2006 East Pacific hurricane season
May 15, 2006 – Nov 30, 2006 · Season ended
The 2006 East Pacific hurricane season produced 18 named storms, 10 hurricanes and 5 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 15.6, 8.4 and 4.4. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 123, 96% of the average.
2006 season at a glance
- Named storms: 18 (1991–2020 average 15.6).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 10 (average 8.4).
- Major, 96 kt+: 5 (average 4.4).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 122.9, 96% of the 127 average.
- Named-storm days: 69.3, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Aletta, May 27.
- First hurricane: Bud, July 12.
- First major storm: Bud, July 13.
- Last storm to dissipate: Sergio, November 20.
- All systems tracked: 21, including 3 that stayed below tropical-storm strength.
Counts use 1-minute best-track winds: named storms reached 34 kt (39 mph), the next column 64 kt (74 mph) and major storms 96 kt (111 mph).
Every storm of the 2006 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aletta | – | TS | 1002 mb | — |
| TD 2E | – | TD | 1005 mb | — |
| Bud | – | C3 | 953 mb | — |
| Carlotta | – | C1 | 981 mb | — |
| Daniel | – | C4 | 933 mb | — |
| Emilia | – | TS | 990 mb | — |
| Fabio | – | TS | 1000 mb | — |
| Gilma | – | TS | 1004 mb | — |
| Hector | – | C2 | 966 mb | — |
| Ileana | – | C3 | 955 mb | — |
| John | – | C4 | 948 mb | Las Veredas, Mexico |
| Kristy | – | C1 | 985 mb | — |
| Lane | – | C3 | 952 mb | El Rosario, Mexico |
| Miriam | – | TS | 999 mb | — |
| Norman | – | TS | 1000 mb | — |
| Olivia | – | TS | 1000 mb | — |
| Paul | – | C2 | 970 mb | La Reforma, Mexico |
| TD 18E | – | TD | 1007 mb | — |
| Rosa | – | TS | 1002 mb | — |
| TD 20E | – | TD | 1007 mb | — |
| Sergio | – | C2 | 965 mb | — |
- Aletta: Aletta formed in the East Pacific in May 2006 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1002 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- TD 2E: This system formed in the East Pacific in June 2006 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1005 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Bud: Bud formed in the East Pacific in July 2006 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (205 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 953 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Carlotta: Carlotta formed in the East Pacific in July 2006 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 981 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Daniel: Daniel formed in the East Pacific in July 2006 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph (240 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 933 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 12 days.
- Emilia: Emilia formed in the East Pacific in July 2006 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 990 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- Fabio: Fabio formed in the East Pacific in July 2006 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1000 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Gilma: Gilma formed in the East Pacific in August 2006 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1004 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Hector: Hector formed in the East Pacific in August 2006 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 966 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Ileana: Ileana formed in the East Pacific in August 2006 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 955 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- John: John formed in the East Pacific in August 2006 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 948 mb. It made landfall near Las Veredas, Mexico. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Kristy: Kristy formed in the East Pacific in August 2006 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 985 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- Lane: Lane formed in the East Pacific in September 2006 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (205 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 952 mb. It made landfall near El Rosario, Mexico. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Miriam: Miriam formed in the East Pacific in September 2006 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 999 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Norman: Norman formed in the East Pacific in October 2006 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1000 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Olivia: Olivia formed in the East Pacific in October 2006 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1000 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Paul: Paul formed in the East Pacific in October 2006 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 made landfall near La Reforma, Mexico. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- TD 18E: This system formed in the East Pacific in October 2006 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1007 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Rosa: Rosa formed in the East Pacific in November 2006 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1002 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- TD 20E: This system formed in the East Pacific in November 2006 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1007 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 1 day.
- Sergio: Sergio formed in the East Pacific in November 2006 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 965 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 2006
Hurricane Daniel was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 150 mph (240 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 933 mb, on July 22. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
32 East Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 14 matched it. It produced 24% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 2006
3 of the season’s 21 systems made landfall, 2 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
How 2006 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 12th of 47 East Pacific seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 8 other seasons), 11th for hurricanes (tied with 8 other seasons) and 18th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 25 named storms, in 1992, and the highest ACE is 294, in 2018.
2006 storm names
The 2006 season used 18 names: Aletta, Bud, Carlotta, Daniel, Emilia, Fabio, Gilma, Hector, Ileana, John, Kristy, Lane, Miriam, Norman, Olivia, Paul, Rosa, Sergio.
3 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.
Atlantic and East Pacific lists repeat every six years. See how storms are named.
2006 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 2006?
The 2006 East Pacific hurricane season had 18 named storms, 10 hurricanes and 5 major hurricanes, from 21 systems tracked in all. The 1991–2020 average is 15.6 named storms, 8.4 at 64 kt or more and 4.4 major per season. The first to form was Aletta and the last was Sergio.
What was the strongest storm of 2006?
Hurricane Daniel. It peaked at 150 mph (240 km/h, 130 kt) with a lowest pressure of 933 mb on July 22. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 32 East Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 24% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 2006 season end?
The official season ended on November 30, 2006, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Sergio, dissipated on November 20. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 1 East Pacific storm since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.