Editorial Type:
Annual weather summary (MWR only)
Article Type:
Research Article

Eastern North Pacific Hurricane Season of 2011

Eric S. Blake NOAA/NWS/NCEP National Hurricane Center, Miami, Florida

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Todd B. Kimberlain NOAA/NWS/NCEP National Hurricane Center, Miami, Florida

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Print Publication:
01 May 2013
Collections:
Annual Weather Summaries in Monthly Weather Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/MWR-D-12-00192.1
Page(s):
1397–1412
Restricted access

Abstract

Overall activity during the 2011 eastern North Pacific hurricane season was near average. Of the 11 tropical storms that formed, 10 became hurricanes and 6 reached major hurricane strength (category 3 or stronger on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale). For comparison, the 1981–2010 averages are about 15 tropical storms, 8 hurricanes, and 4 major hurricanes. Interestingly, although the number of named storms was below average, the numbers of hurricanes and major hurricanes were above average. The 2011 season had the most hurricanes since 2006 and the most major hurricanes since 1998. Two hurricanes affected the southwestern coast of Mexico (Beatriz as a category 1 hurricane and Jova as a category 2 hurricane), and the season’s tropical cyclones caused about 49 deaths. On average, the National Hurricane Center track forecasts in the eastern North Pacific for 2011 were very skillful.

Corresponding author address: Eric S. Blake, National Hurricane Center, 11691 SW 17th St., Miami, FL 33165. E-mail: eric.s.blake@noaa.gov

Abstract

Overall activity during the 2011 eastern North Pacific hurricane season was near average. Of the 11 tropical storms that formed, 10 became hurricanes and 6 reached major hurricane strength (category 3 or stronger on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale). For comparison, the 1981–2010 averages are about 15 tropical storms, 8 hurricanes, and 4 major hurricanes. Interestingly, although the number of named storms was below average, the numbers of hurricanes and major hurricanes were above average. The 2011 season had the most hurricanes since 2006 and the most major hurricanes since 1998. Two hurricanes affected the southwestern coast of Mexico (Beatriz as a category 1 hurricane and Jova as a category 2 hurricane), and the season’s tropical cyclones caused about 49 deaths. On average, the National Hurricane Center track forecasts in the eastern North Pacific for 2011 were very skillful.

Corresponding author address: Eric S. Blake, National Hurricane Center, 11691 SW 17th St., Miami, FL 33165. E-mail: eric.s.blake@noaa.gov
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