Otis is a retired Pacific hurricane name. The World Meteorological Organization took it off the lists after the 2023 storm, so no future storm in the eastern or central Pacific will be called Otis. Its place on the list now belongs to Otilio, on the 2029 list. Since 1981, five storms have been named Otis; the strongest, in 2023, peaked as a Category 5 hurricane.
Yes. Otis is on NHC’s list of retired eastern and central Pacific names because of the 2023 storm. It is one of 22 names retired there since 1965 (Tropical Cyclone Naming History and Retired Names).
A name is retired when a storm was so deadly or costly that using the name again would be insensitive; the World Meteorological Organization then picks a new name with the same first letter at its annual meeting.
It won’t be. Retired names are not used again on the eastern and central Pacific lists. Its place on the list, the O slot, now belongs to Otilio, on the 2029 East Pacific list, which is next used in 2029.
Otis formed in the East Pacific in October 2023 and peaked as a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 165 mph (270 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 922 mb. It made landfall near Acapulco de Juárez, Mexico. The system was tracked for 5 days.
Hurricane Otis (2023): track and historyOtis formed in the East Pacific in September 2017 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 965 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
Hurricane Otis (2017): track and historyOtis formed in the East Pacific in September 2005 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 970 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
Hurricane Otis (2005): track and historyOtis formed in the East Pacific in September 1987 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 115 mph (185 km/h). It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
Hurricane Otis (1987): track and historyOtis formed in the East Pacific in October 1981 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h). It made landfall near Isla del Bosque, Mexico. The system was tracked for 6 days.
Hurricane Otis (1981): track and history| Storm | Landfall near | Date (UTC) | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|
| Otis 2023 | Acapulco de Juárez, Mexico | 2023-10-25 06:45 | 160 mph / 260 km/h |
| Otis 1981 | Isla del Bosque, Mexico | 1981-10-30 00:00 | 65 mph / 100 km/h |
Names go in alphabetical order, one per storm, as each storm reaches tropical-storm strength (39 mph, 34 knots), so a storm’s place in its season decides its name.
In each of 2023, 2017, 2005, 1987 and 1981, Otis was the 15th name used in the East Pacific season.
The most recent was Hurricane Otis in 2023, in the East Pacific. It formed on October 21, peaked at 165 mph (270 km/h) and lasted 5 days. It made landfall near Acapulco de Juárez, Mexico. It was the 15th name used in that East Pacific season. Before that, the name was used in 2017, 2005, 1987 and 1981.
Hurricane Otis in 2023 was the strongest, peaking as a Category 5 hurricane with winds of 165 mph (270 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 922 mb. It formed in the East Pacific in October and made landfall near Acapulco de Juárez, Mexico. The weakest of the five, in 1981, peaked at 85 mph (140 km/h).