ƽ

Pacific Cyclones

Chance of West Coast Cyclones Rises as Seasons Grow Stronger

Hurricane Hilary, which developed on August 17 off the Western coast of Mexico, made landfall in Baja California as a tropical storm Sunday. Despite weakening in the process, it still caused heavy rains and flooding in Southern California and has moved into Nevada. One person died in Mexico.

diverting attention away from this year's rather subdued Atlantic hurricane season to its Pacific counterpart, which has in the past dominated coverage. But as climate change is making extreme weather events more likely and more severe, the Pacific season has grown stronger. This is despite the fact that the cooler Pacific waters and the ocean's wind patterns as well as lessening the possibility for them to make landfall.

shows that while in the 1990s, an average year would see 5.3 tropical storms and 9.5 hurricanes in the Pacific, that was up to 7.2 storms and 10.7 hurricanes in the 2010s, upping the average number of cyclones per year from 14.8 to 17.9. 2023 so far has seen six Pacific hurricanes - of which Hilary was the only landfalling one - compared to just one Atlantic hurricane (Don). Three tropical storms in the Atlantic - Gert, Emily and Franklin - are currently active.

Description

This chart shows the annual number of tropical storms and hurricanes in the Pacific.

Premium statistics
Most extreme hurricane seasons in the Atlantic 1966-2023, by ACE
Premium statistics
Cost of extreme tropical cyclones in the U.S. 1980-2024
Tropical cyclone events Philippines 2020-2022, by category
Premium statistics
Insurance claims filed after Hurricane Irma in Florida as of September 2017, by line
Premium statistics
Residential property claims filed after Hurricane Irma Florida September 2017 by type
Premium statistics
Hurricane risk index in Latin America & the Caribbean 2025, by country

Any more questions?

Get in touch with us quickly and easily.
We are happy to help!

Do you still have questions?

Feel free to contact us anytime using our contact form or visit our FAQ page.

ƽ Content & Design

Need infographics, animated videos, presentations, data research or social media charts?