Hurricane Season in Puerto Vallarta: Storm Odds by Month
Quick answer: Puerto Vallarta’s hurricane season is the eastern Pacific’s, May 15 to November 30, and its busiest month is October: in the last 50 seasons a tropical storm or hurricane passed within 100 miles in 9 of 50 seasons in October, and in 20 of 50 seasons over the year. A hurricane came within 50 miles in 2 of 50 seasons: Nora (2021) and Lidia (2023).
Pick where you are going and when. See in how many of the last 50 hurricane seasons a tropical storm or hurricane came within 100 miles on those dates, and which nearby weeks were calmer.
Key West · Sep 10–16
2 of 50 seasonsA tropical storm or hurricane passed within 100 miles of Key West on these dates in 2 of the 50 seasons 1976–2025: 4%.
- Within 50 miles
- 1 of 50
- A hurricane within 50 miles
- 1 of 50
- A hurricane within 100 miles
- 1 of 50
- Safest dates within 4 weeks: Oct 1–7 (0 of 50 seasons), 3 weeks later.
- Storms on these dates: Sally 2020, Irma 2017.
- In 1976–2025, storms came within 100 miles of Key West between Jul 6 and Nov 19.
Historical frequency from NOAA’s best tracks for 1976–2025, not a forecast. For storms this season, see the National Hurricane Center.
The tool above opens on Puerto Vallarta for September 10–16: change the dates to yours. Below, Puerto Vallarta’s whole record, 1976–2025.
Hurricane season in Puerto Vallarta, month by month
In how many of the 50 seasons a tropical storm or hurricane passed within 100 miles at some point in that month.
| Month | Storm within 100 mi | Within 50 mi | Hurricane within 50 mi |
|---|---|---|---|
| May | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| June | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| July | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| August | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| September | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| October | 9 | 4 | 1 |
| November | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Kenna (2002) and Patricia (2015) passed within 100 miles as hurricanes, both in late October.
The busiest week
Puerto Vallarta: Aug 27 – Sep 2, when a storm came within 100 miles in 4 of 50 seasons. The chart in the tool shows all 52 weeks.
Every storm within 100 miles since 1976 (27)
| Storm | Within 100 miles | Closest |
|---|---|---|
| Lidia (2023) | Oct 10–11 | a hurricane within 50 miles |
| Roslyn (2022) | Oct 23 | a hurricane within 100 miles |
| Dolores (2021) | Jun 19 | a tropical storm within 100 miles |
| Enrique (2021) | Jun 28 | a hurricane within 100 miles |
| Nora (2021) | Aug 28–29 | a hurricane within 50 miles |
| Hernan (2020) | Aug 27–28 | a tropical storm within 100 miles |
| Lorena (2019) | Sep 19 | a hurricane within 100 miles |
| Narda (2019) | Sep 30 | a tropical storm within 50 miles |
| Pilar (2017) | Sep 24 | a tropical storm within 100 miles |
| Carlos (2015) | Jun 17 | a tropical storm within 50 miles |
| Patricia (2015) | Oct 23–24 | a hurricane within 100 miles |
| Bud (2012) | May 25–26 | a tropical storm within 100 miles |
| Jova (2011) | Oct 12 | a hurricane within 100 miles |
| John (2006) | Aug 31 | a hurricane within 100 miles |
| Lane (2006) | Sep 15–16 | a hurricane within 100 miles |
| Olaf (2003) | Oct 7 | a tropical storm within 100 miles |
| Kenna (2002) | Oct 25 | a hurricane within 100 miles |
| Greg (1999) | Sep 5–6 | a tropical storm within 100 miles |
| Javier (1998) | Sep 13 | a tropical storm within 100 miles |
| Madeline (1998) | Oct 18–19 | a hurricane within 100 miles |
| Hernan (1996) | Oct 3 | a tropical storm within 50 miles |
| Calvin (1993) | Jul 7–8 | a hurricane within 100 miles |
| Douglas (1990) | Jun 22–23 | a tropical storm within 100 miles |
| Eugene (1987) | Jul 25–26 | a hurricane within 100 miles |
| Adolph (1983) | May 27–28 | a tropical storm within 50 miles |
| Irwin (1981) | Aug 28–29 | a tropical storm within 100 miles |
| Otis (1981) | Oct 29 | a hurricane within 100 miles |
When the season runs
Puerto Vallarta is in the eastern Pacific basin, whose hurricane season runs from May 15 to November 30 (source). The season is when storms are likely, not the only time they can form: the table above counts every storm, whenever it came.
Plan it
- Things to do in Nuevo Vallarta
- Things to do in Punta de Mita
- Hurricane risk for your exact dates in Puerto Vallarta
- Puerto Vallarta’s weather, month by month
FAQ
When is hurricane season in Puerto Vallarta?
The eastern Pacific hurricane season runs from May 15 to November 30. In 50 seasons (1976–2025), the storms that came within 100 miles of Puerto Vallarta did so between May 25 and October 29, most often in October.
Does Puerto Vallarta get hurricanes?
Yes. In 50 seasons, a tropical storm or hurricane passed within 100 miles of Puerto Vallarta in 20, and a hurricane came within 50 miles in 2: Lidia (2023) and Nora (2021).
What is the worst month for hurricanes in Puerto Vallarta?
October: a storm came within 100 miles in 9 of the 50 seasons, then September with 5.
What is the safest time to visit Puerto Vallarta in hurricane season?
Within the season, November: no storm came within 100 miles in any of the 50 seasons. Outside May 15 to November 30, no storm came near at all.
How these numbers are made
From NOAA’s best tracks (HURDAT2), every storm’s centre is followed hour by hour and measured against each place; a season counts once it had a tropical storm or hurricane within 100 miles (or 50) on at least one day. It is history, not a forecast: for a storm that exists today, read the National Hurricane Center.