Tropical cyclones in 2015

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Tropical cyclones in 2015
Year summary map
Year boundaries
First system	05U
Formed	January 2, 2015
Last system	Ula
Dissipated	January 12, 2016
Strongest system
Name	Patricia
Lowest pressure	872 mbar/hPa; 25.75 inHg
Longest lasting system
Name	Kilo
Duration	21 days
Year statistics
Total systems	134
Named systems	92
Total fatalities	996 total
Total damage	$18.8 billion (2015 USD)
Related articles 2015 Atlantic hurricane season 2015 Pacific hurricane season 2015 Pacific typhoon season 2015 North Indian Ocean cyclone season 2014–15 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season 2015–16 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season 2014–15 Australian region cyclone season 2015–16 Australian region cyclone season 2014–15 South Pacific cyclone season 2015–16 South Pacific cyclone season
Other years 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017

Hurricanes Kilo (left), Ignacio (center), and Jimena (right), all at major hurricane intensity, spanning the Central and Eastern Pacific basins on August 30

Taken by various of satellites throughout 2015, these are the 40 tropical cyclones that reached at least Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson scale during that year, from Bansi in January to Ula in December (second to last image), though it peaked in January of 2016.

During 2015, tropical cyclones formed within seven different tropical cyclone basins, located within various parts of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. During the year, a total of 134 tropical cyclones had formed this year to date. 92 tropical cyclones had been named by either a Regional Specialized Meteorological Center (RSMC) or a Tropical Cyclone Warning Center (TCWC).

The most active basin in the year was the Eastern Pacific which documented 26 named systems, was its basin's most active since 1992, despite only amounting to 25 named systems in the Western Pacific. Conversely, both the North Atlantic hurricane and North Indian Ocean cyclone seasons experienced the fewest cyclones reaching tropical storm intensity in recorded history, numbering 11 and 4, respectively. Activity across the southern hemisphere's three basins–South-West Indian, Australian, and South Pacific–was spread evenly, with each region recording seven named storms apiece. That hemisphere's strongest tropical cyclone was Cyclone Pam, which bottomed out with a barometric pressure of 896 mbar (hPa; 26.46 inHg) in the South-Pacific Ocean. Nine Category 5 tropical cyclones were formed in 2015.

The strongest of these tropical cyclones was Hurricane Patricia, which strengthened to a minimum barometric pressure of 872 mbar (hPa; 25.75 inHg) before striking the east coast of Colima in Mexico. The costliest tropical cyclone of the year was Typhoon Mujigae, which struck in China area in October, causing US$4.25 billion in damage. Cyclone Komen was also the year's deadliest storm, killing 280 people primarily in Southeast India.

Global atmospheric and hydrological conditions[]

Map of sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies in the Pacific Ocean on October 15, showing well above-normal SSTs east of the International Date Line (180°)

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Summary[]

North Atlantic Ocean[]

The season was the last of three consecutive below-average Atlantic hurricane seasons. It produced twelve tropical cyclones, eleven named storms, four hurricanes, and two major hurricanes.^{[nb 1]} The accumulated cyclone energy (ACE) for the season was 68% of the long-term median value.^[2] However, the first named storm, Ana, developed on May 8, nearly a month before the official start of the season, the first pre-season cyclone since Beryl in 2012 and the earliest since Ana in 2003. The formation of Ana marked the first in a series of six consecutive seasons with pre-season activity, spanning from 2015 to 2020. The season concluded with Kate transitioning into an extratropical cyclone on November 11, almost three weeks before the official end.

Fred prompted a hurricane warning for Cape Verde for the first time ever and was the first storm to pass through the islands as a hurricane since 1892. Strong winds there left about $2.5 million in damage. Two deaths were presumed to have occurred after two fishermen never returned to port. Seven other sailors likely drowned offshore Guinea-Bissau after their fishing boat collapsed. Tropical storms Grace, Henri, and Ida left negligible impact on land. Hurricane Joaquin's intensity and slow movement in the vicinity of the Bahamas resulted in severe damage on some islands. Additionally, the American cargo ship SS El Faro went missing near Crooked Island and eventually capsized during the storm, drowning 33 people. Rough seas in Haiti also caused damage and one death from a fisherman drowning. Joaquin was the most intense satellite era tropical cyclone of non-tropical origins. The remnants of Kate affected the British Isles, particularly Wales in the United Kingdom. Throughout the season, these storms collectively caused $813.9 million in damage and 89 deaths.

With the exception of Tropical Storm Risk's initial season prediction in December 2014, all major forecasting agencies called for a below or near-average season, due to the strong 2014–16 El Niño event and colder than average sea surface temperatures. Overall, the forecasts were fairly accurate.

Eastern Pacific Ocean[]

The season is the second-most active Pacific hurricane season on record, with 26 named storms, only behind the 1992 season. A record-tying 16 of those storms became hurricanes, and a record 11 storms further intensified into major hurricanes throughout the season.^{[nb 2]} The Central Pacific, the portion of the Northeast Pacific Ocean between the International Date Line and the 140th meridian west, had its most active year on record, with 16 tropical cyclones forming in or entering the basin. Moreover, the season was the third-most active season in terms of accumulated cyclone energy, amassing a total of 287 units. This was shown when a tropical depression formed on December 31. The above-average activity during the season was attributed in part to the very strong 2014–16 El Niño event.

The season featured several long-tracking and powerful storms, although land impacts were often minimal. In June, Hurricane Blanca, an early season Category 4 hurricane, killed four people due to rough seas. Hurricane Carlos caused minor damage while passing a short distance off the coast of Mexico. In July, the remnants of Hurricane Dolores brought record rainfall to Southern California, killing one and causing losses worth over $50 million.^{[nb 3]} On August 29, three Category 4 hurricanes (Kilo, Ignacio, Jimena) were all active simultaneously in the Pacific east of the International Date Line for the first time in recorded history. In September, moisture from Hurricane Linda contributed to storms that killed 21 people in Utah. Later that month, Hurricane Marty inflicted $30 million in damage to the southwestern coast of Mexico. In October, Hurricane Patricia became the most intense hurricane ever recorded in the Western Hemisphere, with a central pressure of 872 mbar (hPa; 25.75 inHg) and 1-minute sustained winds of 215 miles per hour (346 km/h). After also becoming the strongest landfalling Pacific hurricane on record, Patricia claimed 13 lives and was responsible for $463 million in damage. The season's activity continued into November when Hurricane Sandra became the strongest Pacific hurricane ever recorded in that month. Damage across the basin reached $566 million (2015 USD), while 45 people were killed by the various storms.

Systems[]

A total of 139 systems formed globally in 2015 with 52 of them causing significant damage, deaths, and/or setting records for their basin.

January[]

Cyclone Bansi

February[]

Cyclone Marcia

March[]

Cyclone Pam

April[]

Cyclone Quang

May[]

Typhoon Noul

June[]

Typhoon Chan-hom

July[]

Typhoon Soudelor

August[]

Typhoon Atsani

September[]

Typhoon Dujuan

October[]

Hurricane Patricia

November[]

Hurricane Sandra

December[]

Typhoon Melor

Global effects[]

Notes[]

¹ Only systems that formed either on or after January 1, 2015 are counted in the seasonal totals.
² Only systems that formed either before or on December 31, 2015 are counted in the seasonal totals.
³ The wind speeds for this tropical cyclone/basin are based on the IMD Scale which uses 3-minute sustained winds.
⁴ The wind speeds for this tropical cyclone/basin are based on the Saffir Simpson Scale which uses 1-minute sustained winds.
⁵The wind speeds for this tropical cyclone are based on Météo-France which uses gust winds.

See also[]

• Tropical cyclones by year
• List of earthquakes in 2015
• Tornadoes of 2015

Notes[]

References[]

External links[]

Regional Specialized Meteorological Centers

• US National Hurricane Center – North Atlantic, Eastern Pacific
• Central Pacific Hurricane Center – Central Pacific
• Japan Meteorological Agency – NW Pacific
• India Meteorological Department – Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea
• Météo-France – La Reunion – South Indian Ocean from 30°E to 90°E
• Fiji Meteorological Service – South Pacific west of 160°E, north of 25° S

Tropical Cyclone Warning Centers

• Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency of Indonesia – South Indian Ocean from 90°E to 141°E, generally north of 10°S
• Australian Bureau of Meteorology (TCWC's Perth, Darwin & Brisbane) – South Indian Ocean & South Pacific Ocean from 90°E to 160°E, generally south of 10°S
• Papua New Guinea National Weather Service – South Pacific Ocean from 141°E to 160°E, generally north of 10°S
• Meteorological Service of New Zealand Limited – South Pacific west of 160°E, south of 25°S

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the National Weather Service.