2015 tropical cyclone seasons worldwide
In 2015, 97 storms reached tropical-storm strength across the six ocean basins. 55 of them reached hurricane or typhoon strength (64 kt) and 40 became major storms (96 kt or more). The strongest was Hurricane Patricia in the East Pacific, at 215 mph. The Southern Hemisphere figures are the 2014–15 season, which IBTrACS files under 2015.
2015 at a glance
- Storms at tropical-storm strength (34 kt+): 97, from 109 systems tracked.
- Hurricanes and typhoons (64 kt+): 55.
- Major storms (96 kt+): 40, 9 of them at Category 5 strength.
- Accumulated cyclone energy, all basins: 1075, 134% of the 800 that the six basins produce in an average year (1991–2020).
- Strongest storm worldwide: Hurricane Patricia, East Pacific, 215 mph (185 kt), 872 mb.
- Most active basin against its average: Central Pacific, with 323% of its average accumulated cyclone energy.
- Least active against its average: Atlantic, at 51%.
Each basin in 2015
Counts against each basin’s 1991–2020 average. Open a basin for its 2015 track map, every storm and its landfalls.
Atlantic hurricane season
2015 season
11 named (average 14.4), 4 hurricanes (average 7.2). Strongest: Hurricane Joaquin, 155 mph.
East Pacific hurricane season
2015 season
19 named (average 15.6), 13 hurricanes (average 8.4). Strongest: Hurricane Patricia, 215 mph.
Central Pacific hurricane season
2015 season
7 named (average 1.6), 4 hurricanes (average 0.8). Strongest: Hurricane Kilo, 140 mph.
West Pacific typhoon season
2015 season
26 named (average 25.5), 19 typhoons (average 15.8). Strongest: Super Typhoon Soudelor, 180 mph.
North Indian cyclone season
2015 season
9 named (average 6.3), 2 at hurricane strength (average 2.0). Strongest: Cyclone Chapala, 150 mph.
Southern Hemisphere cyclone season
2014–15 season
25 named (average 26.7), 13 at hurricane strength (average 13.8). Strongest: Cyclone Pam, 175 mph.
Strongest storms of 2015
| Storm | Basin | Peak wind | Min pressure | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patricia | East Pacific | C5 215 mph | 872 mb | – |
| Soudelor | West Pacific | C5 180 mph | 907 mb | – |
| Pam | Southern Hemisphere | C5 175 mph | 911 mb | – |
| Maysak | West Pacific | C5 175 mph | 911 mb | – |
| Bansi | Southern Hemisphere | C5 160 mph | 918 mb | – |
Peak winds are 1-minute sustained winds from the NHC and JTWC best tracks, so storms in different basins compare on the same scale.