The 2026 Pacific hurricane season is the current Pacific hurricane season in the Northern Hemisphere. The season officially began on May 15, 2026, and will end on November 30, 2026. For the Central Pacific (140°W to 180°), the season began on June 1, 2026, and will end on November 30, 2026, with the most active period typically occurring between July and October. Those dates, adopted by convention, describe the period in which most tropical cyclogenesis occurs in the Pacific Ocean. With three Category 5 Pacific hurricanes having formed this season, it is tied with the 1994, 2002, and 2018 seasons as the season with the most Category 5 hurricanes.
The first system of the season, Tropical Storm Amanda, formed in the open eastern Pacific on June 2. In July, Hurricane Fausto became the first hurricane, while Hurricane Genevieve became the first major hurricane, and first Category 5 hurricane, of the season. In August, Hurricane Lala became the first hurricane to directly hit the Big Island of Hawaii since 1871 while also becoming Hawaii's third-wettest tropical cyclone on record. In September, Lowell became the second Category 5 hurricane of the season and the first hurricane to directly impact Kauaʻi County since Hurricane Iniki in 1992. Later that month, Hurricane Polo became the record-tying third Category 5 hurricane of the season and the second-most-intense Pacific hurricane by central pressure on record.
Seasonal forecasts Record Namedstorms Hurricanes MajorhurricanesACE Ref Average (1991–2020) 15.4 8.3 4.2 100.5 Record high activity 27 16† 11318.1 Record low activity 8† 3 0† 22.3 Date Source Namedstorms Hurricanes MajorhurricanesACE RefApril 22, 2026 SMN 18–21 9–11 4–5 N/A May 21, 2026 NOAA 15–22 9–14 5–9 N/A AreaNamedstormsHurricanesMajorhurricanesACERef Actual activity: EPAC 17 8 6192.1 Actual activity: CPAC 3 2 2108.1 Actual combined activity: 20 10 8300.2 * May 15–November 30 only † Most recent of several such occurrences. (See all)
In advance of each Pacific hurricane season, forecasts of hurricane activity are issued by forecasters from the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s Climate Prediction Center, and Mexico's Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (SMN). The forecasts include weekly and monthly changes in significant factors that help determine the amount of tropical storms, hurricanes, and major hurricanes within a particular season.
According to NOAA, the average Pacific hurricane season between 1991 and 2020 contained about 15 named storms, 8 hurricanes, and 4 major hurricanes (Category 3 and higher), as well as a median accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) index of 75.38–110.55 units. Broadly speaking, ACE is the measure of the power of a tropical or subtropical cyclone multiplied by the length of time it existed. ACE is only calculated for full advisories on specific tropical or subtropical cyclones reaching wind speeds of 39 mph (63 km/h) or higher. NOAA typically describes a season as above-average, average, or below-average depending on the cumulative ACE index, but the number of tropical storms, hurricanes or major hurricanes can also be considered.
On April 22, 2026, Mexico's National Meteorological Service (SMN) issued its first forecast for the Pacific hurricane season, predicting 18–21 named storms, 9–11 hurricanes and 4–5 major hurricanes. On May 21, 2026, NOAA issued its forecast, indicating an above-normal season with 15–22 named storms, 9–14 hurricanes, and 5–9 major hurricanes. NOAA forecasted that these elevated numbers would materialize due to a strong El Niño event during the season.
Seasonal summary
Officially, the 2026 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. Altogether, twenty tropical cyclones have formed, seventeen in the Eastern Pacific and three in the Central Pacific, and all became named storms. Nine of the storms strengthened into hurricanes, with seven of them intensifying into major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher in the Saffir-Simpson scale). This season's ACE index is approximately 300.2 units, as officially calculated by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) on October 7.
The Pacific hurricane season had an exceptionally strong start, with three named systems developing by early June—the most active opening to a season in the basin since 1985. On June 2, Tropical Storm Amanda formed in the open Pacific, becoming the first tropical cyclone of the season. Five days later, Tropical Storm Boris formed off the southwestern coast of Mexico, followed by Tropical Storm Cristina the next day off the Pacific coast of Nicaragua. Boris caused damage in southern Mexico while Cristina brought torrential rain throughout Central America. In early July, Tropical Storm Douglas formed in the open Pacific, without affecting any land. Tropical Storm Fausto formed on July 19 and subsequently became the first hurricane of the season; Fausto crossed into the central Pacific a week later. On July 24, Hurricane Genevieve formed near the coast of Mexico and, a few days later, became the first major hurricane of the season. Genevieve ultimately became the first Category 5 hurricane in the basin since Kristy in 2024.
In September, Hurricane Lowell became the first Pacific hurricane to reach Category 5 intensity twice since Hurricane Ioke in 2006.
Systems Tropical Storm Amanda
On May 31, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) noted that an area of low pressure could form well to the southwest of the Baja California Peninsula. The system quickly organized over time, and by June 2, the system was designated as Tropical Depression One-E after its cloud pattern had improved and scatterometer data identified a closed low-level circulation. The next day, the depression strengthened into a tropical storm and was named Amanda, following deepening convection near its center. Through June 3 to June 4, Amanda strengthened and organized slightly, though suffering from some wind shear. On June 5, Amanda began weakening and its center became completely exposed. On June 6, Amanda weakened into a tropical depression in the face of shear and dry air, though warm waters allowed Amanda to continue producing some convection. Amanda continued to wane through June 7 as environmental shear and dry air increased. By June 8, Amanda lacked enough convection to be considered a tropical cyclone, transitioning into a remnant low.
Tropical Storm Boris
On June 3, the NHC noted the possibility of an area of low pressure forming off the southwestern coast of Mexico. On June 7, an Oceansat-3 pass had indicated that the disturbance had consolidated a closed low-level circulation, the low was classified as Tropical Depression Two-E at 15:00 UTC. Early the next day, the system acquired tropical storm-force wind and received the name Boris. Most of the convection at this point was organized linearly with some banding around the center of the storm. On June 9, Boris made landfall on the far southwestern coast of Oaxaca. The rugged terrain proved unfavorable for this system, therefore transitioning it into a post-tropical cyclone, and then quickly dissipating afterward.
One person died in Manzanillo, Colima, in rough seas. Two additional people were swept away by rough surf in Tecomán and later found dead. Commercial losses in Acapulco were estimated at Mex$1.5 billion (US$87.1 million). In Oaxaca, a man drowned after his truck was swept away by an overflowing river. An outdoor theater worth Mex$54 million (US$3.16 million) was destroyed by swells. , Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. estimated that losses totaled to US$100 million.
Tropical Storm Cristina
On June 3, the NHC noted the possibility of an area of low pressure forming off the western coast of Central America. On June 8, after developing persistent deep convection, the low was classed as a tropical depression and was it designated Tropical Depression Three-E. Soon, the depression intensified into a tropical storm, becoming named Cristina, with winds of and a pressure of 1002 mbar (hPa) based on scatterometer data. At the time while moving at an erratic movement, Cristina exhibited an exposed low-level circulation, a characteristic typical of tropical cyclones under the effects of high wind shear because of the interaction of a nearby and slightly stronger Tropical Storm Boris. Cristina weakened into a tropical depression as a result. The trend continued, and on June 11, Cristina opened up into a trough as the circulation was no longer well defined. The trough merged with a low pressure system which later produced heavy rainfall along the western Gulf of Mexico coast.
Prior to becoming a tropical depression, Cristina produced heavy rains that caused flooding in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, killing a 60-year-old man and disrupting traffic. In Santa Cruz, Costa Rica, five people were left missing after heavy winds attributed to Cristina capsized two boats. Across El Salvador, 58 damaged or flooded homes, 11 affected vehicles, 38 fallen trees, 34 blocked roads and 5 landslides were reported. In Acajutla, residents and business owners estimated that losses totaled to US$150,000. Heavy rainfall related to Cristina, combined with the effects of the local rainy season, resulted in five deaths and three injuries in Guatemala; two deaths occurred each in Momostenango and Casillas and a child died in Senahú. In Chiapas, heavy rainfall from Cristina caused flooding. A man was found dead after being swept away by an overflowing river.
Tropical Storm Douglas
On June 21, the NHC began monitoring a disturbance off the southwestern coast of Mexico and noted the possibility of tropical development. The disturbance increased in chances for development as it showed signs of further organization as it moved into open waters. The disturbance eventually had a 90% chance of development according to the NHC. By July 1, the low pressure system obtained enough organization to be classified as Tropical Depression Four-E and had winds of 35 mph (55 km/h) and a pressure of 1005 mbar (29.67 inHg). Later, it strengthened into a tropical storm and received the name Douglas. The system meandered slowly over the open waters, eventually reaching peak winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum central pressure of 1003 mbar (29.61 inHg) over the open waters, which it maintained until July 3. The system weakened into a remnant low with only a little amount of convection and cloud tops near the circulation mainly due to cooler sea surface temperatures. The remnants of the system continued moving generally to the northwest towards cooler waters in the open Eastern Pacific Ocean, before dissipating on July 5.
Tropical Storm Elida
On July 7, at 06:00 UTC, the NHC began monitoring a disturbance off the coast of southern Mexico with a low chance for development. Over the next few days, the disturbance became better organized under favorable conditions for tropical cyclogenesis. On July 14 at 18:00 UTC, the system consolidated into Tropical Depression Five-E, and twelve hours later, the depression was upgraded to Tropical Storm Elida. Though some dry air and mid-level wind wind shear hindered the storm, it continued to strengthen. It attained its peak intensity on July 18 with winds of and a pressure of . The storm then weakened as it moved over colder waters as well as experiencing more dry air and wind shear. The system stopped producing significant convection on July 20 and became post-tropical.