TROPICAL DEPRESSION MARKS THE START OF THE PACIFIC HURRICANE SEASON

Tropical Depression One-E forms south-southwest of the Mexican port of Acapulco, marking the first storm of the 2006 Pacific hurricane season.

The 2006 Pacific hurricane season is an ongoing event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. It officially began May 15, 2006 in the eastern Pacific, designated as the area east of 140°W, and will begin on June 1, 2006 in the central Pacific, which is between the International Date Line and 140°W. The season will last until November 30, 2006.

2006 storm names
The following names will be used for named storms that form in the northeast Pacific in 2006. This is the same list that was used in the 2000 season. Storms that form in the central Pacific are given names from a sequential list; if any are used, they will be mentioned separately.

Aletta (unused)
Bud (unused)
Carlotta (unused)
Daniel (unused)
Emilia (unused)
Fabio (unused)
Gilma (unused)
Hector (unused) Ileana (unused)
John (unused)
Kristy (unused)
Lane (unused)
Miriam (unused)
Norman (unused)
Olivia (unused)
Paul (unused) Rosa (unused)
Sergio (unused)
Tara (unused)
Vicente (unused)
Willa (unused)
Xavier (unused)
Yolanda (unused)
Zeke (unused)


The 2006 Atlantic hurricane season will be an ongoing event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. It will officially start June 1, 2006, and last until November 30, 2006. These dates conventionally delimit the period of each year when most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic basin. However, should a system form and receive a number from the NHC before then, it will count as part of the 2006 season.

2006 storm names
The following names will be used for named storms that form in the North Atlantic in 2006. The names not retired from this list will be used again in the 2012 season. The list is the same as the 2000 season's list except for Kirk, which replaced Keith. Names that have not been assigned are marked in gray.

Alberto (unused)
Beryl (unused)
Chris (unused)
Debby (unused)
Ernesto (unused)
Florence (unused)
Gordon (unused) Helene (unused)
Isaac (unused)
Joyce (unused)
Kirk (unused)
Leslie (unused)
Michael (unused)
Nadine (unused) Oscar (unused)
Patty (unused)
Rafael (unused)
Sandy (unused)
Tony (unused)
Valerie (unused)
William (unused)


Pre-season forecasts
On December 5, 2005, Dr. Gray's team issued its first extended-range forecast for the 2006 season, predicting a well above-average season (17 named storms, 9 hurricanes, 5 of Category 3 or higher).[1]

Similar to the 2005 season, the team predicted a high potential for at least one major hurricane to directly impact the United States: the forecast indicates an 81% chance of at least one major hurricane striking the U.S. mainland (including a 64% chance of at least one major hurricane strike on the East Coast of the United States including the Florida peninsula, and a 47% chance of at least one major hurricane strike on the Gulf Coast of the United States from the Florida Panhandle westward). In addition, the potential for major hurricane activity in the Caribbean was above average. A few months later, on April 4, 2006, Dr. Gray issued another forecast that reaffirmed the forecast previously made in December.[4]

On May 22, 2006, NOAA released their forecasts for the 2006 season. They predict 13 to 16 named storms, with 8 to 10 becoming hurricanes, and 4 to 6 becoming major hurricanes.