2021 East Pacific hurricane season
May 15, 2021 – Nov 30, 2021 · Season ended
The 2021 East Pacific hurricane season produced 19 named storms, 8 hurricanes and 2 major hurricanes, against a 1991–2020 average of 15.6, 8.4 and 4.4. Its accumulated cyclone energy was 95, 74% of the average.
2021 season at a glance
- Named storms: 19 (1991–2020 average 15.6).
- Hurricanes (64 kt+): 8 (average 8.4).
- Major, 96 kt+: 2 (average 4.4).
- Accumulated cyclone energy: 94.5, 74% of the 127 average.
- Named-storm days: 61.0, counting each six-hourly fix at 34 kt or more as a quarter day.
- First named storm: Andres, May 9.
- First hurricane: Enrique, June 26.
- First major storm: Felicia, July 16.
- Last storm to dissipate: Terry, November 10.
- All systems tracked: 19, every one of which reached 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 2021 season
| Storm | Dates | Peak | Min pressure | Landfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andres | – | TS | 1005 mb | — |
| Blanca | – | TS | 998 mb | — |
| Carlos | – | TS | 1003 mb | — |
| Dolores | – | TS | 989 mb | Coahuayana de Hidalgo, Mexico |
| Enrique | – | C1 | 972 mb | — |
| Felicia | – | C4 | 945 mb | — |
| Guillermo | – | TS | 999 mb | — |
| Jimena | – | TS | 1004 mb | — |
| Hilda | – | C1 | 985 mb | — |
| Ignacio | – | TS | 1004 mb | — |
| Kevin | – | TS | 994 mb | — |
| Linda | – | C4 | 953 mb | — |
| Marty | – | TS | 1002 mb | — |
| Nora | – | C1 | 976 mb | San Patricio, Mexico |
| Olaf | – | C2 | 975 mb | San José del Cabo, Mexico |
| Pamela | – | C1 | 987 mb | La Cruz, Mexico |
| Rick | – | C2 | 977 mb | Ciudad Lázaro Cárdenas, Mexico |
| Terry | – | TS | 1006 mb | — |
| Sandra | – | TS | 1005 mb | — |
- Andres: Andres formed in the East Pacific in May 2021 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 4 days.
- Blanca: Blanca formed in the East Pacific in May 2021 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.
- Carlos: Carlos formed in the East Pacific in June 2021 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 1003 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Dolores: Dolores formed in the East Pacific in June 2021 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 989 mb. It made landfall near Coahuayana de Hidalgo, Mexico. The system was tracked for 2 days.
- Enrique: Enrique formed in the East Pacific in June 2021 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 972 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Felicia: Felicia formed in the East Pacific in July 2021 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 145 mph (230 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 945 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Guillermo: Guillermo formed in the East Pacific in July 2021 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 999 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Jimena: Jimena formed in the East Pacific in July 2021 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 11 days.
- Hilda: Hilda formed in the East Pacific in July 2021 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 985 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 8 days.
- Ignacio: Ignacio formed in the East Pacific in July 2021 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 4 days.
- Kevin: Kevin formed in the East Pacific in August 2021 and peaked as a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 994 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 9 days.
- Linda: Linda formed in the East Pacific in August 2021 and peaked as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 130 mph (215 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 953 mb. It did not make landfall. The system was tracked for 15 days.
- Marty: Marty formed in the East Pacific in August 2021 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 4 days.
- Nora: Nora formed in the East Pacific in August 2021 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 85 mph (140 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 976 mb. It made 3 landfalls, first near San Patricio, Mexico and last near Villa Unión, Mexico. The system was tracked for 6 days.
- Olaf: Olaf formed in the East Pacific in September 2021 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 975 mb. It made landfall near San José del Cabo, Mexico. The system was tracked for 5 days.
- Pamela: Pamela formed in the East Pacific in October 2021 and peaked as a Category 1 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph (120 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 987 mb. It made landfall near La Cruz, Mexico. The system was tracked for 4 days.
- Rick: Rick formed in the East Pacific in October 2021 and peaked as a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (165 km/h) and a minimum pressure of 977 mb. It made landfall near Ciudad Lázaro Cárdenas, Mexico. The system was tracked for 3 days.
- Terry: Terry formed in the East Pacific in November 2021 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 8 days.
- Sandra: Sandra formed in the East Pacific in November 2021 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 3 days.
Each summary is built from the storm’s best track.
Strongest storm of 2021
Hurricane Felicia was the strongest storm of the season, peaking at 145 mph (230 km/h), with a lowest pressure of 945 mb, on July 17. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
47 East Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher, and 29 matched it. It produced 23% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
Landfalls in 2021
5 of the season’s 19 systems made landfall, 4 of them at hurricane strength. Each landfall point is listed with the nearest town and the wind at that moment.
- June 19: Dolores near Coahuayana de Hidalgo, Mexico, 70 mph (tropical storm)
- August 28: Nora near San Patricio, Mexico, 85 mph (Category 1)
- August 28: Nora near Tomatlán, Mexico, 85 mph (Category 1)
- August 29: Nora near Villa Unión, Mexico, 50 mph (tropical storm)
- September 10: Olaf near San José del Cabo, Mexico, 105 mph (Category 2)
- October 13: Pamela near La Cruz, Mexico, 75 mph (Category 1)
- October 25: Rick near Ciudad Lázaro Cárdenas, Mexico, 105 mph (Category 2)
How 2021 ranks since 1980
The season ranks 8th of 47 East Pacific seasons since 1980 for named storms (tied with 3 other seasons), 28th for hurricanes (tied with 2 other seasons) and 32nd for accumulated cyclone energy.
The record since 1980 is 25 named storms, in 1992, and the highest ACE is 294, in 2018.
2021 storm names
The 2021 season used 19 names: Andres, Blanca, Carlos, Dolores, Enrique, Felicia, Guillermo, Jimena, Hilda, Ignacio, Kevin, Linda, Marty, Nora, Olaf, Pamela, Rick, Terry, Sandra.
Atlantic and East Pacific lists repeat every six years. See how storms are named.
2021 season FAQ
How many named storms were there in 2021?
The 2021 East Pacific hurricane season had 19 named storms, 8 hurricanes and 2 major hurricanes, from 19 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 Terry.
What was the strongest storm of 2021?
Hurricane Felicia. It peaked at 145 mph (230 km/h, 125 kt) with a lowest pressure of 945 mb on July 17. That is Category 4 strength on the Saffir-Simpson scale. 47 East Pacific storms since 1980 peaked higher. It produced 23% of the season’s accumulated cyclone energy.
When did the 2021 season end?
The official season ended on November 30, 2021, as it does every year in the Atlantic, eastern Pacific and Central Pacific. The last system, Terry, dissipated on November 10. Storms that form in December still count toward that year: 1 East Pacific storm since 1980 reached tropical-storm strength in December.