
Daniel formed several hundred miles south of the Baja Peninsula on 16 July and was classified a tropical storm the next day at 1500 UTC (1000 PDT). The system intensified to a hurricane on 18 July and strengthened to a major hurricane (Category 3) by 1500 UTC on 20 July. Daniel continued to strengthen and became a category 4 hurricane as it tracked toward Hawaii. Fortunately, due to unfavorable environmental conditions, the storm stalled and degraded to a depression on the 25th. At its strongest, Daniel had maximum sustained winds of 130 kts, a minimum central pressure of 933 mb, and had a total ACE of 30.7925 x 104 kt2. More information on Daniel is available from the NOAA National Hurricane Center. Saffir-Simpson Scale Color Legend |
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 Click for larger image of Emilia |
Tropical Depression-06E formed 380 miles south southwest of Acapulco, Mexico on 21 July and became Tropical Storm Emilia on the 22nd. Emilia tracked northwestward and approached the southern Baja peninsula, bringing high winds to the region. It passed to the west of the Baja and quickly weakened, never attaining hurricane status. Emilia lost tropical storm strength at 0000 UTC on the 27th and dissipated the next day. The storm had maximum sustained winds of 70 kt, a minimum central pressure of 989 mb, and had an overall ACE Index value of 5.2975 x 104 kt2. More information on Emilia is available from the NOAA National Hurricane Center. Saffir-Simpson Scale Color Legend |
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 Click for larger image of Fabio | Fabio was the last storm to form in the East North Pacific basin in July. It formed on 31 July as Tropical Depression-07E, approximately 850 miles southwest of the Baja peninsula. Fabio intensified into a tropical storm at 0300 UTC on 01 August (2000 PDT 7/31) and as of the end of July was tracking westerly toward Hawaii. Fabio weakened to a tropical depression at 2100 UTC on 2 August and the last advisory for Fabio was issued by the NOAA National Hurricane Center 24 hours later. Fabio's maximum sustained winds were 45 kt and its minimum central pressure was 1000 mb. The overall ACE value for Fabio was 1.3375 x 104 kt 2. More information on Fabio is available from the NOAA National Hurricane Center. |
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June
| June was a quiet month in the eastern North Pacific basin. Following closely on the heels of Tropical Storm Aletta in May, Tropical depression Two-E formed on June 3 at 1500 UTC (0800 PDT) about 140 miles (230 km) southwest of Zihuatanejo, Mexico. Two-E tracked northeast, then east, toward the Mexican coast. The depression reached maximum sustained winds estimated at 30 knots (35 mph) and had an estimated minimum central pressure of 1005 millibars (29.68 inches of mercury) before dissipating by around 0300 UTC on June 5. More information on Two-E is available from the NOAA National Hurricane Center. |
May
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| The eastern North Pacific hurricane season officially begins on May 15th, generally peaks in late August/early September and concludes around the end of November. One system was active in May in 2006, becoming Tropical Storm Aletta. Aletta formed off the central Mexican Pacific coast near Acapulco on 27 May and intensified to a Tropical Storm that same day. The maximum 6-hour sustained wind in this tropical storm was 40 kt (46 mph or 74 km hr-1) , with a maximum gust of 50 kt (58 mph or 93 km hr-1), and a minimum central pressure of 1002 mb (29.59 inches of mercury). The storm initially moved toward the Mexican coast, but recurved to the west, moving out to sea. Aletta was degraded to a depression at 0000 UTC on 30 May and quickly dissipated by that afternoon. More information may be found on NCDC's 2006 Northeast Pacific Tropical Cyclone statistics page or at the NOAA National Hurricane Center. | |
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For all climate questions other than questions concerning this report, please contact the National Climatic Data Center's Climate Services Division: Climate Services Division NOAA/National Climatic Data Center 151 Patton Avenue Asheville, NC 28801-5001 fax: 828-271-4876 phone: 828-271-4800 email: questions@ncdc.noaa.gov For further information on the historical climate perspective presented in this report, contact: David Levinson NOAA/National Climatic Data Center 151 Patton Avenue Asheville, NC 28801-5001 fax: 828-271-4328 email: David.Levinson@noaa.gov |
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