2015 Central Pacific hurricane season
Jun 1, 2015 – Nov 30, 2015 · Season ended
The 2015 Central Pacific hurricane season produced 7 named storms, 4 hurricanes and 1 major hurricane, against a 1991–2020 average of 1.6, 0.8 and 0.5. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 77, 323% of the average.
2015 season at a glance
- Named storms: 7 (1991–2020 average 1.6).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 4 (average 0.8).
- Major, 96 kt+: 1 (average 0.5).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 76.9, 323% of the 24 average.
- Named-storm days: 45.3, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Halola, July 11.
- First hurricane: Halola, July 13.
- First major storm: Kilo, August 29.
- Last storm to dissipate: Tropical Depression 9C, January 1, 2016.
- All systems tracked: 9, including 2 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 2015 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Halola | – | C2 | 959 mb | Kawatana, Japan |
| Iune | – | TS | 1004 mb | — |
| Kilo | – | C4 | 940 mb | — |
| Loke | – | C1 | 985 mb | — |
| Malia | – | TS | 992 mb | — |
| Niala | – | TS | 992 mb | — |
| Oho | – | C2 | 957 mb | — |
| TD 8C | – | TD | 1001 mb | — |
| TD 9C | – | TD | 1001 mb | — |
- Halola: Halola formed in the Central Pacific in July 2015 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph (155 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 959 mb. It made landfall near Kawatana, Japan. The system was tracked for 20 days.
- Iune: Iune formed in the Central Pacific in July 2015 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 9 days.
- Kilo: Kilo formed in the Central Pacific in August 2015 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 940 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 27 days.
- Loke: Loke formed in the Central Pacific in August 2015 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 985 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Malia: Malia formed in the Central Pacific in September 2015 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 992 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Niala: Niala formed in the Central Pacific in September 2015 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 992 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Oho: Oho formed in the Central Pacific in October 2015 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 957 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- TD 8C: This system formed in the Central Pacific in October 2015 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1001 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- TD 9C: This system formed in the Central Pacific in December 2015 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1001 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 2015
Hurricane Kilo was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 140 mph (220 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 940 mb, on August 30. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
11 Central Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 51% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 2015
1 of the season’s 9 systems made landfall, none of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
- July 26: Halola near Kawatana, Japan, 30 mph (tropical depression)
How 2015 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 1st of 47 Central Pacific seasons since 1980 for named storms, 2nd for hurricanes and 4th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 7 named storms, in 2015, and the highest ACE is 167, in 1992.
2015 storm names
The 2015 season used 7 names: Halola, Iune, Kilo, Loke, Malia, Niala, Oho.
2 systems were tracked without a name and are listed by number.
Central Pacific names are used in order across years from four lists, so a season picks up where the last one stopped. See the Central Pacific name lists.
2015 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 2015?
The 2015 Central Pacific hurricane season had 7 named storms, 4 hurricanes and 1 major hurricane, from 9 systems tracked in all. The 1991–2020 average is 1.6 named storms, 0.8 at 64 kt or more and 0.5 major per season. The first to form was Halola and the last was Oho.
What was the strongest storm of 2015?
Hurricane Kilo. It peaked at 140 mph (220 km/h, 120 kt) with a lowest pressure of 940 mb on August 30. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 11 Central Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 51% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 2015 season end?
The official season ended on November 30, 2015, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Tropical Depression 9C, dissipated on January 1, 2016. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 2 Central Pacific storms since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.