The 2006 Pacific hurricane season was the most active since the 2000 season, producing 21 tropical depressions; 19 of which became tropical storms or hurricanes. The season officially started on May 15, 2006 in the eastern Pacific, designated as the area east of 140°W, and on June 1, 2006 in the central Pacific, which is between the International Date Line and 140°W, and lasted until November 30, 2006. These dates typically limit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the eastern Pacific basin. This timeline documents all the storm formations, strengthening, weakening, landfalls, extratropical transitions, as well as dissipation. The timeline also includes information which was not operationally released, meaning that information from post-storm reviews by the National Hurricane Center, such as information on a storm that was not operationally warned on, have been included.
The first storm of the season, Tropical Storm Aletta, formed off the southwest coast of Mexico. After no storms formed in June, the season became active again in July when five named storms developed, including Hurricane Daniel, which was the second strongest storm of the season. Six storms formed during August, including Hurricane Ioke and Hurricane John. September was a relatively inactive month, producing only two storms, of which one was Hurricane Lane. Three storms developed in October and two formed in November; this marked the first time on record when more than one tropical storm developed in the basin during the month of November.
Timeline of storms
May
May 15
The Eastern Pacific hurricane season officially begins.
May 26
11:00 a.m. PDT (06:00 UTC May 27) – Tropical Depression One-E forms 190 miles (305 km) southwest of Acapulco, Mexico. 11:00 p.m. PDT (18:00 UTC) – Tropical Depression One-E strengthens into Tropical Storm Aletta.
May 29
8:00 p.m. PDT (03:00 UTC May 30) – Tropical Storm Aletta is downgraded to a tropical depression.
May 30
5:00 p.m. PDT (00:00 UTC May 31) – Tropical Depression Aletta becomes a remnant low.
June
June 1
The Central Pacific hurricane season officially begins.
June 3
11:00 a.m. PDT (19:00 UTC) – Tropical Depression Two-E forms 145 miles (230 km) southwest of Zihuatanejo, Mexico.
June 4
11:00 p.m. PDT (06:00 UTC June 5) – Tropical Depression Two-E dissipates.
July
July 10
5:00 p.m. PDT (00:00 UTC July 11) – Tropical Depression Three-E forms 810 miles (1,295 km) south of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. 11:00 p.m. PDT (06:00 UTC July 11) – Tropical Depression Three-E strengthens into Tropical Storm Bud.
July 11
5:00 p.m. PDT (00:00 UTC July 12) – Tropical Storm Bud strengthens into Hurricane Bud. 5:00 p.m. PDT (00:00 UTC July 12) – Tropical Depression Four-E forms 290 miles (465 km) south of Zihuatanejo. 11:00 p.m. PDT (06:00 UTC July 12) – Tropical Depression Four-E strengthens into Tropical Storm Carlotta.
July 12
5:00 a.m. PDT (12:00 UTC) – Hurricane Bud reaches Category 2 intensity. 5:00 p.m. PDT (00:00 UTC July 13) – Hurricane Bud reaches Category 3 intensity. 11:00 p.m. PDT (06:00 UTC July 13) – Tropical Storm Carlotta strengthens into Hurricane Carlotta.
July 13
11:00 p.m. PDT (06:00 UTC July 14) – Hurricane Bud weakens into a tropical storm.
July 14
11:00 a.m. PDT (18:00 UTC) – Hurricane Carlotta weakens into a tropical storm. 5:00 p.m. PDT (00:00 UTC July 15) – Tropical Storm Carlotta restrengthens into a hurricane. 11:00 p.m. PDT (06:00 UTC July 15) – Tropical Storm Bud weakens into a tropical depression.
July 15
5:00 a.m. PDT (12:00 UTC) – Hurricane Carlotta weakens into a tropical storm again.
July 16
5:00 a.m. PDT (12:00 UTC) – Tropical Depression Bud becomes a remnant low. 5:00 a.m. PDT (12:00 UTC) – Tropical Storm Carlotta weakens into a tropical depression. 11:00 a.m. PDT (18:00 UTC) – Tropical Depression Five-E forms about 525 miles (845 km) south-southwest of Manzanillo, Mexico. 5:00 p.m. PDT (00:00 UTC July 17) – Tropical Depression Carlotta becomes a remnant low.
July 17
5:00 a.m. PDT (12:00 UTC) – Tropical Depression Five-E strengthens into Tropical Storm Daniel.
July 18
11:00 a.m. PDT (18:00 UTC) – Tropical Storm Daniel strengthens into Hurricane Daniel.
July 19
11:00 a.m. PDT (18:00 UTC) – Hurricane Daniel reaches Category 2 intensity.
July 20
5:00 a.m. PDT (12:00 UTC) – Hurricane Daniel reaches Category 3 intensity. 11:00 a.m. PDT (18:00 UTC) – Hurricane Daniel reaches Category 4 intensity.