2016 East Pacific hurricane season
May 15, 2016 – Nov 30, 2016 · Season ended
The 2016 East Pacific hurricane season produced 20 named storms, 12 hurricanes and 6 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 15.6, 8.4 and 4.4. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 175, 137% of the average.
2016 season at a glance
- Named storms: 20 (1991–2020 average 15.6).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 12 (average 8.4).
- Major, 96 kt+: 6 (average 4.4).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 174.7, 137% of the 127 average.
- Named-storm days: 102.0, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Agatha, July 2.
- First hurricane: Blas, July 4.
- First major storm: Blas, July 5.
- Last storm to dissipate: Tina, November 18.
- All systems tracked: 21, including 1 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 2016 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TD 1E | – | TD | 1006 mb | — |
| Agatha | – | TS | 1002 mb | — |
| Blas | – | C4 | 947 mb | — |
| Celia | – | C2 | 972 mb | — |
| Darby | – | C3 | 958 mb | Hawaiian Paradise Park, United States |
| Estelle | – | TS | 990 mb | — |
| Georgette | – | C4 | 952 mb | — |
| Frank | – | C1 | 979 mb | — |
| Howard | – | TS | 998 mb | — |
| Ivette | – | TS | 1000 mb | — |
| Javier | – | TS | 997 mb | San José del Cabo, Mexico |
| Kay | – | TS | 1000 mb | — |
| Lester | – | C4 | 944 mb | — |
| Madeline | – | C4 | 950 mb | — |
| Newton | – | C1 | 977 mb | La Paz, Mexico |
| Orlene | – | C2 | 967 mb | — |
| Paine | – | C1 | 979 mb | — |
| Ulika | – | C1 | 992 mb | — |
| Roslyn | – | TS | 999 mb | — |
| Seymour | – | C4 | 940 mb | — |
| Tina | – | TS | 1004 mb | — |
- TD 1E: This system formed in the East Pacific in June 2016 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 2 days.
- Agatha: Agatha formed in the East Pacific in July 2016 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1002 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Blas: Blas formed in the East Pacific in July 2016 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 947 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Celia: Celia formed in the East Pacific in July 2016 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph (155 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 972 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 16 days.
- Darby: Darby formed in the East Pacific in July 2016 and peaked as a Category 3 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (195 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 958 mb. It made landfall near Hawaiian Paradise Park, United States. The system was tracked for 15 days.
- Estelle: Estelle formed in the East Pacific in July 2016 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 990 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Georgette: Georgette formed in the East Pacific in July 2016 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 952 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Frank: Frank formed in the East Pacific in July 2016 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 979 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- Howard: Howard formed in the East Pacific in July 2016 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 7 days.
- Ivette: Ivette formed in the East Pacific in August 2016 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1000 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Javier: Javier formed in the East Pacific in August 2016 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 997 mb. It made landfall near San José del Cabo, Mexico. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Kay: Kay formed in the East Pacific in August 2016 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.
- Lester: Lester formed in the East Pacific in August 2016 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 944 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 15 days.
- Madeline: Madeline formed in the East Pacific in August 2016 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 950 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Newton: Newton formed in the East Pacific in September 2016 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 977 mb. It made 2 landfalls, first near La Paz, Mexico and last near Bahía de Kino, Mexico. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Orlene: Orlene formed in the East Pacific in September 2016 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 7 days.
- Paine: Paine formed in the East Pacific in September 2016 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 979 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Ulika: Ulika formed in the East Pacific in September 2016 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 992 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Roslyn: Roslyn formed in the East Pacific in September 2016 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 999 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Seymour: Seymour formed in the East Pacific in October 2016 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph (240 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 940 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Tina: Tina formed in the East Pacific in November 2016 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.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 2016
Hurricane Seymour was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 150 mph (240 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 940 mb, on October 26. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
32 East Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 14 matched it. It produced 8% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 2016
3 of the season’s 21 systems made landfall, 1 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
How 2016 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 5th of 47 East Pacific seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 2 other seasons), 5th for hurricanes (tied with 4 other seasons) and 12th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 25 named storms, in 1992, and the highest ACE is 294, in 2018.
2016 storm names
The 2016 season used 20 names: Agatha, Blas, Celia, Darby, Estelle, Georgette, Frank, Howard, Ivette, Javier, Kay, Lester, Madeline, Newton, Orlene, Paine, Ulika, Roslyn, Seymour, Tina.
1 system was tracked without a name and is listed by number.
Atlantic and East Pacific lists repeat every six years. See how storms are named.
2016 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 2016?
The 2016 East Pacific hurricane season had 20 named storms, 12 hurricanes and 6 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 Agatha and the last was Tina.
What was the strongest storm of 2016?
Hurricane Seymour. It peaked at 150 mph (240 km/h, 130 kt) with a lowest pressure of 940 mb on October 26. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 32 East Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 8% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 2016 season end?
The official season ended on November 30, 2016, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Tina, dissipated on November 18. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 1 East Pacific storm since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.