2015 East Pacific hurricane season
May 15, 2015 – Nov 30, 2015 · Season ended
The 2015 East Pacific hurricane season produced 19 named storms, 13 hurricanes and 10 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 15.6, 8.4 and 4.4. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 253, 199% of the average.
2015 season at a glance
- Named storms: 19 (1991–2020 average 15.6).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 13 (average 8.4).
- Major, 96 kt+: 10, including 1 at Category 5 strength (average 4.4).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 253.1, 199% of the 127 average.
- Named-storm days: 109.0, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Andres, May 28.
- First hurricane: Andres, May 29.
- First major storm: Andres, May 31.
- Last storm to dissipate: Sandra, November 29.
- All systems tracked: 22, 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 2015 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andres | – | C4 | 937 mb | — |
| Blanca | – | C4 | 936 mb | Puerto San Carlos, Mexico |
| Carlos | – | C1 | 978 mb | San Patricio, Mexico |
| Ela | – | TS | 1002 mb | — |
| Dolores | – | C4 | 946 mb | — |
| Enrique | – | TS | 1000 mb | — |
| Felicia | – | TS | 1004 mb | — |
| Guillermo | – | C2 | 967 mb | — |
| TD 8E | – | TD | 1006 mb | — |
| Hilda | – | C4 | 937 mb | — |
| TD 11E | – | TD | 1003 mb | — |
| Ignacio | – | C4 | 942 mb | — |
| Jimena | – | C4 | 932 mb | — |
| Kevin | – | TS | 998 mb | — |
| Linda | – | C3 | 950 mb | — |
| TD 16E | – | TD | 1001 mb | Santa Rosalía, Mexico |
| Marty | – | C1 | 987 mb | — |
| Nora | – | TS | 993 mb | — |
| Olaf | – | C4 | 938 mb | — |
| Patricia | – | C5 | 872 mb | San Patricio, Mexico |
| Rick | – | TS | 1002 mb | — |
| Sandra | – | C4 | 934 mb | — |
- Andres: Andres formed in the East Pacific in May 2015 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 937 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- Blanca: Blanca formed in the East Pacific in May 2015 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 936 mb. It made 3 landfalls, first near Puerto San Carlos, Mexico and last near Santa Rosalía, Mexico. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Carlos: Carlos formed in the East Pacific in June 2015 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 978 mb. It made landfall near San Patricio, Mexico. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Ela: Ela formed in the East Pacific in July 2015 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 5 days.
- Dolores: Dolores formed in the East Pacific in July 2015 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 946 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 11 days.
- Enrique: Enrique formed in the East Pacific in July 2015 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 9 days.
- Felicia: Felicia formed in the East 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 5 days.
- Guillermo: Guillermo formed in the East Pacific in July 2015 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 967 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 12 days.
- TD 8E: This system formed in the East Pacific in July 2015 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1006 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Hilda: Hilda formed in the East Pacific in August 2015 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 937 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- TD 11E: This system formed in the East Pacific in August 2015 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1003 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Ignacio: Ignacio formed in the East Pacific in August 2015 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 942 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 16 days.
- Jimena: Jimena formed in the East Pacific in August 2015 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 155 mph (250 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 932 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 16 days.
- Kevin: Kevin formed in the East Pacific in August 2015 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 998 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Linda: Linda formed in the East Pacific in September 2015 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (205 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 950 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- TD 16E: This system formed in the East Pacific in September 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 made 3 landfalls, first near Santa Rosalía, Mexico and last near Bahía de Kino, Mexico. The system was tracked for 1 day.
- Marty: Marty formed in the East Pacific in September 2015 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 987 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Nora: Nora formed in the East Pacific in October 2015 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 993 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Olaf: Olaf formed in the East Pacific in October 2015 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph (240 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 938 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 14 days.
- Patricia: Patricia formed in the East Pacific in October 2015 and peaked as a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 215 mph (345 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 872 mb. It made landfall near San Patricio, Mexico. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Rick: Rick formed in the East Pacific in November 2015 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 8 days.
- Sandra: Sandra formed in the East Pacific in November 2015 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph (240 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 934 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 2015
Hurricane Patricia was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 215 mph (345 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 872 mb, on October 23. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
No East Pacific storm since 1980 has peaked higher. It produced 7% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 2015
4 of the season’s 22 systems made landfall, 1 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
- June 8: Blanca near Puerto San Carlos, Mexico, 50 mph (tropical storm)
- June 8: Blanca near Puerto San Carlos, Mexico, 45 mph (tropical storm)
- June 8: Blanca near Santa Rosalía, Mexico, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- June 17: Carlos near San Patricio, Mexico, 50 mph (tropical storm)
- September 21: TD 16E near Santa Rosalía, Mexico, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- September 21: TD 16E near Bahía de Kino, Mexico, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- September 21: TD 16E near Bahía de Kino, Mexico, 35 mph (tropical depression)
- October 23: Patricia near San Patricio, Mexico, 150 mph (Category 4)
How 2015 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 8th of 47 East Pacific seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 3 other seasons), 4th for hurricanes and 3rd for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 25 named storms, in 1992, and the highest ACE is 294, in 2018.
2015 storm names
The 2015 season used 19 names: Andres, Blanca, Carlos, Ela, Dolores, Enrique, Felicia, Guillermo, Hilda, Ignacio, Jimena, Kevin, Linda, Marty, Nora, Olaf, Patricia, Rick, Sandra.
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.
The WMO later retired the name Patricia, so it will not be used again.
2015 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 2015?
The 2015 East Pacific hurricane season had 19 named storms, 13 hurricanes and 10 major hurricanes, from 22 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 Andres and the last was Sandra.
What was the strongest storm of 2015?
Hurricane Patricia. It peaked at 215 mph (345 km/h, 185 kt) with a lowest pressure of 872 mb on October 23. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. No East Pacific storm since 1980 has peaked higher. It produced 7% 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, Sandra, dissipated on November 29. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 1 East Pacific storm since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.