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HurriTracker

2018 East Pacific hurricane season

May 15, 2018 – Nov 30, 2018 · Season ended

The 2018 East Pacific hurricane season produced 22 named storms, 12 hurricanes and 9 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 15.6, 8.4 and 4.4. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 294, 231% of the average.

2017 season2019 seasonAll East Pacific seasons
Named storms
22
Avg 15.6 (1991–2020)
Hurricanes
12
64 kt or stronger · avg 8.4
Major (Cat 3+)
9
Including 2 Category 5
Accumulated energy
≈2.3× normal
ACE 294 vs 1991–2020 avg 127
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Tracks colored by peak strengthTDTSC2C4C5

2018 season at a glance

  • Named storms: 22 (1991–2020 average 15.6).
  • Hurricanes (64 kt+): 12 (average 8.4).
  • Major, 96 kt+: 9, including 2 at Category 5 strength (average 4.4).
  • Accumulated cyclone energy: 293.8, 231% of the 127 average.
  • Named-storm days: 123.0, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
  • First named storm: Aletta, June 6.
  • First hurricane: Aletta, June 7.
  • First major storm: Aletta, June 8.
  • Last storm to dissipate: Xavier, November 9.
  • All systems tracked: 25, 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 2018 season

StormDatesPeakMin pressureLandfall
TD 1E – TD1007 mb—
Aletta – C4943 mb—
Bud – C4943 mbSan José del Cabo, Mexico
Carlotta – TS997 mb—
Daniel – TS1004 mb—
Emilia – TS997 mb—
Fabio – C2964 mb—
Gilma – TS1005 mb—
TD 9E – TD1007 mb—
Hector – C4936 mb—
Ileana – TS998 mb—
John – C2964 mb—
Kristy – TS991 mb—
Lane – C5926 mb—
Miriam – C2974 mb—
Norman – C4937 mb—
Olivia – C4951 mb—
Paul – TS1002 mb—
TD 19E – TD1002 mbPótam, Mexico
Rosa – C4936 mbSan Luis, Mexico
Sergio – C4942 mbSanta Rosalía, Mexico
Tara – TS995 mb—
Vicente – TS1002 mbLa Mira, Mexico
Willa – C5925 mbIsla del Bosque, Mexico
Xavier – TS995 mb—
  • TD 1E: This system formed in the East Pacific in May 2018 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.
  • Aletta: Aletta formed in the East Pacific in June 2018 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 943 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
  • Bud: Bud formed in the East Pacific in June 2018 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 943 mb. It made landfall near San José del Cabo, Mexico. The system was tracked for 6 days.
  • Carlotta: Carlotta formed in the East Pacific in June 2018 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 997 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
  • Daniel: Daniel formed in the East Pacific in June 2018 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1004 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
  • Emilia: Emilia formed in the East Pacific in June 2018 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 997 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
  • Fabio: Fabio formed in the East Pacific in June 2018 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 964 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
  • Gilma: Gilma formed in the East Pacific in July 2018 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1005 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
  • TD 9E: This system formed in the East Pacific in July 2018 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.
  • Hector: Hector formed in the East Pacific in July 2018 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 155 mph (250 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 936 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 16 days.
  • Ileana: Ileana formed in the East Pacific in August 2018 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 998 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 3 days.
  • John: John formed in the East Pacific in August 2018 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph (175 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 964 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
  • Kristy: Kristy formed in the East Pacific in August 2018 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 991 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
  • Lane: Lane formed in the East Pacific in August 2018 and peaked as a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (260 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 926 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 16 days.
  • Miriam: Miriam formed in the East Pacific in August 2018 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 100 mph (155 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 974 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
  • Norman: Norman formed in the East Pacific in August 2018 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph (240 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 937 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 14 days.
  • Olivia: Olivia formed in the East Pacific in September 2018 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 951 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 14 days.
  • Paul: Paul formed in the East Pacific in September 2018 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 7 days.
  • TD 19E: This system formed in the East Pacific in September 2018 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1002 mb. It made landfall near Pótam, Mexico. The system was tracked for 1 day.
  • Rosa: Rosa formed in the East Pacific in September 2018 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph (240 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 936 mb. It made landfall near San Luis, Mexico. The system was tracked for 7 days.
  • Sergio: Sergio formed in the East Pacific in September 2018 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 942 mb. It made landfall near Santa Rosalía, Mexico. The system was tracked for 13 days.
  • Tara: Tara formed in the East Pacific in October 2018 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 995 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
  • Vicente: Vicente formed in the East Pacific in October 2018 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1002 mb. It made landfall near La Mira, Mexico. The system was tracked for 5 days.
  • Willa: Willa formed in the East Pacific in October 2018 and peaked as a Category 5 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph (260 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 925 mb. It made landfall near Isla del Bosque, Mexico. The system was tracked for 5 days.
  • Xavier: Xavier formed in the East Pacific in November 2018 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 995 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 2018

Hurricane Willa was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 160 mph (260 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 925 mb, on October 22. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.

7 East Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 13 matched it. It produced 5% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.

Landfalls in 2018

6 of the season’s 25 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 15: Bud near San José del Cabo, Mexico, 45 mph (tropical storm)
  • September 20: TD 19E near Pótam, Mexico, 35 mph (tropical depression)
  • October 2: Rosa near San Luis, Mexico, 35 mph (tropical depression)
  • October 12: Sergio near Santa Rosalía, Mexico, 50 mph (tropical storm)
  • October 23: Vicente near La Mira, Mexico, 30 mph (tropical depression)
  • October 24: Willa near Isla del Bosque, Mexico, 115 mph (Category 3)

How 2018 ranks since 1980

The season ranks 2nd of 47 East Pacific seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 1 other season), 5th for hurricanes (tied with 4 other seasons) and 1st for accumulated cyclone energy.

The record since 1980 is 25 named storms, in 1992, and the highest ACE is 294, in 2018.

2018 storm names

The 2018 season used 22 names: Aletta, Bud, Carlotta, Daniel, Emilia, Fabio, Gilma, Hector, Ileana, John, Kristy, Lane, Miriam, Norman, Olivia, Paul, Rosa, Sergio, Tara, Vicente, Willa, Xavier.

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.

2018 season FAQ

How many named storms were there in 2018?

The 2018 East Pacific hurricane season had 22 named storms, 12 hurricanes and 9 major hurricanes, from 25 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 Xavier.

What was the strongest storm of 2018?

Hurricane Willa. It peaked at 160 mph (260 km/h, 140 kt) with a lowest pressure of 925 mb on October 22. That is Category 5 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 7 East Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 5% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.

When did the 2018 season end?

The official season ended on November 30, 2018, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Xavier, dissipated on November 9. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 1 East Pacific storm since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.