Overview of 2025 Tropical Cyclone Activity
As of June 20, 2025, five tropical cyclones have formed in the Pacific Ocean basin, according to Mexico’s National Weather Service (SMN). Of these, two have reached hurricane status, while the remaining three remained as tropical storms. In contrast, no systems have formed in the Atlantic Ocean.
- Tropical Storms: Alvin, Cosme, and Dalila
- Hurricanes Category 1 or 2: Barbara
- Hurricanes Category 3, 4, or 5: Erick
Erick has been the most intense storm so far, while Barbara was the first hurricane of medium intensity for the season. Alvin, Cosme, and Dalila maintained tropical storm intensity throughout their development.
Projected Activity for the 2025 Season
The 2025 season is anticipated to have above-average cyclone activity in the Pacific, with a forecast of 16 to 20 systems in this basin. In the Atlantic, between 13 and 17 phenomena are expected, though none have formed yet.
Understanding Tropical Cyclones
A tropical cyclone is a weather system that forms over warm oceans, characterized by rapidly rotating winds around a low-pressure center.
- Depression tropical (winds 45 to 62 km/h)
- Tropical storm (winds 63 to 118 km/h)
- Hurricane (winds ≥ 119 km/h)
All hurricanes are tropical cyclones, but not all tropical cyclones reach hurricane status.
Hurricane Classification: The Saffir-Simpson Scale
Hurricanes are classified into five categories based on the Saffir-Simpson Scale, which considers the sustained wind speed:
- Category 1: Winds 119-153 km/h
- Category 2: Winds 154-177 km/h
- Category 3: Winds 178-208 km/h
- Category 4: Winds 209-251 km/h
- Category 5: Winds ≥ 252 km/h
This classification helps estimate the potential destruction of the phenomenon upon landfall, based solely on wind speed.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is a tropical cyclone? A weather system that forms over warm oceans, characterized by rapidly rotating winds around a low-pressure center.
- How are hurricanes classified? Hurricanes are classified into five categories based on the Saffir-Simpson Scale, which considers sustained wind speed.
- What is the projected activity for the 2025 hurricane season? The 2025 season is anticipated to have above-average cyclone activity in the Pacific, with a forecast of 16 to 20 systems. In the Atlantic, between 13 and 17 phenomena are expected.
