2020 East Pacific hurricane season
May 15, 2020 – Nov 30, 2020 · Season ended
The 2020 East Pacific hurricane season produced 17 named storms, 4 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 15.6, 8.4 and 4.4. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 77, 61% of the average.
2020 season at a glance
- Named storms: 17 (1991–2020 average 15.6).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 4 (average 8.4).
- Major, 96 kt+: 3 (average 4.4).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 77.3, 61% of the 127 average.
- Named-storm days: 54.0, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Amanda, May 31.
- First hurricane: Douglas, July 22.
- First major storm: Douglas, July 23.
- Last storm to dissipate: Polo, November 21.
- All systems tracked: 21, including 4 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 2020 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TD 1E | – | TD | 1006 mb | — |
| Amanda | – | TS | 1003 mb | Guazacapán, Guatemala |
| Boris | – | TS | 1005 mb | — |
| TD 4E | – | TD | 1006 mb | — |
| Cristina | – | TS | 993 mb | — |
| TD 6E | – | TD | 1007 mb | — |
| TD 7E | – | TS | 1006 mb | — |
| Douglas | – | C4 | 954 mb | — |
| Elida | – | C2 | 971 mb | — |
| TD 10E | – | TD | 1004 mb | — |
| Fausto | – | TS | 1004 mb | — |
| Genevieve | – | C4 | 950 mb | — |
| Hernan | – | TS | 1001 mb | — |
| Iselle | – | TS | 997 mb | — |
| Julio | – | TS | 1004 mb | — |
| Karina | – | TS | 996 mb | — |
| Lowell | – | TS | 1001 mb | — |
| Marie | – | C4 | 945 mb | — |
| Norbert | – | TS | 1000 mb | — |
| Odalys | – | TS | 1000 mb | — |
| Polo | – | TS | 1004 mb | — |
- TD 1E: This system formed in the East Pacific in April 2020 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.
- Amanda: Amanda formed in the East Pacific in May 2020 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1003 mb. It made landfall near Guazacapán, Guatemala. The system was tracked for 1 day.
- Boris: Boris formed in the East Pacific in June 2020 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1005 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- TD 4E: This system formed in the East Pacific in June 2020 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 30 mph (45 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1006 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Cristina: Cristina formed in the East Pacific in July 2020 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 9 days.
- TD 6E: This system formed in the East Pacific in July 2020 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.
- TD 7E: This system formed in the East Pacific in July 2020 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1006 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Douglas: Douglas formed in the East Pacific in July 2020 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 954 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 10 days.
- Elida: Elida formed in the East Pacific in August 2020 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 971 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- TD 10E: This system formed in the East Pacific in August 2020 and peaked as a tropical depression with maximum sustained winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1004 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Fausto: Fausto formed in the East Pacific in August 2020 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 2 days.
- Genevieve: Genevieve formed in the East Pacific in August 2020 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 6 days.
- Hernan: Hernan formed in the East Pacific in August 2020 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1001 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Iselle: Iselle formed in the East Pacific in August 2020 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 6 days.
- Julio: Julio formed in the East Pacific in September 2020 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 3 days.
- Karina: Karina formed in the East Pacific in September 2020 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 996 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Lowell: Lowell formed in the East Pacific in September 2020 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1001 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 7 days.
- Marie: Marie formed in the East Pacific in September 2020 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph (220 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 945 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 13 days.
- Norbert: Norbert formed in the East Pacific in October 2020 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 11 days.
- Odalys: Odalys formed in the East Pacific in November 2020 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 4 days.
- Polo: Polo formed in the East Pacific in November 2020 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 4 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 2020
Hurricane Marie was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 140 mph (220 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 945 mb, on October 2. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
77 East Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 24 matched it. It produced 24% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 2020
1 of the season’s 21 systems made landfall, none of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
- May 31: Amanda near Guazacapán, Guatemala, 40 mph (tropical storm)
How 2020 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 21st of 47 East Pacific seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 6 other seasons), 44th for hurricanes (tied with 2 other seasons) and 39th for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 25 named storms, in 1992, and the highest ACE is 294, in 2018.
2020 storm names
The 2020 season used 16 names: Amanda, Boris, Cristina, Douglas, Elida, Fausto, Genevieve, Hernan, Iselle, Julio, Karina, Lowell, Marie, Norbert, Odalys, Polo.
5 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.
2020 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 2020?
The 2020 East Pacific hurricane season had 17 named storms, 4 hurricanes and 3 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 Amanda and the last was Polo.
What was the strongest storm of 2020?
Hurricane Marie. It peaked at 140 mph (220 km/h, 120 kt) with a lowest pressure of 945 mb on October 2. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 77 East Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 24% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 2020 season end?
The official season ended on November 30, 2020, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Polo, dissipated on November 21. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 1 East Pacific storm since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.