2024 Pacific Hurricane Season

The 2024 Pacific hurricane season is the ongoing Pacific hurricane season in the Northern Hemisphere. It officially began on May 15 in the eastern Pacific basin (east of 140°W) and on June 1 in the central Pacific (between 140°W and the International Date Line); both will end on November 30. These dates, adopted by convention, historically describe the period in each year when most subtropical or tropical cyclogenesis occurs in these regions of the Pacific Ocean. For the third consecutive year, there were no pre-season tropical cyclones in either basin, and the season got off to the slowest start of any Pacific hurricane season on record in the satellite era. The first eastern Pacific tropical storm, Aletta, did not form until July 4. The first central Pacific tropical storm, Hone, formed on August 22, the first since Ema in 2019.

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Seasonal forecasts

In advance of each Pacific hurricane season, forecasts of hurricane activity are issued by the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s Climate Prediction Center and Mexico's Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (SMN). These include weekly and monthly changes in significant factors that help determine the number of tropical storms, hurricanes, and major hurricanes within a particular year. According to NOAA, the average eastern Pacific hurricane season between 1991 and 2020 contained roughly 15 tropical storms, 8 hurricanes, 4 major hurricanes, with a near-normal accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) index between 80 and 115. Broadly speaking, ACE is a measure of the power of a tropical or subtropical storm multiplied by the length of time it existed. It is only calculated for full advisories on specific tropical and subtropical systems reaching or exceeding wind speeds of . NOAA typically categorizes a season as above-average, average, or below-average based on the cumulative ACE index, but the number of tropical storms, hurricanes, and major hurricanes within a hurricane season is sometimes also considered.

On May 6, 2024, SMN issued its forecast for the season, forecasting a total of 15–18 named storms developing, with 7–9 hurricanes, and 3–4 major hurricanes. On May 23, 2024, NOAA issued their outlook, calling for a below-normal season with 11–17 named storms overall, 4–9 hurricanes, 1–4 major hurricanes, and an ACE index of 50% to 110% of the median.

Seasonal summary

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Background

Officially, the 2024 Pacific hurricane season began on May 15 in the Eastern Pacific, on June 1 in the Central Pacific, and both will end on November 30. So far, seven tropical cyclones have formed; all became named storms. Two became hurricanes, One of which intensified into a major hurricane. This season's ACE index, as of August 23, is approximately 26.1 units. This number represents sum of the squares of the maximum sustained wind speed (knots) for all named storms while they are at least tropical storm intensity, divided by 10,000. Therefore, tropical depressions are not included.

Early to peak activity

The season began unusually quiet, with several weeks of inactivity throughout the basin. The first system, short-lived Tropical Storm Aletta formed on July 4, which made it the latest first named Pacific tropical cyclone to form in the satellite era. It was followed nearly three weeks later by Tropical Storm Bud. A week later on July 31, Hurricane Carlotta formed out of a low-pressure area, later developing into the first hurricane of the season. Three more storms formed in quick succession during the first week of August: Daniel, Emilia, and Fabio. Following a lull in activity, tropical cyclogenesis resumed in late August with the formation of Hurricane Gilma on August 18. Gilma became the first major hurricane of the season on August 22. Tropical Storm Hone formed in the Central Pacific basin also on August 22 becoming the first tropical storm to form in the basin in nearly 5 years.

Systems

Tropical Storm Aletta

On June 29, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) noted the potential for a low-pressure area to form off the coast of Mexico. On July 2, a broad area of low pressure developed, producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms. The thunderstorm activity within the disturbance became better organized late the following day. Tropical Depression One-E formed on the morning of July 4, about southwest of Manzanillo, Colima. Slightly intensifying, the compact system became Tropical Storm Aletta a few hours later. However, by the next day, Aletta weakened back into a tropical depression due to moderate wind shear. An increasingly marginal environment caused Aletta to degenerate into a remnant low a few hours later.

Tropical Storm Bud

On July 21, the NHC began tracking a tropical wave off the coast of Mexico. Despite being in a marginal environment for intensification, on July 24, the system began to develop a more organized structure. The disturbance developed into Tropical Storm Bud at 21:00 UTC the same day. Despite being embedded within an environment of moderate wind shear and dry air, Bud abruptly strengthened several hours later, peaking with sustained winds of on July 25. Bud began to weaken later that day as it entered an even drier environment. The storm degenerated into a post-tropical cyclone the following day.

Hurricane Carlotta

On the night of July 25, the NHC noted that a low-pressure area was likely to form several hundred miles off the coast of Mexico. Less than two days later, on July 27, the NHC began tracking a tropical wave south of Guatemala and southern Mexico. Located in an environment conducive for development, the low's circulation became better defined on July 29. The disturbance organized into Tropical Depression Three-E on July 31. Favorable environmental conditions allowed the depression to intensify into Tropical Storm Carlotta six hours later. Carlotta steadily became better organized over the next couple days. After passing just to the north of Clarion Island early on August 2, the cyclone strengthened into a hurricane. Hurricane Carlotta reached its peak intensity early the following day with maximum sustained winds of maximum sustained winds of and a minimum barometric pressure of . However, cooler sea surface temperatures (SSTs) caused Carlotta to weaken to a tropical storm on August 4. Carlotta lost most of its deep convection by late that day within a stable environment over even cooler SSTs. The storm degenerated to a remnant low late on August 5.

Tropical Storm Daniel

On July 26, the NHC highlighted a low-pressure area in the western portion of the basin for potential tropical development. The disturbance began to quickly organize on August 2, and the formation of a well-defined circulation and tropical-storm-force winds led to its designation as Tropical Storm Daniel the following morning. Daniel struggled to organize as it meandered within an environment of moderate wind shear and dry air. Moving northeastward around Hurricane Carlotta's larger circulation, Daniel became increasingly embedded and less distinctive from the surrounding Intertropical Convergence Zone. Daniel weakened to a tropical depression the afternoon of August 5. The storm opened up into a trough later that day.

Tropical Storm Emilia

On August 3, the NHC began monitoring a tropical disturbance well to the south of the Baja California peninsula, and to the west of another developing disturbance. The following day, the system quickly developed into Tropical Depression FiveE. The newly-formed cyclone strengthened into Tropical Storm Emilia early on August 5. The disturbance east of Emilia developed into Tropical Storm Fabio the same day, and the cyclones began to interact with one another. Emilia steadily strengthened as it became the dominant storm in its interaction with Fabio. After initially moving southward, the storm gradually turned back to the west then northward around Fabio. Emilia reached its peak intensity early on August 7 with maximum sustained winds of and a minimum central pressure of . Later that day, Emilia absorbed the remnants of Fabio as it accelerated northward. Heading over cooler waters, Emilia began to quickly weaken. The storm produced little organized convection the following day, as it crossed the isotherm towards even colder SSTs. The storm degenerated into a post-tropical remnant low by 03:00 UTC on August 9, about 980 mi (1580 km) west of the southern tip of the Baja California peninsula.

Tropical Storm Fabio

On August 5, a tropical disturbance far southwest of the southwestern coast of Mexico in close proximity to Tropical Storm Emilia developed into Tropical Storm Fabio. Moving quickly to the northwest around Emilia, Fabio steadily strengthened and became better organized within a favorable thermodynamic environment. The storm reached its peak intensity early on August 6, with maximum sustained winds of and a minimum central pressure of . However, continued interaction with the larger and stronger Emilia caused Fabio to begin to quickly weaken late that day. The storm degenerated to a post-tropical cyclone on afternoon of August 7, as it succumbed to an increasingly unfavorable environment. Its remnants were absorbed by Emilia soon thereafter.

Hurricane Gilma

On August 13, the NHC noted the potential for an area of low pressure to develop offshore southern Mexico. Two days later, the hurricane center noted a tropical wave moving through the area was producing disorganized shower and thunderstorm activity. The low-pressure area developed in association with the wave on August 16, and the resulting disturbance organized into Tropical Depression Seven-E early on August 18. The depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Gilma six hours later. Gilma steadily strengthened despite moderate wind shear as it traversed an environment of warm SSTs and high moisture. Early on August 21, Gilma strengthened into a Category 1 hurricane. Gilma then underwent a period of rapid intensification, with its winds increasing by in 24 hours, achieving Category 2 strength.
The following day, Gilma became the season’s first major hurricane as it reached Category 3 status.

Tropical Storm Hone

On August 15, the NHC noted that a low-pressure area could form far southeast of the Hawaiian Islands. Two days later, as the disturbance formed, the NHC noted that another low-pressure area could develop in the vicinity of the first disturbance. By August 20, both disturbances had formed and merged into a larger area of shower and thunderstorm activity. The merged disturbance steadily developed, and on August 22, it organized into Tropical Depression One-C. Further intensifying, a few hours later, One-C intensified into Tropical Storm Hone.

Storm names

The following list of names is being used for named storms that form in the North Pacific Ocean east of 140°W during 2024. This is the same list used in the 2018 season.

For storms that form in the North Pacific from 140°W to the International Date Line, the names come from a series of four rotating lists. Names are used one after the other without regard to year, and when the bottom of one list is reached, the next named storm receives the name at the top of the next list. One named storm, listed below, has formed within the area in 2024. Named storms in the table above that crossed into the area during the season are noted (*).

Season effects

This is a table of all of the storms that have formed in the 2024 Pacific hurricane season. It includes their name, duration, peak classification and intensities, areas affected, damage, and death totals. Deaths in parentheses are additional and indirect (an example of an indirect death would be a traffic accident), but were still related to that storm. Damage and deaths include totals while the storm was extratropical, a wave, or a low, and all of the damage figures are in 2024 USD.

See also

* Weather of 2024
* Tropical cyclones in 2024
* Pacific hurricane
* 2024 Atlantic hurricane season
* 2024 Pacific typhoon season
* 2024 North Indian Ocean cyclone season
* South-West Indian Ocean cyclone seasons: 2023–24, 2024–25
* Australian region cyclone seasons: 2023–24, 2024–25
* South Pacific cyclone seasons: 2023–24, 2024–25

References

External links

National Hurricane Center and Central Pacific Hurricane Center
(website)
Servicio Meteorológico Nacional
(website, in Spanish)

(website)

{{Tropical cyclone season, 2024

Pacific hurricane seasons
Tropical cyclones in 2024