NOTICE: THIS IS IN NO WAY BASED ON REAL LIFE STORMS - THE STORMS LISTED HERE ARE ENTIRELY FICTIONAL FOR THE YEAR, AND DO NOT REPRESENT THE SEASON IN THE PHYSICAL WORLD
The 2023 Pacific hurricane season was an inactive, near-normal Eastern Pacific hurricane season occurring at the onset of a relatively long lasting La Nina event. It officially started on May 15, 2023 for the eastern Pacific, and June 1 for the central Pacific, officially ending on November 30 for both basins. The first system of the season developed on June 5th and eventually became Category 4 Hurricane Adrian. In July, 7 tropical cyclones developed, including the two category 5 hurricanes of the season, Beatriz and Eugene. Activity slowed down after an active July, with only one storm developing in August, September, and November, with the last storm, Jova, dissipating on November 5th. Overall, the season resulted in 174 total deaths, a large majority of them from Tropical Storm Calvin, and $16.6 billion (2023 USD) in damages, a vast majority of them from Category 5 Hurricane Eugene, which struck Honolulu as a Category 4 hurricane, causing severe damage to Hawaii. It was the costliest Eastern Pacific hurricane season on record until 2035.
Seasonal forecasts[]
| Record | Named storms |
Hurricanes | Major hurricanes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average (1981–2010): | 15.4 | 7.6 | 3.2 | |
| Record high activity: | 1992: 27 | 2015: 16 | 2015: 11 | |
| Record low activity: | 2010: 8 | 2010: 3 | 2003: 0 | |
| Date | Source | Named storms |
Hurricanes | Major hurricanes |
| May 11, 2023 | NOAA | 10–13 | 3–7 | 0–3 |
| May 15, 2023 | SMN | 12 | 5 | 3 |
| Area | Named storms |
Hurricanes | Major hurricanes | |
| Actual activity: | EPAC | 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Actual activity: | CPAC | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Actual activity: | 11 | 6 | 5 | |
On May 11, 2023, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released its annual forecast, expecting a near to below-average season in both the Eastern and Central Pacific basins, with a total of 10–13 named storms, 3–7 hurricanes, and 0–3 major hurricanes. They expected a strong La Nina to develop by July, strongly suppressing the tropical cyclone activity in the Eastern Pacific with unfavorable wind shear. On May 15, the SMN issued its forecast for the season, predicting a total of 12 named storms, 5 hurricanes, and 3 major hurricanes to develop, thereby also predicting a below-average season. Overall, the predictions were accurate, and a La Nina developed by mid July, suppressing further tropical cyclone activity.
Seasonal summary[]
The 2023 season was the first of four below-average and average Pacific hurricane seasons, caused by unfavorable conditions in the basin. Inactivity was largely attributed to a moderately strong La Niña event which resulted in below-average sea surface temperatures across the basin. Unusually high shear was present over Central America and Mexico, which resulted in most of the activity occurring over the open Pacific, with only a few storms affecting Central America and Mexico. Unusually warm waters were present around Hawaii, which largely influenced Beatriz and Eugene's peak intensities, both peaking near Hawaii as Category 5 hurricanes. Overall, the basin's warmest waters were significantly shifted north, which resulted in far below average activity near the equator and up to 15 degrees north.
The season began with relatively average activity, with two systems forming in June, a tropical depression in the Central Pacific and a Category 4 in the Eastern Pacific. July featured average activity, with 6 storms forming in the Eastern Pacific, and one storm in the Central Pacific, with 4 of the storms becoming hurricanes, and 3 of the hurricanes becoming majors, including two Category 5 hurricanes, Beatriz and Eugene. August was far below average, with only one system, Category 3 hurricane Hilary, which made landfall in Mexico at peak intensity. September was also far below average, with one named storm forming relatively near the equator. October had no tropical activity, while November featured the last storm of the season, bringing the season total to 12 tropical depressions, 11 tropical storms, 6 hurricanes, and 5 major hurricanes.
The Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) for the season was 90.19, which is near-normal for the Eastern Pacific basin. The two storms that produced the most ACE were Beatriz and Eugene, which respectively produced 29.385 and 29.53 ACE, though a large part of that ACE was produced in the Central Pacific basin. The storm which produced most ACE in the Eastern Pacific proper was Dora with 10.0925 ACE, with Adrian producing just barely less with 9.015 ACE. The 4 storms which produced the most ACE accounted for 78.0225 ACE, or 86.5% of the total season ACE, both in the Eastern and Central Pacific basins.
Systems[]
Hurricane Adrian[]
| Category 4 hurricane (NHC) | |
  | |
| Duration | June 5 – June 8 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 140 mph (220 km/h) (1-min) 943 mbar (hPa) |
Adrian developed from a Tropical Wave that moved into the Eastern Pacific in early June. On June 5th, at 00:00 UTC, a weak circulation was noted for the system. At 12:00 UTC, the system was noted to have developed into a tropical depression, becoming Tropical Depression 01E. It intensified in somewhat favorable conditions with warm Sea Surface Temperatures, high moisture, but moderate wind shear. At 00:00 UTC June 6th, it was upgraded to a tropical storm, and named Adrian. Adrian continued intensification, becoming a hurricane at 12:00 UTC, a category 2 hurricane at 18:00 UTC, and a category 3 major hurricane at 00:00 UTC June 7th. At 06:00 UTC, Adrian was upgraded to a category 4 hurricane, the second of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. However, decreasing Sea Surface Temperatures resulted in weakening, and at 18:00 UTC, Adrian was downgraded to a category 3 major hurricane. Weakening continued, and at 12:00 UTC June 8th, Adrian was downgraded to a tropical storm. At 00:00 UTC June 9th, Adrian degenerated into a remnant low. No damages or deaths were caused by the system.
Tropical Depression One-C[]
| Tropical depression (CPHC) | |
  | |
| Duration | June 17 – June 18 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 35 mph (55 km/h) (1-min) 1003 mbar (hPa) |
A disturbance formed in the Central Pacific basin in the middle of June. It slowly organized, and was designated as an Area of Interest by the Central Pacific Hurricane Center. At 18:00 UTC June 17th, the CPHC deemed the area to be a tropical depression, albeit a heavily sheared and weak one. At 00:00 UTC June 18th, the depression reached its peak intensity, of 35 mph and 1003 mbar. It then started to fall apart due to shear, and at 12:00 UTC, was re-designated as a remnant low, due to high wind shear blowing away most of its convection. The depression resulted in no deaths or damages.
Hurricane Beatriz[]
| Category 5 hurricane (NHC) | |
  | |
| Duration | July 2 – July 11 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 165 mph (270 km/h) (1-min) 921 mbar (hPa) |
An area of thunderstorms developed near the Eastern Pacific - Central Pacific basin border on July 2nd. At 18:00 UTC, it was designated a tropical depression when a well-defined low-level circulation was found, coupled with strong convection. The depression moved west-northwest, and at 06:00 UTC July 3rd, as it was crossing into the Central Pacific, tropical storm winds were found, and thus the depression was upgraded to a tropical storm, and given the name Beatriz. Beatriz became a hurricane at 00:00 UTC July 4th, and then rapidly intensified, eventually becoming a category 5 at 06:00 UTC July 5th, north of Hawaii. Beatriz peaked at 12:00 UTC, before an Eyewall Replacement Cycle resulted in weakening, with Beatriz weakening to a category 4 by 00:00 UTC July 6th. Beatriz continued to weaken, and eventually slowed down and turned northeast. At 06:00 UTC July 8th, Beatriz weakened to a tropical storm, however by 18:00 UTC restrengthened into a category 1 hurricane. Re-intensification ensued as the hurricane moved north northeast, and culminated in Beatriz's second peak as a category 3 hurricane at 18:00 UTC July 9th. By 06:00 UTC July 10th, Beatriz weakened to a category 2, and by 12:00 UTC, a category 1. However a short period of strengthening resulted in Beatriz peaking for the third time at 18:00 UTC, as a category 2, before weakening back to a category 1 at 00:00 UTC July 11th, and a tropical storm at 06:00 UTC. At 12:00 UTC July 11th, Beatriz finally became a post-tropical cyclone. Beatriz caused minor damages in Hawaii, mostly due to its rainfall, totaling $5 million (2023 USD) in damages, and one recorded death.
Tropical Storm Calvin[]
| Tropical storm (NHC) | |
  | |
| Duration | July 5 – July 6 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 50 mph (85 km/h) (1-min) 995 mbar (hPa) |
In early July, an area of thunderstorms developed south of Mexico. At 18:00 UTC July 5th, it was officially designated Tropical Depression 03E, due to organized convection and circulation. In favorable conditions, the depression intensified, and at 06:00 UTC July 6th, it was upgraded to a tropical storm when tropical storm force wind speeds in the system were confirmed, and was given the name Calvin. Calvin moved north, and at 12:00 UTC, made landfall in Mexico. As Calvin moved further inland, it rapidly deteriorated, and at 18:00 UTC, it degenerated into a remnant low. Calvin's remnants dissipated just shortly after 00:00 UTC July 7th. Calvin was a deadly storm, killing 131 in Mexico due to colossal rainfall, and causing $145 million (2023 USD) in damages.
Hurricane Dora[]
| Category 4 hurricane (NHC) | |
  | |
| Duration | July 8 – July 12 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 130 mph (215 km/h) (1-min) 947 mbar (hPa) |
A tropical wave entered the Eastern Pacific in early July, and moved west. It slowly organized in favorable conditions, and at 00:00 UTC July 8th, was given a HIGH chance of tropical cyclogenesis within 48 hours. At 18:00 UTC, it was designated as Tropical Depression 04E, due to organized convection and a low-level circulation. It intensified, and at 06:00 UTC July 9th, it was upgraded to a tropical storm and was named Dora. At 18:00 UTC, Dora became a hurricane in favorable conditions, and continued intensifying, becoming a category 3 major hurricane at 18:00 UTC July 10th. Dora peaked at 06:00 UTC July 11th, as a minimal category 4 hurricane. After peak intensity, Dora started to weaken due to an Eyewall Replacement Cycle, and deteriorating conditions. At 18:00 UTC, Dora weakened below major hurricane status, and at 12:00 UTC July 12th, it weakened below hurricane status. At 18:00 UTC, Dora weakened to a tropical depression, and at 00:00 UTC July 13th, it degenerated into a remnant low as its convection completely waned away. Dora caused no deaths or damages, as it impacted no land areas.
Hurricane Eugene[]
| Category 5 hurricane (NHC) | |
  | |
| Duration | July 14 – July 22 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 160 mph (260 km/h) (1-min) 927 mbar (hPa) |
In mid-July, a tropical disturbance started developing significant convection. It slowly organized and developed a low level circulation, slowly gaining tropical cyclone characteristics. At 18:00 UTC July 14th, the disturbance was deemed to be a tropical depression. In marginally favorable conditions, it intensified, and was upgraded to a tropical storm at 06:00 UTC July 15th and was named Eugene, as it crossed into the Central Pacific. At 18:00 UTC, Eugene intensified into a category 1 hurricane. Eugene continued intensification, becoming a category 3 major hurricane at 18:00 UTC July 16th. At 06:00 UTC July 17th, Eugene became a category 4 hurricane, and at 06:00 UTC July 18th, a category 5 hurricane, as it threatened Hawaii. Eugene slowly started a turn from a westerly heading to a northerly heading as it peaked, and by 18:00 UTC it weakened to a category 4 as it completed its northerly turn. At 06:00 UTC July 19th, Eugene made landfall on the Oahu island of Hawaii as a category 4, causing significant damages, before moving north and weakening to a category 3 by 12:00 UTC. At 00:00 UTC July 20th, Eugene re-intensified into a category 4 for a short time before deteriorating conditions finally caused it to weaken, to a category 3 by 06:00 UTC, a category 2 by 18:00 UTC, a category 1 by 06:00 UTC July 21st, and a tropical storm by 00:00 UTC July 22nd. At 12:00 UTC, Eugene finally weakened to a tropical depression, and at 18:00 UTC, it finally degenerated into a remnant low as its convection waned away.
Eugene was the costliest Eastern Pacific Hurricane on record, completely devastating Honolulu when it passed directly over the city as a category 4 hurricane, at 06:00 UTC July 19th. Eugene became the costliest storm to strike any United States territory outside of the contiguous 48 states, and was the most powerful storm to directly strike Oahu, however Iniki of the 1992 season still holds the record for the most powerful landfall on any Hawaiian island. Eugene's devastating winds damaged many buildings in the city of Honolulu, and its surge caused widespread coastal flooding, while its rainfall caused even more flooding, even in non-coastal areas. Eugene's long term impacts included impaired transportation to Hawaii due to extensive damage to the Honolulu International Airport, decreased tourism, and a large impact to the Hawaiian economy. Overall, Eugene's damages are estimated to be $16 billion (2023 USD), while its death toll is 17.
Tropical Storm Fernanda[]
| Tropical storm (NHC) | |
  | |
| Duration | July 15 – July 16 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 45 mph (75 km/h) (1-min) 1001 mbar (hPa) |
An area of low pressure started organizing in mid-July, at a relatively far-north latitude for the Eastern Pacific. At 18:00 UTC July 15th, the system was deemed to be a tropical depression with disorganized convection and a circulation that was barely sighted. The depression intensified as it moved north, and at 12:00 UTC July 16th, was upgraded to a tropical storm when ASCAT passes showed winds of 35 knots (40 mph), getting the name Fernanda. Fernanda peaked at 18:00 UTC with 40 knot or 45 mph winds. At 00:00 UTC July 17th however, Fernanda was deemed to be a remnant low as its convection waned away and its circulation became elongated. Fernanda had no impacts on land.
Tropical Storm Ekeka[]
| Tropical storm (CPHC) | |
  | |
| Duration | July 23 – July 25 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 60 mph (95 km/h) (1-min) 993 mbar (hPa) |
In late July, a surface trough of low pressure started developing a circulation south of Hawaii. At 12:00 UTC July 23rd, it was designated a tropical depression as it had defined circulation and convection. The depression started a northerly turn as it intensified, becoming a tropical storm at 00:00 UTC July 24th, as it started an eastward turn, and got the name Ekeka, as it developed in the Central Pacific Hurricane Center's area of responsibility. Ekeka peaked at 12:00 UTC as a 60 mph, 993 mbar tropical storm, and then stalled until 18:00 UTC, shortly afterwards starting a north-northeasterly movement towards Hawaii. Ekeka weakened to a tropical depression at 12:00 UTC July 25th, as it nearly made landfall on Hawaiʻi island and the island of Maui. Ekeka degenerated into a remnant low at 18:00 UTC, when it was determined to not meet the tropical cyclone criteria. Ekeka caused minor rainfall damage in Hawaii when it almost made landfall in the island chain as a tropical depression, and resulted in no fatalities.
Hurricane Greg[]
| Category 2 hurricane (NHC) | |
  | |
| Duration | July 27 – July 31 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 110 mph (175 km/h) (1-min) 963 mbar (hPa) |
In late July, an area of thunderstorms in the Eastern Pacific started developing tropical cyclone characteristics. At 18:00 UTC July 27th, it became a tropical depression with well-defined convection and circulation, and intensified in the favorable conditions as it moved northwest. At 06:00 UTC July 28th, the depression intensified into a tropical storm, getting the name Greg. Greg continued to intensify, and became a category 1 hurricane at 00:00 UTC July 29th, and a category 2 hurricane at 18:00 UTC. Greg peaked at 00:00 UTC July 30th, before wind shear and cooling sea surface temperatures, weakening into a category 1 by 12:00 UTC, and a tropical storm at 00:00 UTC July 31st. Finally, at 06:00 UTC, Greg degenerated into a remnant low when a majority of its convection dissipated, and it lost its tropical cyclone characteristics. Greg caused no damages or deaths as it had no impacts on land.
Hurricane Hilary[]
| Category 3 hurricane (NHC) | |
  | |
| Duration | August 5 – August 7 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 115 mph (185 km/h) (1-min) 957 mbar (hPa) |
In early August, a tropical disturbance developed in the Eastern Pacific with the National Hurricane Center giving it a HIGH chance of tropical cyclogenesis within 48 hours. It developed a circulation, and at 18:00 UTC August 5th, was deemed to be a tropical depression due to it fulfilling tropical cyclone criteria, and having 35 mph (30 knot) winds. The depression intensified, and at 06:00 UTC August 6th, became a tropical storm, gaining the name Hilary. Hilary further intensified, becoming a hurricane at 18:00 UTC of the same day, a category 2 hurricane at 00:00 UTC August 7th, and peaking at 06:00 UTC, as a category 3 major hurricane, before weakening to a category 2 and making landfall in the northwestern Mexican state of Sinaloa at 12:00 UTC, weakening to a tropical storm over the Mexican terrain at 18:00 UTC, and finally degenerating into a remnant low at 00:00 UTC August 8th, as it lost all of its tropical characteristics. Hilary caused significant damages in Mexico when it made landfall as a category 2 hurricane, resulting in $450 million (2023 USD) in damages and 25 deaths. The most severely affected area was the city of La Cruz in Sinaloa, which received direct category 2 winds, damaging many structures in the town. A large portion of the state of Sinaloa received large amounts of rainfall and subsequent flooding, which only worsened Hilary's damages. Overall, Hilary was one of the worst storms to affect Sinaloa in the state's history.
Tropical Storm Irwin[]
| Tropical storm (NHC) | |
  | |
| Duration | September 9 – September 10 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 40 mph (65 km/h) (1-min) 997 mbar (hPa) |
In early September, a low developed in the Intertropical Convergence Zone, and started acquiring tropical cyclone characteristics, with the NHC designating it an Invest on September 6th. At 12:00 UTC September 9th, it was deemed to be a tropical depression as it had a confirmed circulation and convection. Over the next several hours, several convection blow ups occurred as the system intensified, and was upgraded to a tropical storm at 00:00 UTC September 10th, getting the name Irwin. Irwin reached peak intensity at 06:00 UTC, before weakening to a tropical depression at 12:00 UTC. At 18:00 UTC, Irwin was declared to be a remnant low, as it lost all of its tropical cyclone characteristics. Irwin caused no damages or deaths as it impacted no land areas.
Tropical Storm Jova[]
| Tropical storm (NHC) | |
  | |
| Duration | November 3 – November 5 |
|---|---|
| Peak intensity | 45 mph (75 km/h) (1-min) 996 mbar (hPa) |
A small area of thunderstorms started developing a rotation in early November, getting a HIGH chance of tropical cyclogenesis within 48 hours. At 18:00 UTC November 3rd, it was designated a tropical depression, with an organized circulation and high convective activity. At 12:00 UTC November 4th, it was upgraded to a tropical storm, getting the name Jova. At 18:00 UTC, Jova reached peak intensity, before deteriorating conditions caused it to weaken to a tropical depression at 06:00 UTC November 5th. At 18:00 UTC, Jova degenerated into a remnant low, and was eventually absorbed by an extratropical cyclone in the Northeastern Pacific. Jova caused no damages or deaths as it hit no land areas.
Storm names[]
The following names were used for named storms that formed in the Eastern Pacific Ocean during 2023. The names not retired from this list will be used again in the 2029 season. This same list was used in the 2017 season.
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For storms that form in the Central Pacific Hurricane Center's area of responsibility, encompassing the area between 140 degrees west and the International Date Line, all names are used in a series of four rotating lists. The next four names that were slated for use in 2023 are shown below; however, only one of them was used.
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Retirement[]
On April 13, 2024, at the 46th session of the RA IV hurricane committee, the World Meteorological Organization retired the names Calvin, Eugene, and Hilary, due to the damages and deaths they caused, and they will not be used again for another Pacific hurricane. They will be replaced in the 2029 hurricane season by Caleb, Erwin, and Hilda.
Season effects[]
| Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale | ||||||
| TD | TS | C1 | C2 | C3 | C4 | C5 |
This is a table of all the storms and that have formed in the 2023 Pacific hurricane season. It includes their duration, names, landfall(s), denoted in parentheses, damages, 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 tropical wave, or a low, and all the damage figures are in 2023 USD.
| Storm name |
Dates active | Storm category at peak intensity |
Max 1-min wind mph (km/h) |
Min. press. (mbar) |
Areas affected | Damage (USD) |
Deaths | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adrian | June 5 – June 8 | Category 4 hurricane | 140 (220) | 943 | None | None | None | |||
| One-C | June 17 – June 18 | Tropical depression | 35 (55) | 1003 | Hawaii | None | None | |||
| Beatriz | July 2 – July 11 | Category 5 hurricane | 165 (270) | 921 | Hawaii | $5 million | 1 | |||
| Calvin | July 5 – July 6 | Tropical storm | 50 (85) | 995 | Southern Mexico | $145 million | 131 | |||
| Dora | July 8 – July 12 | Category 4 hurricane | 130 (215) | 947 | None | None | None | |||
| Eugene | July 14 – July 22 | Category 5 hurricane | 160 (260) | 927 | Hawaii | $16 billion | 17 | |||
| Fernanda | July 15 – July 16 | Tropical storm | 45 (75) | 1001 | None | None | None | |||
| Ekeka | July 23 – July 25 | Tropical storm | 60 (95) | 993 | Hawaii | Insignificant | None | |||
| Greg | July 27 – July 31 | Category 2 hurricane | 110 (175) | 963 | None | None | None | |||
| Hilary | August 5 – August 7 | Category 3 hurricane | 115 (185) | 957 | Northwestern Mexico | $450 million | 25 | |||
| Irwin | September 9 – September 10 | Tropical storm | 40 (65) | 997 | None | None | None | |||
| Jova | November 3 – November 5 | Tropical storm | 45 (75) | 996 | None | None | None | |||
| Season aggregates | ||||||||||
| 12 systems | June 5 – November 5 | 165 (270) | 921 | $16.6 billion | 174 | |||||